When is it appropriate to give the gift of sex? Will it spice up a long term commitment? Set the tone for a new relationship? Or create a more fun “friends with benefits” situation? And how to do you give it to this person?

Long term relationships are probably the safest time to give each other sex toys. You can spice your sex life up with a new toy to play together, or just spoil them with a toy just for them. Either way, it'll bring you closer in- or out- of the bedroom. If you've been in a long term 'vanilla' relationship, gifting a sex toy might be a little more daunting. It brings about a whole set of new questions like - What does your choice say about what you want, or what you're into? Will your partner be open to the suggestion or will they become affronted? In this case it's probably best to broach the subject in advance, in a non-threatening, fun atmosphere. For example, you could bring up the latest phenomenon to hit main stream sex - Fifty Shades of Grey. From here you could talk about the various scenarios in the books, and the toys they use. Even if BDSM isn’t your thing, you’ll have a starting point to talk about sex, toys, and adventures in the bedroom.

A new relationship is almost the same as a long term vanilla relationship. You're still trying to find out what each other is in to, what turns you on the most, and what is an absolute no. Also, for some, in a new relationship, just having sex is completely time consuming because you're so into each other, you don't have time to play with anything else!

Lastly a “friends with benefits” scenario is probably most conducive to sex toy presents. What better way to spice sex up? To push the boundaries with someone you know, have regular sex with, and aren't emotionally hung up over?

Regardless of the type of relationship it's best to figure out what your partner wants in advance. If you're open in your relationship this shouldn't be a problem- just talk about it in a general way, and slowly bring it to a personal level. For example, you might ask your lover what they think about toys, and why. From there just follow the questions down the rabbit hole!

If you're too shy to bring the topic of sex toys up, but you really want to try them, surprising them may be the best way to do so. They can open a package one day while you're not there and have time to process what they received, while you're not hovering, bright red, and fidgety!

Sex toys are great gifts for couples! It doesn't matter if you don't know their preference, or if you're in a complicated relationship- it brings you together, even just for the time it takes to try it out! If you're not sure about what type of gift to give start with a less threatening one, and build up to a more outrageous toy, book, or piece of furniture. Whatever it is, they'll have fun being rewarded for being naughty for once!