Your cart

Your cart is empty

Discover yourself.

How do we define pleasure?

How do we define pleasure?

Although ‘pleasure’ is a word commonly thrown around in the 21st Century lexicon, its actual meaning can be illusive. We know that it refers to some feeling of deep satisfaction and enjoyment. We know that it can be a reward mechanism that motivates us to engage in activities that are beneficial for our well-being and survival. But at its very heart, pleasure is a subjective experience that cannot be defined with these broad, general statements. Your pleasure is totally unique to you, and everyone else’s totally unique to them. 

So, rather than trying to understand pleasure in terms of vague dictionary definitions, or in relation to the pleasure described by others, what does pleasure mean to you? If we want to optimise pleasure, we must first identify the source of pleasure in our lives. Below, we’ve listed some broad categories of pleasure to help you identify these sources. 

Physical Pleasure 

This form of pleasure relates to physical sensations (specifically taste, smell and touch). This might be eating a delicious bowl of homemade pasta, unwinding in a hot, fragrant bath, or having great sex. 

Emotional Pleasure 

This form of pleasure refers to the enjoyment of emotions, such as being in love, feeling joy, or experiencing pride. You can think of it as the opposite of zoning out. When you’re in a state of emotional pleasure you are deeply engaged and aware of your own enjoyment. 

Mental Pleasure 

Mental pleasure refers to the enjoyment of mental activities. Have you ever read a book, listened to a podcast, or written an essay and felt a profound sense of pleasure and engagement? Perhaps it was an intellectually stimulating conversation or the mastery of a new piece of music. The absorbed sensation of mental pleasure is akin to a flow state. 

Spiritual Pleasure 

Spiritual pleasure relates to a sense of inner connectedness and peace. This often involves an awareness beyond the ego, a deeper connection with one’s body, and a sense of belonging with the universe. Some people may derive spiritual pleasure from meditation and yoga practices, states of mindfulness, or religious practice. 

Social Pleasure 

This form of pleasure relates to the enjoyment of social interactions and relationships. Spending quality time with loved ones, laughing deliriously with friends, helping an old lady get off the tram. Social pleasure is a sense of belonging and unity with the people around us. 

These categories are a good indication of the multifaceted, subjective nature of pleasure. While it may seem evasive at times, pleasure will find each of us, and we can find it in return. Pleasure exists in the fleeting moments of life. The shared smiles, the intimate touches, the first delicious bite. It won’t hang around to be noticed. Therefore, the only way to optimise pleasure is through awareness and gratitude in the present moment.

Previous post
Next post

Journey into pleasure

Vibes in 3 colours

Essensual Vibe

$149.95
Unit price
per 
Flow Water-Based

Flow Water-Based

from $29.95

Unit price
per 
Melt Candle

Melt Candle

from $34.95

Unit price
per 
Mood Oil

Mood Oil

$49.95
Unit price
per 

More sex education

Why do so many of us fear intimacy?

Why do so many of us fear intimacy?

Emotional intimacy—the kind that lets you connect deeply with someone—is something most of us crave but find hard to embrace. It demands vulnerability, which can feel daunting. If you’ve ever...

Read more
‘Right person, wrong time’: unpacking the complexities of love and timing

‘Right person, wrong time’: unpacking the complexities of love and timing

We’ve all heard the phrase “right person, wrong time.” Some of us have probably even used it. But what does it really mean? Is it just a romanticised excuse for...

Read more
A guide to exploring multiple orgasms

A guide to exploring multiple orgasms

For those intrigued by the idea of more than one climax, exploring multiple orgasms offers a journey of self-discovery, connection, and a deeper understanding of your body’s rhythms. While multiple...

Read more
Beyond monogamy: exploring consensual non-exclusivity

Beyond monogamy: exploring consensual non-exclusivity

What once may have been considered ‘alternative’ arrangements have been gaining fierce popularity in recent years; you might even say polyamory has gone mainstream. Ethical non-monogamy (ENM) is a catch-all...

Read more
When did Halloween get so sexy?

When did Halloween get so sexy?

Halloween has evolved over the years from an eerie celebration into a night filled with costumes, candy, and personal expression. Amid the ghosts and goblins, one trend consistently resurfaces: the...

Read more
Understanding what it means to be intersex

Understanding what it means to be intersex

You might recognise the term ‘intersex’ from the ‘I’ in LGBTQIA+, but its true meaning is often misunderstood. Intersex people are born with physical sex characteristics—such as chromosomes, gonads, hormone...

Read more