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Candaulism
For many of us, there’s nothing quite so thrilling as seeing our partners buck naked. It makes sense, really…when you love somebody’s entire body, there’s something sensual about having every part on display. But ask yourself: do you get a little thrill out of the idea of someone else seeing your partner naked?
If so, you likely have a candaulism kink. It’s one of those kinks most people don’t know about and even fewer understand. Don’t worry, though: we’ve put together the ultimate guide to help you get your freak on and your peek on. Without further ado, let’s dive into a world of sexual relations that takes voyeurism and exhibitionism to a whole new level.
What, Exactly, is Candaulism?
On the most basic level, candaulism is about getting sexual excitement from the act of showing off your partner to others. The milder version of this fetish involves having a partner wear clothing that is very tight so that he or she can show off their body to other people. The more extreme end involves getting naked, though. For example, a man who exposes his female partner gains major sexual gratification from showing her entire body to the world. As always, consent is key: in this example, the female partner would have agreed to be shown off like this well before taking her clothes off.
Why do people enjoy this fetish, though? Exhibitionism, voyeurism, and the need for admiration are all distinct psychological components that factor into a candaulism kink. For instance, studies have shown that many people experience sexual arousal from exposing themselves or observing others, which aligns with the dynamics of candaulism. It may seem strange to others, but it’s very common for a boyfriend or husband to take so much pride in his partner’s appearance that he wants to (quite literally) show her to the world.
In an age of smartphones and Snapchat, this kind of naughty fantasy may seem very modern. However, the act of sharing dirty images of a person you care about goes back for thousands of years.
Candaulism Through a Historical Lens
Caunaulism owes its strange name to the legendary story of King Candaules of Lydia. The story says that Candaules was driven by a strong desire to show his faithful servant Gyges how beautiful his naked wife, Queen Nyssia, was. Thanks to the writing of Herodotus and other ancient Greeks, we know that the king wasn’t alone in his desire and that the Lydian king wasn’t the only one who enjoyed the practice of showing off the physical attractiveness of his partner.
Unfortunately, part of the Lydian king’s kink is that his wife didn’t know there was another person observing her naked beauty. These days, candaulism is still around, but it is centered on consent, meaning that nobody should try to show off their partner’s body without the other person knowing about it. For couples who are both into the idea, the practice involving showing off one another’s naked bodies to others (including complete strangers) can provide a white-hot thrill of naughty exhibitionism.
Sexual Practice to Engage into Candualism Fetish
Now that you know the name of it, you might be interested in exploring the world of candaulism. For better or for worse, there are so many different ways of incorporating this into your love life that you may not know where to get started. That’s where we come in: below, you’ll find some of the best ways to incorporate this fun fetish into the bedroom and beyond.
1. Voyeuristic Role Play
Voyeurism is often at the center of the candaulism kink. Sometimes, we like to watch each other get a little freaky with others, and there’s nothing wrong with that as long as you get consent ahead of time!
For example, a man might enjoy watching his female partner undress or perform sexual acts with another person. This is often planned ahead of time, not unlike scheduling a threesome. Of course, it’s possible to make this happen spontaneously if the two of you meet an open-minded person at a bar, party, or anywhere else!
Some women enjoy the idea of watching their man undress or have sex with someone else. Other times, they get a thrill out of being observed. As with other kinks involving voyeurism, it can be fun to either sit back and watch or be the one whose actions are driving your partner crazy!
2. Public Exposure
Not all acts of candaulism lead to sex with others. For example, the Lydian king only wanted to show off his wife and not set her up with others. In many cases, two people who share this kink may simply enjoy exposing themselves in public.
Some men like to take partners to swingers’ clubs or other open-minded gatherings and show their female partner off to others. Other times, one partner (usually a woman) will wear revealing lingerie or very brief clothing, allowing herself and the other partner to get a kick out of all the attention she gets.
3. Photography and Videography
Perhaps the simplest form of candaulism is showing off personal images of their naked partner to others. For example, showing people images of her naked body on a cell phone or even distributing those images to private online groups. Remember, this should only be done with the full consent of both partners!
4. Swinging
Sometimes, candaulism is just one part of a larger kink. For example, many swingers get a special thrill out of seeing their partners having sex with other people. There are many potential motivations for such a kink, but the simplest one is that one or more partners gets a thrill out of others seeing their significant other completely naked.
5. Striptease and Burlesque
If you have a very private venue (like the home of a trusted friend), then it’s possible to engage in candaulism by engaging in a striptease or a revealing burlesque show. For example, a man may enjoy seeing his female partner taking off her clothes while either friends or strangers watch. As for the person stripping, many enjoy the act because it is empowering. After all, who wouldn’t feel sexy when they have the undivided attention of everyone in the room?
As you can tell, there are many fun ways to engage in the practice of candaulism. However, it’s important not to be too much like the Lydian king who wanted to show off his wife without her being aware. Always get consent ahead of time and set firm boundaries. When done right, the entire experience will be like a fantasy come true, and you and your lover will become closer than ever before.
Takeaways
Embracing your desires is all about knowing and accepting yourself. Once you do so, your next goal should be finding a supportive community where you can explore your sexuality (kinks and all!) without being judged. Such communities can help you and your partner explore these desires safely with a group of sympathetic and like-minded individuals.
To spice things up even further, consider trying out related kinks to enhance excitement and give you new ways to connect with each other. Being honest about what both of you want is the only real way to ditch self-doubt and start living authentically.
Remember, candaulism is just the kinkier way of experiencing the thrill you felt the first time you went skinny-dipping. Now, the water is nice and warm, and we’ve got just one question: are you ready to dive in?
