Sex toys have been used for thousands of years and many believe they had first originated from Asia. However, it was not until the ancient Greece time that sex toys such as dildos and other phallic objects were first made popular. Evidence also suggests that the Romans were the first to mass produce sex toys for a commercial purpose. The sex toys produced during these ancient times were often made out of smooth stones, carved wood, bronze or any solid fillings wrapped around in leather. They were usually long or had an oblong shape like an egg. For lubricants, olive oil was the more common choice. The term "dildo" was derived during the 14th century Italian Renaissance from the Italian word "diletto" which means pleasure. The use of sex toys continue to gain popularity throughout these times. Dildos made out of rubber first appeared during the mid 18th century during the Victorian times. These rubber dildos were a leap forward as they can be fashioned after the penis and were much more comfortable to use. Also during this time, the vibrator was invented. It was however not intended for pleasure, but was used by physicians to treat a certain disorder in women known as "hysteria". It was believed that these so called psychological disorder could be treated by bringing the women to orgasm and the vibrator seemed perfect for the job. The first vibrators were steam powered. By the early 19th century, more varieties of sex toys were introduced to the market and were featured in blue movies and erotic magazines. They were commonly advertised as "relaxation devices" to relieve stress and anxiety. By the 1940s, they were termed as "marital aids" and in 1960s, they were coming on strong as "massagers". Since the 1980s, with technology growing in leaps and bounds and fueled by imagination and passion, many types of sex toys were created including those for men and other fetishes like bondage. Today, there are more people aware of their sexuality than in any other era and thanks to these little gizmos and the internet, sex toys can be delivered discreetly and conveniently to your doorstep. The sex toys industry has come a long way with manufacturers constantly improving on their product line. What are the benefits of Sex Toys? Millions of people throughout the world today have discovered sex toys to be a fulfilling enhancement to their sex lives. Humans are motivated by both pain and pleasure and sex toys can be a compelling reason to bring you to your peak of your sexual pleasure. Before we begin to illustrate the varieties of sex toys, it would be beneficial to know what motivates you. Some of the benefits of sex toys :- Sex toys can bring variety and help explore new ways of sexual intimacy. It brings the fulfillment of a satisfying sexual relationship which lubricates an intimate relationship. Sex toys can increase your sexual fulfillment skills, complementing a sexual relationship. Sex toys can be used to spice up a relationship. Imagine receiving a sex toy wrapped in a romantic gift box instead of the usual tie-in-a-box. Sex toys can help you orgasm faster and easier if you don't orgasm often or find it difficult to orgasm with your partner. Afterall, vibrators were originally intended for this. Sex toys can bring back the pleasure even when your partner is out of town. Different individuals will have different needs and motivation. No matter what your fetish is, whether it is bondage, costumes, or novelty items, there is a huge following of people who appreciates such sexual preferences and the toys catered for it. Types of Sex Toys Dongs & Dildos The most common of sex toys, dildos or dongs are designed for stimulation by vaginal and anal insertion and stroking. Dildos come in many shapes, sizes, color, texture and other accessories. Dildos do not vibrate and any vibrating sex toys would be categorized under vibrators. Vibrators Vibrators are any sex toys that vibrate. These are mainly designed for intense stimulation on the clitoris or vulva. Some can be used for insertion and some for external use only. Vibrators are commonly combined with other sex toys so you have vibrating dildos, vibrating eggs, vibrating undies and some even comes with a hands free kit or a remote control. They can be powered by battery or electricity. Vibrators are also commonly used in combination with other sex toys such as dildos. BDSM Bondage & Sadomasochistic. Pleasure from consensual inflicting or submitting to physical abuse. There are a variety of bondage gear and S&M toys designed for BDSM play. These include blindfolds, costumes, cuffs and leashes, whips, body jewelry, clips. An excellent range of Bondage Gear can be found at www.stockroom.com Or if you are new to BDSM, you can read all about it here Lubricants Potions and lubricants complement lovemaking and it blends well too with sex toys. Most sex toys have an increased effect when used with lubricants. There are three main varieties of lubricants; water based, silicone based and petroleum based. Water and silicone based lubricants are safe to use with condoms. Petroleum based lubricants such as Vaseline shouldn't be used with latex materials, such as condoms and diaphragms, as they can break down the latex material. Lubricants can also be used for body massages (massage oils). They come in a variety of aromatic, flavored and even edible lubes. Toys For Men Until quite recently, sex toys have been focused on women. Toys for men are designed for added stimulation and to create heightened sexual fulfillment skills. These toys can be used to help achieve harder erections, for solo masturbation or for men to men action. Some of the catergories in toys for men include cock rings, penis pumps, love dolls, penis extenders, and other novelty items. Some love dolls are designed after real life porn stars and are extremely lifelike. Toys for men are also widely used during BDSM play. Aphrodisiac Alternative energy booster, either herbal or tonic, designed to improve sexual vitality and sexual desire in men and women. They can be used to achieve a stronger erection or to create a sexual desire. Some natural aphrodisiacs includes yohimbe, ginseng, deer velvet, and other herbal extracts. Aphrodisiacs and sex toys are perfect for creating a heightened sexual satisfaction. Read more about aphrodisiacs. Anal Toys Anal toys for rear penetration comes in a variety of silicone or non-silicone and vibrating or non-vibrating toys. Unlike dildos, anal toys usually comes with a flanged base or attached to a string to prevent accidental slippages. Butt plugs and anal beads are the more common of anal toys. Some anal toys can also be used for vaginal insertion. Just be sure to slip a condom over when switching from anal to vaginal. Harnesses Harnesses are specially designed straps that enables sex toys to be attached. They can be worn by a man or a women so they can keep their hands free. Harnesses are either strapped to the thighs or hips and can be used with a matching dildo. Others Sex toys and human sexuality is limited only by our imagination. Some of the sex toys or sexual aids that are not categorized in the above are love swings, erotic games, edibles, safer sex (condoms), female condoms, genital jewelry and other novelty items. Guide to choosing Sex Toys Choosing sex toys is very much a personal preference. Here we present a few considerations to aid in your selection :- Intended usage Do you intend to use your sex toy by yourself or with your partner? If you intend to use it with your partner, communication is often the key. Choosing a sex toy and using it together with your partner will often foster better intimacy, understanding and openness. Some sex toys are used only for solo play and some such as love swings can be used only with a partner. Stimulation preference Phallic sex toys can be designed for penetration or clitoral stimulation. Some can do both. Women are aroused differently and knowing which erogenous zones stimulates you more can help in choosing the right sex toys. For penetrative stimulation, the shaft type vibrators or dildos are a good choice. For clitoral stimulation, we recommend the most popular rabbit vibrator range. The rabbit range serves a dual purpose, penetration and clitoral stimulation. The base of the shaft has a bunny ear shaped soft like material designed to gently massage the clitoris while the shaft is inserted in the vagina. Rabbit vibrators are the most popular sex toys the world over and we highly recommend that you shop around for one. Sound Some sex toys like vibrators can be a bit noisy. You wouldn't want to arouse your neighbors and housemates, do you? For this, you can consider variable speed vibrators or vibrators that emit a low level of noise. Material or texture Sex toys generally come in porous or non-porous material. Porous materials such as cyberskin are extremely lifelike. They feel very realistic and often molded after the real thing. Non-porous materials are plastic, soft PVC, silicone, and glass are smooth and comes in varying textures. Either way, they should be used with lots of lube. Porous materials will require a bit more cleaning as bacteria can hide between the pores. Water and soap will often do for non-porous materials. Style Everybody has a personal taste when it comes to color, shapes, sizes, studded or smooth and elongated. It's a matter of preference. Choose from a variety of features including those that glow in the dark. Wet and dry use Are you planning to use your toy in the bath? Consider this when selecting your sex toys, as many have discovered, they can be really fun in the bath. Waterproof toys such as the rubber duck or waterproof dildos make good companions. Portability Do you want to take your vibrator on the road with you or are you planning on keeping it at home? There are small battery powered vibrators such as the Pocket Rocket which can fit into the palm of your hand. Cleaning and caring for your Sex Toys Since sex toys are used on the most sensitive parts of your body, doesn't it make sense to keep it well cleaned and cared for. With a few simple safe practices, you can prolong the life of your toy and maintain a healthier life. And we mean that literally to keep infections at bay. Lubricants Water and silicone based lubricants are safe to use with sex toys. Avoid using oil or petroleum based lubricants as they breakdown latex material. Vaseline or olive oil are for external use only and are great for massaging. Never use oil based lubricants for any penetration as they can cause infections if not properly cleaned. Cleaning Non-porous materials are smooth and warm water and soap usually does the trick. If needed, silicone sex toys can be sterilized by boiling it over 3 to 5 minutes. Porous materials such as cyberskin and rubber require a bit more care as bacteria can hide within the pores. Avoid using soap on cyberskin to maintain the texture. Instead, rinse with lots of warm water or sterilize with alcohol. It is best air dried and sprinkled with cornstarch or talcum to maintain the smooth surface. To keep all your toys clean and ready to use, you could also pickup a care & cleaning kit Condoms Condoms can be placed over sex toys so it can be safely shared with multiple partners. They also make cleaning that much easier. Rubber dildos are porous materials which must be sterilized if shared with multiple partners. Otherwise, use a condom over rubber dildos. Storing Try to store sex toys within reach of the bed. Nothing is more frustrating than interrupting a foreplay and having to walk across the room to dig out the toy from a secret hidden spot. With that being said, sex toys should be stored in their protective material or wrapped in a piece of cloth, away from prying eyes. There are several novelty items available such as the Hide Your Vibe pillow to discreetly store your sex toys. Online Stores Supposing you've decided what you want, and perhaps ready to make a purchase. We know that walking into a sex toys boutique can be a wee bit intimidating or even embarrassing for some. Fortunately for many of us, the online sex toys store is especially suited for this task. However, going about selecting the right online store can be a bit of a chore itself. There are many concerns for the honest but naturally skeptical shopper. In order to soothe the nervous buyer, we present a few guidelines in selecting the right online store. By practicing these simple but safe methods, you are doing your part in checking the rate of online scams and fraud. What to look for in an online store? Always look for an "About Us" page. Never buy from a store that does not openly disclose their location. It should also contain the contact telephone number for quick customer support inquiries. Accepts more than one mode of payment. You should be allowed to pay by both online and offline method. Offline methods of ordering are via fax or telephone orders. Granted, you may or may not want to order offline, but this ensures that you are not buying from a ghost company with no one but computers running the store. Accepts more than one form of payment. The store should accept payment by check and credit card. Reason being, it is a fact that check payments are at a lower risk of fraud because checks are much easier for the authorities to trace. Scam artists normally avoid receiving check payments. Secure shopping. Needless to say, buy only from stores that offers secure ordering. This is safe because even if your credit card details is intercepted during transmission, it cannot be read. Good customer service. You can test their customer service by sending an email to enquire about a product. If they don't respond to you, chances are they will also be slow to act on return requests. Too many times we have put up with these with sloppy customer service. It is your right as a consumer. Freebies. Such as free gifts or free shipping. Although it does not make or break a store's reputation, it goes to show that the store values their customers by proactively seeking customer satisfaction. Money back guarantee. Sex toys store should carry a minimum 30 days money back guarantee. However, due to sanitary requirements of sex toys, money back guarantee applies only for unopened products. Afterall, you wouldn't want to buy merchandise which have been used by someone else, would you?