THIS ENTRY WAS POSTED ON November 27, 2024 BY The Pleasure Chest.
The holiday season is upon us, which means the task of finding the perfect gifts for our loved ones is on our minds. There are plenty of gift guides out there, some super niche and some overly general, designed to help steer you in the right direction. They run the gamut from Perfect Gifts for the Avid Hiker to 20 Gifts Your Mother-in-Law Can’t Live Without. You can essentially find a gift guide curated to almost any type of person or relationship in your life. But more than likely, sex toys do not find their way onto those lists. If you want to give the gift of pleasure, things get complicated!
Gifting Sex Toys: Why Gift a Sex Toy in the First Place?
Why even play with the idea of gifting a sex toy if it’s going to be too difficult? Well, a recent study showed that, as of 2023, 78% of Americans own a sex toy. Sex toys have become more widely available and accessible in recent years, even being sold at local drug stores like CVS and larger retailers like Target. Sex toys are no longer relegated to the lowly lit secret sex shops of the world. Now, they’re sold worldwide in high-end boutique brick and mortars or via intensely curated online shops. It’s safe to say the stigma against owning sex toys has vastly eroded in the last 10 years, and it’s only becoming more normalized as the years go on. We should embrace this atmosphere of normalization and gift sex toys (when appropriate) to help further break down the stigma and continue spreading pleasure and positivity to the world! So really, our answer to the question of why gift sex toys in the first place is actually another question: well, why not?
When attempting to holiday shop for sex toys, you may find yourself asking questions like, would it be appropriate to gift this person in my life a sex toy? If I buy this gag gift, will people find it funny or offensive? If I purchase a sex toy I think my friend will like, am I making assumptions about their desires or am I being thoughtful? Holiday shopping for sex toys unfortunately comes with this set of obstacles. It’s not like buying someone a sauté pan or a candle (although we do sell the latter!). There may be certain requirements like a reaching a level of closeness and comfortability or gifting a sex toy in the right environment, like in private rather than at an office holiday party. It’s also difficult to know what the person you’re gifting will actually like and use!
Here are a few tips for gifting sex toys appropriately so that everyone feels comfortable to accept the gift of pleasure and your thoughtful gift doesn’t go to waste.
Gifting Sex Toys: Use Common Sense
You want to mainly keep two things in mind when determining if it’s suitable to gift a sex toy to someone: your relationship with that person and the kind of person they are. You could know someone for decades and be extremely comfortable with them, but that doesn’t mean they’ll appreciate a sex toy as a gift. You could know someone for six months and figure out that they’d love to be gifted a sex toy. It all just depends on who they are!
Keep in mind the conversations you’ve had with this person and what their special interests are. Also keep in mind where exactly you’ll be giving them this gift. If you’ve decided that this is a person who will appreciate being gifted a sex toy, having an appropriate environment to give it to them is key. For example, you know your best friend wants a Magic Wand, but that doesn’t they’d be okay with opening it in front of their parents at a family party or in a public place.
In short, nuance is extremely important here. But a good rule of thumb is to give pleasure-focused gifts in private so the person receiving it doesn’t have to worry about being judged or feeling uncomfortable. As for situations like gag gifts at holiday parties, we suggest keeping it simple and inexpensive with items like fuzzy handcuffs, feather ticklers, a sex card game or a blindfold. This way, there’s not a huge loss if the item doesn’t get put to use and the gifts are lighthearted enough that folks won’t make a huge deal out of it.
We also want to stress being mindful when shopping for a gag gift. For instance, there might be something you would consider a gag gift that maybe someone else would consider seriously using. Let’s use the fuzzy handcuffs example. Maybe you think they’re silly, but that doesn’t mean everyone does. It’s the same principle as ‘don’t yuck someone’s yum’. Gag gifts can be tricky because the name of this style of gift implies that something about it is ridiculous. Just tread lightly so as not to pass judgement or make fun. Gifting something with a sense of humor that is actually useful is a good trick to hover in the middle without implying anything about the person you’re giving it to or the gift itself.
Gifting Sex Toys: Don’t Make Assumptions
Another reason gifting sex toys is complicated is because you don’t want to assume what another person might be into, especially if they’ve never discussed their sexual interests with you. In the same way you don’t want to ‘yuck someone’s yum’ as said earlier, you don’t want to assume someone will like something just because you like it.
Gifting something like a sex toy kit that has multiple toys in one set is a good way to get around this, that way there are multiple things for the receiver to try out. You can also gift a sex toy that does more than one thing, like a vibrating cock ring that can be worn and used with another person or just used externally as a standard vibrator. A great equal-opportunity gift is a wand vibrator. These can be used as vibrators or as straightforward full-body massagers.
If you really want to give the gift of pleasure but are stuck on what exactly to get, you can never go wrong with a gift card to a local adult shop. That way the person can pick out something themselves and even make a nice date night out of it with their partner or have a fun night out with friends with a pitstop at the sex store.
Gifting Sex Toys: Have Fun with It!
While there are more things to keep in mind when gifting sex toys than gifting, say, a cookware or home goods, that doesn’t mean you can’t have some fun with it. Take into account the personality of the person you’re gifting the toy too. If they’re adventurous and like to take risks, get them something that will match those traits like a panty vibrator or a book about kink. If they want to experiment more with their partner, get them a toy they can use with them like a wearable vibrator or one that is app-enabled that can be controlled over long distances. If they are intuitive and calm, get them someone that allows them to indulge their senses like a massage candle or a pinwheel.
Here’s where our gift guides come in to help you determine what kinds of toys match the personalities of your loved ones so you can rest easy knowing they’ll love the toys you choose for them!
Pleasure Chest 2024 Holiday Sex Toy Gift Guides
This year, we’ve divided up some new arrivals and best sellers into four collections, each based on one of the four zodiac elements: Fire, Earth, Air and Water. Each collection is full of gifts that embody that element and is easy to match up with your partner’s, friend’s and loved one’s personalities. Is your partner intensely passionate with a fiery soul? The Fire collection is perfect for them! Are you a grounded individual who appreciates straightforwardness and practicality? You’ll find your dream sex toy in the Earth collection. Our Sex Toy Holiday Gift Guides are designed to make gifting sex toys easier, less stigmatized, more personalized and all around more fun. After all, pleasure is the gift that keeps on giving!
Holiday Sex Toy Gift Guides: Fire
The Fire signs of the zodiac are Aries, Leo and Sagittarius. They are known for their passion, contagious energy, sense of adventure and tenacious resilience in the face of defeat. The Fire signs inspire us to keep pushing and to constantly search for the good things in life. They have a playful nature and a childlike wonder about the world; they love discovering new interests and projects and dive headfirst with enthusiasm into the unknown without fear. The flip side to these admirable traits is a sense of unruliness. Fire is temperamental, after all, and it can become destructive if not wielded correctly.
Whether you like to build the heat from 0 to 100 or fan the flames all night long, the Fire Gift Guide is for you. Packed with powerful vibrators for powerful pleasure sessions, high-quality kink gear that makes a lasting impact and sensual accessories to awaken arousal, the Fire collection is made for indulging intensity and making it last. The Fire Gift Guide ticks all the boxes to make your sex life hot, hot, hot!
 We-Vibe Jive 2 |  Shots Paris Paddle |  Je Joue ILY G-Spot Wand |
 La Nua Flavors |  Strap-On-Me Unique Harness |  Tantus Spanking Cream |
Holiday Sex Toy Gift Guides: Air
The Air signs of the zodiac are Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. They are the intellectual innovators of the zodiac. They have an insatiable sense of curiosity and are typically diplomatic, adaptable and have a clever way with words. Air energy helps connect our heads to our hearts and the tangible world around us, making incredible ideas a reality and communicating emotions to better understand each other. As Air energy has much to do with information and the mind, a negative effect of not controlling this energy comes with being ‘too much in your head’. In order to find a healthy balance, Air energy needs grounding so their pioneering intellectualism can come out their heads and into the world to positively impact us all.
Ready to be blown away? The Air Gift Guide is perfect for the clever and curious player in your life who craves new and exciting adventures and isn’t afraid to tell you so. Complete with innovative suction toys, modern automatic strokers, and sleek bullet vibrators, the Air Gift Guide is a breath of fresh air with toys that stimulate the body from head to toe.
 Blush SlamBox |  Womanizer Next |  Tweak Nipple Suckers |
 Gender X Neutral Suction Vibe |  Optimum Maximum Pump |  Je Joue Vita Bullet |
Holiday Sex Toy Gift Guides: Water
The Water signs of the zodiac are Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces. They are magnetic, intense, intuitive and emotional. Feelings are the domain of the Water signs. There is a stereotype about Water energy being overly emotional and wearing their hearts on their sleeves but there’s so much more to it than that. Water is refreshing and hydrates us. Deep waters hide whatever’s at the bottom. The ocean is vast and mysterious. Water takes on whatever shape its poured into. Currents completely shape our planet’s weather. Water energy has more of an impact than simply being a vehicle for our feelings. Water sign energy helps us heal and stay connected to our inner lives, and thereby stay connected to each other.
One day you go with the flow, the next you make your own waves. The Water Gift Guide aligns with your mood no matter how you’re feeling; this collection just gets you. From anal beads and compatible lube to textured and squirting dildos and natural toy cleaner, the Water Gift Guide carries you on your pleasure journey with ease from beginning to end.
 Femme Funn Volea |  Strap-on-Me Squirting Dildo |  Arcwave Ghost Stroker |
 Tantus Rope |  Sutil Rich |  Wave Rider Dildo |
Holiday Sex Toy Gift Guides: Earth
The Earth signs of the zodiac are Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn. They are action-oriented and all about taking an idea and making it real. They always seem to know the best way of doing something and it’s to your benefit to listen to them and take notes! The stereotype that Earth signs are ‘grounded’ is rooted in truth. They admire the lofty goals of the rest of the elements but understand the importance of building slow and steadily on a solid foundation. Earth energy has a reputation for being goal oriented and realistic in an anal-retentive way, and not enough balance with the other energies of the zodiac can have this effect, but Earth signs are simply cultivators tilling the soil of their ambitions.
Stable, nurturing, practical and persistent. The Earth Gift Guide is for folks who know who they are, know what they like and know when to treat themselves to their desires. Body safe anal toys, classic wand massagers, natural lubes and fuck machines form this versatile collection that aims to please even the high standards of the Earth signs.
 Evolved Our Gyro Vibe |  Magic Wand Mini |  Pjur Aqua Aloe Vera |
 Butties Prostate Plug |  Merci Power Banger |  Under the Bed Restraints |
Happy Holidays from the Pleasure Chest!
Whether you end up doing holiday sex toy shopping for other people in your life or just for yourself, we salute you for treating yourself and/or others to the ultimate present: pleasure! It’s literally the gift that keeps on giving.
Gifting sex toys when it’s appropriate to do so helps destigmatize the use of sex toys and moves the conversation around pleasure forward so that it not only becomes more accessible for everyone across the board but also allows people to realize their right to bodily autonomy, something that’s increasingly relevant in our current political climate. That’s the goal—that everyone can feel free to express and explore their right to pleasure as well as their right to feel safe and secure in their own skin. Pleasure is just one aspect of this conversation, but an important one nonetheless.
To keep up the holiday tradition of giving, this year we’re once again handing out our annual holiday vouchers with every purchase made from Black Friday (November 29th, 2024) to New Years Eve (December 31st, 2024). Every purchase over $100 made in this time frame will receive (a) voucher(s) of certain amounts to use in-stores or online toward a future purchase. Here’s the breakdown:
Spend $100, get $10
Spend $150, get $20
Spend $200, get $30
Spend $250, get $40
Spend $300 or over, get $60
Spend $400 or over, get $80
Spend $500 or over, get $100
Spend $600 or over, get $120
Make sure to check our homepage and subscribe to our newsletter to keep up with our holiday sales as well as be notified of our upcoming workshops and what we’ve got in store for 2025!
Happy holidays, everyone!