The world of kinks and fetishes spans far and wide. As more people adopt a sex-positive mindset, openly discussing fetishes and sexual preferences is becoming more common. A recent study showed that some of the most common fetishes include BDSM and roleplaying, cuckolding, and feet!
Of all the body part fetishes, foot fetishes reign supreme. Also known as podophilia, a foot fetish describes a sexual attraction to feel and food-related items. These may include shoes, socks, stockings, and foot jewelry.
Foot fetish exploration doesn’t end there. It’s about more than just looking at feet. Some fetishists enjoy touching, rubbing, and even licking or kissing feet. Then there’s another group of foot fetishists that get off on the natural aroma of feet. And that’s the focus of today’s article.
Keep reading to learn more about “What is a foot smelling fetish?” including popular scents and suggestions for exploring this foot fetish subcategory.
What is a Foot Smelling Fetish?
As the name suggests, a foot smelling fetish is when someone becomes sexually aroused by the smell of another person’s feet. This could be both foul and pleasant smells. For example, some people with a foot smelling fetish love the scent of someone’s dirty or sweaty feet following a long walk or workout. For these fetishists, the smellier, the better. One study suggests that 45% of people with a foot fetish are also aroused by smelling stinky feet or socks. Other people prefer a nice-smelling foot fresh out of the shower or following a pedicure or foot massage.
A foot smelling fetish is often more about the intimacy and/or humiliation that comes from smelling feet than it is about the scent itself. Getting close enough to someone’s foot to inhale their aroma and then becoming sexually aroused by it is an extremely intimate and vulnerable act. The person on the receiving end of your sniffing may also get excited by having your face and nose close to their little piggies.
Humiliation play and domination are also popular aspects of a foot smelling fetish – and foot fetishes in general. These types of fetishists are turned on by being dominated and humiliated. For example, being forced to remove their partner’s smelly, sweaty socks and whiff the unpleasant aroma. The dominant may even go as far as to demand the submissive lick their feet and toes clean. These acts of humiliation are all part of the appeal for someone with this type of foot smelling fetish.
What Causes a Foot Smelling Fetish?
No one knows the specific cause of fetishes, but there are plenty of studies and claims floating around the kink community. Foot fetishes, in particular, have been studied extensively, and here are some of the most widely accepted theories.
Science and Biology
One major belief is that the human brain is hardwired for foot fetishes. According to neuroscientist Vilayanur Ramachandran, the area of the brain that processes sensations in the feet is close to the area responsible for genital stimulation. When these wires cross, a person may experience sexual arousal when their feet are stimulated. This includes touching, tickling, and even smelling!
Positive Sexual Experiences
Most people vividly remember their first sexual encounter or, at minimum, their first amazing orgasm. If these early sexual experiences had anything to do with feet, you may be predisposed to developing a foot fetish. Your brain may subconsciously associate positive sexual encounters and pleasure with feet – so much so that you may need to indulge your foot fetish to achieve orgasm. This may morph into a foot smelling fetish if there was a certain scent or aroma present during this memorable sexual episode.
The Power of Smell
Your sense of smell is extremely strong when it comes to retrieving memories. If you’ve ever smelled a familiar fragrance and been transported back to childhood, you know this to be true. People have a stronger emotional memory connected with odor than the other senses because the olfactory system is deeply connected to the limbic system. Both the amygdala and hippocampus (located in the central brain) are involved with retrieving emotional memories and regulating emotions.
When you smell something (like a stinky foot), it automatically triggers an emotional response related to past experiences. A certain fragrance of soap, perfume, dirty socks, or smelly feet could bring you back to a fond memory that feeds into your foot smelling fetish, allowing you to relive that moment of extreme pleasure.
Humiliation and Domination
Nearly 65% of women and 54% of men have fantasized about being dominated sexually. There’s something universally appealing about relinquishing power to someone else and being completely vulnerable. Another study indicated that as much as 70% of people found aggressive and humiliating sexual play desirable.
Some people develop foot smelling fetishes because they enjoy being forced to smell unpleasant things like old socks, sweaty shoes, and dirty feet. This type of domination play can include the submissive bowing down to the dominant’s feet (literally), removing their socks and shoes, and having the dirty feet and toes pressed into their face, nose, or mouth. A foot smelling fetish can also be incorporated into sex, where the dominant forces the submissive to smell their feet during intercourse by using some of the best sex positions for foot fetishes.
A Fascination with Dirty Feet
Although many people love a clean, smooth foot, others are drawn to visibly dirty feet. For those with a foot smelling fetish, the appearance of a dirty foot also suggests that it’s smelly, and vice versa. Not all dirty feet stink, and not all smelly feet are dirty, but these two fetishes tend to overlap. Dirty feet may also indicate hard work or time spent outdoors, which adds another level of appeal for some people. Fetishists who enjoy foot worship may also get off on washing, massaging, or manicuring someone’s dirty feet.
Tips and Tricks for Exploring a Foot Smelling Fetish
There’s often no rhyme or reason when it comes to fetishes. While some fixations can be explained by science or the past, others develop out of sexual maturity, exploration, and pure desire.
Whether you have a foot smelling fetish or simply want to learn more about this stinky yet satisfying kink, check out these tips and tricks for getting started.
Give Your Own Feet a Whiff
If you’re not ready to stick your nose between someone else’s toes or in their shoes, you don’t have to. Start by giving your own feet a little sniff. The next time you slip off your sneakers after the gym or a particularly long day outdoors, bring them up to your nose and inhale. Some people aren’t bothered by the smell of their own bodily odors but are highly offended by someone else’s stench. So, start by getting used to your own aroma first.
Experiment with Different Scents
People with foot smelling fetishes have a variety of preferences when it comes to stenches. Some people are attracted to stinky feet that smell like cheese, rotten eggs, and other unpleasant odors. Other people love smelling feet, but only if they’re clean and smell like soap, flowers, or something sweet. Experiment with different fragrances and see which one arouses you the most.
Sniff Socks and Shoes
Does getting up close and personal with someone’s feet freak you out? If you want to explore a foot smelling fetish but aren’t quite ready to dive in nose first, start by smelling socks and shoes. These items hold the person’s smelly scent just as well – if not better – than the foot itself. Ask your partner to slip off their socks, stockings, or stilettos and give those items a whiff before trying nose-to-toe contact.
Get a Whiff of This: Foot Smelling Fetishes Explained
With 1 in 7 people having a foot fetish, it’s no surprise that foot smelling is a favorite pastime of many people. The body’s olfactory sense is extremely strong and evokes powerful emotions – including sexual arousal!
If you’re curious about foot fetishes, click here to browse the rest of our blog. If you’re a self-proclaimed foot lover and want to start a sexy side hustle, get started now!
