Undertaking the Underarm: Things to Know About the Armpit Fetish

We are at a point in time where we all realize that it’s a very kinky world out there, and should it even surprise us that the armpit fetish exists? Yes, you heard it right. The armpit fetish. The unassuming body part that exists so that your arms can fold at the sides of your body is an object of sexual desire and gratification for some individuals.

What is an Armpit Fetish

Armpit fetishism, also known as Maschalagnia, is a sexual interest that focuses on people’s armpits. There are a couple of ways an armpit fetish comes about. It can be because of the physical qualities of this specific arm fold, or it can also be because of its peculiar odor. Preferences can vary for each armpit fetishist as to the specifics of their attraction – shaved, unshaved, pungence, or even color.

While this fetish isn’t entirely niche, it still isn’t as wildly accepted as big boobs, butts, or even feet fetishes. But it wasn’t always this way. A French poet named Joris-Karl Huysmans wrote an essay called ‘The Armpit’ in 1880. It endeavored to speak about the “exquisite and divine scent prepared by the women of our cities, wherever they get overheated.” In 1914, the writer James Joyce (also known for his lamentations of the sexual appeal of farts – in short, he was a fart fetishist) wrote a semi-biographical short story titled ‘Giacomo Joyce’. Joyce described the bliss of armpit licking while “soft sucking lips kiss my left armpit… from my right armpit a fang of flame leaps out.”

The ease at which you can see and smell armpits adds to the appeal. Scent is a large factor in the armpit fetish community. An account from 1899 outlined the case wherein a man would stick his hands under the short-sleeved shirts of unsuspecting women and take a hearty sniff as he walked away.

Do not mistake this love for the smell of the armpit for an attraction to people’s body odor. According to fetishists, the armpits have a stronger smell than the resort of the body. Like a concentration of pheromones. 

The Science Behind the Armpit Fetish

Pheromones play a large role in sexual attraction. This awareness is key in understanding why musky armpits can arouse some lusty thoughts. Things like exercise and physical activity cause us to sweat through endocrine glands. But the armpit in particular has the presence of apocrine sweat glands that deliver odors – especially during sex when partners get close to the chest and neck. While there are many different causes of sweating, the apocrine glands are activated in response to mental and emotional states – potentially including sexual arousal.

A whiff of the armpit scent during sex enables unconscious communication with their sexual partner. However, because of society’s push for strong deodorants that don’t allow natural scents to come through, research on humans is inconclusive. 

Types of Armpit Fetish

There are a couple of ways armpit fetishes can manifest. Here are a few of the common ones that get enthusiasts excited.

1Visual Appreciator

Whether from a distance or up close, the visual of armpits gets these types of armpit fetishists excited. Just seeing armpits is all you need to feel sexually aroused and sated.

2The Sniffer

Sniffers can’t help themselves, they just want to get a whiff. The intoxicating scent of someone’s armpits leaves them in a heady high. The concentration of pheromones and pure unadulterated scent of their skin has become their addiction and they just can’t get enough.

While some Sniffers like it when the armpit stench is a combination of sweat and musk, some prefer to smell the underarms straight from the shower when it’s clean and fresh.

3Texture Aficionado

Some people like the textures that armpits have. While the beauty industry likes to promote the baby-butt smooth baldness of a shaven armpit, the armpit fetish community actually finds it a bit creepy and too child-like.

Some members of the community prefer armpits to be unshaven (this also helps make the scent stronger). There are some that enjoy little amounts of stubble because it creates a different type of sensation when hands are run across the skin.

4Color Crazed

If you’ve ever been self-conscious about the color of your underarms, you needn’t have to worry. There are some people in the armpit-loving community that prefer darker underarms, while there are some that prefer lighter underarms. Some even like the underarms they adore to be tattooed.

5Axillism

This is when it gets really sexual. Aside from just being turned on at the idea of armpits, axillism is when you use the armpit for sex, much like you’d the vagina or anus. There are individuals that enjoy thrusting in and out of the folded armpit and individuals that enjoy having their armpit thrust in and out of.

Ways to Explore Your Armpit Fetish

Now you know what there is to know about this underarm fascination, here are a couple of things you can look into to explore this fetish and see what else about this fetish piques your interest.

1Take pictures of armpits.

While your memory is great when trying to recall things you love about your partner, especially parts you particularly love which in this case are their armpits, a picture can be a great thing to have. Instead of sending each other full-body nudes, you or your partner might prefer sending each other snapshots of your underarms.

2Sniff their armpits.

As we mentioned earlier, smell is a big component of the appeal of armpits. Take the time to really get your nose in there and revel in the uncensored scent of your partner’s underarms. You can time it so that they’re clean and fresh out of the shower, or when they’re extra sweaty and heated from an exhausting workout.

Ask your partner to tell you when their pits are ready for your nostril’s enjoyment. Also, make sure that they’re comfortable letting you do so. Some people can be more self-conscious about their body odors, and you have to remember that if they aren’t comfortable, you shouldn’t be forcing them to accommodate your fetishes.

3Lick and kiss their armpits.

You may find that you like the taste of your partner’s underarms. Or you may just enjoy kissing and licking any available skin on your partner during sex, so why skip the armpits? Swirl and suck on your partner’s armpits during foreplay. You can even treat it like you would the labia during cunnilingus.

4Explore axillism.

We mentioned axillism earlier. Maybe it’s time you try it. Allowing the giving partner to use the other’s armpit as the sex hole can bring you closer together as you bond over a new experience. Remember to apply enough lubricant so that it’s comfortable for both of you.

The big advantage of getting your armpit penetrated instead of your vagina or anus is that you are safe from sexually transmitted diseases or even pregnancy scares even if you don’t use condoms or birth control pills or any other type of contraceptive.

5Shave your partner’s armpits.

Just like undressing your partner to reveal more skin can be extremely arousing, so can shaving your partner’s armpit. Incorporate it into your foreplay. Maybe while you have a sultry shower with your partner, you can ask them if you can shave their underarms for them.

How to Perform the Armpit Fetish

Now that we’ve given you ideas on how to explore the armpit fetish with your partner, here are a couple more pointers you may want to take into consideration before delving into any of the activities.

1Make sure to communicate with your partner.

Understand that having an armpit fetish can still be stigmatized by others. Depending on the nature of your armpit fetish, you may get away with a little underarm action with your sneaky links every now and then. With a long-term partner, though, they may start to notice your inclination towards their underarms.

Have a clear conversation with your partner about your armpit fetish so that you can both have a healthy and fulfilling sex life. Sharing your kinks with your partner allows them to please you and opens the door for them to share their own kinks with you. Sex should always incorporate open communication between partners so that it’s not only fun but honest and authentic.

2Take your time.

Just because you or your partner understands that there is an armpit fetishist in your relationship doesn’t mean that you have to engage in the most extreme activities that cater to maschalagnia. You can just start off by simply sniffing your partner’s underarms. If that still makes your partner uncomfortable, you can go even gentler and stick your hand in your partner’s underarm and sniff whatever smell is left on your hand.

As you continue on your underarm undertaking, you can become more adventurous in your endeavors.

3Take inspiration from porn.

If you’re looking for more ways or ideas on how to explore the world of underarms, pornography can be a great source. While you shouldn’t rely on pornography for realistic depictions of sex and fetishes, there is some truth to some of the scenes they act out. So take the idea and adjust it so that it caters to you and your partner’s needs and wants. The more knowledge you have, the better the experience can be.

4Make sure your timing is right.

When exploring new kinks, you don’t want to get into it unprepared, and you don’t want to just surprise your partner with it if they aren’t in the mood. Both you and your partner should think things through, weigh the pros and cons and see how catering to this kink might possibly affect your relationship.

5Ensure that you’re safe and protected.

While there is no risk of pregnancy, open wounds from freshly shaved or waxed armpits can still be vulnerable to infections and STIs. Make sure that there are no cuts and scratches on the underarms. Stubble can also be abrasive to the sensitive skin of the penis, so ensuring that you protect the shaft from irritation is another factor to consider. Use ample amounts of lubricant and use a condom if necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

While we have tackled a lot of information regarding armpit fetishes, there may be some we overlooked. Here are some questions and answers that can shed a little more light on the subject.

1How do I know if I have an armpit fetish?

This sexual awakening can be different for everyone, but some of the markers to look out for is if you become excited at the thought of sniffing armpits. You may also find yourself being attracted to sweat stains or body odor. You may find yourself constantly looking at other people’s armpits and wanting to be close to them. There’s no one way to have a fetish, so identifying it as such is up to your discretion.

1Do people prefer giving or receiving armpit play?

It all comes down to preference and how you define the giving and receiving in this situation. Aside from the actual ‘penetration’ of the armpit, it’s pretty difficult to identify who is on the giving or on the receiving end. Especially when the armpit play has more to do with enjoying the odor than anything physical.

1How can I bring up my armpit fetish with my partner?

Some people prefer to wait a couple of months into the relationship before bringing up their fascination with the underarm. Others will just let their partners notice on their own that they like to smell or kiss the armpits more than any other part of the body. Some are extremely direct and just tell their partners from the get-go. So again, this is all up to you and your comfort level with your partner.

1What reactions should I expect when I express my armpit fetish to my partner?

Some partners will take it lightly and just laugh and accept your fetish, while others may want to have a bit of a lengthier discussion. While other emotions like surprise and confusion are to be expected, some people may be disgusted. That said, no matter what their initial reaction, as long as they respect and understand your fetish at the end of the day, then you’re all okay.

1Should I be ashamed of my armpit fetish?

No. As long as you enjoy your fetish with consenting adults, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.

Takeaway

Armpit fetishes are not as uncommon as you may think, people just don’t talk about it as often because it is still considered taboo. Something to realize though is that until people started talking about the female sexual experience, women’s pleasure was also considered an illicit topic.

Talking about these fetishes can introduce you to people who have the same interests and new possible sex partners that understand your kinks, too.