You may have thought that hearing a partner pass gas is an instant romance killer.
But not for everyone. For many, the opposite is true, new data shows.
The smelly habit is now the the second most popular sexual fetish in the world, according to a global report.
Researchers from kink and fetish platform Clips4Sale analyzed search data and sales related to popular fetishes.
They found that while slavery was prevalent worldwide, searches for passing gas increased 430 percent in the past year, while sales of related paraphernalia increased 40 percent.
Being turned on by farts is a sign of olfactophilia, or being sexually aroused by odors emanating from the body. The subgroup that is specifically interested in farts is called eprotophilia
Researchers found that while slavery was prevalent worldwide, searches for passing gas increased by 430 percent in the past year, while sales increased by 40 percent
In the US, UK, Australia and Canada, the fetish remains number two behind bondage, although farting took the top spot in Brazil and Portugal.
Although it has recently gained popularity, scientists estimate that the sound and smell of flatulence has been a turn-on for decades.
Avery Martin, a spokesperson for Clips4Sale, said the disgusting habit started gaining traction in February 2020 and then steadily increased.
“Maybe it was the shutdown, or maybe the loss of smell that so many experienced with early Covid-19,” Martin said. “You can’t deny its power!”
That year sales increased by 50 percent.
Being turned on by farts is a sign of olfactophilia, or being sexually aroused by odors emanating from the body. The subgroup that is specifically interested in farts is called eprotophilia.
It is unclear exactly how many people have experienced eproctophilia, although a select number of case studies have been published on the subject.
A 2013 report published in APA PsychNet described the case of Brad (not his real name), a single, bisexual 22-year-old man living in Illinois. His parents divorced when he was six, although he had a relatively normal childhood.
However, when he was about 16 or 17, a male friend farted in front of him. “It was quite attractive sonically, and I found myself fixated by it,” Brad told British psychologist Dr. Mark Griffiths.
“At first I didn’t want to admit that I liked his farts, but eventually I decided to experiment.”
“I made a bet at one point and deliberately lost, where the bet was the right to fart in the loser’s face for a week.”
“I continued to lose such bets once every few weeks for about two years.” Brad also noted that he liked “everything about it,” although he was most attracted to the “biting sulfur smell.”
Additionally, a 22 year old straight man told Jason (not his real name). Shame in 2018 that his first farting fantasies started around the age of six.
“I remember not being allowed to use the word ‘fart’ when I was little, so that probably made it feel even more taboo or forbidden to me,” he said.
And Fabio (not his real name), a 37-year-old straight man from Brazil, told Vice that although he is heterosexual, he is exclusively attracted to male farts.
When he was five years old, Fabio’s cousin playfully punched his face in gas.
“He didn’t know I was close to his butt to appreciate it, and his fart made my dreams come true,” Fabio said.
According to Sarah Berry, a sex and relationship therapist, the fetish often arises when someone is exposed to this type of gas in a heightened environment.
“Farts are generally considered funny, gross and/or embarrassing,” she told Vice.
“Any experience that worsens any of these responses can give rise to farting as a sexual preference.”
According to Clips4Sale’s research, the top kink is still bondage, where a sexual partner is tied up or restrained.
Other popular fetishes include masochism (pleasure from pain or humiliation), facesitting, and foot fetishes.