Some people really, really like the sensation of cold. In fact, I’ve known many people who enjoy bringing ice cubes into the bedroom; the next logical step up, I think, is to make sex toys out of ice.
This is actually very easy to do. With only a few supplies you probably already have lying around, you can make a simple dildo from ice. You can use it the way one would normally use a dildo; being penetrated by ice offers an intense sensation that some people really like. Or, you can use it the way you’d use a more conventional ice cube, running it over and across your body (or your partner’s).
I’ve heard of people making frozen sex toys out of things like Kool-Aide or fruit juice. Generally speaking, it’s wise not to use anything containing sugar internally; in some women, this can lead to rather unpleasant yeast infections. Sticking with plain water for this sort of thing is best.
Always run an ice cube or ice dildo under cool tap water before you use it for penetration. Make sure the surface of the ice has started to melt. This prevents it from freezing any moisture on any part of your body it may touch; you don’t want the “tongue frozen to a cold metal bar” effect, particularly in parts of your body more sensitive than your tongue!
Moving beyond the basics: How to make an ice dildo
What you’ll need
A condom, a cardboard tube, a pair of scissors, and a freezer, and you’re set!
If you and your lover like using ice, you can create your own sex toys made of ice just by using a condom, water, and some ingenuity.
Start with the cardboard tube from a roll of paper towels. With a pair of scissors, cut the tube lengthwise all the way down its length. Roll the tube to the diameter you’d like the finished dildo to be, and wrap tape around it to hold it at that size. Take a condom and put it into the top of the cardboard tube, and then overlap the top half inch or so of the condom around the edge of the tube as shown:
You can use a lubricated or unlubricated condom. If you use a lubricated condom, avoid spermicidally lubricated ones, because the spermicidal lubricant can get funky when it freezes.
Carefully fill the condom to the top with water. Stand the tube upright in the freezer, and wait a few hours. You can probably find all kinds of things to do to entertain yourself while you’re waiting.
In a few hours, the water will freeze. Remove the tube from the freezer. Carefully lift the top edge of the condom from around the tube and tie it in a knot to keep the water from leaking out as the ice melts. Then cut the tape holding the tube closed and remove the ice dildo.
When you’re finished, the ice dildo should look like the one shown below. If you like, you can take extra steps to make a fancier dildo by doing things to the cardboard tube before you place the condom in it. For example, if you take thick cord and wrap it in a spiral on the inside of the tube, the finished ice dildo will have a spiral ridge in it. If you take a small sheet of bubble wrap cut to the same width as the inside circumference of the tube and slide it into the tube before you put the condom in it, the finished ice dildo will have a dimpled, textured surface.
Use the dildo without removing it from the condom; as the ice melts, it will create a layer of water inside the condom that creates a very interesting sensation.
Remember, always run the ice dildo under cool water before you use it. This removes any frost from its surface and starts the outer edge of the ice melting. You don’t want to use ice internally until it has started to melt and has a thin layer of water on its surface, or the ice may freeze to your skin.
Want your ice cubes or ice dildos to look better? If you boil water and then let it cool before freezing it, the ice will be transparent rather than cloudy.
Cloudiness in ice cubes is the result of dissolved air in the water, which is displaced and forms thousands of tiny bubbles when the water freezes. Boiling the water drives out the dissolved air, which produces ice that is transparent when it freezes.
If you want to get more fancy still, you can use a dildo-shaped ice mold to create frozen dildos. For the greatest level of personalization, the same kits that let you create a dildo from a person’s penis can also be used to create an ice dildo; simply fill the mold, once it’s made, with water instead of the provided rubber material. (Depending on your partner’s shape, it may be necessary to modify the mold after it’s made by carving out any undercuts to help the ice dildo slide out more easily.)
Safety Precautions You Need to Know
Temperature play with ice is thrilling, but it comes with real risks if you don’t take precautions. Ice can cause frostbite-like injuries to delicate genital tissue — the same tissue that has thin skin and high blood flow, making it especially vulnerable to cold damage. Here’s how to enjoy ice play safely.
Never use ice that’s straight from the freezer on sensitive skin. Ice at 0°F (-18°C) or below can damage tissue within seconds. Instead, let the ice sit at room temperature for two to three minutes until the surface begins to melt and develops a wet glaze. This thin water layer acts as a thermal buffer between the ice and skin. You can also run it under lukewarm water briefly. If the ice feels like it’s sticking to your skin, it’s too cold — that sticking is the early stage of tissue damage.
Keep ice moving at all times. Holding a piece of ice stationary against skin — especially thin-skinned areas like the nipples, labia, or clitoral hood — can cause localized frostbite in under a minute. Glide it continuously. Use long, sweeping motions rather than holding in one spot. If using an ice dildo internally, never leave it stationary inside the body. The vaginal and rectal walls are mucous membranes that are even more susceptible to cold injury than external skin.
If making an ice dildo, use only clean, filtered water and a body-safe mold. The condom-over-a-test-tube method is popular, but ensure the condom is non-lubricated (spermicidal lubricant plus internal cold is a recipe for irritation). Smooth all edges and check for rough spots or cracks before use — ice can have sharp ridges that would scratch delicate tissue. Round the tip. Any sharp point concentrates cold into a small area, increasing injury risk. And always use a water-based lubricant on the outside — ice alone creates too much friction against mucous membranes as it melts unevenly.
Time limits matter. External ice play should be limited to brief passes of a few seconds per area, with breaks in between. Internal ice play (ice dildos) should be limited to 5-10 minutes total, with frequent check-ins about numbness or pain. If your partner reports numbness, remove the ice immediately — numbness means the tissue is too cold to register pain signals, and continuing risks real damage. Have a warm, damp towel nearby to warm any area that feels numb.
Variations on Temperature Play
Ice is just the entry point to temperature play. Once you’re comfortable with cold sensation, an entire world of hot-cold contrast play opens up that exponentially increases the intensity.
The classic hot-cold alternation: take a sip of ice water, then go down on your partner. After a minute, switch to a sip of warm (not hot) tea or coffee, then continue. The alternating temperatures cause vasodilation and vasoconstriction — blood vessels expanding and contracting — which dramatically heightens nerve sensitivity. After three or four alternations, even a normal-temperature touch will feel intensely vivid because the nerves are so activated.
Warm massage candles are the heat counterpart to ice play. These are specifically formulated candles that melt at a low temperature (around 120°F/49°C) — much cooler than regular candle wax, which melts at 130-180°F and can burn skin. When dripped from about 12-18 inches above the body, the wax cools slightly in the air and lands as a warm, spreading sensation rather than a sharp sting. Following warm wax with an ice cube traced along the same path creates an almost electric contrast that most people find addictive.
Glass and steel toys are excellent for temperature play because they hold temperature well and transfer it efficiently to skin. Run a glass dildo under warm water for two minutes, then use it. Halfway through, switch to one that’s been sitting in a bowl of ice water. The thermal mass of glass or steel means it maintains its temperature much longer than ice alone, providing sustained warm or cool sensation rather than a brief flash. Many couples keep two glass toys — one in warm water, one in cold — and alternate throughout the session.
Menthol and warming lubricants offer temperature sensation without actual temperature change. Cooling lubes containing menthol or mint activate the same cold-receptors in your skin that ice does, creating a tingling cold sensation at room temperature. Warming lubes typically use capsaicin or cinnamon derivatives to activate heat receptors. These are useful when you want temperature play without the logistics of ice and candles. Start with small amounts on less sensitive areas — some people find these lubricants irritating, especially the warming varieties, if applied directly to mucous membranes without testing first.
Other DIY Sensation Toys
You don’t need to spend money at a specialty store to add new sensations to your bedroom. Some of the most effective sensation tools are household items used creatively.
A metal chain necklace dragged slowly across skin provides a unique sensation — the weight of the chain combined with the temperature of metal (which quickly warms to body temperature) creates a slithering, heavy feeling that’s distinct from fingers or fabric. Drape it across your partner’s stomach, between breasts, along the inner thighs. The sound of chain links also adds an auditory element that plays into dominance and submission dynamics if that’s something you enjoy.
A silicone spatula or wooden spoon makes an effective and surprisingly safe impact toy. Silicone provides a broad, thuddy sensation similar to a paddle; wood delivers a sharper sting. Start gently — a light tap on the buttocks or thighs to gauge sensitivity — and increase force only with clear consent. The advantage of kitchen implements is that they’re easy to clean, readily available, and can be tested on your own forearm first to calibrate how hard you’re actually hitting. What feels like a light tap to your arm may feel much more intense on a partner’s thigh.
Electric toothbrushes (used externally) provide targeted vibration that rivals purpose-built toys. The small oscillating head delivers focused stimulation to the clitoris, nipples, frenulum, or perineum. Use it through a thin layer of fabric for a diffused sensation or directly on skin for intensity. This is genuinely one of the most common “secret toys” people report using — it’s discreet, inexpensive, and surprisingly effective. A new, dedicated toothbrush head that’s never been used for teeth is obviously the way to go here.
Clothespins are a classic DIY sensation toy for those interested in mild pain play. Applied to the nipples, earlobes, or labia, they create a steady pinching pressure that intensifies over time as blood flow is restricted. The real sensation comes when they’re removed — the rush of blood back into the compressed tissue creates an intense wave of feeling. Start with padded clothespins (wrap the tips in soft fabric secured with a rubber band) and limit wear time to 5-10 minutes maximum. Longer than that risks tissue damage from restricted circulation. Always remove them slowly and follow with gentle rubbing to restore blood flow.
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