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What are the different types of lubricants and how should they be used with sex toys?

July 8, 2026 Cliterally Obsessed · Madeline Dorian

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There are four main lubricant types: water-based, silicone-based, hybrid, and oil-based — and each comes with specific compatibility rules for toys and condoms. Water-based lubricant is the safest all-around choice: it works with every toy material, every condom, and is the easiest to clean up. When in doubt, reach for Sutil, the water-based formula Madeline Dorian recommends as the single most versatile option on the market.

Four lubricant types — and why compatibility with your toy material is non-negotiable

Water-based lubricants are compatible with all sex toy materials, all condom types, and tend to be the gentlest on sensitive tissue. Dorian is specific about formulation: look for options that are glycerin-free, paraben-free, and pH balanced. Glycerin in particular can disrupt vaginal flora, so reading labels matters — as she explains in Cliterally Obsessed.

Silicone-based lubricants last significantly longer than water-based formulas and require no reapplication during extended use. The critical caveat: they degrade silicone toy materials over time, causing the surface to break down and potentially harbor bacteria. If your toy is made from silicone — which includes most premium vibrators — silicone lube is off the table.

Hybrid lubricants are primarily water-based with a small percentage of silicone blended in for added longevity. They offer a middle ground: longer-lasting than a pure water base, but with much lower silicone content than a full silicone formula. Wicked Wanda's sells the hybrid brand Fuck Water — including a 4-liter format, a clear indicator of how consistently in-demand this category is, a detail Dorian shares in the episode.

Oil-based lubricants are the most limited in application. They are incompatible with latex condoms — they degrade the material and compromise barrier protection — and they are significantly harder to clean from toy surfaces. They can also be difficult to wash from fabric, making post-use cleanup more involved.

Sutil, Uber Lube, Fuck Water — the brands Dorian names from behind the counter

After more than 13 years in intimate retail at Wicked Wanda's, Dorian doesn't traffic in vague recommendations. She names Sutil as her top pick for an all-purpose water-based lubricant — a product that covers most use cases without the formulation concerns she flags (glycerin, parabens, pH imbalance). For those who want the longevity of silicone without fully committing, Uber Lube is a well-regarded silicone-based option — provided the toys in use are not made from silicone.

These aren't theoretical preferences. Dorian consults with healthcare professionals and individuals daily through Cliterally Obsessed's guest platform and through Wicked Wanda's floor, where lubricant is consistently the store's number one most purchased product category. The recommendations come from real-world pattern recognition, not brand partnerships.

"I started working in the store in an official capacity and I just fell in love. I fell in love with the customers, the conversations, and then the whole entrepreneurship side as well."