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In the photo above, you can see the exact delay sprays I’ve tried and will be discussing in this review. From left to right: Fortacin, Edge, Dynamo Delay, Promescent, Stud 100, KY-Duration.
If you suffer from premature ejaculation, using a delay spray is a simple and immediate way to deal with the problem. In a nutshell, they work by reducing how sensitive your penis is, which is one of the main reasons many men find it difficult to last as long as they’d like to.
If you’re new to delay sprays, here’s an outline of the steps involved:
- Read the instructions as they don’t all work the same way.
- Spray a small amount on your penis head.
- Rub it in.
- Wipe off any excess.
- Wash your hands.
- Wait 5-10 minutes for it to take effect (depending on the spray)
- Have sex, hopefully for longer than usual.
Now, from personal experience, while delay sprays can be a game-changer, they aren’t a guaranteed magic bullet for everyone. Not all men have premature ejaculation purely because of physical sensitivity.
However, if you suspect that sensitivity is playing a role or you’re just curious about a readily available solution, delay sprays might be worth a shot.
It’s also important to understand that they aren’t an outright cure for premature ejaculation. You’ll need to use the spray each time you have sex if you want the effect.
Finally, I recommend doing some testing on your own first to find out if one, two, three, or more sprays is the right dosage for you. If you start out with too many sprays, you can numb your penis too much, potentially affecting erection quality until it wears off. And nobody wants that.
I’ve tried more than fifteen different desensitizing sprays, gels, and creams over the years, and have had good results with many of them.
As you can probably imagine, some are better than others – usually in terms of the smell, residue, numbing effect, and side effects. So in this article, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the best delay sprays currently available.
1. Promescent
- Ingredients: lidocaine 10%
- Application: metered pump spray
- Large & small bottle bundle price: $79.95
In my opinion, Promescent is the most effective of the many delay sprays I’ve tested over the years. It ticks the right boxes in terms of ease of use, reliability, and lack of side effects.
During the time in my life when I was most struggling with premature ejaculation, Promescent enabled me to consistently last between 10 and 20 minutes. This was a significant improvement from the previous 1 to 5 minutes, and it made a big difference to my confidence in bed.
It’s designed to ensure quick absorption into the skin, effectively numbing sensitivity while minimizing any impact on erection strength. There’s no sticky residue, as it absorbs very well into the skin once you’ve rubbed it in.
The rapid absorption also means you can conveniently apply it just 5 to 10 minutes before engaging in foreplay or sex. Importantly, it can be used during oral sex and is compatible with or without a condom.
It has a metered pump, which I think is essential with these sprays. It makes it much easier to apply a similar amount each time when compared to sprays and gels that don’t use a metered pump.
The main downside is that Promescent is one of the most expensive delay sprays. If you’re on a tight budget, one of the lower-cost sprays coming up next might be worth trying instead.
But based on my personal experience, I recommend giving Promescent a go if you’re looking for the highest quality delay spray and aren’t limited by budget.
Read my full Promescent review
2. Dynamo Delay
- Ingredients: Lidocaine 13%
- Application: metered pump spray
- Bottle price: $11.99
Dynamo Delay is made by the adult toy company Screaming O and is one of the most potent lower-priced delay sprays I’ve tried.
With a lidocaine content of 13% USP, it contains some serious numbing power. This can be useful if you’ve found you need larger quantities to achieve the desired effect.
However, if you’re new to desensitizing sprays or have experienced erection difficulties in the past, I recommend starting with just one spray.
Dynamo Delay has a convenient metered pump, like Promescent, which will help you apply a consistent dosage.
The spray takes effect swiftly, typically within 5 to 10 minutes. It can be safely used for both oral sex and intercourse, although some men may experience mild tingling sensations, which I found to be less pronounced compared to other sprays.
My only criticism is that the potent numbing effect can become problematic if you apply too much. Personally, using three sprays made me overly numb, so it’s important not to exceed the recommended amount.
All in all, if you’re looking for an affordable and potent desensitizing spray, Dynamo Delay is a solid choice to consider.
Read my full Dynamo Delay review
3. Stud 100
- Ingredients: lidocaine 9.6%
- Application: metered pump spray
- Bottle price: Usually around $12
Similar to Promescent and Dynamo, Stud 100 uses lidocaine to create the numbing effect. It has a metered pump, allowing for consistent application with each use. It also takes effect quickly and can be safely used during oral sex, provided any excess spray is wiped off beforehand.
In my experience, Stud 100 helped me prolong my performance by several minutes during intercourse. Once I found the right dosage, it proved to be an effective and user-friendly spray.
However, like all sprays, the main potential drawback is the need for some trial and error to determine the optimal dosage. Until then, the results may be ineffective or too strong, impacting erection quality or pleasure.
On the positive side, I only experienced a mild tingling sensation, which was tolerable. Additionally, there were no issues with the spray transferring to my partner.
When it comes down to it, the difference between these initial three brands boils down to the lidocaine quantity and how well the spray is absorbed by the skin.
Personally, I prefer Promescent due to its excellent absorption and usability. Dynamo is a good option if you need the strongest possible effect. And Stud 100 is worth trying if you’re looking for an affordable spray to try out.
4. K-Y Duration
- Ingredients: spray: lidocaine 9.6%. Gel: benzocaine 7%
- Application: spray or gel depending on which you use
- Bottle price: Usually under $20
K-Y Duration is one of the very few desensitizing sprays that are made by a well-established brand. It comes in both spray and gel versions, although the purpose of both is essentially the same, which can be a bit confusing.
In my experience, the spray version of K-Y Duration is quite similar to other lidocaine sprays I’ve tried. It works effectively when the correct dosage is applied, but once again, using just one or two sprays too many can lead to excessive numbness.
One aspect that puzzled me is that K-Y advises against using a condom with the spray version, despite having the same active ingredient as other brands that don’t issue such a warning. For me, this restriction is a significant drawback.
However, the gel version of K-Y Duration contains benzocaine instead and is compatible with latex condoms. I found the gel to be considerably less potent though, requiring multiple applications to achieve even a mild effect.
Despite these limitations, I included both versions in this review for two reasons. Firstly, some men may be unable to use lidocaine, making K-Y Duration gel one of the few available benzocaine alternatives, even if its effect is relatively mild.
Secondly, K-Y provides clear instructions and safety advice, which is useful when applying a product to sensitive areas. The lack of instructions is common with lesser-known brands, so I appreciate the attention to detail from K-Y here.
A couple of additional points worth mentioning for both versions are that they can be used during oral sex and have only a subtle scent. Considering their relatively fast-acting nature, both the spray and gel are worth considering if you’re exploring different options in sprays and gels.
Read my full K-Y Duration review
5. Fortacin
- Ingredients: lidocaine (7.5 mg per spray), prilocaine (2.5 mg per spray)
- Application: metered pump spray
- Only available on prescription
Fortacin, also known as Tempe and PSD502, gained significant attention a few years ago when clinical trials demonstrated its ability to help men last six times longer. The news widely reported an increase from an average of 0.6 minutes to 3.6 minutes.
In my personal experience, Fortacin works very quickly, with the numbing effect noticeable within just five minutes. And it helped extend my endurance by several minutes when I used it.
Similar to the previous sprays, Fortacin has a convenient metered pump for consistent dosage. It can be used safely during oral sex and is compatible with both latex condoms and unprotected sex.
However, one drawback I encountered is that it creates a hot tingling sensation, even with smaller doses. Although not a deal-breaker, I found it slightly more uncomfortable compared to sprays that solely utilize lidocaine.
On a positive note, Fortacin has undergone extensive clinical trials, which most other over-the-counter delay sprays I’ve tested haven’t. It’s been approved as a safe and effective product by the European Medicines Agency, which is again uncommon with these products.
It’s important to note that Fortacin is currently available only in the United Kingdom and certain other European countries, either by prescription or online. Availability may vary depending on your specific region. Unfortunately, it’s not yet available in the United States.
6. Edge Delay Gel
- Ingredients: ginkgo biloba, ginseng, horny goat weed, velvet bean, and uncaria gambir.
- Application: gel
- Price: Usually under $25
Edge Delay Gel offers a different approach to all the other delay sprays in this article. It incorporates a diverse range of ingredients from various parts of the world that address sexual concerns such as premature ejaculation, erectile dysfunction, and low libido.
One key difference is that Edge Delay Gel is slower to take effect, needing around an hour for its full impact. Once it does kick in though, it tends to last significantly longer than lidocaine sprays. In my experience, its effects remained noticeable for several hours after applying it.
Because it’s a gel rather than a spray, getting the dosage right each time can be slightly more challenging. Additionally, even a slightly excessive amount of gel resulted in a strong tingling sensation when I used it. So I recommend erring on the side of caution and only applying a little the first time you test it.
While the numbing effect wasn’t as potent as lidocaine sprays in my case, this might be better if you’ve encountered difficulties in achieving an erection due to excessive numbing.
Another plus is that my partner and I had no issues using it during oral or unprotected sex. There was no transference, unpleasant odor, or greasy residue.
On balance, I personally prefer the lidocaine sprays. However, Edge Delay Gel offers an interesting alternative if you don’t want to use that style of spray yourself.
