The 6 Best Delay Sprays For Men

photo of six delay sprays: fortacin, edge, dynamo delay, promescent, stud 100, and k-y duration

In the photo above, you can see the delay sprays I tested before writing this article. From left to right: Fortacin, Edge, Dynamo Delay, Promescent, Stud 100, KY-Duration.

Using a delay spray is a simple and immediate way for men to last longer during sex. They work by temporarily reducing how sensitive your penis is to physical stimulation.

It’s 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. And not all men have premature ejaculation purely because of physical sensitivity. But for those that so, a delay spray can be an effective way to tackle the problem.

I’ve tried many different desensitizing sprays, gels, and creams over the years, and have had good results with many of them. In this article, I’ll be sharing my thoughts on six you might like to consider trying.

Just to be transparent, there are affiliate links in this article, so I may earn a commission if you choose to buy a spray via one of my links.

1. Promescent

  • Ingredients: lidocaine 10%
  • Application: metered pump spray
  • Price: $22.95 for a small bottle. $73.95 for the large and small bundle.
Promescent spray

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, it helped 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 have 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 getting down to some foreplay or having sex. Importantly, it can be used during oral sex and can be used 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 more expensive delay sprays when you consider how many sprays each bottle contains. If you’re on a tight budget, one of the lower-cost sprays coming up next might be worth trying instead.

But from personal experience, I recommend giving Promescent a go if you’re looking for the highest quality delay spray and don’t mind paying a bit extra for it.

Read my full Promescent review


2. Dynamo Delay

  • Ingredients: Lidocaine 13%
  • Application: metered pump spray
  • Bottle price: $11.99
dynamo delay spray

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. Some men may experience mild tingling sensations, but I found them 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 strong desensitizing spray, Dynamo Delay is one to consider.

Read my full Dynamo Delay review


3. Stud 100

  • Ingredients: lidocaine 9.6%
  • Application: metered pump spray
  • Bottle price: Usually around $12
Stud 100 spray

Similar to Promescent and Dynamo, Stud 100 uses lidocaine to create the numbing effect. It has a metered pump, so you can apply more or less the same amount each time you use it. It also takes effect quickly and can be safely used during oral sex, provided any excess spray is wiped off beforehand.

Stud 100 helped me increase my lasting time by several minutes during sex. Once I found the right dosage, it turned out to be a very effective and user-friendly spray.

However, like all sprays, the main potential drawback is the need for some trial and error to determine the ideal dosage. As always, if you apply too much, there’s a chance you’ll feel a bit too numb and struggle to maintain an erection or enjoy sex fully.

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. 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.

Read my full Stud 100 review


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
photo of the k-y duration spray and gel bottles


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 point 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 come with 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 spraying your 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.

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 desensitizing spray

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 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 issue I had 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 contain 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 only available in some countries, either by prescription or online. So you may find you can’t get it where you are – check before committing to this one.

Read my full Fortacin review


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 for men

Edge Delay Gel offers a different approach to all the other delay sprays in this article. It contains 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 tricky though. 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.

Even though it can last a long time, the numbing effect wasn’t as potent as lidocaine sprays in my case, which 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. And 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.

Read my full Edge Delay Gel review.