Personal lubricants are used on—and in—the most intimate parts of your body, so it makes sense that you’d want to explore the best natural lubes available. Especially if you’re taking cue from your beauty routine, which may have become “cleaner” with brands being increasingly transparent about their ingredient list. While the type of lube you choose is based on personal preference, being as body-safe as possible is priority number 1 when testing out new intimate products and sex toys. 

What is natural lube, exactly?

Natural lube is considered to be lube that’s free from harsh chemicals and is made from natural ingredients, such as nut oils and aloe leaf juice. 

The neat thing about natural lube is that you can technically use ingredients you might already have in your kitchen (although it’s best to start with a new bottle if you plan on using it as a personal lubricant). You can get any kind of plant-based oil (such as coconut, vitamin E, and olive oil) online or at specialty stores, where you can find high-quality, organic stuff. “Just be sure you’re buying oil-based plant oils that are 100 percent organic and 100 percent pure,” Gigi Engle, Certified Sex Coach, Sex Educator, and Womanizer Sex Expert, tells Glamour.

Know what your body likes—or doesn’t like. 

All bodies are different, so if you know you have specific sensitivities, do some research before actually using natural lubricants. For instance, many people may swear by coconut oil, but it has the potential to throw off your vagina’s pH levels. Engle says, “If you’re prone to yeast infections, be cautious of coconut oil. It has antibacterial properties, so it can throw off pH. This is pretty unlikely, but is still something to take into consideration, as it has been reported.”

Another downside to oil-based natural lube is that they’re not compatible with latex-based condoms, as Engle warns: “They break down condoms and cause them to fail.” However, several natural lubes that are friendly with condoms do exist on the market, which we’ll get to in a second. 

What to watch for when trying out natural lubes.

Engle tells Glamour that there are some ingredients you should steer clear of, like parabens, preservatives, and added fragrances. You likely won’t find these in natural lubes, but read the ingredient list closely: “The vagina and vulva area is one of the most absorbent in the human body. You don’t want to be putting anything unsafe on or in it,” she says.

Here are some of the best natural lubes you can purchase online.

You’ve used coconut oil for your skin, your hair, and your coffee. But is using coconut oil as lube a good idea? 

That question is trending on TikTok thanks to the viral reactions to a NSFW video. In the vid, coconut oil is poured into a kettle, heated, and then poured—a clever if not slightly scary hack. (It should go without saying that you should never pour hot oil of any kind onto your body, especially the most sensitive areas of your skin. Stick to warm, people!) 

TikTok trends aside, coconut oil does often come up as a natural-lube option. Vaginal dryness can result from a number of things, everything from a yeast infection to menopause, the latter of which decreases the body’s estrogen levels. “Estrogen is the hormone that is responsible for providing more blood flow to the vagina, making it more elastic,” says Shari Martin Lawson, M.D., division director of general obstetrics and gynecology at John Hopkins Medicine. The lack of fluids down there can make intercourse uncomfortable, even painful, while being mentally frustrating. This is where lubricants can be your best friend. 

The good news is that are dozens of lubricants for women on the market for women to explore, in addition to topicals that your doctor may prescribe. But for women looking for an all-natural (and wallet-friendly) alternative, heading to the kitchen for a jar of coconut oil is a compelling idea. 

Is coconut oil safe for lube?

Extracted from mature coconuts, coconut oil is rich in saturated fats. These fats, the majority of which are made up of lauric acid, are what cause it to thicken up and turn solid at room temperatures and melt into a slippery liquid when it heats on your skin. It’s pretty much accepted that the oil is like the OG Dr. Bronner’s all-in-one, but how does it factor as a natural lubricant? 

“I recommend coconut oil for select patients of mine, and it is absolutely safe to use as a lubricant,” says Lawson. (In addition to coconut oil, extra-virgin olive makes a great natural lube as well.)

If your vaginal dryness is related to a health condition, an all-natural alternative like coconut oil can be an especially good idea. Says Lawson, “We usually will recommend that patients use topical estrogen, but there are some patients, in particular patients that have estrogen-sensitive cancers—most commonly breast cancer—that can’t use or choose not to use estrogen.” 

Not all coconut oils are created equal however, so it’s important to be mindful of which one you’re picking up when it comes to using it as a lubricant. You’ll want to make sure you’re grabbing a food-grade type that is free from any preservatives or additives, says Lawson. “I find that people get a lot of irritation, in general, when they use fragranced soaps and body washes in the vulva and vaginal areas.” 

To keep the jar as sterile as possible, just add a sexy-time spoon (our words) “to take some of it out of the jar and it will warm up in your hands and melt at your body temperature,” Lawson says. You can store the oil in a cupboard or cabinet, where it should be “shelf-stable for at least 6 to 12 months.” Of course, expiration dates are good to keep in mind, but trust your senses: If there’s a strong odor coming from the oil, it’s probably best to toss it. 

Benefits of using coconut oil as lube

Part of what makes coconut oil so appealing is its versatility—you can lather it on your skin postshower for a luminous glow or work some of the solid into your hair for an intensely moisturizing overnight mask. Even better, “it’s easy to come by and is cost-effective,” says Banafsheh Kashani, M.D., a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist.