As the old saying goes, ‘it’s what is on the inside that counts,’ as personality traits and mannerisms can be a huge turn-on, too. Whether it’s their drive, loyalty, or how they make you feel - there is so much more than just ‘looks’ to making someone attractive. To understand more about what people are looking for, we surveyed 2,000 adults asking them which qualities and features they find the hottest.
The survey revealed that having a good sense of humour was the top trait that people found to be the most sexually attractive in a partner, with almost two-thirds (60%) saying that it’s among the most important qualities when dating. Whether it’s having good banter or being able to make you laugh with an inside joke, someone who you can rely on to make light of a situation and make you belly laugh is a popular trait.
Ranking second was thoughtfulness, with almost half (49%) finding this attractive. This could be having someone who does all the small things, like making you your favourite hot drink in the morning, or surprising you with gifts that they know you’ll love - being thoughtful can be a major turn-on for people. Seeing your partner’s thoughtfulness playing out to others around you might also be a major green flag - just by knowing they’re a kind caring person.
Being intelligent was the third most attractive trait, with 28% of those surveyed finding this to be sexy. Being able to engage in stimulating conversation about a range of topics or being safe in the knowledge that your partner can handle lots of different situations is something people would love to have in a relationship.
One in four say that looks are among the top things they look for, and rounding off the top five is scent and smell, with 17% saying that a good-smelling perfume or aftershave is something they would find attractive.
When it comes to those aged 25 - 34 years old looking for their perfect partner, a few qualities stand out more than older generations. Having a good dress sense, and wearing a good scent is something younger daters find appealing in a romantic partner. Actions also speak louder than words for people in this age bracket, with over one in five (21%) placing this as a quality they find sexy, as well as their potential partner ‘taking control’ and being ‘proactive’.
The older generations prefer traits such as ‘thoughtfulness’ with over half of those aged 55+ placing this as one of the main traits they find sexy in a partner, and having a ‘good sense of humour’. Having a partner who thinks about the little things is clearly something that people find attractive.