First things first, kissing is the absolute best thing that ever happened to our lives!

Unless it's not. For example, when your kissing partner tries to drown you in his saliva, maybe it's time for a talk? But, you know, it's mainly the best.

Over at LittleThings.com, they consulted with kissing expert Sheril Kirshenbaum, author of the book The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us, to explore what different types of kisses mean in relationships. ​"Kissing is so important to long-term bonds. It helps maintain a relationship,"​ she says.

Here's some kisses, finally explained.


1. The Single-Lip Kiss

The Single-Lip Kiss is a kiss that is truly all about love. Rather than diving into a more aggressive kiss, each person focuses on kissing only one of their partner’s lips at a time.

Bernard Metlzer said, “Happiness is like a kiss. You must share it to enjoy it.” This kiss is absolutely a shared experience. There is a give and take involved that indicates a deeper love for one another.

Whether new or old love, this is a bond that you will want to continue to explore.


2. The Cheek Kiss

The Cheek Kiss is a kiss that is all about conveying that you like someone. Rather than dive right in at the mouth, one person lays a gentle kiss right on the other’s cheek.

This kiss is about friendship and affection. The person planting the kiss may have romantic feelings for the receiver, but this moment isn’t about that romance. This is about a true fondness, conveying the message that “I like you.”

A kiss on the cheek that comes years into a relationship may just indicate that the all-important friendship still exists underneath it all.


3. The Closed Mouth Kiss

The Closed Mouth Kiss is one that shows you are not quite 100% comfortable with one another yet. Each person keeps their lips firmly closed, not allowing for moisture or tongues to touch.

This kiss indicates that perhaps this is a new relationship where you haven’t let your guard down yet. Charles Dickens said, “Never close your lips to those whom you have already opened your heart.”

This kiss in a longer relationship could be a sign that you are each putting up emotional walls and that communication may need to be improved.


4. The French Kiss

The French Kiss is a kiss that is all about wanting to get to know the other person even more. Each person uses their tongue to explore the inner workings of the other’s mouth.

This kiss is all about exploration – both literally and figuratively. Ingrid Bergmanfamously said, “A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous.”

When you’ve run out of words, or when words just don’t seem to be enough, the French Kiss is exactly how to let your partner know that you want to be closer and that you wish to know them on a deeper level.


5. The Spiderman Kiss

The Spiderman Kiss is one that is all about spontaneity. Based on the famous movie scene, this upside-down kiss is probably best performed by us non-superheroes when one person is sitting or laying down.

This kiss shows that your relationship still surprises you. You each still share a sense of excitement, and you love the opportunity to sneak up and lay an unexpected kiss on your partner.

Whether new or old love, you each care enough to keep finding new ways to express your feelings.


6. The Nibble Kiss

The Nibble Kiss is all about being feisty. One person gives the other one a little love bite on the lip, hopefully not so hard that it draws blood or pain.

This kiss shows an underlaying passion that is often best expressed physically. You likely have a healthy, and perhaps athletic, sex life. You don’t mind being a little rough with each other, as this only spices things up even more.


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7. The Gentle Kiss

The Gentle Kiss is one that is all about anticipation. Each person very lightly kisses the other on the lips, not applying very much pressure at all.

Author Sheril Kirshenbaum writes, “Just a light brush on [the lips] stimulates a very large part of the brain – an area even more expansive than would be activated by sexual stimulation below the belt.”

This kiss is about teasing and delayed gratification. It indicates a deep level of comfort to practice such restraint with a gentle kiss.


8. The Angel Kiss

The Angel Kiss is about protection and a sense of security. One person lightly kisses the other on the eyelid while they are sleeping, as a reminder that someone is watching over them.

This kiss shows that taking care of one another is very important. It reveals that you have a strong sense of trust. You trust that you have each others’ backs and that you will protect one another from harm.


9. The Sloppy Kiss

The Sloppy Kiss is one that is all about sexual energy. Each person abandons any rhyme or reason and simply lets the fluids fly with this open mouth kiss.

Author Sheril Kirshenbaum writes, “Men tend to express a preference for wet, sloppy, open-mouthed kisses.” But that’s not to say women won’t enjoy them as well.

This kiss shows that the typical order of a relationship is secondary to the physical aspect of the relationship. One shouldn’t be surprised if this kiss quickly leads to the bedroom.


10. The Peck

The Peck is a kiss that is all about testing the waters. Each person keeps their eyes and lips shut tight for a very quick kiss.

Author Sheril Kirshenbaum writes, “A kiss really works as nature’s litmus test. It tells us whether we decide to pursue a relationship.” This brief kiss is about seeing if there is a spark that might lead to more advanced types of kissing.

When this comes in a longer relationship, it can be a quick check-in, or a sign of comfort with one another, as you say a quick “hello” or “goodbye.”


11. The Butterfly Kiss

The Butterfly Kiss is one that doesn’t involve the lips at all. Two people put their eyes as close together as possible and flutter their eyelids against one another’s.

This kiss is all about young love. Very rarely will you see more mature or experienced relationships utilizing this type of kiss to express their love. This kiss shows an excitement and newness about things that will likely evolve into other, more stable kissing types.

Credit: Cosmopolitan.com