Ablutophilia is the sexual stimulation as the result of showering or bathing. The sexual arousal may be the result of a tactile sensation from water, the temperature of the water, or may be psychological as the result of social or media influences, such as shower scenes in movies, or past self-experiences. This philia is often combined with other fantasies, such as BDSM or forced sex environments, (such as a sports team in a locker room setting.) Because nudity is prevelant in a bathing envirnoment, this is a fairly common philia, as many individuals experience an early sexual experience in such an environment.

Ablutophiliacs also can combine this fetish with aquaphilia, watersports, depilation, or asphyxiphilia; or may use the water as a source of lubrication for penetration.