Aesthetic attraction is a form of physical attraction to an individual's appearance. It is defined as an attraction to the way someone looks, or how they present themselves. It is typically based on a desire to observe someone because one finds them aesthetically pleasing. It is often described as a similar feeling to looking at a nice painting or landscape. One way of experiencing aesthetic attraction is a stronger desire to admire or gaze at an individual; their physical features, their curves and shape, their bearing, how they move, how they dress, etc.

Among allosexuals and/or alloromantics, aesthetic attraction most of the time is felt alongside sexual and/or romantic attraction, and is sometimes considered a necessary element of the experience. However, aesthetic attraction can sometimes be felt separately from other forms of attraction. In the a-spec community, it is typically useful to distinguish aesthetic attraction from sexual and romantic attraction. You can essentially find someone aesthetically pleasing or attractive while feeling something separate that doesn't involve them physically. individuals can even have romantic relationships despite having aesthetic attraction. Though this does not apply to everyone.

An aesthetic crush is known as a swish or a thete^[1], although the terms are not widely used. Someone that an individual has an aesthetic connection/relationship with could be called one's idol.^[2] Aesthetic attraction is most commonly associated with the color pink. One who does not experience aesthetic attraction may identify as a-aesthetic or nonaesthetic.