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There is very little kissing in Tolkien’s works, and especially not kisses on the mouth (as opposed to kisses on foreheads and hands). But since this has come up repeatedly, I was curious and had a look at how many and what kinds of kisses are mentioned in the Legendarium. 

For this purpose, I tried to find all kisses mentioned in all First, Second and Third Age texts. I searched the term “kiss” in LOTR, the Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales, and HoME III, IV, V, X, XI, XII digitally, so the the quotes for those works are complete. 

HoME II

Since I do not have the digital version, I did not conduct a full search. These are the kisses I was aware of: 

• In the Tale of Tinúviel, Lúthien wakes an unconscious and dying Beren with a kiss: “she fell upon Beren’s breast and wept and kissed him, and he awoke and knew her” (HoME II, p. 40). 
• In Turambar and the Foalókë, just after killing Beleg and while in huge danger from the Orcs, Túrin ignores said danger: “Flinding shook him, bidding him gather his wits or perish, and then Túrin did as he was bid but yet as one dazed, and stooping he raised Beleg and kissed his mouth.” (HoME II, p. 80) This is the first kiss explicitly on the mouth that I’m aware of in the Legendarium. 

HoME III

• In the Lay of the Children of Húrin, when Túrin begs Beleg not to betray to Thingol’s lords that he is living with the outlaws, Beleg embraces and kisses him: “Then Beleg of the bow embraced him there […]/there kissed him kindly comfort speaking” (HoME III, Lay of the Children of Húrin, lines 592–594).
• In the Lay of the Children of Húrin, Flinding begins to bury Beleg, “But Túrin tearless turning suddenly/on the corse cast him, and kissed the mouth/cold and open, and closed the eyes.” (HoME III, Lay of the Children of Húrin, lines 1403–1405) This is not what happens when Boromir is dying: Aragorn kisses his brow (LOTR, p. 414), not his open mouth. Also, this is the second and last kiss explicitly on the mouth that I’m aware of in the Legendarium. 
• Morwen bidding her son Túrin farewell: “The last kisses and lingering words” (HoME III, Second Version of the Lay of the Children of Húrin, line 330). 
• Beren kisses Lúthien’s eyes: “And Beren caught that elfin maid/And kissed her trembling starlit eyes” (HoME III, Second Version of the Lay of the Children of Húrin, lines 459–460). 
• Beren and Lúthien: “His voice such love and longing filled one moment stood she, fear was stilled; one moment only; like a flame he leaped towards her as she stayed and caught and kissed that elfin maid.” (HoME III, Lay of Leithian, lines 741–745). Referring to this, Beren lay, swooning, “enchanted of an elvish kiss” (HoME III, Lay of Leithian, line 761). 
• Beren and Lúthien: “One morning as asleep she lay upon the moss, as though the day too bitter were for gentle flower to open in a sunless hour, Beren arose and kissed her hair, and wept, and softly left her there.” (HoME III, Lay of Leithian, lines 3228–3233). 
• Morgoth to Lúthien: “Yet I will give a respite brief, a while to live, a little while, though purchased dear, to Luthien the fair and clear, a pretty toy for idle hour. In slothful gardens many a flower like thee the amorous gods are used honey-sweet to kiss, and cast then bruised, their fragrance loosing, under feet.” (HoME III, Lay of Leithian, lines 4024–4032). 
• Beren and Lúthien: “Beren lies dying before the gate. Tinúviel’s song as she kisses his hand and prepares to die.” (HoME III, Lay of Leithian, Unwritten Cantos) 

HoME IV 

• “There beneath the beech, wherein before she had been imprisoned, Lúthien met them, and kissed Beren ere his spirit departed to the halls of awaiting.” (HoME IV, Quenta Noldorinwa [10]) 

HoME V, X, XII

There are no kisses mentioned in any of these books. 

HoME XI

• Nienor and Túrin: “Then, finding his hand that was burned, she laved it with tears and bound it about with a strip of her raiment, and kissed him and cried on him again to awake.” (HoME XI, Grey Annals, § 333) 
• Manthor and Húrin: “coming to Húrin as he lay he knelt and raised his hand and kissed it.” (HoME XI, The Wanderings of Húrin) 

Unfinished Tales 

• Húrin kisses his son Túrin on Túrin’s birthday (UT, Narn). 
• Nienor kisses Túrin, who is leaving against her will: “Then Níniel ceased to weep and fell silent, but her kiss was cold as they parted.” (UT, Narn) 
• Nienor kisses Túrin, who is unconscious: “Then she threw herself down by him weeping, and kissed him; and it seemed to her that he breathed faintly, but she thought it but a trickery of false hope, for he was cold, and did not move, nor did he answer her. […] But still he did not move at her touch, and she kissed him again […].” (UT, Narn) Interestingly, this idea of Nienor throwing herself onto the corpse and kissing it is an echo of how Túrin had reacted to Beleg’s death in the Lay of the Children of Húrin: “But Túrin tearless turning suddenly/on the corse cast him, and kissed the mouth/cold and open, and closed the eyes.” (HoME III, Lay of the Children of Húrin, lines 1403–1405)
• Aldarion and Erendis, at a pivotal moment in their tumultuous relationship, just before they get betrothed: “Then he kissed her on the eyes, and in that moment she put aside fear, and accepted him; and their troth was plighted upon the steep path of the Meneltarma.” (UT, Aldarion and Erendis)
• Aldarion and his young daughter: “Next morning Aldarion hastened away. He lifted up Ancalimë and kissed her; but though she clung to him he set her down quickly and rode off.” (UT, Aldarion and Erendis)
• Aldarion and his now estranged daughter: “He kissed the hand of Ancalimë and went down the steps; then he mounted and rode away with a wave of his hand.” (UT, Aldarion and Erendis)
• Isildur and his esquire: “The Orcs were now drawing near. Isildur turned to his esquire: ‘Ohtar,’ he said, ‘I give this now into your keeping’; and he delivered to him the great sheath and the shards of Narsil, Elendil’s sword. ‘Save it from capture by all means that you can find, and at all costs; even at the cost of being held a coward who deserted me. Take your companion with you and flee! Go! I command you!’ Then Ohtar knelt and kissed his hand, and the two young men fled down into the dark valley.” (UT, The Disaster of the Gladden Fields, fn omitted) 
• Isildur and Elendur: “‘King’s son,’ said Isildur, ‘I knew that I must do so; but I feared the pain. Nor could I go without your leave. Forgive me, and my pride that has brought you to this doom.’ Elendur kissed him. ‘Go! Go now!’ he said.” (UT, The Disaster of the Gladden Fields, fn omitted) 

Children of Húrin 

Since I do not have the digital version, I did not conduct a full search, but only checked Túrin’s reaction to Beleg’s death. Túrin’s reaction now is completely different: instead of an emotional outburst, he becomes catatonic for months, not crying, not moving on his own (when Gwindor makes him move he moves like a sleepwalker), and not speaking for months until they cross the Sirion (CoH, p. 155–157). Only then does he start crying for the first time (CoH, p. 157)  

Silmarillion 

• Beren and Lúthien, just before Beren dies: “At the feet of Hírilorn the great beech Luthien met them walking slow, and some bore torches beside the bier. There she set her arms about Beren, and kissed him, bidding him await her beyond the Western Sea; and he looked upon her eyes ere the spirit left him.” (Sil, QS, ch. 19) 
• Nienor, finding Túrin unconscious and injured by Glaurung: “Then finding that his hand was burned she washed it with tears and bound it about with a strip of her raiment, and she kissed him and cried on him again to awake.” (Sil, QS, ch. 21) 

LOTR 

• Aragorn kisses a dying Boromir’s forehead: “‘Farewell, Aragorn! Go to Minas Tirith and save my people! I have failed.’
  ‘No!’ said Aragorn, taking his hand and kissing his brow. You have conquered. Few have gained such a victory. Be at peace! Minas Tirith shall not fall!’” (LOTR, The Departure of Boromir) 
• Sam not kissing Frodo’s hand seems notable: “Sam nodded silently. He took his master’s hand and bent over it. He did not kiss it, though his tears fell on it.” (LOTR, The Passage of the Marshes) 
• Faramir saying goodbye to Frodo and Sam: “He embraced the hobbits then, after the manner of his people, stooping, and placing his hands upon their shoulders, and kissing their foreheads.” (LOTR, Journey to the Cross-Roads) 
• Sam says this about Gollum: “‘Well, I suppose you’re right, Mr. Frodo,’ said Sam. ‘Not that it comforts me mightily. I don’t make no mistake: I don’t doubt he’d hand me over to Orcs as gladly as kiss his hand. […]’” (LOTR, The Stairs of Cirith Ungol) I’m not sure I understand what this is supposed to mean. 
• Sam, believing that Frodo is dead: “He stooped. Very gently he undid the clasp at the neck and slipped his hand inside Frodo’s tunic; then with his other hand raising the head, he kissed the cold forehead, and softly drew the chain over it. And then the head lay quietly back again in rest. No change came over the still face, and by that more than by all other tokens Sam was convinced at last that Frodo had died and laid aside the Quest.” (LOTR, The Choices of Master Samwise) 
• Merry, swearing fealty to Théoden: “‘I have a sword,’ said Merry, climbing from his seat, and drawing from its black sheath his small bright blade. Filled suddenly with love for this old man, he knelt on one knee, and took his hand and kissed it. ‘May I lay the sword of Meriadoc of the Shire on your lap, Théoden King?’ he cried. ‘Receive my service, if you will!’” (LOTR, The Passing of the Grey Company) 
• Aragorn after refusing to let Éowyn accompany him: “Then she fell on her knees, saying: ‘I beg thee!’
  ‘Nay, lady,’ he said, and taking her by the hand he raised her. Then he kissed her hand, and sprang into the saddle, and rode away, and did not look back; and only those who knew him well and were near to him saw the pain that he bore.” (LOTR, The Passing of the Grey Company) 
• Merry when Théoden lies dying: “Then Merry stooped and lifted his hand to kiss it, and lo! Théoden opened his eyes, and they were clear, and he spoke in a quiet voice though laboured.” (LOTR, The Battle of the Pelennor Fields) 
• Aragorn healing an unconscious Éowyn: “Then Aragorn stooped and looked in her face, and it was indeed white as a lily, cold as frost, and hard as graven stone. But he bent and kissed her on the brow, and called her softly, saying:
  ‘Éowyn Éomund’s daughter, awake! For your enemy has passed away!’” (LOTR, The Houses of Healing) 
• Merry apologising to Aragorn, and Aragorn returning the kiss:
  “Merry seized his hand and kissed it. ‘I am frightfully sorry,’ he said. ‘Go at once! Ever since that night at Bree we have been a nuisance to you. But it is the way of my people to use light words at such times and say less than they mean. We fear to say too much. It robs us of the right words when a jest is out of place.’
  ‘I know that well, or I would not deal with you in the same way,’ said Aragorn. ‘May the Shire live for ever unwithered!’ And kissing Merry he went out, and Gandalf went with him.” (LOTR, The Houses of Healing) 
• Sam after rescuing Frodo: “‘Frodo! Mr. Frodo, my dear!’ cried Sam, tears almost blinding him. ‘It’s Sam, I’ve come!’ He half lifted his master and hugged him to his breast. Frodo opened his eyes.
  ‘Am I still dreaming?’ he muttered. ‘But the other dreams were horrible.’
  ‘You’re not dreaming at all, Master,’ said Sam. ‘It’s real. It’s me. I’ve come.’
  ‘I can hardly believe it,’ said Frodo, clutching him. ‘There was an orc with a whip, and then it turns into Sam! Then I wasn’t dreaming after all when I heard that singing down below, and I tried to answer? Was it you?’
  ‘It was indeed, Mr. Frodo. I’d given up hope, almost. I couldn’t find you.’
  ‘Well, you have now, Sam, dear Sam,’ said Frodo, and he lay back in Sam’s gentle arms, closing his eyes, like a child at rest when night-fears are driven away by some loved voice or hand.
  Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness; but it was not allowed. It was not enough for him to find his master, he had still to try and save him. He kissed Frodo’s forehead. ‘Come! Wake up, Mr. Frodo!’ he said, trying to sound as cheerful as he had when he drew back the curtains at Bag End on a summer’s morning.” (LOTR, The Tower of Cirith Ungol)  
• Frodo is weak and in a fey mood on the road: “‘No, I am afraid not, Sam,’ said Frodo. ‘At least, I know that such things happened, but I cannot see them. No taste of food, no feel of water, no sound of wind, no memory of tree or grass or flower, no image of moon or star are left to me. I am naked in the dark, Sam, and there is no veil between me and the wheel of fire. I begin to see it even with my waking eyes, and all else fades?’
  Sam went to him and kissed his hand. ‘Then the sooner we’re rid of it, the sooner to rest,’ he said haltingly, finding no better words to say.” (LOTR, Mount Doom) 
• Frodo’s state keeps getting worse: “Sam knelt by him. Faint, almost inaudibly, he heard Frodo whispering: ‘Help me, Sam! Help me, Sam! Hold my hand! I can’t stop it.’ Sam took his master’s hands and laid them together, palm to palm, and kissed them; and then he held them gently between his own.” (LOTR, Mount Doom)
• Faramir, who’s quickly falling in love with Éowyn: “‘No,’ said Faramir, looking into her face. ‘It was but a picture in the mind. I do not know what is happening. The reason of my waking mind tells me that great evil has befallen and we stand at the end of days. But my heart says nay; and all my limbs are light, and a hope and joy are come to me that no reason can deny. Éowyn, Éowyn, White Lady of Rohan, in this hour I do not believe that any darkness will endure!’ And he stooped and kissed her brow.” (LOTR, The Steward and the King) 
• From Éowyn and Faramir’s courtship: “‘Then must I leave my own people, man of Gondor?’ she said. ‘And would you have your proud folk say of you: “There goes a lord who tamed a wild shieldmaiden of the North! Was there no woman of the race of Númenor to choose?”’
  ‘I would,’ said Faramir. And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many. And many indeed saw them and the light that shone about them as they came down from the walls and went hand in hand to the Houses of Healing.” (LOTR, The Steward and the King)
• Beregond after Aragorn “punishes” him for insubordination with a promotion and a move to a few miles away: “And then Beregond, perceiving the mercy and justice of the King, was glad, and kneeling kissed his hand, and departed in joy and content.” (LOTR, The Steward and the King)
• Merry and Éowyn, sister-daughter of his dead liege-lord Théoden, after the war: “‘This is an heirloom of our house,’ said Éowyn. ‘It was made by the Dwarves, and came from the hoard of Scatha the Worm. Eorl the Young brought it from the North. He that blows it at need shall set fear in the hearts of his enemies and joy in the hearts of his friends, and they shall hear him and come to him.’
  Then Merry took the horn, for it could not be refused, and he kissed Éowyn’s hand; and they embraced him, and so they parted for that time.” (LOTR, Many Partings) 
• The Hobbits saying goodbye forever: “‘Yes,’ said Gandalf; ‘for it will be better to ride back three together than one alone. Well, here at last, dear friends, on the shores of the Sea comes the end of our fellowship in Middle-earth. Go in peace! I will not say: do not weep; for not all tears are an evil.’
  Then Frodo kissed Merry and Pippin, and last of all Sam, and went aboard; and the sails were drawn up, and the wind blew, and slowly the ship slipped away down the long grey firth; and the light of the glass of Galadriel that Frodo bore glimmered and was lost.” (LOTR, The Grey Havens) 
• Aragorn kissing Arwen’s hand just before dying: “‘Estel, Estel!’ she cried, and with that even as he took her hand and kissed it, he fell into sleep. Then a great beauty was revealed in him, so that all who after came there looked on him in wonder; for they saw that the grace of his youth, and the valour of his manhood, and the wisdom and majesty of his age were blended together. And long there he lay, an image of the splendour of the Kings of Men in glory undimmed before the breaking of the world.” (LOTR, App. A, The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen)

In total, there are references to 22 distinct kisses in LOTR and 24 in the other texts I checked, for a total of 46 kisses that either happened (44) or did not happen (2: Morgoth’s story to Lúthien, Sam not kissing Frodo’s hands for once). 

Characters 

There are 22 kisses between male and female characters: 

• Beren and Lúthien (7): “kiss” with no specification where (4), Beren kissing her eyes (1), Beren kissing her hair (1), Lúthien kissing his hand (1). 
• Morwen and Túrin (1): “kisses” with no specification where (1). 
• Nienor and Túrin (5): “kiss” with no specification where (5).  
• Aldarion and Erendis (1): he kisses her “on the eyes”. 
• Aldarion and his daughter (2): “kiss” with no specification where (1), he kisses her hand (1). 
• Aragorn and Éowyn (2): Aragorn kisses her hand (1) and her forehead (1). 
• Faramir and Éowyn (2): Faramir kisses her forehead (1), “kiss” not specified where but more salacious than hand/forehead (1). 
• Merry and Éowyn (1): he kisses her hand (1). 
• Aragorn and Arwen (1): he kisses her hand (1). 

There are 22 kisses between male characters: 

• Túrin and Beleg (3): Beleg kisses Túrin not specified where (1), Túrin kisses dead Beleg’s (open) mouth (2). 
• Manthor and Húrin (1): Manthor kisses Húrin’s hand (1). 
• Húrin and Túrin (1): Húrin kisses his son not specified where (1). 
• Isildur and Ohtar (1): Isildur’s esquire kisses his hand (1). 
• Isildur and Elendur (1): Isildur’s son kisses him not specified where (1). 
• Aragorn and Boromir (1): Aragorn kisses Boromir’s forehead (1). 
• Frodo and Sam (5): Sam kisses Frodo’s hand(s) (2), Sam kisses Frodo’s forehead (2), Frodo kisses Sam not specified where (1). 
• Faramir kisses the Hobbits (2): Faramir kisses the foreheads of Frodo (1) and Sam (1). 
• Merry kisses Théoden’s hand (2). 
• Merry kisses Aragorn’s hand (1). 
• Aragorn kisses Merry not specified where (1). 
• Beregond kisses Aragorn’s hand (1). 
• Frodo kisses Merry not specified where (1). 
• Frodo kisses Pippin not specified where (1). 

(I am not aware of kisses between female characters. Given how little “screen time” Tolkien’s female characters share, that is not surprising.) 

Of the 44 kisses that happened, 13 are on the hand, 7 are on the forehead, 2 are on the eyelids, 1 is on hair, 2 are on the mouth, and 19 are not specified where.

Relationships and types of kisses 

There are 18 kisses involving a power imbalance, such as lord/vassal, master/servant, healer/patient or some other kind of respectful elder/younger or in-one’s-power relationship, usually on the forehead or hand: 

• Manthor and Húrin (1): Manthor kisses Húrin’s hand (1). 
• Isildur and Ohtar (1): Isildur’s esquire kisses his hand (1). 
• Aragorn and Boromir (1): Aragorn kisses Boromir’s forehead (1). 
• Frodo and Sam (5): Sam kisses Frodo’s hand(s) (2), Sam kisses Frodo’s forehead (2), Frodo kisses Sam not specified where (1). 
• Merry kisses Théoden’s hand (2). 
• Merry and Éowyn (1): he kisses her hand (1). 
• Merry kisses Aragorn’s hand (1). 
• Aragorn kisses Merry not specified where (1). 
• Beregond kisses Aragorn’s hand (1). 
• Faramir kisses the Hobbits (2): Faramir kisses the foreheads of Frodo (1) and Sam (1). (This one is a bit doubtful here, but I think that it fits best.) 
• Aragorn and Éowyn (2): Aragorn kisses her hand (1) and her forehead (1). (Equally doubtful, but I believe that it fits.) 

Roughly, it seems like the vassal (or similarly less powerful party) usually kisses the hand (which fits the historical practice of proskynesis), and the liege-lord (or similarly more powerful party) usually kisses the forehead. Frodo and Sam’s relationship begins as a distinct master-servant relationship that changes under extreme pressure into something more equal, so it makes sense that it’s mixed. The same applies to Aragorn and Éowyn: he kisses her on the hand as a woman and princess, and later on the forehead as a patient. In general, forehead kisses also often seem to involve the person being kissed being grievously injured, sick or dying (Aragorn → Boromir, Sam → Frodo, Aragorn → Éowyn), or a goodbye (Faramir → Frodo and Sam). 

There are five kisses between children and parents: 

• Morwen and her young son Túrin (1): “kisses” with no specification where (1). 
• Aldarion and his daughter (2): “kiss” with no specification where (1), he (years later) kisses her hand (1). 
• Húrin and his young son Túrin (1): Húrin kisses his son not specified where (1). 
• Isildur and his adult son Elendur (1): Isildur’s son kisses him not specified where (1). 

(Parent-child relationships are also hierarchical, especially when the child is young, but it’s also a distinct category from the more feudal kind of category above.) 

There are two (goodbye) kisses between friends who had always been friends: 

• Frodo kisses Merry not specified where (1). 
• Frodo kisses Pippin not specified where (1). 

(You could put Frodo and Sam here as well, but given that the relationship starts out as a master-servant kind of thing, I kept it in the previous category, even if it equalises a lot by the end. Still, even in the last chapter, Sam calls Frodo Mr. Frodo while Frodo calls him Sam without a title; Pippin, by comparison, calls him Frodo. Frodo and Sam clearly love each other deeply, but the master element remains present.) 

There are 16 kisses between lovers (couples who are or will get married): 

• Beren and Lúthien (7): “kiss” with no specification where (4), Beren kissing her eyes (1), Beren kissing her hair (1), Lúthien kissing his hand (1). 
• Nienor and Túrin (5): “kiss” with no specification where (5).  
• Aldarion and Erendis (1): he kisses her “on the eyes”. 
• Faramir and Éowyn (2): Faramir kisses her forehead (1), “kiss” not specified where but more salacious than hand/forehead (1). 
• Aragorn and Arwen (1): he kisses her hand (1). 

It’s interesting that even in this category, we have hand kisses just before someone (Aragorn, Beren) is dying, and plenty of chaste kisses. The one forehead kiss is when Éowyn’s spirits are still not fully healed. Kisses on the eyelids and hair are treated as specifically romantic. There is no explicit kiss on the mouth. 

Or rather, there is—there are: 

• Túrin and Beleg (3): Beleg kisses Túrin not specified where (1), Túrin kisses dead Beleg’s (open) mouth (2). 

And I find it very hard not to put them in the “Lovers” category.

In total: most “pairs” get only one kiss or at most two. The exceptions are Beren and Lúthien (7) (various), Frodo and Sam (5) (various), Nienor and Túrin (5) (all unspecified where), and Túrin and Beleg (3) (mouth or unspecified). Hand and forehead kisses often but not always denote a hierarchical relationship (of various flavours); most of these hierarchical relationships are loving and respectful despite the hierarchy. 

Sources 

The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2015 (softcover) [cited as: HoME II]. 

The Lays of Beleriand, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition September 2029, version 2019-09-02 [cited as: HoME III].

The Shaping of Middle-earth, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition December 2018, version 2019-10-21 [cited as: HoME IV].

The War of the Jewels, JRR Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition December 2021, version 2021-12-21 [cited as: HoME XI].

Unfinished Tales of Númenor & Middle-earth, JRR Tolkien, ed Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition March 2009, version 2024-01-22 [cited as: UT].

The Silmarillion, JRR Tolkien, ed Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins, ebook edition February 2011, version 2024-01-22 [cited as: Sil]. 

The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien, HarperCollins 2005, ebook edition August 2022, version 2022-05-30 [cited as: LOTR]. 

The Children of Húrin, JRR Tolkien, ed Christopher Tolkien, HarperCollins 2014 (softcover) [cited as: CoH].