Tag: vibrator

Header image for a review of the Lovehoney Take Control bondage kit

[Kink Product Review] Lovehoney Take Control Bondage Kit

Published on by Amy

Sex toy kits are a fantastic idea in theory, but usually significantly less amazing in practice. Too often, they’re little more than a collection of cheap and poor-quality products shoved together in a pretty box and sold for a premium price. I’ll nearly always tell my readers to forego a kit and spend a bit more on just one or two quality items. However, I try to keep an open mind, which is why I agreed to review the Take Control Bondage Kit for beginners from Lovehoney.

Take Control: A Beginners’ Bondage Kit by Lovehoney

It’s been a very long time since I was new to BDSM. I’ve been doing kinky shit for well over a decade and have accrued a sizeable collection of toys, from basic staples to custom collars, premium impact toys, and more. So a beginner kit is not something I would ever buy for myself.

Therefore, I am trying to step back in time ten years or so in my mind, and view this BDSM starter kit through the eyes of someone who is just starting out, collecting their first beginner BDSM toys, or maybe wondering if they’re even kinky.

Lovehoney Take Control Bondage Kit: First Impressions

The Take Control Bondage Kit comes in one simple box, with all the products clearly displayed on the front so you know exactly what to expect. The packaging is brightly coloured and fun, reducing the intimidation factor for nervous new kinksters.

"Take Control" Lovehoney bondage kit
"Take Control" Lovehoney bondage kit in its box

There’s a LOT of information on the box, too. I appreciate that Lovehoney has provided a brief description on how to use each item as well as some basic information on safety and consent. The box reminds players to use safewords, never leave a bound person alone, and have a non-verbal safe signal if someone is gagged. It’s pretty 101-level stuff, but that’s also what a complete newcomer to kink is likely to need. Top marks for that.

I wasn’t delighted with the way the box was packed. Everything was just sort of piled in, each item wrapped in a cellophane wrapper. It’s a lot of unnecessary single-use plastic.

There is no real leather in this kit, making it vegan-friendly.

What’s in the Lovehoney Take Control Bondage Kit?

With that said, I think this is overall a decent beginners’ bondage kit. Many BDSM starter kits and sex toy kits generally are filled with things that aren’t even safe, let alone of good quality.

Let’s take a look at what’s inside, shall we? Just for fun, I’ve included a fun tip or an idea to try with each item in the Take Control kit. As always, pick the ones that resonate for you, leave the rest, and add your own ideas as you explore.

1: Blindfold

This blindfold is super comfy. It’s also thick and padded, meaning I couldn’t see a thing when it was on. The band is stretchy, too, so it should fit most people comfortably.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Blindfold your partner and stroke different items across their body – a silk scarf, a piece of velvet, the tails of your flogger – and have them guess what each item is.

2. Nipple suckers

I really liked these little suckers! They’re a great gentle introduction to nipple play, and perfect if you want some sensation but without the pain of nipple clamps or clothes pegs. They work for all chest sizes, from flat chests to large breasts, and most nipple sizes. If you flick or hit them too hard, they will fly off, but they can withstand some gentle manipulation.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Tell your partner to fetch you something from another room with these on. They’ll have to move carefully, though – they’ll be spanked if one falls off!

3. Ball gag

Full disclosure: I hate ball gags. I fucking hate them. They make my jaw hurt, they make me drool, and I can’t kiss my partner when I’m wearing one. They’re basically a soft limit at this point. With that said, this is a fine ball-gag if you do like them. The holes make it breathable, and silicone is a non-porous and hygienic material. I also like how adjustable this gag is. With 9 buckle holes, it will fit most people comfortably.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Make your submissive try to repeat words back to you while gagged.

4. Flogger

This is a stingy little fucker! Don’t let the small size fool you, this flogger can pack a wallop. The falls are made of thin rubber, which delivers a vicious sting when you put some force behind it. If pain isn’t your thing, you can drag it sensually across the skin for a gentle tickle. I would have liked the handle to have a bit more width and weight to it.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Try gently flogging the vulva or penis if your partner is up for it. Remember to clean your flogger thoroughly afterwards to remove any bodily fluids.

5. Wrist and ankle cuffs

These were the weakest part of the Take Control kit by far, for me. They’re quite thin and made of nylon, with no padding, which means they chafe if you put any pressure on them. They’re fine for exploring the feeling of being restrained, but if you want to pull against them at all I recommend getting some quality cuffs.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Restrain your partner then make them watch you masturbate in front of them.

6. Under-bed restraints

These are great, except for the tiny detail that they don’t fit my bed! We have a Super King bed and these restraints fit up to King Size. So they’ll be fine for the vast majority of people, but if you have a ridiculously giant bed like us, they may not fit.

These restraints are strong, durable, and easy to both set up and tuck out of sight when you’re done, if you want to. The little clips mean you can easily add any set of cuffs to them.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: when your partner is restrained, run a cube of ice along their body or drip low-temperature candle wax onto their skin.

7. Silicone suction cup dildo

Wow, a body-safe dildo in a BDSM kit! This shouldn’t be a pleasant surprise, and yet it is. This dildo measures 6″ in length and has a diameter of 1.5″. The slight curve is ideal for targeting the G-spot or prostate, and the silicone is super soft and silky. The suction cup and hollow space for a bullet vibrator are great additions.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Tease your lover’s entrance with the dildo until they beg to have it inside them.

8. Strap-on harness

This is the same harness that Lovehoney sells as part of their basic strap-on sex/pegging kit a few years ago. It’s comfortable and the rings are interchangeable so you can use it with any dildo with a flared base. However, it’s a pretty basic harness and you’ll want to upgrade to a higher-quality harness if you find you enjoy strap-on play.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: If you have a vulva, insert a wearable vibrator before you put on your harness. This will stimulate you while you penetrate your partner.

9. Wired bullet vibrator

I was fully expecting this bullet vibrator to be awful. While it’s far from the strongest bullet vibrator in the world and it is a little buzzy, it’s not a bad basic bullet for the size and price. It has several patterns as well as steady vibration speeds.

I don’t love that it’s wired rather than cordless, but the wire is long enough for one partner to control the remote while the other holds the vibrator against their genitals. The bullet takes 2x AAA batteries, which are not included.

Beginners’ bondage kit play idea: Switch it off just when your lover is on the edge of orgasm and make them beg for release.

Lovehoney Take Control Beginners’ Bondage Kit: Verdict

On the whole, the Take Control Bondage Kit is a very solid basic beginners’ set for the price. If you’re brand new to exploring your kinks, you get a lot of bang for your buck here.

The Take Control kit retails for £79.99 UK/$99.99 US.

Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me this kit in exchange for an honest review. If you choose to purchase this or anything else from Lovehoney, please buy through my affiliate links – it supports the blog at no extra cost to you!

Header image for Lovehoney Thrusting Happy Rabbit review

[Toy Review] Lovehoney Happy Rabbit Thrusting Realistic Rabbit Vibrator

Published on by Amy

I approached this Lovehoney Happy Rabbit Thrusting review with some trepidation. I haven’t had the best relationship with rabbit vibrators up until now. For every one I love there are ten I hate and several I feel indifferent towards. There are three main reasons for this:

First, I don’t like internal vibrations. I find them uncomfortable or even painful, rarely pleasurable.

Second, most rabbit vibrators treat the clit as an afterthought, putting the weakest and buzziest vibrations in the rabbit “ears.”

Finally, the design of rabbit vibrators means that most of them will only work for a small number of bodies. Unless you have exactly the vagina-to-clit distance the designer envisioned, the toy probably won’t work as intended for you.

With that said, let’s look at the Thrusting Rabbit from the Lovehoney Happy Rabbit range.

Lovehoney Happy Rabbit Thrusting

The Thrusting Happy Rabbit is a hot pink rabbit-style vibrator with a thrusting shaft and two vibrating ears. It measures 9″ in total length and 5″ in insertable length. Its shaft has a diameter of 1.5″. It is fully waterproof and submersible, and USB rechargeable with a 150-minute charge giving 120 minutes of runtime.

Every toy in the Happy Rabbit range is made from body-safe silicone. A far cry from the horrible jelly things that everyone went mad for after that episode of Sex & the City aired 20 years ago.

Happy Rabbit Thrusting Vibrator: What I Liked

Let’s not bury the lede here: this toy gave me an orgasm, and it did so in under five minutes. Not an insignificant feat for any toy, and for a rabbit vibrator it’s downright impressive.

Lovehoney Happy Rabbit thrusting vibrator in hot pink
Image: Lovehoney

The Lovehoney Happy Rabbit Thrusting’s main selling point is, obviously, the thrusting mechanism. And, I have to say, it is excellent. There are three thrusting speeds to choose from, and personally I preferred the slowest. I found the higher speeds a little too intense to be pleasurable, but “hard pounding” has never really been my thing. Your mileage may vary.

The rabbit ears are thick and firm, and have a massive fifteen different vibration settings to choose from. I like that the clitoral arm has some flexibility, so you can maneuver it to fit with your body, but isn’t so flexible that getting any kind of pressure is impossible. The vibrations themselves are moderately powerful, if not exactly “blow your socks off.” I also love that the shaft doesn’t vibrate, just the ears.

What I Didn’t Like

The main downside of the Lovehoney Happy Rabbit is the sound. While I wouldn’t exactly describe it as “loud” in the true sense, the thrusting mechanism makes a noise I can best describe as “squeaking.” I could just about tune it out long enough to get off, but it’s a significant distraction and not a pleasant sensory experience.

Lovehoney Happy Rabbit thrusting vibrator in hot pink
Image: Lovehoney

The buttons are also pretty annoying. There are two buttons: one for the thrusting motion and one for the vibrating ears. Having to scroll all the way through fifteen settings to go back a step is frustrating. It breaks my flow in use and is not something I’d expect from a toy at this kind of price-point.

Finally, cleaning the Happy Rabbit Thrusting is a pain. Those little creases around the thrusting mechanism are traps for bodily fluids and bacteria.

Verdict: Did the Thrusting Rabbit Make Me Happy?

Overall, I was surprised by how much I liked the Lovehoney Happy Rabbit Thrusting. Despite my complaints about the noise, buttons, and germ-trap silicone creases, please don’t forget that this toy got me off in under five minutes. Its design is good, the thrusting motion is excellent, and the vibrating ears don’t appear to be an afterthought.

If you enjoy dual stimulation but prefer thrusting to internal vibrations, this could be a good option for you.

The Happy Rabbit Thrusting retails for £99.99 from Lovehoney UK and $139.99 from Lovehoney US. It is also available from Good Vibes, Babeland, and Sex Toys UK.

Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me the Thrusting Happy Rabbit vibrator to review. All views are mine. Affiliate links appear in this post.

Header for Lovehoney Humdinger plastic vibrator review: text reads "Lovehoney Humdinger"

[Toy Review] Lovehoney Humdinger

Published on by Amy1 Comment

Recently I’ve been trying to test and recommend more affordable sex toys. Obviously I love the high-end products I’m lucky enough to try out, but those toys are simply out of budget for a lot of folks. Fortunately, you don’t need to spend a lot of cash to get a decent and body-safe toy. Silicone, glass, and hard plastic sex toys are coming down in price all the time. Today we’re looking at the Humdinger, a surprisingly well-designed and versatile plastic vibrator by Lovehoney that retails for just £24.99/$34.99.

Lovehoney Humdinger: Rechargeable Plastic Vibrator

Let’s ignore the silly name for a minute, shall we?

Lovehoney sex toys Humdinger, a purple plastic vibrator with a cup tip on one end and small hard nodule on the other
Image: Lovehoney

The Lovehoney Humdinger is a plastic clitoral vibrator with a cup-shaped tip on one side and a small, rigid nodule on the other. It measures 7.5″ in total length and about 1″ in diameter. I received an earlier iteration of this toy which was battery-operated, but Lovehoney has now upgraded the Humdinger to make it rechargeable. You’ll get around 50 minutes use from a full charge, which isn’t a great battery life.

The Humdinger is made of ABS plastic. Hard plastic sex toys are body-safe, non-porous, and easy to keep clean. This toy is also waterproof and submersible.

Lovehoney Humdinger: In-Use

The Humdinger has a simple one-button interface. While the rest of the vibrator is made of plastic, the button is silicone. While this is pretty standard, I have to say I preferred the old twist design, which allowed for finer control over the speed as well as dual-directional controls. It has 3 steady speeds and 7 patterns.

Woman's hand holding Lovehoney sex toys Humdinger, a purple plastic vibrator with a cup tip on one end and small hard nodule on the other
Image: Lovehoney

The best thing about the Humdinger for me, by far, is the shape of the tip. The cup design surrounds the entire clit, stimulating the glans, hood, and surrounding area. The nodule on the back is also great for more pinpoint stimulation. If you’re looking to experiment with different types of clitoral stimulation, the Humdinger is a surprisingly versatile toy for the price.

Power-wise, the Humdinger is mid-range in both intensity and rumbles. Plastic sex toys transmit vibrations particularly well, meaning you don’t get the “dampening” effect silicone can sometimes create. The downside is that it’s somewhat loud compared to many toys of a similar power level.

Humdinger Plastic Clitoral Vibrator: Verdict

The Humdinger is a good pick for folks looking for decent clitoral stimulation on a budget. The excellent shape, versatility, decent vibrations, and affordable price-point help to offset the annoying controls, loud motor, and mediocre battery life.

The Humdinger is available from Lovehoney UK and Lovehoney US. Use code AFF-COFFKINK10 to get 10% off your entire order.

Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me this product to review. Affiliate links appear in this post. All views are mine.

Header image for VeDO Izzy review

[Toy Review] VēDO Toys Izzy Lay-On Vibrator

Published on by Amy1 Comment

VēDO Toys produces a range of sex toys for all types of bodies, all of which are made of silicone and have a seamless finish. The VēDO Izzy is one of the company’s new line for 2018. The first thing that struck me about this range? How affordable it is. The Izzy retails for $45.99 (just under £5.)

What is the VēDO Toys Izzy?

The Izzy is a small lay-on clitoral vibrator measuring 3.8″ in length and 1.1″ wide. It has a flexible, curved body designed to lie flush against the vulva and a pronounced nub at the end of the shaft for more targeted clitoral stimulation. It comes violet (the colour I received) and turquoise.

VeDo Toys Izzy pink lay-on vibrator
Image: VēDO

The Izzy is USB-rechargeable with a running time of around an hour, submersible in water, and equipped with a travel lock. It is made of soft and body-safe silicone. Its petite size makes it comfortable to hold, fitting neatly into the palm of your hand. It’s worth noting that some reviewers have mentioned issues with the battery life, with the Izzy dying after a short amount of running time, though I haven’t encountered these problems personally.

VēDO Toys Izzy Review: In Use

The Izzy has a simple one-button interface built into the silicone. You press the button once to switch it on, press again to cycle through the various different settings, and hold it down to switch the toy off. I don’t love single-button interface toys because having to cycle all the way back through the settings to go back a step is really annoying. I’d have preferred up/down buttons.

The Izzy has 10 modes of vibration including 3 constant speeds. You’ll likely know by now that I don’t really care for patterns. I’m much more a “constant vibrations” girl. However, if you do like patterns, Izzy gives you a decent range to choose from.

VēDO Izzy pink vibrator showed from underneath
Image: VēDO

The VēDO Toys Izzy’s shape is excellent. I particularly like that it allows for multiple ways of using it. You can lay the toy on your vulva, place the vibrator on the bed and straddle or grind against it, or hold the tip or side against your clit or any other body part you’d like to stimulate.

The nub on the end of the shaft is really what takes the Izzy from “okay “fine” to “good” for me. If you enjoy targeted and semi-pinpoint clitoral stimulation or want to experiment with it alongside broader all-over vibrations, this toy is a great starting point.

The VēDO Toys Izzy is also reasonably quiet, given its strength.

Surprisingly Powerful for the Price

I’ve been disappointed by so many clitoral vibrators, including (especially!) those claiming to be “super powerful”, that I rarely expect much from them at this point. This is particularly true for toys at lower price-points.

The Izzy’s vibrations, though, are pretty damn good for the price! They’re also not too buzzy. For those for whom a comparison is useful, this toy is not as strong or rumbly as the We-Vibe Tango but is about on a par with the Je Joue MiMi.

VēDO Toys Izzy: Verdict

The VēDO Izzy is definitely one of the better budget vibrators I’ve tried. The quality is excellent for the price point, with a great shape design and a good motor. You can buy the Izzy from Shevibe or Sex Toys UK.

I received this product free of charge in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links appear in this post. All views are mine.

Magic Wand Original review header featuring the toy lying on a pile of towels

[Toy Review] Vibratex Magic Wand Original AKA “The Hitachi”

Published on by Amy

Yes, it’s finally time for a Magic Wand (formerly the Hitachi Magic Wand or simply “Hitachi”) review! Readers and workshop participants often ask me for wand vibrator recommendations, and I did not feel as though I could give a fully informed opinion without trying the so-called “Cadillac of vibrators.” The Magic Wand Original is notoriously hard to come by in the UK. However, a kind US contact was able to hook me up.

The Magic Wand is the toy that started it all when it comes to wand-style massagers. This product was originally sold as a “personal massager” for sore muscles. It was Betty Dodson – artist, educator, masturbation connoisseur, and inimitable vibrator peddler extraordinaire – who popularised the Magic Wand as a tool for masturbation. Since then, there have been countless copycats and imitations, plenty of them terrible and some of them even unsafe. But the Magic Wand still reigns supreme as the most famous and sought-after vibrator of them all.

The Magic Wand Original wand vibrator

Okay, that’s enough of a history lesson. Let’s crack on with the review.

The Magic Wand Original comes packaged in a simple blue and white box with a picture of the product on the outside. This has changed remarkably little from the original packaging of the 1960s, except that the “Hitachi” name has been removed. (The company removed their name from the product in 2013, though continued to manufacture it after persuasion from distributor Vibratex).

The Magic Wand is 12″ long in total and weighs 540g. This puts it on the heavier side. If you struggle to hold heavy things or have a condition such as arthritis, you may want to take the weight and size of the thing into account. A good option for those who want to use a powerful wand but struggle to hold or manipulate it is to use a wand mount.

Vibratex (Formerly Hitachi) Magic Wand Original Review: Details

The body of the Magic Wand Original is made of plastic. The head appears to be PVC, though some retailers list it as TPE. Either way, the material is likely to be somewhat porous. This means it will harbour bacteria and is impossible to truly 100% clean. What this means, in practice, is that your Magic Wand probably won’t last forever. It also means you shouldn’t share it without a barrier.

One option is to buy an attachment made of silicone. Alternatively, if you upgrade to the Magic Wand Rechargeable, the head of that one is silicone.

This is a mains-operated toy and comes with a cable measuring approximately 5 feet in length. If you’re outside of North America, you’ll need a suitable converter to use it safely in your location.

Wand Review: So, Does the Famed “Hitachi” Live Up To Its Name?

I’m sure what anyone reading a Magic Wand review really wants to know is “is it actually as powerful as people say?” Fans of the Magic Wand like to say it has 2 settings: High, and Holy-Fucking-Shit.

So yes, if what you want is power and a lot of it, this toy delivers. There are no patterns and no finely graded settings, so if that’s what you need, give this one a miss. But for pure power alone, it’s a solid bet. 

The Magic Wand’s vibrations felt rumbly and penetrating. It’s loud, but then again most wands are. Someone in the next room can easily hear it, so bear this in mind if you’ve got roommates or family at home. Discreet this thing is not.

The Magic Wand Original is operated by a simple one-button interface.

Perhaps surprisingly, though, my overall review of the Magic Wand Original isn’t an unqualified and glowing endorsement. Powerful? Yes. But despite that, I found myself annoyed by both the softness of the head and the flexibility of the neck. When I’m playing with a really powerful toy like this one, I want to be able to push it hard against my vulva and feel the vibrations everywhere.  The bendy neck made it difficult to get the level of purchase I really desired.

Magic Wand Original Review Verdict: Worth the Hype?

The Magic Wand Original is perhaps the most hyped sex toy of all time, and tends to retail for between $70 and $90 depending on the retailer. Is it worth it?

Yes and no.

The Magic Wand Original is a very powerful toy. However, if you’ve got this kind of money to throw at a wand vibe, I have to say that I think the Doxy is a better investment. The Magic Wand Original loses major points from me for the porous head and the overly flexible neck.

In the final analysis? I enjoyed it just fine, but I was less blown away than I hoped and expected to be. I’d like to review the Magic Wand Rechargeable to see how that stacks up, so get in touch if you can hook me up.

The Magic Wand Original is available from Good Vibes, Babeland, and Lovehoney US.

Thanks to my contact who enabled this Magic Wand review by sending me the product from the US. This post contains affiliate links. All views are mine.

Header image for a review of the Pink B.O.B Allure Wand

[Toy Review] BOB Pink Allure Wand

Published on by Amy

Regular readers will know by now that I love wand vibrators. I’m pretty much obsessed with them. No other toys hit the spot for me in quite the same way. So I was pretty excited when Too Timid toys offered me their Allure Wand vibrator to review.

When I first received this toy and wrote the review, this toy was named the BOB Allure Wand. BOB stands for (wait for it) “battery operated boyfriend.” To which, I just… no. nope. Absolutely the fuck not.

Say it with me: toys are not boyfriends! Toys are not replacements for partners! Sex toys and partners occupy completely different spaces and functions in a person’s life! Mercifully, several years later, this godforsaken stupid name seems to have been ditched and now it’s just the “Allure Wand.” Much better.

Too Timid Toys Allure Wand Review: Details

My first impression of the Too Timid Allure Wand when I took it out of the packaging is that it’s really, really light. Ridiculously light for its size, really. This could be a really significant plus for those who find the heavier models too cumbersome.

TooTimid Allure Wand, a pink plastic wand vibrator with 3 buttons, a silicone head, and a white power cable
Image: TooTimid

The Allure Wand is mains powered and the cord is a massive 9ft long. The toy itself is about 12″ long and the classic wand shape. It boasts 20 different speeds and pattern settings.

Sadly, the epic array of settings, long cord, and light weight are about all the positive things I can say about this wand. In use, I found it… mediocre and forgettable, if I’m being generous.

The head has a silicone cap, which is body-safe. (It’s definitely silicone, it passed the flame test.) It’s a really weird silicone, though. It feels what I can only describe as rough and grainy. Under the silicone cap are foam inserts, for some reason. I suspect this is a money-saving technique but the overall effect is of the product being cheap and low-quality, not to mention unsanitary. Those inserts are bacteria traps from hell, seriously. The body is ABS plastic.

As of 2025, the Allure Wand retails for $99.95 at TooTimid. At around $20 more expensive than the iconic Magic Wand Original, this is ludicrously expensive for such a low quality product.

Too Timid Wand Review: In Use

I can juuuuuuust about get off with the Allure Wand if I crank it up to the top setting, but it’s not a toy I find enjoyable or pleasurable to use. The vibrations are reasonably strong but they’re also very buzzy. After a while, my vulva and clit felt semi-numb and tingly. It took me about 40 minutes to orgasm with it, which is a pretty poor show for a wand vibe (the good ones can get me off in two on a good day.)

Since I feel like I need to find something positive to say in my first Too Timid review, the Allure Wand’s buttons are intuitively placed, press easily, and make a nice satisfying “click”. The flexible neck is really annoying to me because I like to be able to press a toy hard against my body, but for others it might be a nice touch. This is purely a matter of preference.

The noise level is reasonable. However, I did notice that the head got a little warm after about 30 minutes of continuous use, so you might want to bear this in mind if you like to use your wands for lengthy sessions.

Too Timid Allure Wand: Verdict

Overall, I’m incredibly unimpressed. This toy is poorly made, poor quality, and hilariously overpriced. It feels like it’s about to either fall apart or catch fire any second. Safe to say it did not rock my world.

Looking for a great wand vibrator? The We-Vibe Wand 2, Lovense Domi 2, or anything by Doxy are great choices.

Thanks to Too Timid for sponsoring this review! All views are, and will always be, my own.

Header image for a review of the Je Joue MiMi

[Toy Review] Je Joue MiMi

Published on by Amy

If you’ve been reading my reviews for any amount of time, you will understand that serious power is a big deal for me when it comes to vibrators. I’ve heard Je Joue‘s toys referenced on multiple occasions as being good picks for power fans, but this is the first time I’ve got to try one out for myself. This week, The Pleasure Garden sex toy shop sent me the Je Joue MiMi to review.

Je Joue Mimi: Sex Toy Details

The Je Joue MiMi is a small (8.2 x 5cm), pebble-shaped silicone clitoral vibrator weighing just 78g. It’s so small, in fact, it sits comfortably in my palm. The MiMi is rechargeable via a magnetic USB cable. It is also waterproof and submersible.

Je Joue Mimi sex toy in its box
Image: Je Joue

Made from soft body-safe silicone, the MiMi is available in purple, pink, lilac, and black. It superficially looks quite similar to the Lovehoney Desire Clitoral Vibrator, but (spoiler alert) it’s way better.

In Use

As soon as I turned this petite little sex toy on in the palm of my hand, I knew I was going to be impressed with the Je Joue MiMi. Even on the lowest setting, the vibrations felt impressively rumbly.

Je Joue Mimi pebble vibrator in pink
Je Joue Mimi pebble vibrator in purple

Images: Je Joue

When I pressed this toy to my clit, I reached orgasm in less than a minute. Granted, there was some significant warm-up involved, but even so this is an impressive feat. It has 5 vibration patterns and 5 levels of intensity, starting with that low rumble I mentioned and building up to some impressively powerful higher settings.

The Je Joue MiMi has a pretty intuitive and standard sex toy interface, with three buttons: one to turn it on and turn the intensity up, one to turn it off and turn the intensity down, and one to change pattern. Major points for dual-directional controls given that I am constantly complaining about single-button interfaces and how annoying they are. I will say that the buttons are pretty small, so if you’re visually impaired or struggle with manual dexterity this might be a downside for you.

The MiMi has 5 patterns and 5 speeds, allowing you to mix and match to your preferences. I hate patterns (seriously, does anyone like patterns?) As usual, I tried them for about thirty seconds then went “nope” and switched back to a constant speed.

The intensity is really where the MiMi shines. Very few sex toys that I’ve tried can match the MiMi in terms of the small-size-to-good-motor ratio.

With that said, the Je Joue MiMi is definitely a broad stimulation toy. If you prefer very precise or pinpoint sensations, skip this one. For all-over rumbles without the bulk of a wand, though, it’s a great pick.

Je Joue MiMi Sex Toy Review: Verdict

Simple yet elegant, the Je Joue MiMi is an excellent little vibrator.

The Je Joue MiMi is available from retailers such as Good Vibes, Babeland, Sex Toys UK, and Lovehoney US.

Thank you to The Pleasure Garden for sending me the MiMi to review. Affiliate links appear in this post. All views are my own.

Header image for a review of the Lovehoney Mantric Wand

[Toy Review] Lovehoney Mantric Wand Vibrator

Published on by Amy

I love wands. They’re pretty much my favourite kind of toy. So of course, I jumped at the chance to test out the Mantric Wand from the Lovehoney Mantric range.

What is the Lovehoney Mantric Wand?

The Mantric Wand is a small rechargeable wand vibrator measuring 9.5″ long and with a head circumference of 5.4″. It has 7 modes or patterns of vibration, and each one can work on any of five speed settings. The handle has a slight curve and the head is the classic wand vibrator shape.

Lovehoney Mantric Wand, a black silicone wand vibrator with a curved handle
Images: Lovehoney
Lovehoney Mantric Wand, a black silicone wand vibrator with a curved handle

The Mantric Wand It is made of black silicone. It also features an LED light panel on one side of the handle which changes colour depending on which setting you’re on.

It is USB rechargeable, fully waterproof, has a travel-lock, and comes attractively packaged in an minimalistic brown cardboard box with the Mantric branding on the front. At first glance, the Mantric logo looks like an abstract mandala. Then, when you look closer, you see it’s made of penises and vulvas. Frankly, I’m into it.

The Lovehoney Mantric Wand In Use

Even though my most-reached-for toy is my Doxy ultra-powerful wand vibrator, it doesn’t always lend itself super well to being used on me by a partner. It’s so intense that it can quickly becomes painful if it’s even slightly in the wrong spot, and the size of the head makes that challenging. Smaller, rechargeable wands like the Mantric Wand can be a good in-between. It’s powerful enough to get me off, but not so powerful that absolute precision is required.

The Mantric Wand is very light, and the ergonomic handle and intelligent button placement makes it easy to hold and use. One gripe I have, though, is that turning it on is not intuitive at all. You have to press the middle of the three buttons, which puts it into “standby” mode, then press it again, then pick the setting you want. I’ll probably keep the instructions for this one because, if I don’t use it for a bit, I can see myself forgetting how to switch it on.

The second annoyance is that you can only change the settings one way. So if you skip past the one you want, you have to cycle all the way back through them all again.  You can change the speeds up or down, which is a plus, but in terms of changing the pattern it’s up up up only.

The Mantric Wand is waterproof and submersible. This makes it easy to clean and makes it suitable for use in the bath, if that’s your thing. There is a seam where the plastic band meets the head and handle, which could trap bacteria, so don’t neglect this area when you clean it. It also doesn’t come with a storage bag, which I would expect with a toy of this price-point.

In terms of intensity, the Mantric Wand isn’t bad for its price and size. The motor is reasonably rumbly at the lower levels, though it does get buzzier as you turn it up. This is a fine toy for those who like mid-level intensity but not one for those who crave high-powered rumbles.

Verdict

The Lovehoney Mantric wand £69.99/$79.99, which is a pretty middle-of-the-road price for a pretty middle-of-the-road toy. It’s fine but not amazing; I enjoyed using it but I’d like to see a second edition released to iron out some of the usability issues.

Heads up: affiliate links appear in this post Using them helps to support me and keep the blog going. Thanks to Lovehoney for sending me this toy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions and writing are mine.

White woman with brown hair ls lying on a bed smiling and holding a pink vibrator. Header for a post about vibrator addiction and sex toy addiction

Vibrator Addiction: No, You Cannot Get Addicted to a Sex Toy

Published on by Amy1 Comment

Vibrator addiction (or sex toy addiction more generally) is the less common but equally insidious sibling of “sex addiction”, and it’s equally nonsensical if not more so. I don’t believe sex addiction exists; it’s either a convenient excuse for bad behaviour, or driven by shame (usually religious in nature.) Dr David Ley has done some fantastic work on debunking the myth of sex addiction from a clinical perspective, so do check out his writing if you’re interested in learning more.

But this post is about vibrator addiction, sex toy addiction, and the general concept that you can become “addicted” to a sex toy.

You can’t.

I’m here to clear up this myth once and for all, because I’m sick of telling people that it’s really okay if they use their sex toy every day. Yes, even if it’s the only way they can orgasm. Yes, even if they use it multiple times a day!

First: What Do We Mean By “Vibrator Addiction”

When people talk about vibrator addiction or sex toy addiction, they usually mean one of two things:

  1. They’re scared of becoming so reliant on their toys that they won’t be able to orgasm any other way
  2. They’re worried that there is something wrong with them because of how much or how often they masturbate – that they’re sex addicts, nymphomaniacs, and so on.

Neither of these things is an addiction in the clinical sense, which refers to – according to the Cleveland Clinic – “a chronic (lifelong) condition that involves compulsive seeking and taking of a substance or performing of an activity despite negative or harmful consequences.”

Using a sex toy, even using one very regularly, is not compulsive, nor is it likely to have negative or harmful consequences. Masturbation, orgasm, and sex toys are not harmful (as long as you’re using body-safe toys.) In fact, they can be tremendously beneficial. You can’t misuse or abuse a sex toy in the same way you can, for example, alcohol or drugs.

If you find that you’re regularly masturbating to avoid dealing with difficult feelings, or doing it so much that other aspects of your life (such as work, friendships, or relationships) are being negatively impacted, you might want to consider seeing a sex positive therapist. However, I still don’t believe this constitutes a “sex toy addiction.” It’s also pretty rare. It is far, far more likely that what you’re dealing with isn’t a vibrator addiction, but good old fashioned sexual shame.

Addiction is a serious medical problem with causes major issues for both the sufferer and their loved ones. Addiction can kill. No-one, to the best of my knowledge, has ever turned to crime, alienated their family and friends, lost their job, run themselves into debt, or died because their Magic Wand just felt too good and gave them too many orgasms.

Minimising the very real pain of addiction and co-opting it as a sex-shaming tactic is incredibly insensitive and harmful to anyone who has been impacted by it.

Will I Break, Stretch, or Loosen My Vagina If I Use Toys Too Much?

No.

Genitals are fucking cool, y’all. They do not break or wear out from overuse.

Case in point: Millions of people give birth every year, which puts far more strain on the vulva and vagina than even the most hardcore of sex toys, and those people’s bodies bounce back just fine. I think the myth of toys stretching out a vagina irrevocably is closely associated with the (false and misogynistic) notion that too much sex causes a “loose” vagina. It fails to neglect the medical reality that the vagina is a muscle and muscles Do Not Work That Way.

You cannot break your genitals by enjoying sex toys. You can’t permanently stretch or loosen your vagina. It won’t mold around a toy and become unable to enjoy anything else. It won’t break, get addicted to one single type of stimulation, or become unable to enjoy other types of pleasure in the future. I promise!

Can Using Vibrators Cause Permanent Desensitisation?

No.

There is also no evidence whatsoever that prolonged or repeated usage of vibrators, even really high-powered ones, causes any long-term loss of sensation in the clitoris or vulva. At most, some people report feeling desensitized for a short while after a session of using a toy. This is especially common with buzzier toys, which can cause the dreaded “numbed out clit” effect. However, these effects are short-lived (typically minutes to hours at most) and cause no long-term damage or change in sensativity.

I’ve probably had, on average, something like ten orgasms a week with a vibrator for the last decade. The slightest flick of a partner’s tongue over my clit can still make me shiver. Toys will not harm your nerves or ruin your sensitivity permanently. Really liking using your toys does not constitute a sex toy addiction, and using a vibrator cannot permanently alter your sensitivity even if you use it every day.

Tangential but related: if you experience genital pain after using a sex toy, it could be any of the following:

  • You used a toy made from a toxic material
  • You used a toy made from a material you’re sensitive to
  • You didn’t use enough (or any) lube
  • You used a lube with toxic ingredients (or ingredients you’re sensitive to)
  • You didn’t warm yourself up enough, or weren’t aroused enough before you started
  • It’s just your body’s response to a new stimulus that it’s not used to (a bit like your muscles aching the next day if you do a new form of exercise!)

Do I Have a Vibrator Addition If Using a Toy is the Only Way I Can Orgasm?

I’m going to say something truly radical now. Stay with me.

If using a vibrator is the only or the most reliable way for you to reach orgasm, follow these steps:

  1. Use the vibrator
  2. Enjoy your orgasms
  3. Don’t worry about it

Orgasms are great. We should all be having as many of them as we wish. There are countless ways to reach orgasm. Not all of them work for everyone, and all of them are equally valid. The only requirement for a “good” orgasm? That everyone inducing or experiencing it is consenting. That’s literally it.

Reaching orgasm more quickly with a vibrator is normal. Only reaching orgasm with a vibrator is normal. Using a vibrator every time you want to get off isn’t a “vibrator addiction,” it’s a physical preference.

Some people with vulvas (and their partners) spend their entire lives chasing the elusive vaginal-only orgasm. The reality, though, is that the overwhelming majority of people’s bodies don’t work that way. Many people feel slighted if they can’t get their partner off without the aid of a toy. Some will wonder if their partner’s toy usage is to blame. It’s not; people and bodies are just different.

I encourage everyone to experiment with different kinds of pleasure to find what feels good for them. This can and probably will change over time. That’s normal too. Using toys can broaden, rather than narrowing, your experience of pleasure and the ways in which you can enjoy your body.

But when people message me to ask, “Dear Amy, please help, the only way I can reliably orgasm is by doing this thing”, my answer is very likely to be “….then do that thing.”

I’m Worried My Partner’s Sex Toy Addiction Will Replace Me

A lot of people are afraid that they, or their partners, will find the stimulation they get from a toy to be so overwhelmingly amazing that they won’t have any need for partnered sex in the future.

Again, this fear is not remotely evidence-based. In fact, I’ve found that the opposite is more often true. Many people find that exploring their sexuality through toys increases their potential for erotic enjoyment and therefore improves the partnered sex they have.

A toy, however much you love it, cannot be a substitute for a partner. Companies that use terms like “battery operated boyfriend” or “the perfect lover” to describe toys have a lot to answer for. So does that stupid scene in Sex & the City. Until a toy is sentient, shows up for me emotionally, makes me laugh, snuggles me at night, watches Netflix with me, takes me on adventures and brings me coffee, it is NOT a boyfriend/lover/partner. It’s an inanimate object, a tool through which to experience pleasure.

Don’t shame your partner if they enjoy using toys. Don’t accuse them of having a vibrator addiction, and don’t try to make their toys your competition. It’s not necessary. Toys can’t replace people.

“Vibrator Addiction” is a Misogynistic Shaming Tactic and Nothing More

The false notion of sex toy addiction adds to the stigma of masturbation and sexual pleasure. It’s also rooted in misogyny, since the accusation of having a vibrator addiction is pretty much always thrown at women and people with vulvas. It has no medical, psychological, or evidence-based foundation.

Let’s stop it and allow people to have orgasms in the ways that work for them.

We-Vibe Tango review header image

[Toy Review] We-Vibe Tango

Published on by Amy

Update 02/03/22: The We-Vibe Tango has been replaced by the new and improved Tango X and Tango 2 vibes. I normally remove obsolete reviews but I have left this We-Vibe Tango review up to show the evolution of this product.

Info & Details

Reviews of the We-Vibe Tango often say that it’s the strongest bullet vibrator currently on the market. The Tango is small, measuring only 3.5″ in length and about 0.75″ in diameter. It’s the standard “lipstick” bullet shape with a small flattened edge at the top leading to a point.

We-Vibe Tango small plastic lipstick vibrators in pink and blue
Image: We-Vibe

The We-Vibe Tango is USB rechargeable with a battery life of around 90 minutes, waterproof, and comes with a drawstring storage bag. It is made of ABS (hard) plastic and available in pink or blue.

We-Vibe Tango Review: In Use

I could just say “the We-Vibe Tango is a fucking great product” and leave it there. Because it is. But let’s get a little more in-depth.

This baby is seriously powerful and seriously rumbly. I particularly love how the plastic body of the toy enhances the rumbles and doesn’t dampen the power of the motor at all. (If this sounds like too much for you and you’d prefer your vibrations to be somewhat dampened by a layer of silicone, the We-Vibe Touch is a great option!)

The Tango is super light and tiny, fitting neatly in my hand. Its single button on the base is easy to press. The single-button interface is kind of annoying – you can only scroll through the settings one way, i.e. you can’t go back a step without flicking through them all first. However, the Tango does have a useful memory function: whichever setting you’re using when you switch the toy off, it will return to that same setting when you switch it back on. There are four constant speeds and four patterns.

This seems like a really petty gripe when this We-Vibe Tango review is so positive, but I need to say it: it bugs me that this toy is advertised as “for solo play.” I mean, sure, it’s definitely great for that. But it’s also great for use with a partner, or several. Just as literally any toy can be “for couples,” any toy can also be used for solo sex. Let’s not get prescriptive in how people use toys.

We-Vibe Tango Review: Verdict

I now understand why so many people rave about this toy. I cannot overstate how utterly excellent it is. It is certainly going to be my go-to for a small, light, travel-friendly and powerful as hell vibe.

The We-Vibe Tango retails for £54.99 at the time of writing. It’s definitely on the higher end of the price range for a bullet vibrator, but I think it’s worth it. It is so superior in quality to the overwhelming majority of superficially-similar toys on the market. It also comes with a one-year warranty.

I bought this toy for myself and did not receive anything in exchange for this We-Vibe Tango review. This post does contain affiliate links and if you buy through one, I make a small commission. All views are mine.