Miss Behaving's Closet of Curiosities

June 1, 2017

Cobalt Blue Pleasure Wand: Lacking in the Pleasure Department

Cobalt Blue Pleasure Wand

Lacking in the Pleasure Department

A quick disclaimer before the review begins: the dildo in the above illustration is not completely accurate in scale. I try to depict the toys as true to life as possible, but I got carried away with this month's image. In the future, I'll provide a better representation of what I review so you receive authentic information. And now back to your regularly scheduled program!

I have little experience with glass dildos as I write this review, and my arsenal of sex toys still lacks in that department (although I'd like to change that one day). But I find glass dildos absolutely gorgeous, like little works of art you can stuff inside you. Whenever I swing by the nearby sex shop, the ones nestled behind the safety of the display case take my breath away. For a moment, I almost forget the creators intended them as sex toys. I used to own a lovely little number while in college, Don Wand's Pleasure Wand in a rich cobalt blue color from Amazon, yet sadly, because of said little number, I shied away from glass dildos for years. It set an unfortunate precedent for any future purchases because I experienced another world of pain each time I tried to use it.

When I purchased this Pleasure Wand in 2011, it retailed on Amazon for about $12, a fantastic price for a quality glass dildo, but years later you can own this piece for the low, low price of only $5.99! Unfortunately, Don Wand lacks their own official website, and their Amazon store keeps experiencing issues when displaying their complete inventory, but a search for Don Wand on Amazon or Google yields numerous results, and their dildos average around $10 each. The Pleasure Wand has a total length of 7.5 in (19 cm) with a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) diameter/3.9 in (9.9 cm) circumference shaft and a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) diameter/4.7 in (11.9 cm) circumference head, a pretty straightforward and standard dildo size, all things considered.

As previously mentioned, the Pleasure Wand and all of Don Wand's dildos are made of glass and a specific type of glass called borosilicate known for its improved shatter resistance compared to "normal" glass. With maybe the exception of medical-grade silicone, glass is one of the safest materials for the body (as long as no cracks or chips are in the surface) because of its natural hypoallergenic, non-porous and phthalate-free qualities. I prefer silicone toys mainly for peace of mind since I'm naturally clumsy and I know one day I'd knock my beautiful glass dildo off my desk and let out a slow-motion, "Noooooooo," as it falls to the floor. Even a shatter resistant material isn't completely invincible to linoleum.

You should prepare to hear this from me quite often, but I love and value the surface texture of toys, which I regard as a very important selling feature. If the toy fails to tickle your fancy, then why bother spending money on it? I know different people value different properties in their toys such as length, girth or angle, but texture still covers a lot of ground in the sex toy realm and is a safe bet to discuss critically. The nubs on the Pleasure Wand feel amazing since they stick a good two or three millimeters off the shaft, and every bump ripples against your walls when the dildo moves in and out of your body. And the color, while advertised as a deep cobalt blue, actually appears more black until you hold the toy up to the light. I personally find it gorgeous though some owners expressed their disappointment with how dark it looks in-person.

Unfortunately, the positive reception ends here. Despite its manageable length and delicious nubs, this dildo continued to give me painful experiences no matter what I tried. The Pleasure Wand has a slight curve to provide better G-spot stimulation and a large head to enhance this sensation, but the only sensation I experienced was the awful pinching and crushing of my vaginal wall against my pubic bone. Yes, it felt as painful as it sounds. Because the glass has zero flexibility, I could only use the toy in a very specific position: on my back with my legs tucked against my chest which made holding the dildo awkward and uncomfortable. Doggy-style? Out of the question; the head scraped across my pelvis and threatened to take some tissue with it. On top? Please no; the curve of the shaft refused to work with the curve of my body. Anal? I died a little inside; that head is just too big and solid so my muscles never relaxed around it. Maybe my physical make-up prevents me from using it to its full potential since the Pleasure Wand received positive reviews on Amazon, and many buyers raved about how wonderful it feels, but other buyers also expressed concern with its size and angle. I want to love this dildo when the bumps send me into a frenzy, but I simply can't when it keeps smashing against my tender bits.

In the end, I wish the Pleasure Wand was more effective in its mission to please, and it might achieve this goal with a smaller head or without the shaft curve, but I think just a smaller head would do the trick. Other reviewers say it's perfect as is and some, to my surprise, say it's one of their first toys ever. So with that in mind, maybe I'm too biased in my opinion. Always take what I say with a grain of salt, but at the same time, consider what I say as an alternate approach, the other side of the coin. You don't always want to hear just the positives of a product. Regardless, I recommend the Pleasure Wand for intermediate or flexible users and go into its purchase with your limits in mind.

Summary

Size: ★★★☆☆

Cost: ★★★★★

Texture: ★★★★★

Material: ★★★★★

Ease of use: ★★☆☆☆

Effectiveness: ★★★☆☆

Final rating: ★★★☆☆

For more info:

Amazon

Want to help contribute to the cause? Check out the blog wish list on Amazon!

Gift givers will receive a free hi-res file of the illustration promoting the item they purchased as well as a special shout-out as that month's patron.

Want to be a guest reviewer on the blog?
Send an email to missannabellehawkins !at gmail.com and we can set up an interview! Guests also receive a hi-res file of their toy illustration.

May 1, 2017

The Tentacle: When Fantasies Become Reality

The Tentacle

When Fantasies Become Reality

My best friend from college introduced me to Bad Dragon a few years back, an online adult toy company that caters to an audience of "special" tastes, and I remember the first time I browsed through their website, it completely blew my mind. I had no idea a company out there actually created these dream toys! Fantasies I believed only existed in the imagination teased me from behind the screen, only a click away from being delivered to my doorstep. Their toys ranged from borderline bizarre to tantalizingly tasteful, and I instantly made it a goal to save up for one of these works of art. Daily, I visited the adoptions section (pre-made toys ready to ship out the next day versus a custom toy that takes 2-3 weeks to manufacture) hoping to find the perfect addition to my growing collection, and finally one day in class, I found it: The Tentacle.

I admit I have a raging love for tentacles, and when it comes time to stroke the kitty, it's my default search term. Bad Dragon's Tentacle immediately caught my eye, but I hesitated to create my own right away because I had no idea what I wanted out of it yet, and I refused to commit to something I might regret buying later on. I had no clue what firmness worked best, what size I could afford and what color scheme I preferred. But then that day during study hall, I found a lovely Tentacle that I realized offered all of the features I needed as a newbie customer: medium size, medium firmness, and, as a cherry on top, the color scheme reminded me of a Creamsicle with a white underside and bright citrus-orange body. It was perfect. And a week later, I tore open the box and welcomed my toy to the family.

Bad Dragon's merchandise tends to hit the wallet fairly hard, but at least you have the peace of mind knowing every cent of your purchase goes towards a high-quality and long-lasting product. I hesitate to call it an investment, but purchasing one on a whim too often may cause a hole in your finances. All of their toys come in such a wide variety of firmness levels, sizes and colors that I will concentrate on just the features my Tentacle has rather than break down an entire list. A medium-sized Tentacle costs a base price of $85, which is how much I paid for mine as an adoption, but a Tentacle with the same customized color scheme created from scratch costs $105 instead. Custom colors outside their available palettes and some design combinations increase the final price by $10-$20. A medium Tentacle provides a total length of 8.25 in (21 cm) with a usable length of 5.75 in (14.6 cm) though depending on the firmness of the toy and your determination, more can fit inside you, as I discovered. The shaft ranges from a diameter of 1.3 in (3.3 cm)/3.5 in (8.9 cm) circumference at the head to 2.6 in (6.6 cm)/8.1 in (20.6 cm) circumference at the base. If you need more detailed size descriptions, Bad Dragon has a thorough list of dimensions for each product allowing you to compare sizes (mini to x-large) so you can decide which works best for your purposes.

But the texture is more important than the size in this case, the crown jewel of this toy! Although first impressions may assume the suckers will stick to your skin, they only function on an aesthetic and textural level and are not biologically accurate. Regardless of the firmness you select, these suckers always remain stiff and hold their shape allowing for excellent sensations going in. I feel every ridge move in and out of me, and the G-spot stimulation it provides is phenomenal! I can never climax without some form of clitoral stimulation, but I experienced an orgasm with G-spot stimulation alone using this toy. And the wide distribution of the suckers means that as long as you have it facing the right direction, you will always feel those little helpers bringing you closer to the edge.

I really appreciate the quality Bad Dragon puts into their materials, one of the reasons I don't mind forking out a little extra money to purchase one. Each toy contains 100% platinum-cured silicone, a type of molding rubber known for having one of the longest life spans and the least amount of shrinkage from temperature fluctuation. However, I noticed with this type of silicone that it tends to leave grease marks on surfaces. No amount of washing removes it so it may be a side-effect of the bonds in the rubber, but Bad Dragon promises this material is non-toxic and hypoallergenic. Still, beware when storing your toy. My Tentacle ruined a few boxes when I left it in one place for too long allowing the grease to soak into the surface. I recommend a durable non-toxic plastic, cloth-lined or glass container and to avoid porous surfaces such as wood or laminated cardboard. And whatever you do, do not leave it on your IKEA nightstand for more than a few days unless you want a permanent mark from your friend.

The Tentacle has a weighty base so it stands up on its own with zero difficulty, though the softer the body is, the more it may flop around from gravity. The medium firmness I have lets it keep its shape fairly well with only minor tipping from the weight of the head. It also provides a nice balance when intimately used because while it holds its shape, it is also very flexible permitting me to cram most of the length inside me. I love plopping it down on my computer chair and hanging onto the chair back while I ride it into the ground. The weight of the base starts to wear on the wrist if you hold it up for too long, so riding it cowgirl style is a match made in heaven. Depending on your preferred firmness, the Tentacle may behave differently than what I described. A softer shaft might have more trouble fitting through tight entrances, and a firm form might not yield as easily to the natural movements of your body. Thankfully, Bad Dragon offers an inexpensive sample set that you can purchase and fiddle with at your leisure to determine which firmness works best for your needs before ordering.

The only major gripe I have with the Tentacle is not through any fault of its own. From its design and from its manner of advertisement, this toy is clearly intended for anal use, but my selected firmness makes it too soft for me to attempt it. I use it solely as a vaginal dildo, and while it certainly gets the job done, the head creates some cumbersome issues inside, and I wish the overall shaft had a thicker diameter or at least tapered less dramatically. I really have to wriggle my body down to the base to receive the most out of the toy. But it manages to work wonders for me, and I acknowledge I fail to use it for its intended purpose. Still, no regrets!

So, do I recommend this little fella? Absolutely! I only caution that you thoroughly research the types of features you want yours to have before ordering because unfortunately, Bad Dragon accepts returns only if the toy has a defect, so choose wisely. Grab a tape measure and calculate the size or compare it to a toy you already own for scale. Bad Dragon dildos are each unique in their own way so you want to know the one you finally order is the right match for you. Sadly, consentacles don't exist in real life, and no matter how hard you wish, they won't. But that doesn't mean this can't be a close second. I know it's mine!

Summary

Size: ★★★★☆

Cost: ★★★☆☆

Texture: ★★★★★

Material: ★★★★☆

Ease of use: ★★★★☆

Effectiveness: ★★★★☆

Final rating: ★★★★☆

For more info:

Bad Dragon Website

Shop
Adoptions

Want to help contribute to the cause? Check out the blog wish list on Amazon!

April 1, 2017

Trinity Deluxe Rabbit: Hoppily Ever After

Trinity Deluxe Rabbit

Hoppily Ever After

Purchasing your first sex toy is a right of passage, that first step on the soil of sexual exploration, a declaration of, "Look at me! I'm confident enough in myself that I want to learn more about my body!" That first toy forever holds a special place in your heart the minute it touches your skin. At least, I experience that effect whenever I see a Rabbit dildo. Recently, I felt an ache of nostalgia when I remembered the moments I shared with mine years ago. I wish I could pull the old shoe box out from under my bed, open the lid and find it nestled inside, waiting patiently for me to plunge it home again. So as spring peeks around the corner and chocolate bunnies populate the grocery shelves, I will be looking back at the very first toy I ever purchased: Trinity Vibe's Deluxe Rabbit Vibrator.

In high school, I existed in a bubble that encompassed only my room with limited exposure to the outside world. So when I finally pulled on my big girl panties and decided I wanted to buy myself a dildo, I had no idea where to start. The thought of walking down to the local sex shop and bombarding the employees with questions made me cripplingly embarrassed, and asking my close friends was out of the question because no one else was sexually active yet. Thus, I turned to the wide open web for help, as I'm sure many of you can relate to too.

I conducted some feeble research into the best adult toy companies at the time and relied on the reviews of Amazon buyers for guidance. The terms "Trinity Vibes" and "rabbit" consistently surfaced with each search, so I settled on the most affordable and most intriguingly designed toy from their inventory. In December of 2009, my secret Christmas present to me arrived in the mail, and to this day, I still like to think my sex life changed for the better because of it.

At the time of purchase, the Deluxe Rabbit retailed for a reasonable $17.95 on Amazon, one of the factors that influenced my decision to order one. Even today, $20 for that quality of toy is a very affordable price for what you get. The company has since discontinued the model I used to own for an updated and considerably improved version. Unfortunately, with this newer model, the price increased dramatically to $66.99 on their official website. However, a quick search on Amazon reveals that you can own one for around $30. If you consider purchasing any of Trinity Vibe's products, please do so through Amazon or a similar marketplace site as you will save at least half the amount the company asks.

Although it sounds contradictory, I value the all-around average approach this toy provides especially when it comes to size. With a total length of 9 in (22.9 cm) and an insertable length of 5 in (12.7 cm), it offers a great all-purpose guide that I still use today to compare toys I want to add to my collection. The shaft has a 1.25 in (3.2 cm) diameter/3.9 in (9.9 cm) circumference and the head, a 1.5 in (3.8 cm) diameter/4.7 in (11.9) circumference, still an excellent average. If I need a longer, thicker toy, I base my decisions off of these dimensions, and even though I'm now a size queen, I still judge the length of my toys with the Deluxe Rabbit because it fit inside me so perfectly. The easy-to-use power switches also provide an intuitive interface that surpasses my expectations. Instead of fumbling with a dial or cycling through a dozen patterns, it has four on-off buttons: one to turn on the rotation, one to change the direction of rotation (clockwise or counterclockwise), one to turn on the vibration, and one to increase the vibration power. Simple yet effective, no additional bells and whistles needed.

The toy is smooth and slick with no surface variation aside from the beaded core, and while not necessarily a bad feature, when the fountain is flowing so to speak, sensations diminish dramatically, and I have to rely heavily on the vibrations. When this occurs, the pearls are a saving grace. When stationary, they create a pleasant bulge that pops in and out of the body but otherwise make little impact until you turn the rotation on, then enjoy the ride as those beads click and shift against one another to create a peculiar but delicious sensation at your entrance or G/P-spot. It definitely helped give me just the right push over the edge on more than one occasion.

But now I must deduct points. I don't know how Trinity Vibes constructed the original Deluxe Rabbit nor can I find the information anywhere online, but it appears they used a cheap latex and/or rubber blend as the material is less than ideal and potentially harmful. I had positive initial impressions of the toy, but after repeated use, the dildo's body degraded over time. The clear portions turned yellow, and a pervasive rubbery smell always lingered no matter how often or thoroughly I washed it. After about four years, I had no choice but to finally retire my old friend. The inner mechanics still worked like a dream as if fresh out of the box, but the rubber/latex coating deteriorated so much I felt concerned about putting it inside my body anymore. Thankfully, the updated models are phthalate and latex free and of much higher quality.

Aside from the worrisome materials, the Deluxe Rabbit possesses nearly everything I desire in an adult toy. Its sturdy yet lightweight build makes it great for any position without much discomfort, and it grew into my best friend for a between classes quickie. The ideal way I used it involved lying on my stomach against my mattress with the dildo sandwiched in between, the shaft inside me and the rotation and vibration switched to full blast. In this position, it transformed into a hands-free assistant for my naughty online escapades, and I freely used my laptop to browse while grinding against it. This did unfortunately cause me to orgasm faster than I planned because the rabbit ears are a little too on-point, but I can't hold a grudge against its efficiency. The package deal it provides is top-notch. You receive a phallus for vaginal or anal play, a powerful rotator to pleasure said areas, and an excellent clitoral stimulator for the ladies. All of this variety wrapped up into a single compact unit.

Another small but significant brownie point involves the batteries. While many small vibrators today favor obscure battery types such as the discs found in hearing aids, the Deluxe Rabbit requires just 3 AA batteries. I owned a set of rechargeable ones that I constantly swapped out of the toy so it was always charged and ready to use without requiring me to spend extra money on batteries every few weeks.

In closing, I highly recommend the Deluxe Rabbit as an essential toy box staple. Though most beneficial for the ladies, couples and possibly some fellas may also find it convenient to have one on hand. Because of its versatility, it provides a cost-effective way to stimulate several erogenous zones at once rather than acquiring different toys to achieve the same effect. I hate to throw around the phrase, "great for beginners," but I authentically believe it is. It provides a great introduction to the primary pleasure areas: penetrative (vaginal or anal), clitoral and G/P-spot, which gives you the opportunity to discover which points you prefer to have stimulated most. In my case, I learned clitoral focus is a must with vaginal as a secondary. Because of its low cost, it makes a fabulous addition for newbies and seasoned veterans alike. Given the opportunity, I wouldn't hesitate to buy myself another Rabbit and relive my high school years again.