Today’s product for review by supplied to me by Unbound Babes, a formerly box-only retailer that landed on my retailer about a year ago. They no longer sell the beneLIGNI BENEBRIGHT, but I wanted to give them a shoutout for being innovative, advocating for equality and sending out the single most entertaining newsletter that I have ever had the pleasure to receive.
Unbound still has subscription options, but you can also shop directly from them. The stock is small because it’s a curated collection and one that I think it worth checking out. The folks at Unbound have been hard at work at producing their own brand, too. Not all items are luxury, but they’re generally high-quality. So it’s no surprise that the beneLIGNI BENEBRIGHT did make an appearance on their site.
It has been years since I used a wooden dildo. I lusted over one before I was able to acquire one, I believe through a giveaway: the NobEssense fling. I was so excited to use it, but then.. I didn’t like it. I never wrote about it here; although, I did post a review on EF that I am loathed to link. So I’ll just give you the highlights.
The Fling had a very narrow neck and a head and base that curved in different directions, not uncommon for toys by that brand. Because of where my pubic bone sits, this made using the toy very uncomfortable.
While I do not think that I have especially large fingers, the finger holes in the handle were too small to be useful. I wound up having to hold the toy around the base. This in itself isn’t a deal-breaker but finger holes in toys are almost always too small for me, a ciswoman, to use as intended (never mind that finger holes are almost always positioned differently from how I hold my hand during use). Considering how rigid this material is, there’s no give there.
I am not sure what I expected when it came to how wood would feel, but I was not immediately a fan. It’s both inflexible and light, and the result was a toy that felt hollow. I know that it wasn’t, but it felt weightless and empty. I felt empty. The lack of weight to guide during use resulted in a lackluster experience. But that’s putting it lightly. The way the Fling felt was distasteful. I felt nearly offended. It was such an emotional reaction to an inanimate object. I felt cold because it left me feeling that way, a feeling that is unusual considering that wood normally has such a warmth.
You can see why it took me so long to get around to trying another wooden toy, but I am glad that I did.
beneLIGNI is a European company, and the name translates to “good tree.” They sell themselves as a company that doesn’t use plastics, and this is true right down to their packaging. They make a line of attractive dildos including some that would work well as anal toys.
I received the BENEBRIGHT made from “nut” wood. I am not sure which nut but am inclined to wonder if it’s nut as the description says the wood exists in North America, Europe, and Asia, but I am no wood expect. The dildo is also available in olive, cherry, mahogany, and maple, all of which are quadruple sealed. I actually would not have chosen nut as the material of choice. I am a bigger fan of mahogany and darker woods. Nevertheless, the lighter color lets the wood grain (“even to wild grain”) shine through nicely.
Other than that, the appearance of the BENEBRIGHT is not particularly interesting, especially compared to some of the companies other dildos or even those by NobEssence. The dildo has a gentle curve with one side more tapered than the other. The narrower end has a midrange diameter of 1.4 inches while the thicker end is just under 1.7 inches wide. Both are usable as is the case with most of the toys made by beneLIGNI The toy is neither notably large or small. beneLIGNI has a comparison chart of toy sizes on their site, and this dildo falls pretty much in the middle lengthwise as 81/4 inches long.
There are some important ways that the BENEBRIGHT stands out, however. First, I was floored by the presentation. The box comes wrapped in a brown paper, tied with twine, and sealed with wax. My longtime readers know that I am not swayed by packaging, much of which winds up in the trash, but the wax seal was such a unique touch that I had to comment on it.
The box that BENEBRIGHT comes in is actually recyclable because it’s made from cardboard and matches their plastic-free ethos. Fitting. The layers remind me of paper mache. There is no storage pouch, but unless you plan on storing your dildo with sharp objects, this should be no issue.
The BENEBRIGHT has virtually no learning curve. I started with the tapered end because it seemed like a better fit. I used a nice dose of lube as it seems to spread out more on wooden toys. Insertion is was easy due to the tapered design, and handling was stress-free. There were no awkward finger holes that I had to avoid (a couple beneLIGNI toys have a knobby base that I bet would work awesomely), and the gentle curve of the dildo placed the other end comfortably within reach. Although, I can see it becoming slippery if your hands are full of lube.
This dildo didn’t change my life, but it did help sway my mind regarding wood. It might be that a different wood feels different in terms of density and hardness. Or it may simply be that BENEBRIGHT was easier to use than the Fling or even that my body’s preferences have adapted. Either way, I certainly don’t mind this one. But it’s one of those toys that stimulate my G-spot without necessarily being pleasurable. I wouldn’t reach for it first.
Since my initial use, I have used the larger end of this dildo for penetration, too. It’s not my preferred way of using it. The small end works for a handle while the larger end is more impressive at filling you. It just doesn’t really do anything for me.
My experience with BENEBRIGHT is a step in the right direction, however. I’m willing to experiment with it more to see if something improves my experience. And I’m certainly going to consider more beneLIGNI toys in the future. There are some intriguing designs for sure.
Although you can no longer get BENEBRIGHT from Unbound, you can buy it directly from beneLIGNI. Note that different woods have different costs. This dildo costs the least in maple (approximately $105) while the nut model is just over $150.
And if you don’t find what you like on their site, don’t forget to check out the toys for sale at Unbound Babes.
Categories: Dildos
