BSoft

December 31st, 2009

Bsoft

Bsoft
$55 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

When the Bsoft first came out, I was intrigued. The unique shape still reminds me of the Jetsons and I am always drawn toward original clitoral vibes. The reviews came out and none of them really raved. The lack of power was mentioned consistently, along with a few other issues which I, too, have now had the chance to experience firsthand.

It’s difficult to describe the shape of the Bsoft accurately. If one were to draw the Bsoft from either the top or bottom, it’s sort of pear shaped, wider toward the center with curved points on either end. The slightly sharper point is capped with a plastic cover to protect the port for the charger cord (like the ports on your phone or camera might be covered). As nearly every review has mentioned, this cap does not fit snugly and is constantly flipping up and around. I had to rearrange it several times during use; in fact, it was off right out of the box. It stays on because it is attached; however. Some folks have cut theirs off but I’m wary of water or lubes getting into the the vibrator so I’ve kept mine on.

The design of this toy means only one side can really be used for stimulation. The side with the controls had a sleek border in blue (or pink or purple) around a center piece of more silver plastic where sit the 3 control buttons. The buttons are round, made of soft grey plastic and sit slightly higher than the plastic that surrounds them. There is a slight clicking which can be heard then they are pressed and they’re significantly larger than the controls on most toys which makes it incredibly easy to use. There is a master power switch and a plus and minus button. Bsoft starts at a low steady vibration, increases to a medium and tops off with one more level. There are 4 modes of pulsation, escalation and even a mix. But, because the vibrations are so high pitched, they tend to tickle rather than to deeply satisfy. Putting pressure on the vibe also seems to dull the vibrations.

The stimulating side would be the side which is made of hard, silver plastic. It’s entirely smooth, except for a seam about 1/2 an inch down from the plastic cover. This seam is definitely a place which can collect gunk and I would carefully clean with a damp Q-tip because of its proximity to the port. I do everything I can to prevent soap and water from getting in there (the loose cover doesn’t provide help) and toy wipes would probably be the best option for cleaning.

The hard plastic rises to create a soft ridge in the middle. It runs from the top where the cap is, gradually lowering toward the other end where it diminishes toward a gentle curve and the vibrator is thinner. It is here that the vibrations are strongest and I guess this area is intended to be used against the body. Although the sides of the ridge and the curving end are slightly broader when compared to the ridge itself, I really didn’t find any part of the Bsoft optimum for getting the pressure I like. Of course, the capped end really shouldn’t/couldn’t be used for stimulation either.

However, the entire piece fit fairly well nestled between my lips, which I liked. Because the entire toy curves slightly toward the back, the non-cap end stimulated the entrance of my vagina. If it were a bit longer, it would likely hit my G-spot but just missed it. I think the Bsoft would be more effective if it were simply a bit smaller. It measures 6″ long, 2.5″ at the widest and about 1.5″ deep at the thickest. A smaller size, in addition to more of a soft curve instead of the ridge on the back would enable me to grind this toy against myself and still take advantage of how it fits against the vulva.

The Bsoft is super light because is requires no batteries. While the quality seems generally good, I find myself distrustful of toys which are so light. This vibrator comes charged and I have yet to recharge it although I used it for 20 minutes tops. The DC charger easily plugs into the toy and fits into any typical (American) socket. There is no indicator light and the instruction manual does not say how long the vibrator needs to be charged but does say not to charge it for over 24 hours or to use during charging.

Along with the vibrator and charger, which sit on a plasitc metal tray, the box includes a fabric bag (which is almost fleecy on the inside) and instruction manual. The box is longer than it is wide and not deep at all so I do think it would make a decent option for storing everything together (or perhaps just use the tray). The bag has a drawstring which allows it to be closed and easily tossed in a bag or purse. The DC adapter can fit into the bag as well but could scratch the plastic of the Bsoft which seems to scratch easily (like an iPod). The bag is actually thicker than that which came with my BNaughty but isn’t what I would consider plush (perhaps the thickness of some flannel).

The unique shape of the Bsoft seems to be inspired by reality but is just a bit to surreal to provide the stimulation which I need to orgasm. Combined with the buzzy vibes, I can’t see it being useful for much more than warm up which is a shame because few vibes seem to be designed to complement the vulva (and not just the clit). I recently bought Bswish’s newest clit vibe – BCurious – and I am definitely curious to see how it pairs up with this first effort.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Santa Duckie

December 11th, 2009

Santa Duckie

Santa Duckie
$23.52 from Of Sex and Love Store

Most people I know consider the I Rub My Duckie line to be cute. I do. I don’t lust over every single piece but it’s cute and I own two: the Paris duckie and now, the Santa Duckie. Actually, there is sometihng about the design of the Santa duckie that really appealed to me, much more than most of the other designs despite the fact that it’s only the mini, travel sized version (which I have thus far avoided). I definitely think the fact that it comes in a functional Christmas tree bulb holder is part of that draw. After spending a bit of time with the vibrator, I can’t say I will rush out to buy ever other duckie but I can say that I like it a lot. It’s cute but also more practical than I would have guessed.

As I mentioned, the packaging of this duckie is a bit more thought out than other versions. The whole thing is in a plastic box with different snowflakes printed on the front and sides. Inside this sites a tray where the Christmas bulb rests. The front half of the bulb is clear with more snowflakes and the back is solid blue, creating a backdrop for the duckie. The bulb is topped off with a red bow and a silver string which means it could be hung on a tree, if you’re into that sort of thing.

At first, I was disappointed because there were two pieces of tape which seemed to hold the two sides of the bulb together but those are only there for extra support. When together, the bulb actually has a short, threaded neck on top onto which screws a silver plastic cap which mimics the metal caps on the top of actually Christmas bulbs (this is also where the box and hanging string attach). Without the tape, the globe still stays whole but it’s a bit more secure with the tape on the bottom. In fact, the duckie is uber secure as there are a couple of places where there are twisty tries threaded through and then taped, just the way Barbies are secured in their boxes.

Of course, the Duckie himself has a bright red suit and hat, complete with black belt and fluffy trim. Although the entire thing is hard PVC, the white parts are textured to look fuzzy. There is quite a bit of texture on the Santa Duckie from his closed to his wings, break and other body parts. There are a few mostly smooth pieces but there’s no entirely smooth, spacious surface like most vibrators.

Once out of his box, I immediately felt that the more compact size of the Santa Duckie, as compared to my regular sized one, would be beneficial. That might be slightly detrimental if you want him mostly for decoration purposes but it just seemed less bulky to me, more like the size of a clitoral vibe like Laya Spot. For me, the tail was the best surface to actually press against my body as it is somewhat broad and there are no immediate obstructions from the shape of the toy. This allowed me to apply firm pressure with the duckie. The tail also comes to a rounded point for those who might prefer a pinpoint sensation.

Besides size, the Santa Duckie has different controls and battery requirements than a regular duckie. The battery compartment is covered by a small plastic cap with a straight indentation to unscrew it. A knife, screwdriver or possibly even fingernail could be used without too much difficultly. Inside is room for a single AAA battery, rather than the AA batteries which the regular uses. I was quite surprised by how much power this lone battery can put out. I think the size reduction actually means that more of the vibrations can be felt. The regular sized duckie seemed to absorb more vibrations even though it had a stronger power source. The vibrations are a little buzzy and there’s very little variation, if any, but I found them to be sufficient because I could apply pressure.

The control is a knob like the ones which control the burners on my stove. Turning is clockwise (looking at the duck’s belly, head toward the top) turns on the vibrations. The knob can only turn about a quarter of a circle and it kicks in at about half of that distance. Unfortunately, the style makes it seem like the vibrations are adjustable but they feel pretty much the same to me even if I turn it as far as possible.

The Santa Duckie is pretty loud for its size and strength, however. Definitely loud enough to be heard in the same room but probably safe to use in the shower or with the door closed. Sometimes I can also hear the battery rattling inside which adds to the noise factor.

During play, I used him through my panties (which I sometimes do with the Layaspot). That will probably be how I play because I do not like the idea of having to clean fluids from him. This duckie’s belly has many embossed words and indentations which could easily pick up liquids but would require a toothpick to fully clean. If these words are completely necessary (and they’re not; most of the mare promotions for the company), a tiny informational packet would be a much better option. Even the helpful stuff isn’t really needed. I could easily figure out how to open the battery compartment and turn this thing on without instructions.

I’m happy to say that this duckie performed well underwater. Not a drop made it into the battery compartment which is more than I can say for my Paris Duckie. So take him in the shower or bath as much as you want. On the not so bright side, he doesn’t float upright. Santa Duckie floats pretty much every other way than right side up but I can live with that.

Even after my first use, I was surprised with the Santa Duckie. I haven’t played with many clitoral toys lately and my focus on squirting has meant fewer orgasms in general. Santa Duckie reminded me what masturbating used to be like and took me through a session of multiples. He is definitely a better duckie than my Paris Duckie; although, he probably won’t replace my Layaspot.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

iTap™ “G” Vibe White

November 30th, 2009

iTap™ “G” Vibe White

iTap™ “G” Vibe White
from California Exotic Novelties

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you have probably heard about the new iTap vibrators from California Exotic Novelties and as I have recently been sent my first toy from the company as part of their Sexpert program (yea, go me!), I was able to get to know this new technology intimately.

Appearance-wise, the iTapi G Vibrator isn’t really amazing. It has sleek lines and curves to a rounded point meant to stimulate the G-spot. The shaft is a velvet-cote, white plastic while the battery cover is slightly thicker and is a regular, shiny plastic; the shaft is pretty uniform at 1″ in diameter making it one of the smaller insertable toys I’ve tried. There are slight seams in the shaft but nothing that my vagina can feel or that would complicate cleaning. To remove the cap, twist and then pull straight off. To replace, line up the arrows on the cap/shaft, push it on then twist. Overall, it’s straight forward and not significantly unique ; although, the shaped of the head is a little pointer and not at all like many bulbous G-spot toys. In fact, that was one down side to the iTap G Vibe: the head was at too extreme of an angle and too pointy for my to like it either internally or externally. The tip did allow for easy insertion as well as letting the toy to hook around my pubic bone to provide a sort of “hands-free” experience which I can see being useful for some.

And the tap feature? Works pretty well. The ease of use is pretty insane. Just tap the end of the battery pack once to turn it on (there was an instruction sticker which I have since tossed), again to cycle through the different settings and once more to turn it off. It doesn’t appear like there is a way to turn off the vibrator without going through all the settings, however. I liked the fact that there are no demanding buttons that need to be pressed a certain way (you can pretty much press anywhere on the bottom) and this tap censor doesn’t strain a person physically but, having already used another toy with touch censors, I was prepared for a problem which also occurred with the iTap G. Because the tap pad is so sensitive, it’s easy to bump it and you’re off on another setting or turned off altogether. Folks who don’t love the type of toys which push buttons on the end (like many Evolved vibes) will probably also dislike the current line of iTap toys for the same reason. In fact, as I write, I want to stand the vibe up on my desk but, as soon as I lift it away, it has been activated. As this sort of technology advances, there is definite need for a physical lock button – like on my MP3 player. With that addition, I can see touch controls being my controls of choice.

I was pretty impressed by the power and functions of this toy. It runs on 2 AAs and has two steady vibration settings which I would basically call medium and high. They will probably please most people but I’d like to see a low setting as well. The more sensitive my G-spot becomes, the more uncomfortable it is to actually use super strong vibrators. CEN has enough power in this vibrator, just not enough options for steady vibration. There are three different pulsating options which go something like this: Short-Short-Long, Short Short Short and a back-and-forth style which I can’t think of better words to describe. The pulsating modes are also quite powerful but I’d like all the vibrations to be slightly less buzzy. They’re someplace in the middle of “high pitched buzz” and “throbbing.”

Because the vibration is focused near the tip, I didn’t find it uncomfortable to hold the iTap G. The vibrations could still be slightly felt but didn’t numb my hands. The 6″ shaft comfortably allowed room for my hand without hindering exploration but you might want to make sure your hand is around the shaft and no fingers will stray toward the tap pad (again, to avoid accidentally switching).

Although I rarely take my toys into water, the iTap G is not a waterproof vibrator. Some soap and water washing may be safe but I think a toy cleaning spray and wipe would be friendlier to such a unique toy. If you are a friendly toy owner, CEN does not recommend using oil based lubricants with the iTap toys, for whatever reason. I rarely use anything but water based lube and not much is needed with a toy of this stature.

My Sexpert opinion of the iTap G is that California Exotic is making great strides in the right direction; a continuing focus on quality over quantity is going to get them noticed for good reasons but, while the iTap G is innovative, there are certainly a few kinks to work out before it’s remarkable.

CEN_SEXPERT_certified

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Nexus G-Rider

November 10th, 2009

Nexus G-Rider

Nexus G-Rider
$105.00 from TabuToys

Generally anchor shaped, the Nexus G-rider reminded me a bit of the triple stimulator I had a while ago but, while the stimulator was dinky and annoying, the G-Rider should come with a warning:

“Caution – Dangerous Curves!”

Okay, so maybe not dangerous but painful? Yes. Definitely painful. Very much so.

I’d leave it at that if I were a crappy reviewer, I’d leave it at that but I’m not so here’s the deal. The G-Rider is a small, insertable vibrator with a base which tapers on each side to offer external stimulation as well. Overall, it’s quite small, especially compared to some of the ginormous rabbits I have. On TabuToys, it’s listed as a G-spot toy and it doesn’t seem a stretch. The insertable shaft has an extremely unique shape (as do all Nexus toys, it seems) with bulges and curves.

Unlike the tiny Swinging Pendulum, it’s made of hygienic silicone and the insertable part is seamless and velvety smooth. It feels great to the touch. On the bottom is the cap to the battery compartment and it’s relatively flush to the toy but there are some seams and cracks there. It’s also not the most secure battery compartment ever. I wouldn’t even call this splashproof so be careful when washing. A wipe or spray would be best.

The sides of the base, one which is perfectly smooth and the other which has nubs, do have some flexibility which I like. However, there is much less flexibility in the shaft and head of this sex toy. The pink silicone can be twisted a bit from side to side but the head only has minimal range of flexibility bath and forth. I know that many women need firm stimulation but it felt nearly rock hard when I tried to insert it. Although the head seems small (it’s 1.34″ diameter is smaller than the widest part of the shaft), it bends at just over a 90 degree angle which means insertion is tricky (and gives, then it has to be maneuvered behind and around the pubic bone, if used vaginally.

This is really where the toy failed for me. I used some lube but insertion was painful. I added more lube and it didn’t help at all. There is no way a head bent that far, with so little flexibility was meant to be inserted into my vagina. Plus, once it is inserted, the rest of the bulgy shaft is around a stiff core which makes the shaft just had to manage, despite the fact that it’s not really huge. The widest part of the bulge is about 1.4″ in diameter. Furthermore, because my G-spot is rather shallow, the angle of the head meant I couldn’t use it comfortably like I wanted. If I inserlit and, then, it was generally pleasant but no where enough to get me off. The other pted the toy further in (with the head dragging against my sensitive flesh painfully), it was able to stimulated me enough to squirt but it hurt the whole time.

Because of my unique proportions, I couldn’t really get the base to work for me, either. I had to have the 4″ shaft inserted fully for the nubs to reach my cart of the base sort of floated in the air, making no contact with my perineum at all. Of course, were the head not bent so much, I’d have only two inches inserted at most and it still wouldn’t make contact with all parts.

So, much to my chagrin, the G-Rider had to come out. With more painful dragging, like I was hauling a dead body over rocky terrain, I extracted it. It hurt every minute. While I usually try to give toys a couple go ’rounds, there was no part of me that wanted to go through that ordeal again.

Which leads me to the last point I will cover. Powered by 1 AAA battery, the G-Rider is not the strongest toy I have ever used, of course. The vibrations are relatively mild in strength but are not super high pitched. Nothing that will blow your mind, but overall quite pleasant. It’s pretty easy to use. There’s one button to push one and cycle through the settings; hold it to turn off. The settings, on the other hand, are just confusing. There are 5 and they are all some sort of variation on pulsation and escalation. Don’t get me wrong, they’re unique but they all sort of blend together and having 5 of them is overkill. It’s hard to tell where one ends and one begins. Not having at least one steady vibration mode is a bad idea, in my book. Plus, some of them seem like the toy is actually cutting out; which it actually does if it’s bent or at the wrong angle. I’ve read about it on other reviews

I cannot help but wonder if the G-Rider by Nexus is better used as a prostate toy. I’ve read reviews of it where it was and they are more positive than my experience has been; I certainly wasn’t taken for a pleasurable ride. Although higher quality than similar toys, the G-Rider seems to be quite buggy in execution. If this toy is truly meant to be a vaginal toy, it’s much too hard to be shaped as it is or perhaps much too bulgy to be hard. Bad, Bad Girl wrote a review which highlighted some of the same criticisms I have. G-Rider? I think not.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Best buy dolphin

November 3rd, 2009

Best Buy Dolphin

Best Buy Dolphin
$27.54 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

No, this isn’t a vibrator that I bought at Best Buy although some part of my simultaneously giggles and cringes at that idea. It’s CEN’s take on an affordable rabbit vibrator that is great for those looking into rabbits for the first time and also perhaps for folks who sometimes become overwhelmed by all the options rabbits can have. It’s not luxury, nor is it meant to be. It is simply.. the Best Buy Dolphin.

Sometimes I am overwhelmed by the sheer number of things a vibrator can do. This was the case with Evolved’s Lunar Rabbit which has hundreds of possible combinations but it ultimately didn’t do anything of them perfectly. In my opinion, when a toy does a few things really well it beats a toy which does many in a mediocre fashion – hands down. That is what the Best Buy dolphin aims to do which makes it perfect for any rabbit newbies or anyone who is just plain sick of a million settings, none of which quite hit the spot. As usual, there are a couple glitches with that ambition.

There are only 4 buttons on this toy. One to turn on/off each of the functions and the other to adjust. For the rotating shaft and beads, this reverses the direction. For the vibrating dolphin clit stimulator, this changes from low to high and back. There’s a few combinations but it remains newbie friendly. Of course, there’s no pulsation or rollercoaster type settings, either so if your clit likes something a bit more exciting than steady vibes, look away. Per usual, the beads and rotating shaft work together and I would love to find a rabbit where the beads could be operated separately.

I was surprised at how well the rotation works. I think this is because the 4 rows of plastic beads rotate pretty fast but this also makes a whining sound. Most rabbits freeze up under any sort of duress but the beads actually hurt me when I clenched and I had to ease up. On the one hand, they work pretty damned well; on the other hand, many people (including myself) tend to clench during orgasm so this can actually be a con.

In terms of vibration strength, I was unimpressed. The high is more like a medium and most vibrators and I usually don’t use the medium on most rabbit vibes. Neither setting did anything more than tingle. Furthermore, the dolphin shaped clit stim just didn’t work for me. I found it to be a little short; only his points nose made contact and it actually hurt a bit.

I’m not surprised the vibrations were lackluster. The bullet seems to be quite small; although there is quite a bit of TPE material around it so the bullet looks larger. Furthermore, this is only powered by AAA batteries but is pretty quiet. Granted, it uses 4 of them but my experience is that I usually need at least 2AAs. The battery pack is also a little strange. It pulls straight out and pops back in but there’s a screw which attaches the battery cap to the casing which makes it seem like you might need to unscrew it. You don’t, it’s just misleading. Also, make sure it’s secure. It will turn on even if it’s not only to have the batteries fall right out.

As I mentioned, the shaft and clit stim of the Best Buy Dolphin are covered in a soft, blue TPE which is translucent. It’s very flexible and thin. I can actually pinch some off the shaft. I wouldn’t mind thicker material around the beads and thinner material on the clit stim to make it more comfortable. The shaft had water and wavelike textures while the also has 4 equidistant ridges (and is thinner than the shaft) but none of those textures are really effective.

TPE is both silicone and water-based lube compatible and you’ll want to use it, not because the Best Buy Dolphin is huge (it’s respectably girthy at 1.75″ diameter at its widest) but because the TPE is so sticky and this can cause friction without proper lubrication. I found the 5 insertable inches and girth to be pretty adequate, myself. It also collects a lot of lint and dust so popping on a condom isn’t a horrible idea to make the whole thing a little cleaner (plus it’s somewhat porous).

When it comes to cleaning off that lint and whatever fluids may have collected, soap and water should do the trick. However, I’d be reluctant to submerge this vibrator completely (whether playing or cleaning) even though it’s supposed to be waterproof, especially considering that the battery cap can pop off if it’s not secure. The cap just doesn’t seem as watertight as others California Exotics styles.

The Best Buy Dolphin is a pretty good option for those who are just getting into rabbits but isn’t anything amazing. The clitoral stimulator definitely needs more power and its shape was just no match for me. Although the beads rotated enough for me to squirt, no part of this toy was going to make me orgasm. For less than $30, you could do worse.

 

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

The Wave

October 8th, 2009

Wave Purple

Wave Purple
$26.49 from Store.OfSexAndLove.com

The Wave is a dual stimulator which is a little different than either your typical rabbit (or even the slimmed down styles like the Silicone Intimate Diver, which I’ve tried) or C-shaped vibes (Rock Chick, anyone?) but that is exactly why it drew my attention. The longer handle which extends up toward the body, instead of away, drew me by its maneuverability.

It also made for a good size reference, in my opinion. Sometimes those C-shaped dual stimulators are totally off base when it comes to size. Upon opening the package (a colourfully decorated plastic box), I noticed how long the toy was. From tip to tail it’s got some length – 10″ – and there’s the cord (which is a comfortable 27″ or so) and control/battery pack on top of it but that was to be expected.

What I wasn’t expecting was just how rigid the jelly material would be. I mean, jelly toys tend to be softer as a given. That’s precisely why some people prefer them but The Wave is definitely an exception. It’s not rock hard but it’s as firm or possibly firmer than some silicone toys I’ve tried. This really perplexes me because both the G-spot and clit stimulators have nubs on them, resulting in a potentially painful combination, especially if you like to grind like me. Furthermore, some people might find the nubs a hindrance to insertion so I’d recommend a water or silicone based lube. Otherwise, the firmness is something a lot of folks look for when it comes to G-spot stimulation. It just seems like a bad idea when paired with equally firm nubs.

The curve opening on this toy is also a bit wider (4″ from point to point) which contributes to the overall length. This will probably be good if your G-spot is deeper or if your clit is further from your vagina but I found that the nubby G-spot end slid right past my G-spot when the clitoral end was on my clit and vice versa. Although, the firmness meant I was still able to use the shaft for G-spot stimulation, I was never able to use it exactly how it’s supposed to be used, nor would I want to. I tried to press the clitoral nubs against my body but quickly stopped because I’m not a big fan of (that type of) pain.

In terms of vibrations, the Wave runs on 2AA batteries. The control pack has two buttons – up and down – and a light to denote each setting of vibration. It’s a velvety, rubber-cote style controller which is easy to hold but nothing special. The 4 settings are all steady and the higher frequency vibration is centered at the clitoral nubs. Intensity definitely decreases toward the G-spot stimulator. The Wave has a decent amount of vibration and my G-spot responded well. However, it’s worthy to note that my G-spot is much more sensitive to vibes than my clit. Within a matter of moments, I was able to squirt despite the shortcomings of the Wave.

As its name suggests, the Wave is waterproof. The battery cap screwso n tightly and there is also a rubber O-ring. The cord seems fairly secure where it attaches to the controller but not quite as secure where it attaches to the toy itself. Because of this, I probably wouldn’t submerge the wave. I’d stick to shower time.

The waterproofing makes washing with soap and water easy. I would recommend doing this before and after each use because of jelly’s porous nature. Swapping between partners or holes it something I can only suggest with condoms. While still tacky to the touch, the Wave seems less guilty of attracting lint as other jelly, probably because it’s so hard. Also, beware that skunky, jelly scent. The Wave is no exception in that department.

The Wave was quite successful at making me wet; although, not at getting me off and I expect at least one type of orgasm when it comes to dual stimulation vibrators. I think I would have been able to wrangle the Wave into an effective orgasm machine had Doc Johnson decided to make it either firm or nubby. As is, the Wave is no treat and I couldn’t even experiment with the handle because it hurt my clit. Still, I think Doc Johnson is on to something and, with a few modifications, this toy could make waves.

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Categories: Reviews, Vibrators

Juliane

October 5th, 2009

I had a lot of fun writing my review for Juliane by Lovemoiselle. After having such a good experience, I am definitely more interested in their products and ceramic in general.

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Image © MisterUnlucky; used with permission.