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Holiday Gift

I've been doing my Holiday shopping a bit early this year. This year has been a completely different shopping experience from years past. For one, I actually have a bit of disposable income compared to the previous years. For another, I now do sex toy reviewing and receive giftcards which makes giving sex toys a possibility.

For this reason, I've been seriously considering giving my sister a vibrator for the Holidays. I have it all planned out in my mind. I'll wrap it up like a regular present, but I'll tell her she should open it in private away from other people. In the package, I'll include a note, a “friendly” looking vibrator, a pouch for the toy, and some batteries for it. In the note, I'll try to explain my reasons for buying it:

“Hey Sis. I know this is going to seem awkward, but I promise, I'll never bring up what's inside this package unless you speak about it first. It seems really weird, but women's sexuality is such a prominent aspect in our modern culture, but it's never portrayed as women enjoying themselves. It's always portrayed as the woman being receptive or doing well by pleasuring the man she's with. I feel like this standard is wrong – women should feel more comfortable experiencing pleasure. For that reason, whether you choose to keep this or trash it (I'll never ask.), I figured you at least deserved to know that this option exists – even on your tiny college budget. Feel free to ask me questions. – Kayla”

In fact, I've already bought all of those for her present. I settled on the “Inked” vibe from CalExotics which I bought here from EF. She loves tattoos, so it seemed like a good choice. But even with all of this planned out in my mind, I'm still really hesitant. Every mention I've made to sex or having safe sex has always been met with her feeling awkward or calling me weird. What's to make her think differently this time? What if this present is one that could make this bad between us?

I do feel strongly that every woman should feel comfortably discussing sex (especially when you consider how “open” males are about this) but at the same time, I know not everyone agrees with me. I try not to make people uncomfortable with a discussion that they may not be up for, but at the same time, if we don't push people's boundaries a bit, nothing will change. So here's to hoping that this is a good change for my sister's life – even if we never actually talk about it.

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Condom Cases

Having safe sex should be a priority to all of us – whether it’s by getting regular STD check-ups, taking birth control regularly, or by keeping a condom near you when you plan on getting busy. Companies realize that keeping a condom on-hand at all times can seem a bit tacky, so they’ve devised some products that help you stay safe and look good while doing it.

For Your Nymphomation produces the Size Does Matter. It’s a small, fabric case that easily will fit into a pocket or inside of luggage. It comes in red, black, and a leopard print, and it’s the only case on the market that actually comes with a lock and key and can be locked. The Size Does Matter can store about six condoms inside. This one can also store extra-large condoms. While no one could guess what was inside of the case without opening it, the case isn’t extremely discreet, and this case probably can’t be taken out on the town very easily.

Devine Toys makes the Condom Cube. It’s a small cube that comes in a multitude of colors. The body of the cube is made from faux leather. The lid seals tight with a magnet which makes getting in and out of the case extremely easy – even with lubricated fingers. The Condom Cube can fit at least ten condoms – usually many more. Extra-large condoms won’t fit in this cube. Since the cube is very firm and doesn’t bend, the condom cube isn’t meant to be taken outside of the bedroom. The Condom Cube is intended to be a discreet way to store your condoms in the bedroom.

Just In Case makes the Just in Case. It’s a small, discreet condom case that looks exactly like a compact mirror and comes in silver, pink, gold, and red. When opened, it’s impossible to tell that the case is anything but a compact mirror – however, held under the bottom piece is a secret compartment where two condoms can be stored. However, the Just in Case can not store extra-large condoms. It’s larger than the average-sized compact mirror, but because of the small size and discreet build, the Just in Case is optimal for nights out on the town.

Storing things besides condoms can vary upon the cases as well. The Just in Case is too small to carry much besides small sample packets of lubricant. However, the Condom Cube could easily carry a bullet as well as your favorite condoms. The Size Does Matter could easily carry a bullet, a trial-size bottle of lubricant, other small clitoral toys, or condoms.

Each case varies in where it can be used as well. Because the Just in Case only can hold two condoms, it’s not suitable for at-home storage. However, it’s perfect for a night out because of the small, discreet design. The Condom Cube is perfect for at-home storage because of the large space inside as well as the stable design intended to be kept out on a shelf. The Size Does Matter, while not intended for shelf display, is perfect for traveling because of the squishy design and the ability to hold a good amount of condoms. It also is perfect for parents because the case can be locked to avoid getting condoms out in the hands of children.

If you use extra-large condoms, you are a bit limited in options with condom cases. The Size Does Matter will hold extra-large condoms, but the Just In Case and the Condom Cube don’t have the room for the larger condom sizes.

All three of the condoms cases are made with durability in mind. They can all withstand quite a bit of use, and each case is relatively easy to clean out if lubricant from your condoms happens to get on the inside surface. The final choice of which case is for you really depends on the appearance of the condom case as well as where you want to use it. The Size Does Matter works great for travel, the Condom Cube for at-home use, and the Just in Case for nights on the town. No matter your choice, though, you can feel confident that you can have your sex safely – and while being discreet about it.

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Dishing- on Ranks and Ratings

I have been buying products from Eden Fantasys for about five years now. Never have I had a problem with the company. I discovered last year that I could review products for their company. The best part? Anyone can do it. They don’t discriminate in any way whatsoever. The only thing needed- a community to vote you in. Not too hard right? No. For me it wasn’t, but for some this can be very difficult. Why is that? I have been watching the activity on Eden Fantasys for a while now. Watching a mix of members of the community, reading blogs, and following twitter. I have never commented in a bad way towards any member of the Eden community. I’m confused, when did reviewing sex toys become about competition and bickering anyway?

I haven’t spoke out about this issue at all. I keep my ticking fingers to myself most of the time. Personally, I don’t get the drama. It’s the Internet. Many people take all of it way too seriously. But my point of writing was not to complain about the bickering. Instead I want to focus on Eden Fantasys. I find enjoyment in reviewing products for them. I wanted to write about my personal experience with the toy. There are a variety of review types. Descriptive, off site, video, testimonials, extended, sponsored, and not sponsored. A wide mix here. What I am confused about is, where does someone draw the line between the reviews. I understand that a Sponsored Descriptive review should be detailed and focused more on obviously describing the product. But when talking about all other reviews… why is a product overview considered a better review than a personal experience?

When I start writing reviews I tried to do this. Eden Fantasys has a Product Page for every product they sell and on that page there is a Product Overview. Now when I wrote a review I wanted to focus on my experience with it. Not write a product overview. Sadly, it did not take long to realize that everyone thought this wasn’t useful. Why? I have no idea. Maybe because I didn’t say what color it was? Maybe it was if I didn’t put how long a battery lasted in it? Maybe I had a grammatical error? I don’t know.

I think everyone deserves a chance to review in their own way. Eden Fantasys accepts a lot of people. Just about anyone. They give us that chance. They allow us to review products for them at absolutely no cost to us. They offer incentives like gift cards, have giveaways, and lots of other chances for some great stuff. Eden Fantasys chooses to do this. Not the members of their site. What are we complaining about? What is the big deal here? So you don’t like what someone else says on their blog or twitter. Who cares? This should never be connected into Eden Fantasys and it should not reflect how you judge a review. This is where the ranks and ratings system becomes very nasty.

It bothers me that there is so much drama on Eden these days. And to be honest, it’s over ridiculous stuff. Sometimes I feel like there are a bunch of five years old writing sex toy reviews. Imagine what Eden Fantasys would be like without ranks? Do you think everyone would get along again? Would there be less competition? Less drama? I think so. Of course there is always going to be that one person that is going to be negative about everything. That is to be expected.

Do I think Eden Fantasys will ever get rid of the rank system? No. Do I expect them to? No. I think it is a great way to get appreciation for the reviews we do. What can make it better? The way we determine how to rate each other. Reviews should be about having fun with the products, using them, and sharing our thoughts about the product. So John Doe doesn’t have the better editing or grammar skills… does this mean his review wasn’t useful at all? No it doesn’t. Miss Mary forgot to put how long she thinks the battery lasts… was her review completely useless? Absolutely not. If I am going to take the time to read a review and give it a rating, I want to know what that person thought of their experience with the toy. I don’t need the battery type, toy size, or care instructions. I can find all of that right on the product page. It’s like retyping un-needed information. Why do I need to type it up when you know you are going to look at the product page anyway? Doesn’t make much sense does it?

I have to admit, I am not practicing what I am preaching. How can I? I feel like if I write about my experience and don’t write a product description, it will be rated less useful. So yeah, I follow the pack. What else can we do? If we want to have more opportunities on Eden Fantasys we need a higher rank. If we don’t write perfect reviews then obviously we lose opportunities. I think its unfair and childish how some members act. I have made an impact on my end. I read reviews and rate them in my way of thinking. So what if they haven’t written the description for the product label. That’s not what reviewing is about for me. I want to know how it felt, a story about when they used it, their experience. Not a product description. I will continue to write reviews to the satisfaction of the members. I will continue to rate reviews in my own way. I just hope that things will change. That the drama will fade and we can get back to enjoying reviewing for Eden Fantasys.

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Pleasurists #76

Negligee 4 via Alivya by Pirate Photography

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #75? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #77? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday May 2nd at 11:59pm PDT.

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e[lust] #12

Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Dildos

Anal Toys

Toys for Cocks

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

BDSM/Fetish

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Storage

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Pleasurists #75


A Captive Fairy by HobbleSkirt

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #74? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #76? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday May 2nd at 11:59pm PDT.

Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?
e[lust] #11

Editor’s Pick

  • Free-Hardcore.com by SapioSlut

    • With a name like that, you’d think that www.free-hardcore.com would be one of those dreadful porn aggregators, showing nothing more than row upon row of vacant-eyed, silicone-titted ‘teens’ engaged in the most banal of sexual acts. But it’s not.

    Note: A wonderful review of kink.com’s free content site, for those of us who love kink.com but don’t have a subscription. Maybe you already knew about this, but I, for one, was in the dark, and thought everyone should know. Not to mention I adore the beginning of the review.

Editor
Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Dildos

Anal Toys

Toys for Cocks

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

BDSM/Fetish

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Pleasurists #74

Bowl of Temptation by Raven Girl Photography

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #73? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #75? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday April 25th at 11:59pm PDT.

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e[lust] #11

Editor’s Pick

  • Awkward Mother’s Day: A Dual Review of Form 2 by Carnivalesq

    • If you all remember, Mom helped out with a brief comment about LELO’s Liv. The reason I wanted her in on the Form 2 review is… well, there are so many reasons. One? It’s catchy. A dual review of the Form 2, which is itself a dual-motor vibrator? It’s got a nice ring to it. Also, Mother’s Day is coming up (HINT!). But the real reason? I know there are a number of readers who are older than I am, who are probably closer to my Mom’s age.

    Note: If the fact that it’s a dual-review done by Carnivalesq and her mother doesn’t already want you to read it (though I don’t know why you would need more incentive than that), they also comment on some “gems from the user manual” and lots of links to amusing videos littered through the text.

Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Dildos

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Pleasurists #73

jealous, jealous again by Scott Church

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #72? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #74? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday April 18th at 11:59pm PDT.

Note: No Editor’s Pick this week, but there are LOTS of contests!

Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?

e[lust] #11

Editor

Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Dildos

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Toys for Cocks

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

BDSM/Fetish

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Pleasurists #72


Stripes of Lust by Vanity Zero

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #71? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #73? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday April 11th at 11:59pm PDT.

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e[lust] #10

Editor’s Pick

  • Jimmyjane Form 2 by Luvasaurus

    • The Form 2 oscillating pattern blows my mind, completely out of my skull. Each ear has its own motor, the vibrations go from one ear to the other, stimulating my clit in a whole new way. “Sensation in Stereo” describes this toy perfectly. The dual motors stimulate my clit like it has never been stimulated before.

Editor
Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Dildos

Anal Toys

Toys for Cocks

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

BDSM/Fetish

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Sex Furniture

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Why Are Sex Toys Becoming Child’s Play?

Recently, I have noticed the proliferation of animal shapes in sex toys, especially those marketed towards women. The first that springs to mind is the popular ‘rabbit style-vibrator’, which is based on the well known Rabbit Habit dual stimulator. Though the rabbit itself has become an iconic part of many dual stimulators, the closest most companies get to innovation with these types of vibes is putting another animal in its place. Dolphins, beavers and butterflies seem to be a popular second choice – that’s hardly pushing the boundaries of aesthetic or practical design. If one is to look at ‘discreet’ massagers for women we also see an abundance of animal forms. You’ll find ducks, platypuses, bears, rabbits, teddy bears, butterflies and mice among others.

Far from suggesting everything must be as realistic as possible or neutrally shaped, I just find it intriguing which animals are chosen and what they seem to imply. The animals found commonly in designs marketed towards women reinforce their ‘femininity’ – the delicate butterfly, the cute rabbit, the dreamy dolphin and the beaver with its nod and wink to modern slang. Men on the other hand are given robust and masculine animals on their toys, if they’re present at all. You can find a cock ring featuring an elephant, bull or horse to underline the strength and power of the penis, but you’re unlikely to find a vibe sporting the same animals, or aspiring to associate the same qualities with a vagina!

Whilst I understand some may find toys with a non-realistic look a less intimidating way to enter the world of sex toys and that they can be a fun novelty item, they’re also implicitly reinforcing certain gender stereotypes. This is not only reflected in the shapes chosen for some of these items, but also the fact that come in a range of often stereotypical/childish colour palettes – baby pinks or hot pinks, purples, pastels and flecked with glitter. There is nothing at all wrong with having a preference for these colours; it’s simply interesting to note that there are rarely any other options when purchasing inexpensive toys.

It seems that these companies are subtly suggesting that a person’s first foray into sex toys should be when buying a product that echoes the look of a child’s toy, rather than something non-intimidating, well designed and aesthetically pleasing. A cynic may even argue that it harks back to virgin/whore dichotomy, where a woman purchasing a non-realistic, non-intimidating animal shaped vibe in a traditionally feminine colour is less ‘dirty’ or ‘kinky’ than a woman purchasing a realistic cock-shaped dildo. One must still be a ‘lady’ in the bedroom and not be seen to substitute what a ‘real man’ can give her or call his masculinity into question. Of course this narrow minded idea excludes the countless variations on sexuality/gender/sexual preferences that are a modern reality.

However, there are sex toys with a big dose of fun and excitement that don’t have to hark back to cheap, dime store toys, blatantly stereotype their intended market or attempt to be 100% realistic. If you look at Fun Factory’s line of products, many feature different members of the animal kingdom, but are relatively gender neutral and come in colours which go beyond the tired old palette. Similarly, companies like Whipspider also seek to break the mould with creative designs that stimulate you, as well as conversation. I think a large portion of customers, especially the women many ‘entry-level’ toys are marketed at, would prefer to have something in their bedside drawer that reflects their mature tastes and has a hint of sophistication. So, I think it is reasonable to question why such a large slice of the market is dedicated to these types of designs and why they seem to be the most common on the shelves of standard brick and mortar adult stores. I dearly hope that as sex toys become even more integrated into mainstream society that this phenomenon starts to fade away, but until then, I can honestly say I’ll be leaving the glittery, pink teddy bear vibes on the shelves for someone else.

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Pleasurists #71


Jessica Jae by Johari Davis

Welcome to Pleasurists, a round-up of the adult product and sex toy reviews that came out in the last seven days. For updates and information follow our RSS Feed and Twitter.

Did you miss Pleasurists #70? Read it all here. Do you have a review for Pleasurists #72? Be sure to read our submission guidelines and then use our submission form and submit it before Sunday March 21st at 11:59pm PDT.

Want to win some swag? All you’ve got to do is enter.

Looking for sexy posts other than reviews?
e[lust] #10

Editor’s Pick

  • Rascal the Baller by Wilhelmina Wang

    • Imagine my shock when I got it in the mail and realized it was FUCKING GINORMOUS: this Rascal is a whopping 17.5″ x 2.5″.

    Moral of the story: don’t order a toy without carefully checking the specs.

    Meanwhile, I was stuck with the damn thing and had to do something with it in order to write a review. The question was, what?

Editor
Scarlet Lotus St. Syr

On to the reviews…

Vibrators

Dildos

Anal Toys

Toys for Cocks

Lube, Massage Oil, Bath Stuff, & etc.

BDSM/Fetish

Adult Books/Games

Adult Movies & Porn

Lingerie

Storage

Miscellaneous

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