Enter the awesomely-named Fucking Sculptures (whose taglines are some of the best I’ve ever come across (pun intended): “As unique as you are. Hand-sculpted, fine fucking art” and “Where sex meets art, then fucks itself”) and their stunning soda-lime glass creations.

Scratch science lesson. Soda-lime glass, sometimes called soda-lime-silica glass, is the stuff used to make drinking glasses, bottles, jars and the like – and, generally-speaking, you don’t see many sex toys constructed of it. Why? I’m not 100% sure because it can be coloured and blown into some absolutely amazing dildos, but I suspect that manufactures shy away from it due to its greater sensitivity to heat than its aforementioned borosilicate sibling. That said, it can still be very easily and safely heated and cooled, just not rapidly or suddenly. Per the Fucking Sculptures website:

Soda-Lime glass is the most common form of glass produced.  It has all of the wonderful properties listed above. However, it does not like to be plunged into boiling water.

Temperature play is a lot of fun, but I suspect – hope!? – that there won’t be many of you wanting to stick a dildo that’s hotter than the surface of the sun in one of your orifices.

So, on to the G-Spoon itself.

My first thought when this arrived in the post?

Holy crap that’s big! C.f. the following cucumber versus dildo size comparison:

Now, I knew when I ordered this beauty that it was going to be on the large side (the G-Spoon does also come in Small and Medium) but seeing the dimensions online versus holding them in your hand is quite a bit different. Weighing in at 554 grams and with a girth and length of 14 and 23 centimetres respectively, this dildo is substantial. And I’d be flat-out lying if I didn’t admit to thinking it might be a case of eyes bigger than vagina. Thankfully, though, that didn’t turn out to be true.

While there’s not getting around the fact that this is a hefty sex toy it’s exceptionally well shaped – almost dish-like in its curvature – and it fits the body extremely well. Personally, I found that gradual introduction, a decent amount of lube and gentle use was all that was needed to overcome my initial size-fright. And for someone who likes girth and having their G-Spot stimulated, as I do, it felt bloody fantastic. The size and smaller hooked end also meant it was easy for M to hold and angle (he was in the driver’s seat first time out), so it’s a really good choice for those who want to include a partner in their play.

This dildo, as all the Fucking Sculptures  dildos are, is handblown (see the clip below), which means it’s entirely unique; while the standard designs and sizes don’t change, no created piece is ever absolutely identical. I like that. It means that my G-Spoon is unique to me. Not only that, it’s beautiful. Really beautiful. The soda-lime glass has an amazing sparkle to it when it catches the light and the green I selected is fathomless and deep, the colour of a dense, rich forest. It’s extremely easy to clean as all non-porous glass toys are (mild soap and warm water are all that’s required) and for the times you’re not sticking it interesting places, Fucking Sculptures  give you a soft, cosy pouch to store it in.

Price? There’s no getting around the fact that at USD$160.00 for the large version, the G-Spoon’s not exactly cheap. However, this isn’t some mass produced sex-toy made from terrible-for-you materials. It’s a functional – and very pleasurable – work of art. Well worth the money, in my opinion. And Fucking Sculptures offer a ‘one free replacement policy’, too.

A quick note on ordering and delivery … can I just say that Maria is a gem? I placed my order online (if you’re outside of the U.S. you’ll need to email Fucking Sculptures directly, as I did, to purchase your dildo) just after moving hemispheres and had all sorts of fun and games with PayPal due to it not liking me living in a different country to my bank. She was uber-patient as I tried to sort the glitch out and was very good about keeping me up-to-date as to the progress of my order.

In conclusion, the G-Spoon’s a gorgeous sex toy that wouldn’t look at all out-of-place on a shelf or mantelpiece. It really is a work of art and fucking, fucking good fun.

Highly, highly recommended.

Tickle your fancy? Click here to find out more about Fucking Sculptures and view their amazing range of beautiful hand-blown dildos.

The post Review: Fucking Sculptures G-Spoon (Large) appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

How timely this Kink of the Week topic is; I have literally (as in the last 24 hours) hit the ‘pay now’ button and invested a chunk of change in a new phallic monolith for the old Jane and M toy box. No batteries, no cords, no plastic – just a lovely hunk of made-to-order glass that I’m hoping will get me off like no-one’s business. I want an orgasm. And I want a good one.

At this point, I’m going to say something controversial. Well, not controversial exactly but, possibly, a little surprising because I really haven’t seen that many other women make the statement I’m about to:

Phallic-style vibrators don’t, as a general rule, get me off.

Not without a lot of fiddling about, anyway.

From a stimulation point-of-view, the internal vibrations do a whole lot of nothing to my lady parts (am I the only one whose vagina pretty much yawns in boredom at these?) and while the rabbit ears – if the vibrator in question happens to have them – do generally feel good against my clitoris, they never seem to hit quite the right place with any sort of consistency. M’s fingers are far easier to position, far more flexible, and far more likely to get me where I need to go. They don’t need recharging, either.

Which brings me to dildos.

I was late to the dildo party, seduced in my youthful exuberance by the idea of vibrations equalling orgasmic heaven: why would I want to choose a plain old phallus over one that vibrates like an Airbus during take-off and churns little beads around like a cement mixer full of marbles? Surely the more features the better? Give me the bells and whistles! Stick as many things on that hot rod as possible!

Image: L’Academie des Dames… Aloïsia, Nicolas Chorier

Yeah, turns out all those extras, for me personally, were highly un-necessary. In short, I have come to realise that, internally, all my body really cares about is size, shape, and material.

My first dildo purchases were probably not the best (rubbery numbers that smelled awful and, in hindsight, were likely choc-full of phthalates). However, the fact that they were, respectively, both bigger and smaller than a standard vibrator made them stand out because they could do things their vibrating siblings weren’t really able to: the larger-sized dildo created more satisfying friction internally due to its girth; the smaller, thinner one could be inserted into tighter places. Eventually, however, as I became more educated about phthalates, I threw them both out and went in search of body-safe alternatives.

And this was when I discovered the joys of the glass dildo.

The glass phallus has pretty much become my internal sex toy of choice. Why? First and foremost, because it has a firmness to it that the softer, plasticised versions just don’t. In turn, this means that it can be angled and rubbed against the G-Spot extremely effectively and, if I’m lucky, prompt a squirting orgasm. (When all’s said and done, that’s the kind of climax I put on a pedestal because they’re nearly always more intense than one triggered by clitoral stimulation.) I’ve also found that glass tends to lend itself to more extreme angling design-wise and that the hooked, curved dildos that can be produced from it as a result are perfect for targeting that little sponge of internal nerve endings. Best of all, glass isn’t going to leach all sorts of chemical nasties into your body. It’s easy to clean, too.

Image: Erotische Darstellung, Franz von Bayros 

I’ve not yet tried a stainless steel dildo (although one of those is on my wish list) but have heard that many others rate them, particularly the njoy Pure Wand, for the same reasons: it’s firm, angled, body-safe, and non-porous. (This particular design comes up again and again on Toy with Me Tuesday and looking at various other online reviews, it seems some people are ready to marry the thing!)

So (after all that rambling), I hereby declare myself a card-carrying member of Camp Dildo. I like it here. There’s no fast, or slow or pulse setting, but it’s satisfying. Blissfully so.

The post Kink of the Week: Camp Dildo appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Shimmy mini pleasure wand and Drive Me Balmy arousal balm gift set
From: Swoon (part of the Lovehoney group)
Price: £14.99
Material(s) & Ingredients: Shimmy mini pleasure wand – soft-touch plastic (latex and phthalate free) • Drive Me Balmy arousal balm – (99% natural): Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Olea Europa Fruit Oil (Olive Oil), Simmondsia Chinensis Oil (Jojoba Oil), Glycine Soja Oil (Soya Oil), Camellia Sinensis Leaf Oil (Camellia Oil), Butyrospermum Parkii Fruit (Shea Butter), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Parfum, Menthol, Brassica Napus Seed Oil (Rapeseed Oil), Crambe Abyssinica Seed Oil (Crambe Oil), Borago Officinalis Seed Oil (Starfower Oil), Camelina Sativa Seed Oil (Camelina Oil), Ribes Nigrum Seed Oil (Blackcurrant Oil), Echium Plantagineum Seed Oil (Echium Oil), Bisabolol, Benzyl Alcohol, Coumarin, Amyl Cinnamate
Reviewer: Lizzie

The Swoon Shimmy. Nope, it’s not a new Strictly Come Dancing routine but a little bullet vibrator from the folks over at Lovehoney. The question is, did it make Lizzie want to tango? And was she Driven Balmy?

First thoughts
The Shimmy is the first new vibrator that I’ve tried out in what seems like ages (we’re talking calendar months!) and, I have to say, I was quite looking forward to putting it through its paces. That said, I haven’t come across a vibrator that’s really knocked my socks off for quite some time, big or small, so wasn’t getting my hopes up too high for the size and the price of this one. I do have a bit of a thing for lotions and potions that stimulate the clitoris, though, so was very interested to see how the Swoon formulation compared against my current favourite, Durex O.

The packaging
Nice colourways – mint green and black, with flapper-esque photos of the greyscale variety. You can’t really tell that there’s a sex toy inside the box unless you read the copy, which speaks to Lovehoney’s intent to sell the Swoon products through pharmacies such as Boots. Inside the main box, a glossy little tin (featuring identical branding), which opens to reveal the white Shimmy (although it’s billed as a pleasure wand, it’s really a bullet vibrator), a small (7 gram) tub of Drive me Balmy arousal balm, and a spare AAA alkaline battery (there’s one already contained within the Shimmy) – all encased in moulded foam. Very cute, really, and highly reminiscent of the beauty brand Soap and Glory.

The vibrator and balm
Emergency memo to Swoon design department! Who on earth thought that white was a good colour for the Shimmy?! At this size, with the little green waterproof seal stripe, this bullet looks exactly like a tampon.

You even twist it to get to the battery chamber in the same way you would a tampon wrapper. Don’t get me wrong, tampons are great and all, but they don’t scream sexy. They scream personal hygiene. And cramps. Lest you think I’m being overly critical and that I was the only one who made the sanitary product connection, Thomas’s first words to me as he watched me turning the Shimmy over in my hands were ‘That looks like a tampon’. Myself? I would’ve gone for black or green and avoided the whole product confusion issue entirely.

In use

Drive Me Balmy*
So, when I finally got the chance to apply this to myself, I opened the tin up to find that Thomas had already beaten me to it and taken out a sneaky dab to rub on himself during a session we’d had the previous night. (I wasn’t in a position to see him do it but I did recall thinking things seemed to be, er, progressing a little more quickly than usual at the time.) When questioned, he confirmed that he had, indeed, had his fingers in the balm jar and the sensations it created when applied to his penis had been rather pleasant. Naturally, I was keen to see if it would have the same effect on me.

To start with, I applied a little balm to my clitoris with my fingers and then used the Shimmy to spread it around the vulva; it melted very nicely with my body heat and a little seemed to go a reasonably long way. However, I did notice that the Drive me Balmy had a slightly oily texture and thus began to wonder whether it was safe to use with latex condoms – extremely important information if, like Thomas and I, you use them as your main form of contraception. After scouring the paper instructions (no joy) I finally found the following notice in very small print on the bottom of the Shimmy’s exterior box and the Drive me Balmy tin: ‘Not for use with latex condoms’.

The effects? Pleasant. I experienced a mild to moderate cooling sensation (the ‘toothpaste effect’, as I like to call it), which seemed to increase bloodflow and make my clitoris slightly more engorged. As a result, it was easier to stimulate myself with the Shimmy pleasure wand.  To be clear, the sensations the balm produced weren’t overly drastic but I could definitely feel something going on down there! Did I prefer it to Durex O? No. But I certainly wouldn’t object to having Drive me Balmy applied to my girly parts in the future.

The Shimmy
When I first switched it on I thought I’d unleashed an angry mosquito. The Shimmy isn’t exactly loud, but neither is it particularly quiet. It has three speed settings – all controlled by a small button at the base – and, at the highest one, it really gets quite a buzz going on.

I started with the Shimmy on the lowest notch but, as soon as I became aroused, dialled things up to the highest. At full power, the vibrations were pleasantly strong – certainly enough to stimulate without vaginal penetration – and I was pleased to find that, in conjunction with the Drive me Balmy, I was having a very enjoyable clitoral orgasm within the space of ten minutes (from a cold start, that’s pretty quick for me). The Shimmy’s size made it particularly manoeuvrable, too, which meant I could get it in just the right places (you can easily run it around the entrance of the vagina, over and around the clitoral hood). Even better, it was the perfect size to stimulate Thomas’s testicles and perineum – which meant I was able to give him a very lovely buzzy hand-job once I’d finished dealing with myself.

Clean-up was short and sweet – because the Shimmy is waterproof, it was the work of a minute to wash it in warm water and antibacterial soap – although I did pay extra attention to the tip of the bullet as there is a moulding notch there that could very easily attract build up.

The verdict?
Because it’s so small and the packaging so inoffensive, I think the Shimmy is perfect for beginners or those looking for something super discrete (this is an excellent travel vibrator) and I had more fun with it than some of the bigger, more expensive vibes I’ve tried over the past year. It’s not super cheap – I think the RRP of £14.99 is a little steep for what you get – but this little bullet is certainly powerful enough to get the job done, especially when coupled with the Drive me Balmy arousal balm. And I loved that both Thomas and I could both use the contents of the Shimmy tin. It would make a lovely, saucy little gift, too.

In summary

Things I liked:

• The strength of the Shimmy’s vibrations. It’s small but mighty!
• The discrete packaging. No one’s going to glance at the Shimmy tin and think ‘vibrator’.
• The fact that both Thomas and I were able to benefit from the vibrator and balm – the size of the former is perfect for man parts and the balm seems to work just as well on men as it does on women.

Things I wasn’t so keen on:

• The colour of the Shimmy. The white plastic body really does make it look like a tampon.
• The size of the Drive me Balmy tin. Seven grams isn’t a lot and, depending on how much of the balm you apply, I’d say you’re looking at two to five uses, max.
• The very small latex condom warning. This needs to be far, far more prominent.
• The price. Buying the Shimmy isn’t going to break the bank but, equally, there are some good bullets out there for less than a ten pounds. You’re paying for the packaging with this one.

*Drive me Balmy pleasure balm can be purchased separately from the Shimmy in 20 gram pots.

Tickle your fancy? Click on the following links to purchase:

Lovehoney

• Swoon Shimmy mini pleasure wand and Drive Me Balmy arousal balm set
• Drive me Balmy pleasure balm – 20 grams

Boots

• Swoon Shimmy mini pleasure wand and Drive Me Balmy arousal balm set
• Drive me Balmy pleasure balm – 20 grams

The post Did the Shimmy make me Swoon? appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Climax Pink Skin Vibrator
From: Desire & Pleasure
Price: £15.99
Material(s): CyberSkin (latex and phthalate free)

A few weeks ago, Desire & Pleasure, a charitable sex toy retailer run by the U.K.’s Family Planning Association (FPA), sent us this classic-shaped Climax Pink Skin Vibrator to review. One of our newest Chintz contributors, The Dairy Maid, stuck her hand up to try it out. (If you missed our previous post on Desire & Pleasure, the FPA, and the work they do promoting sexual health, you can find it here.)

Initial thoughts …
My first impression on receiving the Climax Skin was its extreme pinkness. It’s a very bright, almost luminous pink, which was pretty off-putting. It would certainly appeal to Barbie and Ken but not all ladies love pink!

The external packaging is discreet with an almost clinical edge, which means it wouldn’t look out of place at the pharmacy but it’s really too utilitarian to appeal to someone wanting to purchase it as a gift. Definitely a ‘no frills’ packaging approach. It also features a rather bizarre ‘nipple’, which allows you to feel the texture of the outer vibrator layer (sleeve) without breaking into the plastic. A good idea as you can decide if the feel appeals before opening anything (and it’s a lot of fun to use as a pretend accessory nipple once the Climax Pink Skin is out!). The packet is easy to open, too.

On to the vibrator itself …
The Climax Pink Skin has a removable outer sleeve that has a slightly tacky feel and a synthetic smell that improves after washing. This vibrator is waterproof and has an insertable length of 7 inches (17.78 centimetres) and a girth of 1.5 inches (3.81 centimetres) with the ribbed sleeve on (although it can also be used without). It is multi-speed and has a good speed range but between medium and maximum power it does become very loud – which may limit when and where it can be used. It also gets quite slippery when lubricated (because the Climax Pink Skin is made from CyberSkin you can only use non-oil based formulations), which makes adjusting the ring at the bottom and controlling the speed quite tricky.

I road-tested the vibrator solo and with my partner and both times I achieved a satisfying orgasm with a pleasurable build-up, but my partner struggled to control the slippery speed dial with hilarious results. Fine if you’re relaxed with each other but could be mortifying if you are in a less established relationship!

Overall verdict
Good value for money, discreet packaging and does what you would expect from a vibrator. However, the colour needs re-thinking; something more neutral would be better. No batteries were supplied in the pack, either, and the Climax Pink Skin’s CyberSkin sleeve requires a specialist cleaning product to maintain it in tip-top condition. Perhaps a sample sachet should be included with the product? On a personal note, I found it too slim and not long enough, but others may find the proportions perfectly ample. The speed dial was also more fiddly than I would have liked, too.

Tickle your fancy? You can buy the Climax Pink Skin Vibrator from Desire & Pleasure by clicking here.

*Please note that this item was provided free of charge by Desire & Pleasure in exchange for a fair review.

*Editor’s note (19 December 2012): this vibrator is currently out of stock with Desire & Pleasure but will be available again shortly. Can’t wait? You can view Desire & Pleasure’s range of alternative classic vibrators here. Enter the code BLOG008 at checkout to receive a 15% discount on all purchases up until 24 December 2012.

The post Girly pleasure: the Climax Pink Skin Vibrator appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

If you’re a regular Chintz visitor, you may have noticed the bright pink banner that appeared on the site earlier this week. It’s very rare that I place persistent ads on Chintz – if I do, it’s usually within reviews to help you locate a product – but I’ve broken my normal rule and included this one. Why? Because the sex toy store it links to, Desire and Pleasure, is very special and very unique. It’s actually run by the U.K.’s Family Planning Association (FPA), and all profits from the sex toys you purchase from them go towards their charitable work promoting sexual health.

With the highest teenage birth and abortion rates in Western Europe and year-on-year rises in the number of people affected by STIs (482,696 new cases in 2009, 3% more than the year before) sex education and sexual health services in the U.K. have never been more important. The FPA is very much on the front line and not only does an amazing job of both supporting and advising people of all ages on their sexual health as individuals, but also actively campaigns for abortion rights, the protection of sexual health services, contraceptive and alcohol awareness, and those with learning disabilities.

As well as funding the Family Planning Association’s existing work, Desire and Pleasure has another purpose, too: to provide an ethical shopping experience for those wishing to purchase sex toys. Per the FPA’s Business Development Manager, Terry Hawkins:

‘The internet [sic] has created a new era of freedom for people to buy sex products and toys.

‘Just as innovations like the Kindle and downloadable books have kick-started the 50 Shades of Grey [sic] phenomenon, people also like the anonymity and choice that the internet offers for exploring their sexual desires.

‘However, we’re increasingly concerned by some of the common practices in this sector and believe there is a need for safe and trusted place where people can shop with confidence.’

In particular, the FPA take issue with the ‘online remarketing’ of sex toys (basically, the practice of bombarding Internet users with advertisements even after they’ve left adult sites) and, consequently, the potential risk of exposing underage users who have access to a shared computer to inappropriate content. They’re mindful of product packaging, too; the Desire and Pleasure website doesn’t sell items with potentially offensive names or ones that feature explicit/violent images.

So there you have it; an ethical orgasm that’s good for you and good for others. And with the 15% off promotion* Desire and Pleasure are running until 24 December (‘A sex toy is not for life but it is for Christmas’) a toy from them is good for your pocket, too.

You can find out more about the FPA here.

*Enter the discount code BLOG008 before 24 December to obtain a 15% discount on all products.

The post An orgasm for charity with Desire and Pleasure appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

It turns out the Jason Julius runs a website called Orgasm Arts and provides online instructional videos to those wanting to learn more about female orgasms. Not surprisingly, the majority of his offerings have to be paid for – and they’re not cheap. (I can’t speak for others, but I don’t think I’d pay $47 to learn about something I could’ve found out about by investing half-an-hour of my time searching the Interweb. I also took a bit of an exception to the ‘if you can’t give your girlfriend/partner/wife a G-Spot orgasm, she’s likely to leave you’ sales spiel on the Orgasm Arts Website.)

However, Mr Julius has placed some ‘free to view’ videos on YouTube, including How To Hit The G Spot and Foreplay Tips and Techniques, which I did take the time watch. And I have to say, I found his freebee offerings somewhat intriguing – less for their informational content, which, pure fact-wise, isn’t too bad – than the man actually presenting them. It’s not often you see a guy who looks like he’s off to a rock concert or the lost fifth member of Stone Temple Pilots trying to talk in a very serious manner about getting a woman off …

The post Jason Julius: frontman for female ejaculation appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Smooth G-Spot Glass Dildo with finger loop
From: Spartacus
Price: From £29.99
Material(s): lead free borosilicate glass

Dildos don’t vibrate, but they do have their charms … Lizzie and Thomas play with the Smooth G-Spot Glass Dildo from Spartacus.

First thoughts …

Lizzie
A couple of months ago, Thomas and I had a major toy box clean out. We threw out a load of stuff – things that we’d bought and didn’t like, mostly, but also some toys that we’d enjoyed and thought were past their use-by date. Amongst them, a monstrously large dildo that Thomas purchased for me as a birthday present. It was an awful, flesh-coloured thing that was eye-wateringly large (he didn’t check the size properly before ordering it – or so he told me) and smelled strongly of latex. So strongly, in fact, you could smell it halfway across the room if the lid on our toy box wasn’t shut properly. Still, we had quite a bit of fun with it before it was eventually consigned to the dustbin, although I can’t say it really sold me on dildos generally; vibrators always seemed to have far more to offer. Needless to say, I was pretty ambivalent about the Spartacus Smooth G-Spot Dildo. Turns out, I grossly underestimated what a well-designed, well-made toy could do for me.

Thomas
My last dildo purchase for Lizzie was less than 100% satisfactory, although I think she quite liked the size ;-). It did look and smell awful; think John Holmes on steroids complete with ‘realistic veins’ (the manufacturer’s words on the packaging, not mine) and ‘realistic’ meaning varicose, apparently. The packaging was also a bit crap. I never showed it to Lizzie as it was too embarrassing (it featured a male model who looked like disturbingly like David Hasselhoff with some major Photoshop-ing having been done on his genitals) and I can see why they didn’t show this on the site I brought it from.

The packaging …

Lizzie
I really appreciate it when toy manufacturers cater to both genders, i.e. don’t plaster big-boobed, de-haired women all over their packaging. It immediately makes me more inclined to buy their products again. This Spartacus glass dildo is presented in a simple, black, hexagonal box with clean font. It’s completely neutral, in other words; you could buy it and give it to a man or woman without worrying that the branding was (potentially) going to send the wrong message, i.e. “I want you to be a porn star!”

How it looks …

Lizzie
Pretty! The dildo is made of mid-blue blown glass and beautifully shaped. The shaft, which has an insertable length of 6 inches (approximately 15.5 centimetres), runs at a consistent width and then flares out to create a bulb-shaped head with a diameter of 4.75 inches (12 centimetres) at its widest point.  The latter crooks forwards slightly, giving it the all-important ability to stimulate the G-Spot. At the dildo’s base, a simple ring that allows the person wielding it slip their fingers through and thus get (and maintain) a decent grip on the toy.

Thomas
Much better than our original monster. It looks like it could be a glass sculpture or a paperweight. The packaging is also subtle and low-key so you won’t feel like a member of the old mac brigade if you give one as a gift. Well-made and very smooth with no visible cracks or joins (a must in a glass dildo); it’s even got a ring you can hang it on. Handy.

In action …

Lizzie
Two words. Female ejaculation. I have experienced this orgasm-induced side effect quite a few times before but generally find it easier to achieve with Thomas’s fingers (although G-Spot vibrators also do the job). There was something about the Spartacus dildo’s shape, however, that got me there faster and more easily than either digits or my usual toy-partner in crime, the LELO Gigi. The head of the dildo, when angled correctly, felt wonderful when pressed and rubbed against my G-Spot and, as far as I’m concerned, the size and design of it are pretty close to perfect. I had four ejaculatory orgasms in the space of an hour with this thing (no lie) although Thomas was the one in the driver’s seat, so I have to give him a large chunk of the credit for using the dildo to such devastating effect.

Material-wise, the Spartacus felt wonderful. The glass was beautifully smooth and slippery and I especially liked the way it changed temperature during use. (To start with, it was very cool but as it absorbed my body heat, it became warmer and warmer.)

I found that the best way to use this toy was standing and bent forwards over a soft chair; the position gave Thomas a decent amount of room to manoeuvre and also allowed him some scope to get the dildo in the correct position. In addition, he was able to press the head of the dildo against the front wall of my vagina more easily (no fighting gravity) – and thus target my G-Spot.

Thomas
I didn’t know to start with this was a G-Spot dildo, although the shape looked about right for one so once we got down to business, I started to see how effective it would be for stimulating this area. Extremely effective, as it turned out.

I could tell it was certainly hitting the spot (so to speak) with Lizzie but it soon became very obvious that it was really hitting it. Lizzie has ejaculated a number of times before but this was by far the quickest and the most frequent I have seen, so much so that the line from that Bloodhound Gang song ‘love the kind you clean up with a mop and a bucket’ springs to mind. I could have stopped after the first one but I don’t like letting Lizzie off too easily so I thought I would push the boat out.

The reason I think this dildo works so well is because of the shape of its large, angled head. It caught Lizzie in just the right place inside and I could feel it moving over her pelvic bone (which is the sweet spot for her), so it was relatively simple to position. Also the ring on the base makes it easy to get a good grip and to get the head in at just the right angle (which is much harder to do with just the shaft on a normal dildo).

Any downsides?

Lizzie
None that I can think of. I’m in love with this thing!

The verdict?

Lizzie
A really fabulous dildo that looks good, is well made, and shaped like a dream. It’s very easy to clean, too, as it can be sterilised in the dishwasher. I suspect this toy is going to be brought out often and that it’s going to result in a quite a few soaked towels, sheets and floors. Great fun to use with a partner and highly (highly) recommended to those who enjoy or climax from G-Spot stimulation. Even better, although we had plenty of fun during our inaugural session with this dildo, there’s lots of scope to mix things up in the future as the glass construction means that we can warm it in a basin of water or cool it in the fridge or freezer before use. (The idea of the frozen glass being put somewhere hot holds a lot of appeal – rather like an ice cube but far less messy!)

Thomas
I have never used a glass dildo before but I have to say I am sold on this one; it looks good, has outstanding performance and is very practical. I also think the ability for it to be frozen will add extra thrills (and the odd shock) for Lizzie in the future.

In summary

Things we liked:

• The orgasms it produced. Full-on, full-out female ejaculation.
• The glass construction. Attractive and easy to clean.
• The play possibilities. Can be heated or cooled safely.
• Phthalate-free. No nasty chemicals and especially good for those with latex allergies.
• Lube-friendly. Because this dildo is made of glass, it can be used with all types of lubricants (oil-, silicone- or water-based).

Things we weren’t so keen on:

• Nothing!

Tickle your fancy? Click here to buy this item from Lovehoney.

The post A touch of glass: the Spartacus Smooth G-Spot Dildo appeared first on Behind the Chintz Curtain.

What we used: Play O orgasm enhancing gel
From: Durex
Price: £11.39 – £15.35 (depending on retailer)
Ingredient(s): aqua, propylene glycol, arginine, lactic acid, hydroxyethylcellulose, aroma, PEG-40 hydrogenated castor oil, isopulegol, methylparaben

Can Play O gel really help you achieve orgasm? Lizzie discovers that, yes, it can.

First thoughts …

Durex Play O has been around for a while now. I first saw it on a shelf in my local Boots pharmacy a few years ago, lurking unobtrusively next to the condoms and lubricants. The word ‘orgasm’ caught my attention and within seconds I was scanning the back of the box:

‘Durex Play O^TM Gel is a revolutionary product for enhanced orgasm pleasure. Play O^TM Gel has been specially designed and tested by women for women using a unique combination of ingredients that create a multitude of cooling, warming and tingling sensations all at the same time, heightening sensitivity of the clitoris for more intense orgasm pleasure and easier to reach orgasms.’

All of this sounded marvellous but to be brutally honest, I was pretty sceptical about whether a gel could have that much of an effect. An easy orgasm is pretty much the Yetti of intercourse – for women at least; everyone talks about it, but no one really believes it exists. Surely, if this stuff actually worked, I’d be hearing shrieks of pleasure echoing around the neighbourhood? Nevertheless, I’ll try anything once and so proceeded to march off to the checkout with my new discovery.

The packaging …

Play O comes in a fuchsia and white, plastic-wrapped box featuring the Durex logo. The packaging is relatively discrete and grown-up and you could be forgiven for thinking that you were picking up some sort of skincare product, such as a moisturiser or cleanser – the branding is very much of that ilk.

Inside the outer box, an instruction leaflet, a pump dispenser with a lid, and the gel itself. The latter is contained within a clear, 15ml-capacity glass bottle that you need to attach to the dispenser before you use it for the first time. Again, I am reminded of a cosmetic product; I feel like I should be rubbing this stuff on my face rather than my girly parts! It doesn’t look out of place when surrounded by other lotions and potions (as you can see from the picture above).

Using it …

Play O is very easy to dispense: you simply remove the lid and depress the pump to get the gel from the bottle. A single press gives you a pea-sized dollop and – as I discover – this is PLENTY to get you started. The gel feels similar to lubricant – relatively slippery with a slightly viscous consistency. Play O is water-based, so safe to use with condoms and okay to taste and swallow.

Once you’ve got the O on your fingers, all you need to do is rub it gently over your clitoris and wait for the effects of it to kick in.

A few seconds after applying O, I tend to experience a warm, tingling sensation followed by a slightly ‘heavy’ feeling (this is because O increases blood flow to the areas it’s applied to) and within minutes, increased sensitivity to touch. And it’s that increased sensitivity that makes a big, big difference – to me, anyway! The first time I used O, I was able to bring myself to orgasm with just my fingers and no additional stimulation within a few short minutes when, normally, it would take me between ten and fifteen to achieve the same result. The orgasm itself was excellent, too; I noticed that, while it wasn’t any longer than normal it was quite intense.

The first few times I used O or got Thomas to apply it to me, we stuck with manual stimulation (by which I mean fingers and other body parts) but when we started to experiment with vibrators and some other toys, the results were even more satisfying. A bullet, held next to an O-sensitized clitoris or a pressure-based toy (such as a clip), for example, can yield spectacular results. I can honestly say that I nearly always orgasm when I use Play O – even when stressed or distracted. (I generally find it very difficult to climax, no matter how hard I try, if my head’s not in the right place and I’m worrying about work, money, kids, etc.)

A word of caution: you don’t need to go crazy with the application of Play O to feel the effects of it. Applying a large quantity – unless you’re trying to cover a large area – isn’t necessary and, if you’re particularly sensitive, you may find the sensations induced by an excess amount too overpowering. Personally, I find that applying it to the clitoris alone works best for me as it focuses all the external sensations in one place. If you’re having a long session with yourself or your partner, you can always re-apply O to renew the effects.

Any downsides?

Well, at a minimum of £11.39 for a 15ml bottle (from Amazon U.K.) it’s not particularly cheap, but provided you’re not basting yourself in it or using it as your primary lubricant, a little goes a long, long way. The Play O packaging suggests you should get be able to get approximately 30 orgasms from a single bottle, so if you manage to get it for the lowest price of £11.39, that’s roughly 38 pence per orgasm. Bargain!

The other thing I’ve noted is that you need to keep the bottle standing upright for the pump to work effectively. If the bottle lies on its side, the inner collection tube can’t suck up the gel. Consequently, Thomas and I have had a few frustrating moments when we’ve been pumping the bottle madly trying to get a dollop out.

The verdict?

The fact that I’m never without a bottle of this in my toy box speaks for itself. I’m a fan. While O won’t send you hurtling towards an immediate climax it will likely make it easier for you to reach orgasm. To quote some official data from Durex’s Sexual Wellbeing Global Survey (SWGS):

‘Play O gel heightened sensitivity for 68% of women. 40% said our gel made it easier to orgasm and, wait for this, 79% of women, achieved orgasm by using it.’

O, my.

In summary

Things I like:

• The sensation O produces. The gel makes it much easier for me to achieve an intense and pleasurable orgasm.
• The packaging. Grown up and relatively discrete.
• Availability. You can buy it from pharmacies and supermarkets.

Things I’m not so keen on:

• The price. Play O isn’t cheap but, that said, it lasts a while if you don’t go mad when applying it.
• The sensation that the gel induces may not be for everyone. You might find it too mild or, conversely, too overpowering depending on how sensitive you are.

Tickle your fancy? You can buy this item from: Amazon.co.uk, Boots, Sainsbury’s, and Superdrug.

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