Review: Faux Phallus Agapanthus

I love being a sex toy reviewer more than anything. But there are some obvious downsides to doing it in Australia. There’s no major manufacturers located here, popular toys aren’t always stocked by local stores, shipping prices from everywhere else are ridiculously high, and in terms of a blogging community… well most of the time it’s just me. There is one thing, however, that has disappointed me most over the years though, and that’s the lack of independent makers. Overseas, but particularly in the USA, there seems to be an abundance of people creating silicone toys from their very own homes and selling them places like Etsy, allowing them to push the limits of what is considered a sex toy by producing imaginative designs in a kaleidoscope of colours that would have never been able to occur within a larger mass-producing company. I could browse these stores all day, and often do, but with shipping typically costing far more than the products themselves, actually making a purchase is sadly not an option for me. It’s because of this that I have spent a good part of the last six years wishing and hoping someone would kick off a similar community here (and making my own plans if I were to ever move to a bigger apartment), and now in 2021 it finally seems my cries have been answered.

Background

I was so excited when Queensland-based company Geeky Sex Toys first opened their virtual doors back in 2016, because I thought it would be the beginning of an Australian indie scene, even though they were a little different from the fantasy makers in the USA. I supported them the best I could, and my efforts technically paid off when they hired me to run their social media and reviewers program in 2018! But as great as that was (and still is!), nothing else changed, and my Etsy searches for “dildo” with the location set to “Australia” continued to look bleak. So in January this year when I was looking for new people to follow at my Instagram, I could hardly believe my eyes when I came across Faux Phallus, an Australian maker that had just launched a gorgeous range of floral toys. Even more surprising is that since then SIX other makers have popped up out of nowhere, and so within the short space of two months this once lonely space has rapidly become a supportive and thriving community! I’m hoping to do a full post here soon talking about all of these makers, but for now keep an eye out on my social media for news about them!

The Brand

I could talk all day about how excited I am for all of this, but today we’re focusing on the one company that started it all, and that’s Faux Phallus. You see, as soon as I found their page I started raving about them on my social media, and they kindly reached out and offered to send me some toys as a thank you. I absolutely didn’t expect this, but accepted nonetheless, and since then we have had some wonderful chats and I have found them to be extremely supportive of other local makers, helping them out where they can and also being the one to introduce me to most of them. A husband and wife team based in Tasmania, they design their unique range of dildos and butt plugs first out of clay, before using these to create the moulds for their silicone pours. This has allowed for them to produce some incredibly unique designs that all have a distinctly hand-made quality, and everything on their website so far feels fresh and unlike anything I’ve seen in this space before. Currently focusing on flowers and plants for their Floral Collection of toys inspired by the local environment, Faux Phallus are also looking towards releasing a Tentacle Collection soon. Offering both pre-made products and customs of their designs (allowing you to select the item’s density, colour and whether it has a suction cup), Faux Phallus also make choosing easy with their Size Chart (perfect for those like me who need to stick with the smaller options), Colour Guide, and Firmness Guide. Plus, they also feature stories for each of their toys, which are perfect for lovers of fantasy role-playing. Finally, while they ship to most countries at a flat-rate of $30, shipping within Australia is express and only $15 flat-rate, or express for free on orders over $100!

Product Description

Faux Phallus kindly sent me three of their toys to try, and today I will be reviewing their Agapanthus. I chose this product as it was the smallest of their dildos, which I find is always a good pick to start with when trying out new makers to ensure you’re getting something that will work for you whilst also giving you a feel for their firmness levels (which is especially important when you have trouble with size like me!). Based off the plant of the same name, and inspired by its beautiful summer floral display, this is also a toy that’s close to my heart, as where I live is absolutely full of these, and I can even see one from my bedroom window now whilst I write this. Since the most common Agapanthus have a light blue to purple hue, this is the colour Faux Phallus have gone with for my version, although you can get it in a range of pre-made colours at their website (including a one-of-a-kind non-binary flag version right now!), or order a custom. A gradient of blue at the top that fades down into purple is present, and a clearer divide between the two can then be seen at the toy’s base. Plus, both tones use a shimmery pigment that allows the toy to have a glitter-like sparkle, while pour marks give off a beautiful marbling effect which is so much nicer than if it was just a flat colour. As for the shape, it’s the head of this toy where all the interest is at, as four large petals wrap around its top to create a flowing feeling that almost reminds me of the spiral Funkit Toys NoFrillDo R. Then, since Faux Phallus mould their original designs from clay, each of the petals feels unique, with some being slightly smaller or larger, rather than just being replicated digitally. The rest of its short shaft is smooth, although it does taper out into a small base, and while it does appear to be completely round it is actually more of a triangular shape. My copy came in Faux Phallus’s recommended firm density, which is 20A shore, and while it is quite firm it’s still softer than I thought it would be, as there is definitely still some squish to it. Finally, this toy measures in at a length of 5.5 inches / 14 cm and has a maximum diameter of 1.4 inches / 3.7 cm, although the shaft is only 1.2 inches / 3.1 cm. In addition I do believe this toy would work with a harness, although the size of the base and the taper that leads up to it leaves me unconvinced that it would be anal safe.

Packaging

My order with Faux Phallus for the Agapanthus was sent on the 19th of January and I promptly received it the very next day, which was impressive even for express shipping! It was then completely discreet, with no mention of the sender or contents of the package. The packaging for the toy itself was very simple, being just a sealed clear bag for each toy, which was totally understandable considering this is a new indie company and more than acceptable in my opinion, and for a full unboxing you can check this out (plus, they have since upgraded their packaging). In addition they also included a handwritten thank you note which was a lovely touch, alongside a small care guide which I love.

My Experience

Even though the Faux Phallus Agapanthus does appear quite small, even for me, the firm density of the silicone mixed with the large untapered head allows for it to feel far larger than it actually is during insertion. This provides quite a filling feeling, and this sensation is only heightened with the addition of the texture. The swirling petals remind me of a much more intense version of the Funkit Toys NoFrillDo R, which is my current favourite smaller dildo, and twisting them in and out of me is a wonderful feeling that I find perfect for the start of sessions. Inserting it deeper then causes all of this texture and size to disappear, as the thinner and smoother shaft slides in, creating a great balance between the two. Now, while I specifically requested this toy because of its small width, one thing that did concern me upon actually seeing it for the first time was its length, which is also quite small. But I have since found that it is in fact that length where the genius of this product lies, because it is the absolute perfect size to allow you to thrust the entire length of the product (from being completely inside of you till the head is just about to exit you) in one easy hand movement. As someone who loves thrusting, but also wanted to enjoy the texture of the head, this has been an absolute godsend, and a fantastic contrast to toys with similar designs where I must choose between full penetration and texture. This paired with a good clitoral vibrator, such as the Dame Kip, is then an immensely pleasurable experience, and I have had some great orgasms with this toy in the short time I’ve had it. Perhaps the only downside to the Agapanthus is that the texture can sometimes be a little overwhelming and give off a bit of a scratchy feeling, which I don’t mind too much but may be a concern if you struggle with texture.

Cleaning & Care

Since the Faux Phallus Agapanthus is silicone and waterproof, cleaning it is easy. Simply wash it in some warm soapy water before rinsing it and leaving it to air dry. Plus, you’ll also want to scrub around the petals with a spare soapy toothbrush, as bacteria may hide here. After this I’d recommend storing it in a zip-lock bag to keep it clean between uses, as it attracts a fair amount of dust. In addition to this I’d also suggest sterilising the toy every few uses or when switching between partners or orifices, and you can do this by boiling it for three minutes. Lastly, make sure to only use water-based lubricants with this product, as others may have negative effects on the silicone.

Final Thoughts

Faux Phallus are without a doubt the newest company I’ve ever worked with. So I really had no idea what to expect from the quality of their toys, as I didn’t know anyone who owned one! Plus, with such low prices, it all felt a bit too good to be true. But instead I’ve been absolutely blown away, as the Agapanthus (and all of the toys they sent) is the sort of product I would expect from a company who has been running for years to have produced, not one sent to me literally 19 days after they opened! Everything about this toy is flawless in regards to its design and manufacturing, and even the way it feels in use comes off as something that has been carefully crafted by someone with far more experience than they have. I am so excited to welcome Faux Phallus to the Australian sex toy community, and if this is what they’re producing less than a month into their existence then I cannot wait to see how things look in a few more months, or even a few years down the track! In the meantime though I would absolutely recommend the Agapanthus to anyone who enjoys smaller dildos, and think it would make a fabulous intro to texture for those who haven’t tried a fantasy-style toy before.

You can get the Agapanthus directly from Faux Phallus for just $40 AUD / $29 USD!