Review: Lora DiCarlo Carezza

Often times the sex toy industry feels like something of a close knit community. So when big new Silicon Valley-style companies launch with their ignorant yet sweeping assumptions about sex tech and big claims about how they’re going to “reinvent” it… it’s easy to dismiss them. After all, considering the rapidly increasing worth of this industry, which has only skyrocketed since we all collectively spent more time at home than ever before in 2020, tech companies would be foolish not to look into it, even if their obliviousness usually ends up being their downfall. One of the companies that I felt this way about until not so long ago was Lora DiCarlo, a new brand that looks more tech than sex, calls their products “robotics”, and recently appointed actress and model Cara Delevingne as co-owner. But after trying their unique oral sex stimulator Filare in January, thanks to For Her Box, I couldn’t deny that it was indeed the closest replication of those sensations I’ve ever experienced from a sex toy. So for today’s review we’re taking a look at another new innovative toy from Lora DiCarlo, the Carezza, to find out if this brand is really worth your time or just a one hit wonder.

Product Description

The Lora DiCarlo Carezza is the Filare’s sister toy, with the two of them being released together in late 2020. Due to this they’re very similar in regards to their functions and appearance, and they are also both clitoral stimulators that apply new technology to mimic human touch. But that is where the similarities end. You see, whilst the Filare used two small spinning beads under the silicone to replicate sensations a tongue might give during oral sex, the Carezza uses a single stimulation point which can pulsate out at various different speeds in order to portray a finger tapping against your skin. As with the Filare, this is a form of stimulation that I have not experienced or seen before, but if I had to relate it to something it would be the pulsating plate of the Hot Octopuss Queen Bee, although on a much smaller scale. Stylish and minimal, the Carezza looks more like a Smart Home device than a sex toy, and this is only contributed to with its grey colouring (something else I haven’t seen before with a sex toy) and silky smooth yet surprisingly lint-free silicone. Featuring a smaller section of ABS plastic in a slightly darker shade, this is then where the toy’s two buttons are located, one being a larger option on the back featuring the Lora DiCarlo logo and surrounded by a LED light, and the other at the debossed base of the product. On that note, this toy can stand upright, which is another unusual feature that further contributes to its discreet appearance. Really the only downside visually to this toy is a seam running down its silicone sides, however this is just me being picky. Finally, the back of the Carezza also features the toy’s USB charging prongs, and as this is a luxury toy it is also fully waterproof and travel-lockable.

Packaging

For Her Box sent the Lora DiCarlo Carezza out to me on the 1st of February and I received it promptly on the 4th, which was fantastic. Plus, as usual the box was 100% discreet, with no mention of the sender or contents, and for a full unboxing you can check this out. Inside the items were then beautifully gift wrapped, with free samples of lubricant and oils being included alongside a small thank you card offering both care instructions and a small discount on future orders, and it is this level of customer care that makes For Her Box one of my favourite Australian retailers. As for the Carezza itself, the packaging for this is identical to the Filare’s, which is unsurprising since they were released together, and so for a full breakdown and pictures of it you can check out that review. But really all there is to know is that Lora DiCarlo have some of the best packaging in the industry, and everything about it exudes the same sort of luxury you’d expect from any other tech brand, such as Apple or Google. As with the Filare, the Carezza’s packaging also includes a charging cable, instruction manual and beautiful recycled storage pouch (although the construction of this is still lacking), however one thing that’s missing (which it even says on the box should be included) is the 1-year warranty card. There is a chance I’ve misplaced this myself, but it’s very unlikely, especially since I do not pull it out during my unboxing video either, so it seems this has somehow been forgotten, which is not a problem for me personally but would be for most. Finally, every Lora DiCarlo toy also comes with a complimentary coaching session with one of their Wellness Coaches (this can be accessed through their website), which is a really nice touch and further adds to how giftable this product is.

Charging

Since the Lora DiCarlo Carezza is USB rechargeable, charging it is easy, and everything about it essentially works identically to how it did on the Filare. Simply plug one end of the cord into a USB port, and then the other end can be connected magnetically to the toy, although this can again be a little difficult as the connection strength between the two isn’t the strongest. Once achieved you can view the toy’s battery level as indicated by the ring around its main button, as the light here will gradually grow to show where the battery level is at, and once finished it will be fully lit. Charging should then take two hours, which will give you around one hour of playtime, and Lora DiCarlo recommend charging the toy for at least one hour prior to first use. In addition the Carezza also features a low-battery alert, where the light will begin to flash when there is less than 5 minutes of battery left, as well as an auto-shutoff, where the toy will automatically turn off when left on stand-by mode for more than five minutes.

Controls

Since the Carezza only has two buttons, controlling it is extremely easy, and is again very similar to the Filare, albeit slightly more simplified since that had three. In fact, I haven’t even needed to refer to the instructions once while testing it! Basically, you just need to first hold down the larger power button for a few seconds to place the toy in stand-by mode, with success being indicated by the light flashing and the stimulation point moving outwards. You can then use the longer button to increase or decrease the speed of the point by 10 levels (plus and minus symbols at either end of this button indicate which side to press), and these can either be pressed to change speeds one by one, or held down to move through levels quickly. If at any point you want to reset the speed of the Carezza to its lowest level instantly, you can press the power button again, and then to turn the toy off completely you can just hold it down. In addition, you can also activate and deactivate its travel lock by simultaneously pressing the power button and the decrease speed button for a few seconds, with success being indicated by the light flashing rapidly. Overall I love the simplicity of this, and the only comments I really have is that I again find the stand-by mode unnecessary, and that the power button is located where I naturally hold the toy, which means I do sometimes turn it off or reduce the speed accidentally.

First Impressions

Similar to how Filare translated to Spin in Italian, Carezza translates to Caress. But even after watching videos of it I really didn’t have a good idea of what this Percussiontouch technology, as Lora DiCarlo call it, would feel like in use. So I think what surprised me most upon turning it on for the first time is just the range of speeds the Carezza offers, because as their website puts it, it truly goes from a “gentle concentrated stroke, building to a deep drumming vibration”. At its first levels the Carezza’s point popping in and out almost looks like a joke, but as the speeds ramp up it gets so fast that even your eyes cannot keep up with it, and so it begins to feel more and more like a traditional vibrator. The downside to all this however is that as it builds, so does the noise level, and with a sound that has to be one of the loudest of any toy I own (which is impressive considering its size!) and far worse than the Filare, I must say that the Carezza absolutely wouldn’t work if you don’t have complete privacy.

My Experience

As with the Filare, and any new style of toy, I expected the first few sessions with this product to filled with more confusion than pleasure as I slowly grew accustom to the sensations it provides. So while this remained true, my concern is that my testing of the Carezza has remained that way even now. Placing it against myself at lower speeds really provides no stimulation at all, but even if it did I fear I wouldn’t enjoy it, as the rhythmic tapping reminds me far too much of a vibration pattern. I’ve never been good with repetitive sounds or motions in any respect (never place me in a room with a dripping tap or ticking clock!), and so these lower speeds give me a similar sense of unease, which is a real shame. As the speed increases though things do improve, and as the stimulation point begins to move too quickly for its taps to be discerned, I’ve found that pressing it against me firmly feels best. Plus, it thankfully doesn’t seem to slow down either, regardless of how hard I press, which was definitely one of my initial concerns. To orgasm the toy then needs to be on the highest setting, and while this can take some time, it is ultimately quite satisfying. The problem is, though, that considering the extreme price of this product (For Her Box have it at a whopping $270, making it one of my most expensive toys ever!), not only is it not amazing, but I feel that by me needing to have it on the highest setting to orgasm, AKA the setting that feels the most like traditional vibrations, it really is just eluding to the fact that this form of stimulation as a whole isn’t working for me. What’s more, I’ve been consistently finding that my clitoris is sore after use, sometimes for days, which is rather unusual for me even with the amount of sex toys I test.

Cleaning & Care

Cleaning the Lora DiCarlo Carezza is easy as it is waterproof. Just wipe it down with some warm soapy water, rinse, and leave to air dry. You can then store it in the bag it came with. Additionally, make sure to not use silicone-based lubricant with this product, as it may react badly to the silicone it is made of.

Final Thoughts

Just like the Filare, the Lora DiCarlo Carezza is a valiant attempt to bring new technology into an industry that is so stuck on tradition. It is stylish, functions without fault, comes with beautiful packaging, and does its job to a tee. But unlike the Filare, I sadly didn’t enjoy its unique form of tapping stimulation, and found myself happiest when it replicated traditional vibrations. So while I haven’t quite given up hope that I may grow to like it one day, I can’t help but admit that it’s not for me right now. Regardless, at the end of the day there is something else that’s very important to consider when it comes to the Carezza, and any Lora DiCarlo product for that matter, and that is the price tag. As I mentioned in my review of the Filare, trying out experimental forms of sex tech is not a luxury many people can afford, and so even if I had of enjoyed this product it still really isn’t something I would expect the average consumer to purchase. Despite all of this though, I do really feel that there is an audience out there for the Carezza, perhaps made up of people who enjoy patterns or tapping sensations, and so I can only hope that as Lora DiCarlo continue to grow that they can not only refine this technology, but also begin to offer their ideas at more approachable prices.

You can get the Lora DiCarlo Carezza from Peepshow Toys for just $206 AUD / $150 USD, plus use code GRACE to get 10% OFF your order!

This post was sponsored by For Her Box, but as always, all opinions are my own. Affiliate links have been used in this post.