Review: Sohimi ROSE

Over the last few months a new viral sensation has been making waves in all corners of the internet. No, I’m not talking about that SHEIN cross wrap tank or anything Lil Nas X puts out, but a sex toy. Somehow, despite all the odds (and the protests of our social media overlords), a small unassuming clitoral stimulator has managed to capture the hearts of users on TikTok, Instagram, and even Facebook! That toy is the ROSE, a product that no doubt originally gained its popularity through its impressive floral design, but has kept it due to its apparently amazing suction powers. Interestingly though, unlike other viral toys, such as the Fantasy For Her or the Geeky Sex Toys Down Under Donation Dildo, this one isn’t made by one retailer, but is rather a white-label product, meaning it is a design that can be ordered wholesale and rebranded by any company. As you’d imagine, this has meant that as the weeks have gone by and the demand has grown, the amount of brands claiming the ROSE as their own has grown exponentially… and so has the price tag. Today, however, I’ll be looking at Sohimi’s version, which is one of the cheaper options available, to see if there really is anything behind all this fuss.

Product Description

Even if it wasn’t for all the hype, the Sohimi ROSE is an obvious review choice for me. Firstly, it is absolutely beautiful. With a design that attempts and succeeds at replicating a rose bulb, intricate petals have been carved into the soft silicone to create both a visual and sensual delight. Plus, having the suction hole naturally forming in the centre of these petals makes it even better, and kudos to whoever came up with this idea. Secondly, suction is my favourite type of stimulation, and I just can’t seem to get enough of toys that offer it, especially those that I feel are more budget friendly. With a body made up entirely of a gorgeous light pink silicone, the ROSE also comes in purple and its trendy shade of red. A single button is then featured on one side of it, whilst the only other element that tells you it’s anything more than a piece of floral decor is its magnetic charging plate which sits flat underneath it, thus allowing it to stand upright. In terms of initial downsides, I will say that the ROSE does have a very prominent seam that runs around its middle and at one point poorly intersects with one of the petals, which does take away somewhat from its otherwise flawless appearance, but doesn’t have any impact on use. Finally, as with all good sex toys, this stimulator is also fully waterproof and USB rechargeable.

Packaging

Sohimi sent their ROSE out to me on the 27th of May and I received it on the 15th of June. The sender was not listed on the package, however the contents did say “massage”, which isn’t exactly the most discreet, and you can check out my full unboxing recording here. The packaging for the toy itself was then quite odd, coming in a box that doesn’t seem to have anything to do with it. Small, pink and black, the box features a pixelated image solely featuring the words “Intelligent Sex”, alongside a few descriptive logos that aren’t exactly clear. In addition, it does seem the box had a bit of a rough journey, coming with little protection, and so is unsurprisingly somewhat damaged. Inside you’ll then find the toy, as well as a charging cord and brief instruction manual. Overall, this wasn’t the best first impression, as is often the case with white label toys, but considering the slightly higher price tag than what I usually review, I definitely expected a bit more (or, y’know, a box that looked even slightly related). Lastly, the Sohimi ROSE also comes with a one year warranty.

Charging

Since the Sohimi ROSE is USB rechargeable, charging it is easy. Simply place the toy onto its magnetic charging stand and then plug the other end into a USB port. Plus, with the magnets being super strong, it’s unlikely to suffer any accidental disconnections, and they’ll also help to adjust the toy if not positioned correctly. Charging should then take 75 minutes and give you 90 minutes of play, and a light on the toy’s button will flash when in process and turn off when complete.

Controls

With just one button, controlling the Sohimi ROSE is very straightforward and quick to learn. Simply hold the button down for 1.5 seconds to turn it on, which will place the ROSE on its lowest steady speed. You can then continue clicking the button to cycle through the modes. Now, the Sohimi website very clearly states multiple times that the ROSE vibrator has seven modes, whilst the instructions mention it has ten. In reality it does have ten, although they are not the “frequencies” that Sohimi promote and many other suction toys feature, but rather three steady speeds and seven patterns. I’ll elaborate further on why this is bad news soon, but for now I’ll say that as someone who dislikes patterns, I am frustrated that this wasn’t clear on Sohimi’s website. Finally, to turn the toy off you just need to simply hold the button down again.

First Impressions

A strange phenomenon that no one seems to be talking about lately is the wave of so-called “suction” toys that aren’t actually the same type of product as what has been made popular by companies such as Satisfyer and Womanizer in recent years, despite appearances and product descriptions suggesting they are. The last two clitoral stimulators I tested were of this kind, and while one was significantly better than the other, they both posed potential issues and could not compete with the sensations brought on by true air pressure toys. So when I got the Sohimi ROSE and noted that I could touch the back wall of its suction chamber with my finger, one of the biggest differences between these false and true suction toys, I was concerned. This was then only made worse by the fact it has patterns and so few speeds, another feature none of my other suction toys have, except the two that I’ve now dubbed as using “tap suction”. So, as you’ve probably guessed, this is indeed another of those types of toys, as rather than using air waves to provide contactless stimulation, friction is created by placing a small vibrating plate within the nozzle. The one upside, however, is that the ROSE’s nozzle is far deeper than the other two, which may help to alleviate some of the issues I had with the others. Plus, when turned on it does actually feel quite strong, which is a great sign. As for the noise level, this is unfortunately somewhat loud, and unlike traditional suction toys it is not reduced once a seal is made (instead it can actually get louder), making it inconvenient for discreet use.

My Experience

Considering what I now knew, I did not expect the ROSE to be anything special. But then I placed it on my clitoris for the first time… and oh my god was I wrong. Despite its three speeds (which really don’t have a huge amount of variation between them) and strange design, the Sohimi ROSE is just about one of the best suction toys I have ever tried. Its nickname on TikTok is apparently the “soul snatcher”, and while I may have laughed at it initially, I now think it is spot on. The sensations it gives are intense, and remind me of Satisfyer’s original toys like the Pro 2 and Pro Penguin Next Generation, except ramped up exponentially. Because of this, I do enjoy it over all of my Satisfyer toys with the exception of my favourite, the Luxury, which I would say is the closest approximation to the stimulation the ROSE provides. And yes, that does include the more recent Satisfyer Curvy 1+ and 2+, which would have been the ROSE’s closest competitors in terms of price. In regards to Womanizer toys, there is a distinct difference in sensations here, with Womanizer products often feeling more thuddy or rumbly, something the ROSE lacks. As such, the Premium and DUO are still far superior to it, as is the We-Vibe Melt. The Womanizer Liberty however, which is my cheapest toy from that brand, I do find is surprisingly bested by this underdog for me. In regards to orgasms, they come immensely fast with the ROSE (most are under 10 seconds), and with extreme strength, giving me some of the best I’ve ever had. What’s more, the ROSE seems to have an effect on me that I haven’t experienced before with any other toy, which is that orgasms with it seem to be continuous, so that they keep going until eventually I need to stop, rather than having a distinct beginning and end. The longest orgasm I’ve recorded with this has been 50 seconds, but considering how quickly I can do it again, it’s very easy to spend a whole afternoon with this addictive little toy.

Something else I want to briefly touch on before I wrap up is the nozzle element of the Sohimi ROSE. Initially it was my biggest cause for concern going into this review, because its shape is so different from everything I have tested in the past. Traditionally, and this is even the case for the other tap suction toys I’ve tested, suction nozzles will stick out or protrude from a toy, or at the very least be at the end of it. But while the ROSE’s nozzle is technically at its end, it is also surrounded on all sides by a wide rim so it can maintain its floral appearance. So I wasn’t sure how comfortable this would be in use, or if it would even work at all. I’m glad to say my concerns were unfounded however, as it has been extremely comfortable in use and I actually greatly prefer it to my other products. After all, with plenty of soft silicone to cushion anything that might have been a problem, I can push it right against me, which is especially great during orgasm. Plus, I do feel like all this extra contact with my skin probably helps to deepen the sensations I receive, and as there is a vibrator motor running within the toy, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of that is also coming through to my clit.

Cleaning & Care

Perhaps the biggest downside to the Sohimi ROSE, besides its packaging, is cleaning it. That’s because while the petals look great, they hide huge crevices which bacteria can get into. If you’re using the toy dry, which is my personal preference, then this shouldn’t be too much of a issue, as the product’s waterproofing means you can just give it a quick soak in some warm soapy water before rinsing it off. But as soon as you begin to introduce lubricant or bodily fluids, for instance if you’re using the toy during some form of internal play, then you’ll likely want to give it a more thorough wash with a spare soapy toothbrush. Once you’re done you can then leave it to air dry, and later store it however you want.

Final Thoughts

While I try to keep an open mind, I won’t lie when I say that I came into this review prepared to explain everything that’s wrong with this toy, and why you should save your money instead of buying into what was sure to be just another trend. But while the Sohimi ROSE might not have been the best clitoral stimulator I’ve ever tried, it was a damn good one, and better than the vast majority of my collection. What’s more, this toy has me challenging a lot of assumptions I have made in the past. I’ve spoken about how this “false” type of suction cannot compare to “true” suction, but I now know it can. I’ve said that three speeds isn’t enough for a stimulator, but I now know it is. Hell, I’ve even said that suction requires both an increase and decrease button to work, but I guess that’s not true now either! Perhaps the most exciting bit of all however, other than the ridiculously addictive and pleasurable continuous orgasms, is that this is the first time I’ve felt a toy can really compete with Satisfyer and Womanizer (who until this point pretty much had a total monopoly on the suction market), and for one that is being sold far and wide at such low prices… well suction pleasure just got a lot more accessible.

Updates

[5/8/21] I should have known it was too good to be true, huh? After fully completing my review but prior to publication, I was having dinner and watching television in an entirely different part of the apartment with my partner when we heard a noise. It was the Sohimi ROSE, which had somehow activated by itself (it had been a few days since I’d even touched it) and wouldn’t turn off. The noise level was also beyond anything I had previously experienced with the toy. After having to ignore it for the night, it eventually turned off, but now it often won’t turn back on or will die soon after being activated. The vibrations within it are also different, accounting for the change in volume, and no longer provide any stimulation, rather coming off as rattly. Because of this I can sadly no longer use my ROSE, and neither can I recommend it. That being said, considering the low price and the amount of pleasure it gave me, it might certainly still be worth the risk to some.

[3/9/21] After publishing my review, Closetplay, who are another retailer of the ROSE, got in touch with me. They’d read my review and were concerned about the issues I’d experienced, but had none of their own as of yet, despite testing the toy themselves. I asked them to keep me updated though, and sure enough a few weeks later they’ve let me know that they’re now facing the exact same problems on the one model they had submerged in water. This is what I had assumed had killed mine, and so this second case seems to confirm it. Due to this, I’d say the ROSE just isn’t as waterproof as advertised, and so as long as you avoid submerging it you’ll hopefully be able to avoid any issues.

You can get the ROSE directly from Sohimi for just $56.60 AUD / $35.99 USD!

Last updated: 10/11/23

Price at the time of writing: $50 AUD / $36.95 USD

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