I can’t speak for the rest of the world, but here in Australia we’ve had some pretty lengthy and intensive lockdowns over the past year and a half. In fact, I’m even in one right now, with my home of Melbourne seeming to consistently cop some of the worst of it. But while most of us have been learning the ups and downs of day drinking and watching far too many Godzilla films, some people have clearly been a little bit more productive. In addition to the recent wave of Aussie independent toy makers I discussed in my review of the Faux Phallus Agapanthus, there has also been an even bigger emergence of sexual wellness brands, particularly those that focus on lube. In the span of just a few short months, four new Australian-made lubricants have entered the picture, with three of them being based right here in Melbourne (that’s Lucy Lube, FIGR, LBDO, and Sydney’s Get Frenchie). So whilst I am planning on doing a round-up of all four soon, today I’ll be taking a closer look at one in particular, Lucy Lube!
Review: Darque Path Cthulhu
Over the last few years I’ve become a massive fan of the work of H.P. Lovecraft and the Mythos he inspired. Growing up with little exposure to horror films or books (even the The Little Mermaid gave me nightmares as a child), his wide collection of short stories has served as the perfect gateway into this world for me, especially when you consider how much of it has formed the basis of the genre today. I often spend evenings reading over annotations of his work (yes, including analysis on the unpleasant racist overtones), have forked out way too much money on the Call of Cthulhu role-playing game (considering I have no one to play it with), and even though I still have a long way to go with catching up on horror as a film genre, I’ve just recently taken my first steps with John Carpenter’s Apocalypse Trilogy (which was also inspired by Lovecraft). But with my job being what it is, there has always been one thing missing, and that is, of course, a fantasy toy inspired by the most famous of all his creations: Cthulhu. For the longest time I had my eyes on Uberrime’s version, but size concerns and US shipping prices held me back, until finally it disappeared from their store. Just when I thought all was lost however, I discovered Darque Path and their very own interpretation made right here in Australia!
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.
Review: Deeper Blue Ceramics Lilac Matte
It was at a sex convention that I first fell in love with adult products all those years ago, but while so much has changed in this industry since then, it seems conventions, sadly, have not. Walking into a sex con, such as Sexpo, today, looks much like it did seven years ago, and if anything things have gone backwards. With the vast majority of products being non-body-safe, barely any representation from quality brands or retailers, and questionable guest stars, I find myself struggling more and more each year to attend. But the thing that keeps me going is the thought of finding a diamond in the rough, and by that I mean the opportunity to scout out new local businesses that I might not have found out about otherwise, and then share them with you all. In previous years this has led me to finds such as the MiaMaxx Hand-Held Thruster and Cloudnine Hummingbird, and it’s even where I first met Geeky Sex Toys, who I now work for. But it was at the most recent convention that I first came into contact with a small business who I believe represents everything this industry needs right now, and that business was Deeper Blue Ceramics.
Review: Wildfire All Over Pleasure Oil & Arousal Oil
Last year I reviewed the Wildfire ‘Original’ All Over Pleasure Oil and ‘Feels Like Bliss’ Mood Mist. It was a bit of a different review for me, still sex related products, but not exclusively so. Due to this, that review has become very memorable for me, and the two products I received have become much loved in my household. Since my partner isn’t hugely into sex toys, the oil and mood mist quickly became his favourite products I’ve ever reviewed. We use them both on a weekly basis, and I’m not sure what I’d do without them now. So, when Wildfire recently contacted me about completing a new review for them, I was overjoyed. They sent me their All Over Pleasure Oil ‘All My Love’ Gift Pack, which contains the two oils that I had not previously tried, along with their IT Cooling Arousal Oil.
Review: MiaMaxx Hand-Held Thruster Vibrator
Two of the things I am most passionate about as a sex toy reviewer is trying new things and featuring Australian manufacturers. I’ve found the best way to scout out both of these is at Sexpo, an annual sex convention here that I usually attend. During Sexpo 2016 I met a number of fantastic Australian manufacturers that I had never heard of before. One such company was Dare Too, the Melbourne-based creator of hand-held thruster vibrator MiaMaxx. After the convention I contacted them about reviewing the product, but this was sadly met with no response. I always remembered the toy though, as even now I haven’t tried anything like it, and was very intrigued. So recently when Femplay contacted me about reviewing some of their products, I was happily surprised to see the MiaMaxx as part of the range they stock. I requested it and they thankfully accepted, so now here I am finally reviewing it!