Anal August may be over, but that doesn’t mean the love for this form of play has to end! After all, without anal toys I might not be here, with my blog starting out primarily reviewing butt plugs, and my Beginner’s Guide still being one of the most popular posts at Princess Previews. Plus, today’s review isn’t on any old butt plug, but a toy I’ve been after ever since it was originally announced back in 2017. We-Vibe are the makers of many of my favourite sex toys, from the Tango X and Touch X, to the Nova 2 and Melt, and their beginner’s friendly and app-compatible Ditto was another success that I just never got round to trying. So when Lovehoney Group (who recently acquired We-Vibe) reached out to let me know they’d be releasing an upgraded version, the Ditto+, this August, I couldn’t have said yes to a review faster.
Review: Womanizer OG
I’ve now reviewed products from over one hundred different sex toy brands, but when I’m asked my favourite it’s always an easy answer: WOW Tech. The company overseeing both the German-based Womanizer and Canadian We-Vibe, among other things (and coincidentally now part of the UK’s Lovehoney Group, who have long been my favourite retailer), they’ve been leading the industry ever since I joined it and produce some of my absolute favourite toys. Whilst We-Vibe, makers of the legendary Tango X and Nova 2, have a broad catalogue to cover a wide range of electronics, Womanizer instead specialises on just one kind: air pressure. And since that also happens to be my favourite type of sex toy, it goes without saying that Womanizer holds a special place in my heart, and finishing up reviewing their entire range was a highlight of last year. Of course, even with this, I was still over the moon when they announced an entirely new model a few months ago, but with a design as eccentric as its name, I can’t say I wasn’t a little concerned.
Review: Womanizer Marilyn Monroe
Of the five core products in Womanizer’s current portfolio, there is only one I have yet to try. The Classic 2, which offers a step up from the Womanizer Liberty while not being quite as powerful as the Premium, has managed to elude my grasp so far. In fact, I had a similar experience with its predecessor, and when I finally did get one, it was sadly discontinued before I could review it. So when I recently heard Womanizer were bringing out a limited edition version of the Classic 2, and Lovehoney asked if I’d like to try it out, I was more than a little excited, not wanting history to repeat. However, the Womanizer Marilyn Monroe Special Edition has since proven to be quite the controversial release, with some fans of the late actress and model praising the German brand for honouring her legacy of empowerment, whilst others have condemned it, noting that her inability to consent to the use of her name runs parallel to the objectification she suffered during her lifetime.
Review Round-Up: Grinders
Like many people, grinding was my entry point into the world of masturbation. Whether it meant rubbing at my vulva by hand or going on top of my pillows at night, I was doing it long before I even knew what a vibrator was. But now, after seven years of testing hundreds of sex toys, it’s not often I find myself resorting to this kind of “acoustic” play anymore. After all, I have all kinds of gadgets that can achieve the same thing for far less effort, and thus grinding had become but a distant memory. So, you can imagine my surprise when in 2021 a new toy trend seemingly emerged out of nowhere: grinders. From indie makers releasing a wave of textured non-insertables, to retailers relabelling old favourites like the We-Vibe Touch and Tenga Iroha+ Kushi as grindable toys, clearly something was going on, and I wanted in. Which is why I sought out six of the best for today’s very special grinder review round-up!
Review: Womanizer Starlet 3
I’ve been on a hunt lately to find good quality suction on a budget. It saw me review the viral Sohimi ROSE, try out the infamous OSUGA Cuddly Bird (also known as the Biird Obii), and even take a second look at the toy that started it all, the Satisfyer Pro 2. But I would be remiss if I didn’t bother trying the beginner’s option from my favourite suction brand, WOW Tech’s Womanizer. Now, I must warn you, while the Womanizer Starlet is the cheapest option in the luxury German brand’s current catalogue, at $120 AUD it is still quite a hefty sum. Plus, with a favourite like the Womanizer Liberty coming in at only $30 more, it had me a little unsure of where this product could possibly fit in with the rest of my toys. But, with a recent rerelease taking it from the Starlet 2 to the Starlet 3, alongside the updated Premium 2 and Classic 2, I just couldn’t resist giving it a go when Lovehoney reached out about a review.
Review: Womanizer Premium 2
Unlike most other major toy manufacturers, luxury clitoral stimulator brand Womanizer only offers a small catalogue of products. The five core designs, whose differences mostly relate to their increasing price tags, are the Starlet, Liberty, Classic, Premium and DUO, and while I have tried all of them, I have reviewed only three so far. Without a doubt, however, my favourite is the Womanizer Premium. In fact, it’s not just my favourite Womanizer, but my favourite suction toy in general, and my second favourite toy of all time (just behind the Magic Wand Rechargeable). So when I heard the German brand was upgrading three of their designs and the Premium was one of them, I was all in. Keeping it simple with the addition of a quick version number, the new models are the Starlet 3, Classic 2, and Premium 2, with their older versions since being discontinued (although there is still plenty around to buy and with most stores offering them at a discount!). As for the differences, in addition to new colours and updated branding (including more sustainable packaging!), Womanizer have also up the ante with their suction levels, which suggests updates for the Liberty and DUO might not be far away either.