Wooden sex toys seem to be the craze these days, alone with glass and metal... even stone. But they are crazy expensive at most toy shops... especially for something crafted out of wood. This is just a poll to see what you think about their quality, price, and just... select all that apply! I'm curious about them, and I might try one soon. Make sure to explain more in a discussion below
Are wooden sex toys worth the price?
Here is one thread you might be interested in reading: link
I have five toys by NobEssence. They are hand-carved into the most effective, ergonomic, and pleasurable shapes/designs I've ever tried. Plus, they are absolutely beautiful. I have a good-sized selection of high-quality, luxury-brand toys, yet my NobEssence sculptures are my most highly prized pieces in my collection.
The high cost stems from the fact that the toys are individually carved by individual craftsmen, so the time it takes to manufacture one of these toys is much longer (not to mention much more labor-intensive) than the time it takes to pour material into a mold and complete each step on a factory/mass production level. The wood is also from "green," renewable resources (i.e., harvested from sustainable tree farms), so the material is not cheap either. So both the material and the time it takes to craft each piece factors into the price.
NobEssence has trademarked their own body-safe/food-safe glaze (called Lubrosity) to apply to the scrupulously buffed surfaces of their sculptures. The feel of their toys is quite similar to a buffed, burnished, and varnished handrail or a beautifully finished wooden dining chair. I have never worried for a moment about splinters.
Wood is firm, lightweight (but not insignificantly weightless), and is not cold to the touch. It presents a feeling that is unique to the experiences offered by glass or metal (which are both materials that I also like). That is the beauty of trying different materials. Each material offers a new sensation.
I just cannot recommend wood enough. I really need to try something by Hardwood Dildos to see if I like their toys as much as NobEssence's. NobEssence's designs are much more complex while Hardwood Dildos are more simplistic though. But simplistic designs can be both elegant and ingenious.
I have five toys by NobEssence. They are hand-carved into the most effective, ergonomic, and pleasurable shapes/designs I've ever tried. Plus, they are absolutely beautiful. I have a good-sized selection of high-quality, luxury-brand toys, yet my NobEssence sculptures are my most highly prized pieces in my collection.
The high cost stems from the fact that the toys are individually carved by individual craftsmen, so the time it takes to manufacture one of these toys is much longer (not to mention much more labor-intensive) than the time it takes to pour material into a mold and complete each step on a factory/mass production level. The wood is also from "green," renewable resources (i.e., harvested from sustainable tree farms), so the material is not cheap either. So both the material and the time it takes to craft each piece factors into the price.
NobEssence has trademarked their own body-safe/food-safe glaze (called Lubrosity) to apply to the scrupulously buffed surfaces of their sculptures. The feel of their toys is quite similar to a buffed, burnished, and varnished handrail or a beautifully finished wooden dining chair. I have never worried for a moment about splinters.
Wood is firm, lightweight (but not insignificantly weightless), and is not cold to the touch. It presents a feeling that is unique to the experiences offered by glass or metal (which are both materials that I also like). That is the beauty of trying different materials. Each material offers a new sensation.
I just cannot recommend wood enough. I really need to try something by Hardwood Dildos to see if I like their toys as much as NobEssence's. NobEssence's designs are much more complex while Hardwood Dildos are more simplistic though. But simplistic designs can be both elegant and ingenious.
05/03/2011
I build boats and other complicated things out of wood every day for a living, and I definitely think these toys are over priced. That said, I also think they are well designed and unique enough in the market space to demand the price they are asking for. For me though, I am happy to make my own toy out of wood in a similar shape to those available for many $$$ below the retail cost. (I already have actually...)
05/03/2011
Thanks for all the posts. I just basically think that they look of high quality - but I would have to try one to know. They just seem so overpriced for something that can easily be broken. I love glass... you'll see it in the future when I review the toys that I currently own. One reason I buy them is because glass does not retain any smell, it is non pourous, and pyrex glass is just so hard to break. I've dropped my Violet Wonder on the tile in my apartment so many times and it has yet to break. But wood... wood just seems like it would retain a smell. My dogs used to find my pourous or smell-retaining toys and chew them up. Wood is definitely pourous, so I can imagine they would be ripped to shreds if I ever left them out on accident.
They just look really cool. The shapes offered are amazing, and I love they way I KNOW they would feel inside of me. Sorry if that is too detailed lol. But they really do look amazing.
They just look really cool. The shapes offered are amazing, and I love they way I KNOW they would feel inside of me. Sorry if that is too detailed lol. But they really do look amazing.
05/04/2011
Pricing is about maximizing profit. At some price point increased volume adds to revenue (lower) at some point the volume decreases profits (too low). For a handcrafted product - low volumes at high prices make the most sense.
The short answer is they are worth what people are willing to pay.
The short answer is they are worth what people are willing to pay.
05/04/2011
Does anyone have any comments about the toys gaining a smell? I like to get toys that I don't need to wear a condom with. I don't share my toys ever. Maybe between my fiance, we wash between use. I really hate porous toys, so I don't get toys that require condoms as long as they are washed. I just don't want a toy that starts getting smelly to the point where you just don't want it anymore. I see why they are pricey after knowing they are all hand made. Now I just want to know more about the quality. I youtubed wooden sex toys from my phone's youtube app but I am not really getting a lot of good videos because I think my phone has automatic safe search.
05/04/2011
I finally broke down and bought a NobEssence wood toy and OMG it was worth every penny!! I have used it excessively and it hasn't warped, chipped, held any odors or stained.
I think the quality probably depends on the manufacturer - I have seen other wood toys and in my opinion, I feel like NobEssence does the best job at crafting and protecting their products.
I think the quality probably depends on the manufacturer - I have seen other wood toys and in my opinion, I feel like NobEssence does the best job at crafting and protecting their products.
05/04/2011
Quote:
NobEssence really does look like the best wooden toy manufacturer. There was another manufacturer (most likely local) that sold to our local adult megaplex. They had the word "green" in their brand name. I wish I could remember. I have to say that the quality of those toys had me really turned off. The shapes were as always, amazing... but the textures were really odd. I wasn't worried about getting a splinter, but the texture was just so weird. If you've ever laid on a carpet naked for a while, and then gotten up and felt the indentations on your skin, you'll know what I mean. Maybe they were meant to be that way. Another thing that was weird is that many of the wooden toys felt too light. I have actually held a NobEssence that my best friend Dana bought last week. They are light, but not as light as the others. I'm guessing NobEssence has a higher quality of wood. The ones on eden show a lot of potential.
Originally posted by
Miss B Haven
I finally broke down and bought a NobEssence wood toy and OMG it was worth every penny!! I have used it excessively and it hasn't warped, chipped, held any odors or stained.
I think the quality probably depends on the manufacturer - I ...
I think the quality probably depends on the manufacturer - I ...
I finally broke down and bought a NobEssence wood toy and OMG it was worth every penny!! I have used it excessively and it hasn't warped, chipped, held any odors or stained.
I think the quality probably depends on the manufacturer - I have seen other wood toys and in my opinion, I feel like NobEssence does the best job at crafting and protecting their products.
I think the quality probably depends on the manufacturer - I have seen other wood toys and in my opinion, I feel like NobEssence does the best job at crafting and protecting their products.
The shapes just really get me off even looking at them! They look so much better than even most glass toys I have bought - and I've turned into quite the glass fanatic lately.
05/04/2011
Quote:
Again, I only have NobEssence toys, so I can only comment on their particular quality.
Originally posted by
ToyGurl
Does anyone have any comments about the toys gaining a smell? I like to get toys that I don't need to wear a condom with. I don't share my toys ever. Maybe between my fiance, we wash between use. I really hate porous toys, so I don't get toys that
...
Does anyone have any comments about the toys gaining a smell? I like to get toys that I don't need to wear a condom with. I don't share my toys ever. Maybe between my fiance, we wash between use. I really hate porous toys, so I don't get toys that require condoms as long as they are washed. I just don't want a toy that starts getting smelly to the point where you just don't want it anymore. I see why they are pricey after knowing they are all hand made. Now I just want to know more about the quality. I youtubed wooden sex toys from my phone's youtube app but I am not really getting a lot of good videos because I think my phone has automatic safe search.
And nope, they do not retain odors whatsoever because their toys are not porous AT ALL. They have trademarked their own body-safe/food-safe sealant/glaze to make their toys non-porous to keep out microbes. The sealant does a heck of a job keeping out smells, too, I must say. They are still in the same condition as they were the day I received them.
Even though they do not have an unpleasant smell, I would still keep wooden toys away from dogs. Dogs have been known to chew on the legs of furniture. They love any material that they can sink their teeth into---hard materials even (think bones, for example)!
As far as quality, I can honestly say NobEssence's products are of the highest quality. And I am extremely picky about quality.
I have no worries about any of my toys breaking. I wondered whether some of the thinner parts of the toy could snap off on some of the more delicately rendered pieces (which happen to be the designs I like the most). However, even at the point where they have the thinnest diameter, they are still remarkably strong. You cannot just snap them in half as you can a twig. My husband and I discussed breaking these toys after I received my third NobEssence sculpture and noted how delicate it appeared at one point on its intricately carved body. We think if we extended the thinnest part of the Turned G-Spot over the edge of the counter while I held the bulk of the body stable for my husband to apply the bulk of his force and weight to the end of it, we would PROBABLY be able to snap it in half by applying enough stress and strain to the material. (I say probably because we are not willing to actually try this . . . but it could prove even stronger than we think.) But, again, we would actually have to put a great deal of effort into doing this (and why in the world WOULD we do this?). It would never just happen spontaneously during use. Bodily tissues simply would not provide the same type of resistance as a hard kitchen countertop. Even if the body could provide that much resistance, it would be pretty difficult to get enough leverage to snap it during use. Even the more delicate-looking NobEssence toys are far from being fragile and weak.
That said, I think you could damage one of the NobEssence toys if you go around forcefully striking it against hard surfaces (you would, most likely, at least chip the sealant, making the toy unsafe because then mold or other undesirable microbes could then gain access to the wood). But I don't recommend going around and striking these toys against hard surfaces, of course! (I don't recommend that for any toy made out of any material, actually. Even softer materials could get inadvertently cut, and harder materials can scratch and dent or, depending on what type of material it is, even shatter.)
I've kept these toys without any type of bag around them inside a toy chest surrounded by silicone toys with no problems (though I made sure they were not against other hard toys because I didn't want them to rub against each other and scratch/wear the sealant). I recently decided to store them inside satin bags and place them inside one of my clothing drawers because my toy box got too full, and I had to choose some toys to remove from it.
Basically, these toys are not the most fragile toys I own. I think that distinction would belong to my ceramic toys (which are still excellent toys of VERY high quality themselves) or composites that are in danger of being melted if they come into contact with each other or with silicone. But I do think it is possible to chip the sealant on wood toys if you do not make a small effort to store/care for them properly. But these are definitely high-quality, incredibly amazing toys; they are well worth the small amount of effort required to care for them (meaning you don't just throw them in a drawer and then toss in other heavy and hard objects to collide against them, don't use them as a hiking stick or something to try to smash flies with, etc.).
05/04/2011
Quote:
After what you've said, I think I'm definitely going to purchase a NobEssence. I'm particularly liking the shape of this one -----> link
Originally posted by
Selective Sensualist
Again, I only have NobEssence toys, so I can only comment on their particular quality.
And nope, they do not retain odors whatsoever because their toys are not porous AT ALL. They have trademarked their own body-safe/food-safe ...
And nope, they do not retain odors whatsoever because their toys are not porous AT ALL. They have trademarked their own body-safe/food-safe ...
Again, I only have NobEssence toys, so I can only comment on their particular quality.
And nope, they do not retain odors whatsoever because their toys are not porous AT ALL. They have trademarked their own body-safe/food-safe sealant/glaze to make their toys non-porous to keep out microbes. The sealant does a heck of a job keeping out smells, too, I must say. They are still in the same condition as they were the day I received them.
Even though they do not have an unpleasant smell, I would still keep wooden toys away from dogs. Dogs have been known to chew on the legs of furniture. They love any material that they can sink their teeth into---hard materials even (think bones, for example)!
As far as quality, I can honestly say NobEssence's products are of the highest quality. And I am extremely picky about quality.
I have no worries about any of my toys breaking. I wondered whether some of the thinner parts of the toy could snap off on some of the more delicately rendered pieces (which happen to be the designs I like the most). However, even at the point where they have the thinnest diameter, they are still remarkably strong. You cannot just snap them in half as you can a twig. My husband and I discussed breaking these toys after I received my third NobEssence sculpture and noted how delicate it appeared at one point on its intricately carved body. We think if we extended the thinnest part of the Turned G-Spot over the edge of the counter while I held the bulk of the body stable for my husband to apply the bulk of his force and weight to the end of it, we would PROBABLY be able to snap it in half by applying enough stress and strain to the material. (I say probably because we are not willing to actually try this . . . but it could prove even stronger than we think.) But, again, we would actually have to put a great deal of effort into doing this (and why in the world WOULD we do this?). It would never just happen spontaneously during use. Bodily tissues simply would not provide the same type of resistance as a hard kitchen countertop. Even if the body could provide that much resistance, it would be pretty difficult to get enough leverage to snap it during use. Even the more delicate-looking NobEssence toys are far from being fragile and weak.
That said, I think you could damage one of the NobEssence toys if you go around forcefully striking it against hard surfaces (you would, most likely, at least chip the sealant, making the toy unsafe because then mold or other undesirable microbes could then gain access to the wood). But I don't recommend going around and striking these toys against hard surfaces, of course! (I don't recommend that for any toy made out of any material, actually. Even softer materials could get inadvertently cut, and harder materials can scratch and dent or, depending on what type of material it is, even shatter.)
I've kept these toys without any type of bag around them inside a toy chest surrounded by silicone toys with no problems (though I made sure they were not against other hard toys because I didn't want them to rub against each other and scratch/wear the sealant). I recently decided to store them inside satin bags and place them inside one of my clothing drawers because my toy box got too full, and I had to choose some toys to remove from it.
Basically, these toys are not the most fragile toys I own. I think that distinction would belong to my ceramic toys (which are still excellent toys of VERY high quality themselves) or composites that are in danger of being melted if they come into contact with each other or with silicone. But I do think it is possible to chip the sealant on wood toys if you do not make a small effort to store/care for them properly. But these are definitely high-quality, incredibly amazing toys; they are well worth the small amount of effort required to care for them (meaning you don't just throw them in a drawer and then toss in other heavy and hard objects to collide against them, don't use them as a hiking stick or something to try to smash flies with, etc.).
And nope, they do not retain odors whatsoever because their toys are not porous AT ALL. They have trademarked their own body-safe/food-safe sealant/glaze to make their toys non-porous to keep out microbes. The sealant does a heck of a job keeping out smells, too, I must say. They are still in the same condition as they were the day I received them.
Even though they do not have an unpleasant smell, I would still keep wooden toys away from dogs. Dogs have been known to chew on the legs of furniture. They love any material that they can sink their teeth into---hard materials even (think bones, for example)!
As far as quality, I can honestly say NobEssence's products are of the highest quality. And I am extremely picky about quality.
I have no worries about any of my toys breaking. I wondered whether some of the thinner parts of the toy could snap off on some of the more delicately rendered pieces (which happen to be the designs I like the most). However, even at the point where they have the thinnest diameter, they are still remarkably strong. You cannot just snap them in half as you can a twig. My husband and I discussed breaking these toys after I received my third NobEssence sculpture and noted how delicate it appeared at one point on its intricately carved body. We think if we extended the thinnest part of the Turned G-Spot over the edge of the counter while I held the bulk of the body stable for my husband to apply the bulk of his force and weight to the end of it, we would PROBABLY be able to snap it in half by applying enough stress and strain to the material. (I say probably because we are not willing to actually try this . . . but it could prove even stronger than we think.) But, again, we would actually have to put a great deal of effort into doing this (and why in the world WOULD we do this?). It would never just happen spontaneously during use. Bodily tissues simply would not provide the same type of resistance as a hard kitchen countertop. Even if the body could provide that much resistance, it would be pretty difficult to get enough leverage to snap it during use. Even the more delicate-looking NobEssence toys are far from being fragile and weak.
That said, I think you could damage one of the NobEssence toys if you go around forcefully striking it against hard surfaces (you would, most likely, at least chip the sealant, making the toy unsafe because then mold or other undesirable microbes could then gain access to the wood). But I don't recommend going around and striking these toys against hard surfaces, of course! (I don't recommend that for any toy made out of any material, actually. Even softer materials could get inadvertently cut, and harder materials can scratch and dent or, depending on what type of material it is, even shatter.)
I've kept these toys without any type of bag around them inside a toy chest surrounded by silicone toys with no problems (though I made sure they were not against other hard toys because I didn't want them to rub against each other and scratch/wear the sealant). I recently decided to store them inside satin bags and place them inside one of my clothing drawers because my toy box got too full, and I had to choose some toys to remove from it.
Basically, these toys are not the most fragile toys I own. I think that distinction would belong to my ceramic toys (which are still excellent toys of VERY high quality themselves) or composites that are in danger of being melted if they come into contact with each other or with silicone. But I do think it is possible to chip the sealant on wood toys if you do not make a small effort to store/care for them properly. But these are definitely high-quality, incredibly amazing toys; they are well worth the small amount of effort required to care for them (meaning you don't just throw them in a drawer and then toss in other heavy and hard objects to collide against them, don't use them as a hiking stick or something to try to smash flies with, etc.).
I haven't even seen a glass toy with a shape that is comparable to these toys. I've been itching to try one out forever!
05/04/2011
Quote:
That is the one I most recently added to my collection! I think I received the last one in EF's stock because it has been out of stock since I placed my order. I had ordered this one, but I received a notification after my order was placed that it was actually out of stock. So I paid the difference to get the one you are eyeing.
Originally posted by
ToyGurl
After what you've said, I think I'm definitely going to purchase a NobEssence. I'm particularly liking the shape of this one -----> link
I haven't even seen a glass toy with a shape that is comparable to these toys. I've been itching ...
I haven't even seen a glass toy with a shape that is comparable to these toys. I've been itching ...
After what you've said, I think I'm definitely going to purchase a NobEssence. I'm particularly liking the shape of this one -----> link
I haven't even seen a glass toy with a shape that is comparable to these toys. I've been itching to try one out forever!
I haven't even seen a glass toy with a shape that is comparable to these toys. I've been itching to try one out forever!
I have yet to regret purchasing any of these toys. The five I have are each amazing in their own unique way.
Regarding their unique shapes, that is my very favorite thing about these toys. Not only are they very cool in looks, but they are remarkably effective and pleasure-inducing designs. (I think I've already said that and am repeating myself, LOL!)
05/05/2011
If I could get every single shape of toy I have ever owned or wanted in wood, I would. I look at trees a little bit lustfully.
I do think the NobEssence toys are a bit too pricy, though I understand the handmade nature cranks the price. But the Hardwood Dildos are quite nicely priced, considering... each toy you get is individually handmade, then all of the multiple steps of varnishing it to seal it... they are time-consuming, not just poured into a mold and left to set!
I do think the NobEssence toys are a bit too pricy, though I understand the handmade nature cranks the price. But the Hardwood Dildos are quite nicely priced, considering... each toy you get is individually handmade, then all of the multiple steps of varnishing it to seal it... they are time-consuming, not just poured into a mold and left to set!
05/12/2011
I am very pleased with the wooden toys I have. I plan on getting more. Are they expensive? Yes, but they will last longer than the same priced luxury vibrator. AND wooden sex toys are all unique since they're handcrafted. I have Nob Essence and Hardwood dildos in my collection and I will say that the quality is exceptional. I have been more pleased with my purchase of wooden sex toys than some luxury brand vibrators.
05/12/2011
I want to echo everything Selective Sensualist has said. I only own NobEssence's Smooth S Shape / Seduction, but I would pay every penny for it all over again. It has not picked up an odor at all, to address your question in paricular, STL, and there've been no splinters or anything else to mar my deep passion for it. I'm waiting for the day I can afford others... probably the Romp first, and then the Linger / P Spot and Handle.
05/12/2011
Quote:
Yea!
Originally posted by
ToyGurl
Wooden sex toys seem to be the craze these days, alone with glass and metal... even stone. But they are crazy expensive at most toy shops... especially for something crafted out of wood. This is just a poll to see what you think about their quality,
...
Wooden sex toys seem to be the craze these days, alone with glass and metal... even stone. But they are crazy expensive at most toy shops... especially for something crafted out of wood. This is just a poll to see what you think about their quality, price, and just... select all that apply! I'm curious about them, and I might try one soon. Make sure to explain more in a discussion below
05/12/2011
I broke down and bought a wooden dildo very comparable to NobEssence. It is the locally made ones that I talked about earlier. I am actually very pleased with the way it feels - no splinters. It's almost like glass, but not too cold and somewhat... softer?
I am not pleased with the performance however. You don't get that "warming up" that you feel with glass, which is my favorite. I also have trouble self-lubricating, and these toys seem to need a lot of lube. I think I'll stick with glass!
I am not pleased with the performance however. You don't get that "warming up" that you feel with glass, which is my favorite. I also have trouble self-lubricating, and these toys seem to need a lot of lube. I think I'll stick with glass!
05/13/2011
Quote:
I didn't find that I needed a lot of lube and I have to be like... OMG aroused to self-lubricate. hmmmm....
Originally posted by
ToyGurl
I broke down and bought a wooden dildo very comparable to NobEssence. It is the locally made ones that I talked about earlier. I am actually very pleased with the way it feels - no splinters. It's almost like glass, but not too cold and somewhat...
...
I broke down and bought a wooden dildo very comparable to NobEssence. It is the locally made ones that I talked about earlier. I am actually very pleased with the way it feels - no splinters. It's almost like glass, but not too cold and somewhat... softer?
I am not pleased with the performance however. You don't get that "warming up" that you feel with glass, which is my favorite. I also have trouble self-lubricating, and these toys seem to need a lot of lube. I think I'll stick with glass!
I am not pleased with the performance however. You don't get that "warming up" that you feel with glass, which is my favorite. I also have trouble self-lubricating, and these toys seem to need a lot of lube. I think I'll stick with glass!
But I prefer my glass and steel to the wood!
05/13/2011
Quote:
Can you take a picture and show us what yours looks like? I'm curious about all wooden dildos...
Originally posted by
ToyGurl
I broke down and bought a wooden dildo very comparable to NobEssence. It is the locally made ones that I talked about earlier. I am actually very pleased with the way it feels - no splinters. It's almost like glass, but not too cold and somewhat...
...
I broke down and bought a wooden dildo very comparable to NobEssence. It is the locally made ones that I talked about earlier. I am actually very pleased with the way it feels - no splinters. It's almost like glass, but not too cold and somewhat... softer?
I am not pleased with the performance however. You don't get that "warming up" that you feel with glass, which is my favorite. I also have trouble self-lubricating, and these toys seem to need a lot of lube. I think I'll stick with glass!
I am not pleased with the performance however. You don't get that "warming up" that you feel with glass, which is my favorite. I also have trouble self-lubricating, and these toys seem to need a lot of lube. I think I'll stick with glass!
05/13/2011