L’Amour Petite indulgence - discreet vibrator by Cal Exotics - review by Alan & Michele

The Petite Indulgence is a multi-speed mini vibrator that's geared toward people who like vibrations that have more of a "tingly" quality to stimulate the clitoris and other external areas. A small portion of its length can be inserted to tease the vaginal opening as well, and could be very pleasing to women who have shallow G-spots.

The vibrator is made of phthalates-free plastic with a polyurethane coating, called "PU Cote," to give it a soft matte texture. It has a light powdery scent when it first comes out of the box that fades with washings. The control button is made of silicone, so those with latex allergies need not worry. On the underside of the toy, directly opposite the button, there is a patch of tiny raised lettering that lists some of the product's info (made in China, 2 AA, waterproof, etc.), which can be felt with the fingers, but doesn't lend any texture for use due to its placement.

The Indulgence has a rather unusual shape. Think of a 3.5" long pudgy flower petal, with a short curved neck at one end that holds a 1.25" wide ball. Only about 2.5" of its overall 5" length can be used for insertion, due to the fact that the diamond-shaped control button is located about halfway up its length, on top of the "petal."

The petite size makes it easy to store and travel with, and for clitoral use the curve does make it easy to position the toy comfortably, with the control button winding up right at your fingertips.

Twist the base of the toy counter-clockwise and it will pop off to reveal the battery compartment. It takes 2 AAA batteries (not included), and there are marks on the casing to show you which way to position them.

The diamond-shaped button needs to be pressed right in the center to work, which helps keep you from turning the toy off inadvertently, but undoubtedly some people will find the toy's controls less than ideal. Once you press the button, you have to hold it until the toy revs up to the desired speed. Unfortunately, if you decide you want to back down to a lower speed or want to step up the power mid-play, pressing the button again will turn the toy off so you have to start all over again. This won't be an issue for people who don't mind picking a speed right from the start and sticking with it, but folks who like to change things up a bit might get frustrated by the whole stop-and-start routine.

The toy's vibrations have a jittery quality to them as opposed to a smooth hum, and are of a high frequency level that many people describe as being "buzzy." This basically means that the sensations it gives are more of a surface-level tingling sensation than a deep thrumming massage feel. They feel strongest in the ball portion of the toy, where they can be most useful, and on high speed they are strong enough in the handle end to tease a nipple or to numb the fingers after a few minutes. This is more from the buzzy quality of the vibrations than the strength of them though, which at top speed are "average."

The lowest speed is fairly gentle and quiet. High speed, however, produces a high-pitched hum that can easily be heard through the covers and likely through a closed door.

Although the box lists this toy as being waterproof, "splash proof" would be a better term. It performed well in the shower, but when submerged in the bath tub a few stray drops of water did make their way into the battery compartment. This didn't harm the toy any, but we wouldn't recommend that as a regular practice.

The Petite Indulgence is easy to take care of, requiring no more than soap and water or a commercial toy wipe to clean it, and it is compatible with any kind of lube. The material is not prone to picking up lint and such, so it can be stored just about anywhere.

Alan says:
What do you get when partners have almost opposite tastes in vibrator types? Michele and I reviewing the Petite Indulgence. No, I wouldn't call it a 5-star toy by any means, but I do like the buzzer-feeling vibes in certain places. It feels great on my nipples and can do wonders for the perineum and anal area on the high setting, provided the balls don't get zapped too much with it in the process.

Michele says:
From a purely objective point of view, everything we listed as Cons puts it in the "average budget vibe" category for me. I can't be too harsh, though, because I know that some people might not find the controls or the noise as distracting as I did. From a personal angle, it's buzzy enough to be irritating on my clit, and it flared up my carpal tunnel within minutes of using it. Either way, it's not a toy I picture myself reaching for in the future.