I had been thinking about getting some anal beads for some time, but nothing ever really called out to me until I saw the sensual citrus anal beads from California Exotic. They looked pretty safe, being that they are TPR silicone and phthalates-free, so I figured it would be a good place to start. And they’re so cute, shaped like little limes, that it’s hard to be intimidated by them.

The first thing I did when I got my new beads in the mail was squish them around in my hands. I found them to be soft and pliable, and very stretchy, which is a definite plus. Then I sniffed them. No smell at all; another big plus.

When I finally got around to trying out my new beads, I covered them in water-based lube (no silicone lube with silicone toys) and slowly inserted them. This wasn’t too difficult because the beads are fairly small, ranging from 2 ½ to 3 inches around, and firm enough to insert without much trouble.

Next, I got out my Hitachi and went to town. Having the beads inside me was a huge turn-on. I tried moving them around, tugging on them a bit, and just letting them sit there, all of which felt pretty good. I didn’t get to do much of any of it though, because my orgasm came fast from the beads. Now, my goal was to slowly remove the beads as I came, but that didn’t work. I clenched up so hard from my orgasm that all I could do was kind of tug on them, which felt good but wasn’t what I was going for.

When I was all done, I slowly pulled out the beads. The removal ring on the end was easy to hold on to and pull on, and felt sturdy enough that I wouldn’t be worried about it breaking off or somehow falling apart. I’ve heard some horror stories about that sort of thing, but it won’t be a problem for anyone with these. Also, on a side note, I’m not sure if I actually like the feeling of removing them. I found it a little odd and uncomfortable, though that really was no fault of the toy. I just have a finicky booty.

After my little play session, I washed the beads with antibacterial soap and warm water. I had to kind of scrub at them to clean them off completely because they are covered in little dimples (they’re supposed to look like little limes, dimples and all). I would rather they didn’t have the dimples, considering they really served no purpose and didn’t add anything to the experience, but oh well. Like I said, at least they’re cute. Also, being that these toys are TPR silicone, they are somewhat porous, and there’s no good way to put a condom over them so I wouldn’t recommend sharing.

Though I may not be an anal bead person, these are a good choice for a beginner or anyone looking for decent quality, inexpensive anal beads. They are soft and pliable, yet firm enough to easily insert, and they are a good size for beginners and veterans alike. They are slightly porous and dimply, so they aren’t perfect, but they are definitely a good choice for the price.

I’ve tried these beads a few times since my initial “test,” and I’m still kind of on the fence. So far I haven’t been able to remove the beads during an orgasm since I clench up so tight or am simply so distracted by my orgasm that I can’t even think about removing them. Plus, I’m not even sure I like the feeling of them being pulled out in the first place. Again, this isn’t a problem with the toy. Just my experience with it so far.

I’m planning on using the beads while having sex with my husband, so maybe he could have a bit more luck removing them while I orgasm than I have. I have tried them while using a dildo, though, and I can say that having the beads in adds to the experience and makes for even more of a feeling of fullness. Then again, I could just go for my trusty butt plug. Yeah, like I said, I’m still on the fence.