This dildo can be inserted at either the head or tail of the snake. I found that inserting the head first gives more of a feeling of fullness and seems smoother, whereas inserting the tail end makes it easier to feel the bumps and curves of the snake. I've only used it vaginally but I wouldn't recommend it anally-- the head could be used as a flared end or stopper, but I don't think it's wide enough to be sufficient. Because it is glass, care must be taken when thrusting to avoid jabbing yourself and causing internal bruising. I haven't used this for temperature play, but I found the coolness of the glass quite pleasurable, and it warmed to my body temperature nicely. I imagine it would be very nice dipped in ice or warm water before use. I also found that by inserting the head of the snake it is possible to do some light Kegel exercises. By pulling the tail end of the snake and squeezing my muscles to keep it in I am able to get quite a bit of a workout, which is great for me as Kegels are hard for me to maintain without an instrument.

The snake is make of Pyrex glass, which is very durable and breaks into chunks rather than splinters when damaged. Mine had no smell and was perfectly smooth to the touch. There were a couple dimples in it that I attributed to it being hand blown. The slight dimpling does not affect the function of the toy in any way, and I could not feel them internally in the slightest. The waves and bumps might make this more suitable to intermediate or advanced users, but I am a beginner with glass and found the shape of the toy to be less daunting than it appeared. Glass is of course rigid and not at all flexible, and that could be either a pro or a con depending on individual taste.

I love snakes, and also not a fan of particularly phallic or realistic toys, so the design of this was a major plus for me. This is something you could be comfortable leaving out without fear of people really knowing what it was (unless, I suppose, they also frequent EF!). My snake was also all red rather than red and gold like the picture indicates, but I prefer the red color so that didn't bother me. The red is more of a deep bloody burgundy or wine red than bright red.

I initially chose the Amber Wave because I wanted something slim as a starter toy before warming up to something bigger. I may use it for that more in the future, but for now I've been enjoying taking it all the way without switching to anything else.

My Amber Wave is about 8.5 inches long, 4 inches in circumference around the head and 2.75 inches around the body/tail. Using the tail end and holding it from the head, it is about 7 inches insertable. Mine has a nub on each side of the head for eyes, and eleven down the spine of the snake. There are 4 more (top, bottom, and each side) about an inch from the tip of the tail. The bumps or numbs along the spine of the snake were fun for me as I enjoy texture, but another reviewer mentioned irritation from them and I can see how that could happen for someone who doesn't enjoy that kind of feeling.

While the head of the snake provides a feeling of fullness that is pleasing, I prefer using the tail end of the toy. The waves of the snake's body provide an intensely pleasurable sensation that I haven't really found with any of my other toys. For that reason, the Amber Wave is one of the more used things in my toy box. I've heard of some women using the head end for g-spot angling, but for me I need more pressure there and the snake just didn't have enough curves for that. For a bigger feeling and more smooth thrusting, though, the head end of the snake works very well.

Glass is very easy to care for. I wash my Amber Wave with soap and warm water, but I have used antibacterial spray and Eden's toy wipes as well. Glass is also compatible will all kinds of lubes; water-based, silicone, etc. I regularly use lubricants and found that I did not need any with the Amber Wave because the glass was so smooth. That was a pleasant surprise. When I did use lubricant I used my Sliquid Organics Gel, which has a bit more cushion since glass is very unforgiving.

This was packaged very simply, in bubble wrap and a red velvet pouch. I love the color of the pouch but it isn't padded, so my snake gets wrapped back in bubble wrap before going back in it for storage. There were no care instructions or otherwise included with the toy, which was a bit of a disappointment since this was my first glass piece. I would not have known what it was made of or how to care for it if not for the product page on Eden.

What I liked most about the toy was the feeling of the smooth glass coupled with the waves and nodes. It's a really unique feeling that got me close right away-- something that is hard for me with toys. I tried it with the waves going side to side and up and down, and they gave very different feelings depending on how the toy was moved. It was easiest to insert and (in my opinion) the most fun when inserted with the waves going side to side.

I was a bit apprehensive about the Amber Wave in the beginning, being naturally very tight (sometimes painfully so). However, I found it slid in easily and without discomfort even though the shape is rather unusual. Because it is so hard, caution must be taking to avoid jabbing yourself or otherwise causing discomfort. The first time I used it, my hand slipped and I angled the tail end into the side of my vagina, which was very painful. I think that was more user error than anything, but something to keep in mind if you are a vigorous thruster or enjoy sharply rocking against your toys. Once I got the hang of it, however, the sensation of the waves really took my breath away. In solo play I am normally silent, but this snake had me unable to keep quiet.