Seed - clitoral vibrator discontinued by Zini - review by PassionQT

The Zini Seed is the latest and greatest in clitoral stimulators! It can be used during solo or partner play. It's geared toward a discriminate user who is looking to get the most bang for their buck, and it certainly does that and more! It's extremely discreet, body safe, splashproof, rechargeable, and offers a multitude of vibration options along with eye-catching color-coded lights. It's like having an extra fun finger at your disposal.

Half of the Seed's solid inner core is covered in a hygienic silicone that has a smooth matte finish, while the other half (the control side) is made of a shiny, but durable, plastic. The silicone side will pick up some lint and hair, but it's nothing that can't be rinsed off. There's a slight drag to it, which actually works to this toy's advantage since it's so small to begin with. Additional lubrication may not even be required to fully enjoy the experience.

The Seed, which can be held like a writing utensil or a finger-vibe (without a 'ring' to keep it on), is roughly 4-1/2 inches long and two-toned in color (pink silicone/white or purple silicone/black). Its shape can be compared to a pod or even the body of a seal, with the mid-section being the fullest part. The silicone side (body contact side) makes up about 3-1/4 inches of the bottom of the toy, then tapers to a round, roughly 1/2-inch finger-like tip for pin-point precision teasing. The remaining portion of the topside makes up the control center, equipped with light-up LED buttons. The shape of the control pad is slightly concave and ergonomically designed to place one's finger on it for ease of operation. The recharging port is on the underside, covered by a silicone tab with the the word "ZINI" imprinted on it. This must be closed securely if using in a wet environment. The weight of the toy is a mere 1.8 ounces, so light that you may even forget you are carrying it!

Operating the Zini Seed does take a little bit of practice, but a multi-lingual instruction manual and chart are included to guide you, although the best advice is just to start playing with it. It will arrive locked, which can be activated/de-activated by first holding down the "-" button then holding down the "+" button until the lights flashes green (or red when locked). A 2-hour charge is necessary to juice it up for up to 3 hours of use.

The LED screen displays a rainbow of colors that indicate certain levels/functions. For example, when charging, the light will turn from red (low charge)> orange > yellow > light green > dark green > blue (full charge). If you wish to check the charge, while the toy is off, simply press the "O" button and see which color it is. The LED lights can also be turned off completely by pressing the "+" button DURING the pulse/pattern modes or turned back on by repeating the same action.

When you are ready to get things going, simply click on "+". Repeating this action cycles through 5 different levels of constant vibration. Only the centered "O" button is slightly raised. Just remember that the "-" is located on the fingertip side and the "+" on the wrist side. At any level, you can simply tap the "O" to switch to the pattern/pulsation levels. There are 10 of them and each is color-coded to help you remember your favorite, which is very helpful since some patterns are so similar. These range from gentle pulses to faster paced combinations that are bound to keep you occupied. Holding down the "-" button at any point during use will turn off the toy.

As long as the charging port is closed properly, the Seed is splashproof and can be fully immersed under running water for either cleaning or fun. Using a toy cleaner or antibacterial soap with warm water will clean it up thoroughly and cleaning is a breeze! Only use water-based lubricants with this toy and please keep it away from heat and light. Zini provides a small draw-string pouch in the box for storage and/or travel.

The packaging, although a bit bulky, is exquisitely beautiful for this type of item and makes giving this as a gift a classy affair. Upon opening the diamond pattern-finished, black square box, you will see the Zini displayed on its own. This top tray flips opens to the side to reveal instructions, the charger, and a black storage pouch.

I found the intensity of the Zini Seed to be moderately strong, the sound level to be very quiet, and the craftsmanship excellent. Compared to some of the latest ones I've tried (Mimi, Siri, and BSoft), the Zini is probably the best one, but it could be more powerful. Then again, that's relative to the user; I practically need a jackhammer if I want to feel anything! Speaking of jackhammers, the "hot pink/fuschia" pulse mode is my favorite. I personally find 10 patterns to be a little over the top, but there's enough variety for everyone. In the end, it's a cute, portable design that actually makes sense.