Basic Charisma

I would have loved this vibrator due to its texture, discreet sound and design, and waterproof nature. However, I just can't get over the fact that it's not nearly strong enough for me! Still, it's a pretty basic vibrator that would be good for beginners, although the gradation from low to high is very small and may not give a beginner an idea of what frequency of vibrations they like.
Published:
Pros
Good discreet design and texture, pretty quiet vibrations, good for beginners and foreplay.
Cons
Low power output, ribbed "grip" may hurt some hands.
Rating by reviewer:
3
extremely useful review

Use

The Charisma Mini is a lot like an oversized 4.5" bullet vibrator: its intended use is for external stimulation but it could be used for shallow penetration, especially given its tapered tip. I would not say this is a good vibrator for anal use—it's small, has no flared base, and would be very easy to lose. However, it'd be fine for stimulation around that area. I found the best use for this vibrator to be directly on my clit, especially since even its highest setting was something my body found "moderate" and could handle.

This vibrator would work for everyone since it's nice and basic; it'd be great for warming up during solo use or for couples to add some extra stimulation. For example, the Charisma Mini is just that, so it won't be threatening and many men would enjoy the feel of a vibrator during oral sex. The great thing is this vibrator does live up to the "discreet" label on the package—it produces a low to high hum but is nearly silent when under the covers.
  • Who / How / What
    [ ? ]
    Who might this product be best for? How is it best used? What are the best circumstances or situations for using this product?
    • Couples
    • Everyone
    • Solo
  • Where
    [ ? ]
    Where / what types of places can this product be used?
    • Campus/roommate living
    • Tub/shower/pool
  • Features
    [ ? ]
    What kind of features does this product offer?
    • Travel friendly
  • Body / part areas
    [ ? ]
    What areas on the body can this product be used / what areas does it stimulate best?
    • All over body
    • Clitoris
    • Nipples

Material / Texture

This is the first toy I've ever gotten that actually had a smell to it. It's a light scent, but definitely present. It also has a slightly bitter taste—I decided to wash this with soap before use.

This is a plastic, phthalate-free toy with a "soft rubber cote" as the box says, which basically means it's a velvet-touch like plastic coating. It gives the toy a bit of drag, and would be pleasing to those who like their toys with a bit of softness over a rigid plastic core, beginners or more advanced users alike.

The ribs on the bottom, which are meant to add grip, personally annoyed me since they are very prominent and inflexible meaning they dig into my hands. However, they do make it easy to tell what side is up on a black, small vibrator, which could be useful if there is little light.
    • Light odor
    • Rigid
    • Smooth

Design / Shape / Size

The design is a lot like a mini slimline—it's smooth, 1" in diameter, and has a tapered tip where the motor is located. However, despite the appearance of a slimline, the Charisma Mini is best suited to external rather than internal stimulation because of its small size—when inserted you can't really feel the vibrations. Because of this I tend to think of the mini as a bullet rather than a slimline. The tapered tip does make it easy to concentrate vibrations where you want, and because the Charisma Mini is small, it won't tire out your arms or require extreme contortions to maneuver it.

The toy is discreet, giving off a quiet hum to buzz depending on the setting. The size (4.5" long, 1" in diameter) makes it easy to hide—in a pinch you could even stick it in your front pocket. You could travel with this easily due to the size, although the design does look like a vibrator. The twist bottom is not easily jarred so it would be okay to keep the battery in if you forgot to remove it.

I would say this is a vibrator for the beginner who needs discreetness without breaking the bank. More advanced users should be the sort of person who likes light, teasing vibrators that go up to moderate in intensity.
    • Beginner
    • Partner play

Functions / Performance / Controls

This vibrator uses the turn-bottom design and to increase the vibrations, turn the cap to the right; to decrease or turn them off, twist to the left. You have to give the base a pretty good twist too—which could be a good thing but also means you usually have to take the vibrator from the area being stimulated and hold it in both hands to change the setting. The vibrations are mostly located at the tip, and can be felt, though less strongly, all the way down to the base.
The amount you have to turn the vibrator's dial from "on" to the highest setting is not as much as I would have expected—as a result the multi-speed function really feels like a two, maybe three speed function. I use this vibrator on its highest setting and find it a moderate level of vibration. Then again, maybe that's to be expected given that it only uses one AA battery. The Charisma Mini is quiet, though—it gives off a hum to a buzz but won't be heard past a closed door or music, and if you put it under the covers it's nearly inaudible.

This vibrator is splashproof and, in a brief foray with me into the tub, waterproof as well. The cap and seamless design does a good job of keeping water out of the battery compartment.
    • Easy to use
    • Weak
    • Discreet sound

Care and Maintenance

Being plastic, this vibrator is safe to use with silicone, oil and water based lubes. It's also waterproof and lives up to that claim from my testing, so cleaning this vibrator is easy. You can wipe it down or give it a quick scrub with soap and warm water. You can store this in whatever or wherever you want to. I personally stuck it in a simple cloth bag for the sake of keeping it discreet.
    • Easy to clean
    • Easy to store

Packaging

The package of the toy is rather busy:

Basically this package is colorful and mentions the brand name, the name of the vibrator, that it is waterproof, multi-speed, phthalate free, uses 1 AA battery, has a ribbed grip and "rubber cote", and is compact, discreet and powerful. The bottom, where there is the usual disclaimer about novelty use only, also gives the website for Cal Exotics.

There are no included instructions, and the package is certainly not discreet. At the very least, I can envision a child thinking an exciting toy lies inside.

Both the package box and the inside mold are made of flimsy plastic, which I do not recommend for storage for the above reasons and because it's the type of thin package that can cut you.
    • Minimal

Experience

I found this vibrator performed best as an over sized bullet used either in tandem with another toy, or as a "warm up". It certainly arouses, but I found it very difficult to get off with this vibrator alone. Still, it is a good external vibrator in terms of sound level, texture and size, but it's just not powerful enough for me.
This product was provided free of charge to the reviewer. This review is in compliance with the FTC guidelines.

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This review was edited by
  • tim1724 Contributor: tim1724
  • Rank:
    5.8 / 10
  • Edited reviews: 250
Comments
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  • Contributor: PiratePrincess
    Thanks for the great review! It's too bad this isn't more powerful.
  • Contributor: Eva Schwaltz
    Thanks for reviewing. I wanted to get this before but I guess there's better out there.
  • Contributor: kelaaa33wish
    It's too bad it does not work well for you, thanks for the review.
  • Contributor: Ms. Spice
    thanks for the review.
  • Contributor: Ms. Paprika
    PiratePrincess and kelaaa33wish, Thank you for reading. I was pretty sad too about the power not being enough for me.
    Schwaltze-I'd have to agree. I think for the amount of power the charisma outputs, it'd only be good for those with more sensitive parts.
    Ms. Spice, thank you for reading.
  • Contributor: Triple X Moma
    Great review!
  • Contributor: Southern Lady
    Great review but I guess I will be looking for something a little more powerful as well.
  • Contributor: pinkzombie
    Thank you!
  • Contributor: sugar&spikes
    thanks for the review!
  • Contributor: MamaDivine
    thanks for the review
  • Contributor: ace.eric.pollen
    thanks for the review!
  • Contributor: Apirka
    Great review, thanks for sharing!
  • Contributor: Lioncub
    Thank you for the review.
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