Gets the job done

Because of its shape, the Essence Pure Energy vibe is a surprisingly versatile toy despite the cheap build. Though it's intended as a G-spot vibe, it can easily be used as a clitoral vibrator, or used lying against the entire vulva. You can find a number of ways to stimulate other sensitive body parts with it - it can be especially tantalizing when used on the nipples.

Works very nicely when used as part of a pair - slip it inside and go to town with a clitoral vibrator, or use it on the clitoris in conjunction with a good thrusting dildo. You could even use it during intercourse, as long as you're not too rough with the toy.

I would strongly recommend against using this toy anally, not only because it lacks the flared base, but also because pulling on the base opens the battery compartment, and you don't want to end up with half a toy stuck inside. I've heard some people mention that they had problems with the battery compartment design, saying that it comes apart too easily, but I personally haven't had that issue - most likely because I don't really use this toy for thrusting.

The majority of the toy is made of hard plastic, while the tip is a soft nubbed rubber. Latex-free and phthalates-free, it's fairly easy to keep clean - though the tip is a bit of a lint magnet. I've never really found a reason to pay attention to the ridges at the narrow point near the base, though they do help to keep a firm grip on the toy. There was a faint odor when I first opened the packaging, but after washing the toy, I did not notice any further scent.

The smoothness of this toy makes it easy to insert, though I do have to get warmed up a bit before it will fit; it's somewhat girthy. I couldn't really feel the nubs on the tip, and the rubber isn't much more forgiving than the plastic of the rest of the toy. If you're the sort who needs a lot of pressure, this will suit you just fine, but for those who need a gentler touch, I recommend looking elsewhere. There's just not much give anywhere on this toy.

It seems to be splash proof enough, and though it claims to be waterproof I'm still a bit skeptical as it lacks an o-ring and the battery casing is so easily popped off.

The very first thing I noticed was how terribly loud this toy is compared to the other vibrators I've used. I was horrified; it was so loud that I had to put on music before I was willing to use it alone in my apartment, for fear the neighbors in the hall could hear it. If you've got roommates, this toy is probably not for you.

It works on a single AA battery, and honestly it's pretty powerful considering it's only one battery. The vibrations are fairly strong, at least at first - the drawback is that it will really suck the life out of any battery unfortunate enough to get stuck in it. You might be able to get an hour out of it, but I've never managed to keep it alive much longer than that.

The toy has one speed, and this is where I found it to be frustrating - the on/off function is controlled by twisting the base of the toy, which makes it awkward and difficult to try to turn off quickly when you're finished or if someone comes home early unexpectedly, especially if things have gotten wet and slippery.

Because the toy touts its resistance to water, it's fairly safe to clean it any way you like, I simply wipe it down thoroughly with antibacterial wipes and put it away. The grooves can be a bit tricky to clean thoroughly. If I felt more confident about its claim to waterproofness, I'd soak it, but without an O-ring, I'm just not that sure it would be a great idea.

I chose to store it in a drawstring bag (NOT included), rather than the original packaging, because I've never liked bulky plastic packages, but the packaging the toy comes in is easily usable as storage.

Because the toy is made out of plastic, both water and silicone based lubricants should be just fine, though I don't use any lubricant myself - this toy gets mostly external use in my case.

I wouldn't use the packaging this comes in for a gift box. It's cheap, flimsy plastic, a bit gaudy and colorful. I don't recall any explicit nudity on the packaging, but it's definitely not discreet; you can clearly see the toy through the front of the box, and anyone who catches a glimpse of it will be able to see exactly what it is.

I use this toy mostly as a clitoral vibrator, which for me is where it really shines. I like a very firm touch when it comes to clitoral stimulation, and it definitely delivers in that aspect, but, it does say it's a G-spot vibrator, so I had to try it out - and I just couldn't find it. Don't let that discourage you too much against this toy though; I haven't found it with any toy yet.

I found that it works very nicely as a vaginal plug of sorts; slip it in and try walking around a bit. It sits very firmly when I've got it inserted, so I'm never worried about it falling out when I'm up and about. I was hoping, when I bought it, to have a nice thrusting dildo, but that's just not practical with this toy; rather than use it for thrusting, I find that I really enjoy inserting it and then paying attention to other areas.