Bottle rockets Apollo - traditional vibrator discontinued by Evolved Novelties - review by Silverdrop

This is a vibe that can work for everyone, from sex toy beginners, to sex toy snobs like me. I own several rechargeable vibrators, and the Lelo Mia or Lily are generally the ones I reach for when I want clitoral stimulation. But sometimes the charge runs out mid play, and that's when you grab a battery operated toy. Apollo is the one that's always at reach in my naughty drawer, ready to jump in and save the game.

Like Mia, the vibrations are pinpoint, right at the very tip of the vibrator. This is ideal for clitoral stimulation, as well as nipples or labia. It can be inserted, but only shallowly. Depending on your anatomy, you might reach your G with this, but don't expect much filling sensation or thrusting.

Being quiet, small, and discreet, it's perfect for travelling, but be sure and remove the battery first!

Since it's waterproof, you can use it in the tub as well for bathtime fun.

This toy should not be inserted anally by any means, though external use around the anus and perineum should be safe as long as hygienic precautions are taken.

The Apollo is made of plastic with what's called a "velvety" texture, though I tend to think of it more as silk. It has a slight drag compared to shiny plastic, but does not collect lint like silicone does or fingerprints like shiny plastic does. It is rated as 8 on the safety scale, being non-porous and phalate free.

This texture is one of my favourites for toys, because it gives enough texture to be interesting, without requiring a lot of lube or worrying about the lint factor. The lower bit that unscrews for the battery compartment is a smooth plastic, and shaped to be easy to hold onto.

I'm a bit of a design snob. Show me two toys that are nearly identical, one with slightly better performance, and one with slightly better looks, I'll go for the looks every time. Apollo is a shape that is friendly, functional, and easy to use.

(Please excuse my terrible photography!)


This picture shows the tip, which is where most of the vibrations are focused. I love this part! It reminds me of my Lelo Mia.


This should give you a good feel for the size, at least if your hands are as small as mine. You can also see the control button resting on my index finger.


This image and the one following it, shows the Apollo with my finger on the button, ready to put it to use.


Easy to use! Let's get started. Playtime now!

The Apollo is dead easy to use. Push on, push off. There is only one setting, so if it's too strong for you, you have to modify it yourself by using it through clothes or on your skin at a distance from your most sensitive places. You can also cheat a little by using weak batteries, as the strength will go down as the battery is depleted. It uses a single AA battery - no struggling to find weird type batteries when it runs out!

I'm not much for water play, but I did test it by turning it on and dropping it in a glass of water, and it continued to buzz around happily. It is noisy enough to hear in the same room, but can't be heard through a closed door, at least not a door made of solid wood. I make no representations for its ability to be heard through hollow doors, but turning on the radio or a fan should take care of any suspicious buzzing sounds.

Though this toy claims to be safe for all lubes - water, silicone, or oil, I haven't run tests to verify this. I prefer to use a water based lube that works well for my sensitive bits as well as being safe for all of my toys. However, if you prefer oil or silicone based lubes, this toy should be safe to use with them.

Cleanup is very simple. Since the toy is waterproof, it can be washed under the tap with soap and water. You can use isopropyl alcohol or an antibacterial toy wipe or spray to kill germs. Though it can't be completely sterilized the way some toys can, I would consider it low risk to share this toy with someone you trust, if you are careful about cleanliness.

This toy is not at all appropriate for anal insertion, but if you use it for teasing around the anus or perineum without insertion, be sure to use a toy cover or clean it with antibacterial cleaner before returning to the vulva area.

For storage, it can simply be tossed in your toy drawer willy nilly, or you can return it to its bottle packaging. I like to put it in a small pouch with the battery removed to extend its life, but if you don't want to bother, try simply unscrewing the end a few turns to avoid the vibe getting turned on accidentally in your naughty drawer.

The Bottle Rocket line comes in a cute little plastic bottle made to look like a bottle of pop. This would make a great naughty gift for a 21st birthday or a hen night / bachelorette party. It's cute and innovative, but is not as useful long term as the Evolved metal boxes usually are. You can reuse the bottle for storage, but it's an odd shape. I ended up throwing mine away, as cute as it was.

I am giving this product 5 stars not because I think it is as great a vibe as the Lelo Mia, which I also gave 5 stars to, but because I am comparing price to quality. For its price, I believe the Bottle Rocket Apollo does everything that can be expected of it, and more. It is friendly to a first timer, easy to use, made with safe materials, powerful, quiet, and sexy. If Mia sold at this price point, I would certainly recommend it to every first time sex toy user I knew. But for someone with a limited budget who isn't ready to invest in luxury toys, this is a great place to start.

Even as a sex toy snob who owns multiple rechargeable toys, the Apollo is my backup, ready to leap in and save the game if the rechargeable toy has run out of oomph. It's never disappointed me, despite my experience with far more expensive toys. This is a toy that can please anyone, from beginner to toy snob, and I can't praise it highly enough for its value for money.