Desire - traditional vibrator discontinued by Evolved Novelties - review by joja

The Desire from Evolved Novelties is a step up from the traditional slimline vibe. It boasts the same versatility and affordability, but with the added features of a waterproof design, three strong vibration speeds, and a variety of stimulating grooves down the shaft.

This vibe is perfect for clitoral stimulation: the satin soft texture makes it gentle enough to use even without lube, and the design allows for a wide variety of sensations. You can press the pointed tip to your clitoris for strong, direct vibrations, use the bulbous head for more gentle vibrations on your shaft, pull the stimulating ridges up and down with or without vibrations, or let the slightly concave midsection hug your clit like a spot vibrator. The strength of the vibrations also make this toy great for full-body foreplay - it feels wonderful as a back massager, or for teasing nipples and thighs.

The Desire's grooved shaft feels lovely upon penetration, but for those who need fast and deep thrusting, it can be quite a pain. This toy has very prominent ridges, and the silky texture makes it hard to insert without a good amount of lube, natural or otherwise. At a slow-to-medium pace, the grooves provide great stimulation.

The Desire is made of hard, non-porous ABS plastic with a seamless finish. It has a lovely, silky-smooth texture that feels divine on delicate skin; however, the drag it causes can make it hard to insert. Luckily, it is safe for use with both water and silicone lubes, which makes the job a lot easier. When fresh out of the box, the toy smells slightly of plastic, but a few good uses will wear it off nicely.

The main thing that distinguishes this toy from similar vibes is its grooved shaft. It features two sets of three rather large ridges, with a dip between each set and between the lower set and the base. Aside from the wide variety of clitoral stimulation this allows, the placement of the ridges gives lovely internal stimulation, allowing the first set to lightly stimulate the g-spot while the other stimulates the labia and entrance of the vagina. The bulged head has the thickest circumference, but not so much as to be uncomfortable.

Though some have complained that the toy's pointed tip painfully stabs their cervix, I didn't find it much of a problem. However, this is something to consider if your cervix is especially sensitive.

The Desire is a fairly standard size for a slimline, measuring just over seven inches long and four in circumference. Though I have a fairly low cervix and was only able to insert five inches at a time, I found the extra length served very well as a handle. The base has the same texture as the rest of the toy, making it easy to grip even with wet or lubed-up hands.

Though the shape of the toy makes it pretty apparent what it's used for, there are no significant challenges to storing it. It is probably possible for the button to be pressed during travel, but the provided case prevents this very well.

The vibrations were very nice. This toy has three settings that range from very quiet to somewhat loud. The loudest can just barely be heard through a door and is likely to go undetected unless you're listening for it. In the shower, it's virtually silent. I am no Hitachi girl, but I do like strong pressure. I found even the lowest setting could get me off pretty quick. It's quite fun switching between the settings for a tease. The motor is located in the tip, and the vibrations travel relatively well - not enough to make your hand go numb, but enough to make the base vibrate about as much as the tip one setting lower.

I occasionally pressed the button on accident while thrusting, but was able to avoid it easily after this happened a couple of times. I tend to hold onto dildos/vibrators with 2-3 fingers for thrusting, for this one I have to use two and spread them apart slightly to avoid the button. It may sound like a hassle, but it is quite easy to get used to. I had no problem with accidentally hitting the button during external play.

The waterproofing on this toy is real. I haven't tried submerging it for long periods of time, but I use it in the shower quite often and have found no water beyond the protective plastic ring. ABS plastic is very easy to clean. The ridges provide a small challenge, but as far as toys with ridges/texture go, it's insignificant - nothing a washrag or baby wipes can't tackle.

The fact that it's powered with two AA batteries is definitely a plus. They're much easier to find than watch batteries. Heck, you can just take 'em out of a remote if your toy dies unexpectedly.

The Desire comes in a beautiful tin that holds tightly shut. Though it's very pretty, it's not exactly discreet. It features a window through which you can see the contents, as well as the words "waterproof desire" on the front and a description of features on the back. I was initially a little confused by the plastic covering on the lid, but it is meant to stay.

The box measures 9" l x 3.25" w x 2.25" h, which provides a lot of extra storage space. However, the fitted plastic insert that the toy rests in is somewhat difficult to remove and replace, so you may decide to discard it if you want to put more things in the tin. I decided to keep the insert because I like the way it holds the toy in place in front of the window on the lid. The tin with the insert in place can easily hold extra batteries and a few condoms or packages of lube. The tin without the insert can hold lube, 2-3 toys, scores of condoms, and anything else you may want to keep in your play box.