Seed - clitoral stimulator by Zini - review by Melan!e

The Seed is a clitoral vibrator from Zini's Secret Garden collection. It's best use is to stimulate any and all external erogenous zones. Let this ergonomically shaped vibrator inspire some excitement to the clitoris, labia, nipples, testicles, perineum or even the exterior of the anus. It is great for use solo and is small enough for use between couples. While the first inch may be inserted, there are better, more appropriate tools for insertion available. The Seed should not be used internally at all.

The distinct light functions set the Seed apart from others on the market. Aside from having highly buzzy vibrations, the Seed features a wide variety of patterns that might entertain even rumbly vibration enthusiasts.

The elegant design and packaging would make for great gifting. The promise of discreet traveling is established with quiet vibrations and a sleek, durable pouch included.

It's waterproof quality is but a cautionary tale. The Seed is splash proof at most!

The Seed is offered in 3 color combinations. I chose the white and hot pink because of the beautiful pearlescence of the white plastic part. This 'handle' portion is made of hard ABS plastic which is rated 8 out 10 on Eden's safety scale. It is non-porous and does not contain phthalates. The plastic is sleek and smooth to the touch.

The tip and most of the underside are covered in silicone. This is a body-safe, non-porous material that rates in at a 10 on Eden's scale. It is smooth with no texture whatsoever. This silicone is a fine quality and has a soft buttery velvet feel. The silicone feels as though it covers hard plastic beneath it. As such, there is no give to the toy. It has a little drag and astonishingly doesn't pick up lint.

The only texture is a stamp on the cover of the charging port and the end on the underside. This texture is merely a logo and is not used for added stimulation. However, the smoothness of the silicone does, in a sense, add to the stimulation.

There is a slight rubber smell to the silicone. It remains after many washes but is only evident when held up close to the nose.

The Seed is shaped, no surprise, like a seed pod. It is an elongated oval shape with pointed ends. The tip is shaped remarkably like a large finger. This, save for rough callouses, fingernails or unkempt cuticles. It is designed to function as an extension of a finger and does well at doing so. It provides amazingly pin-pointed stimulation.

The design is among the best features of this product. The controls are accessible when in use but not so much that they become easy to press accidentally. Unlike many other vibrators, the buttons click to let you know they've been pressed.

The shape is ergonomic and easy to hold. The one point at issue I had was that the tip dug into my hand between my index and middle fingers. In the heat of the moment, I need a lot of pressure and the pressure was transferred back onto my hand uncomfortably. This just happens to be the most comfortable way for me to hold the Seed and may not be a bother to others at all.

Here is how I hold it, just to show how the end can really dig in.


The Seed is roughly 4.5 inches long and 4.25 inches around its largest part. The tip is about 2.5 inches in circumference. All in all, it is very small and discreet. With the handy pouch included, the Seed can be tossed into a purse or travel bag or simply for easy storage.

The Seed has three control buttons and what would seem like endless functions. It will take a little time to get used to the controls so patience is required.

Heed warning that upon receiving the Seed, it was said to be factory locked but all three of mine weren't. You'll also have to charge it before your first use. This takes about 2 hours. Do not leave the Seed to charge for more than 24 hours.

Ok, now about the controls. They are easy to use but can be complicated at first glance. So you best buckle your seat belts. Ready?

While charging, the LED light displays a color indicating charge level so you'll always be able to tell how much is left to charge and when charging is done. You will also be able to check the power level when it's off by holding down the "o" button for 2 seconds.

During charge or when checking charge, color indicators are as follows:
Red light = 0%-10% power left
orange light = 10%-50%
yellow light = 50%-70%
light green light = 70%-95%
green light = over 95%
blue light = fully charged

The "+" button turns on the Seed and also cycles through the intensities or patterns. The "-" will turn off the Seed or cycle down through the intensities or patterns. At any time you can hold down the "-" for 2 seconds to shut it off. The "o" button switches it from steady vibrations to patterns, then you can use the "+" or "-" to go through the 10 color coded patterns.

Here is my best description of the patterns:
white: roller coaster
teal: faster roller coaster
blue: faster pulses that beat almost in short escalations (or an even faster roller coaster)
orange: escalation
pink: another escalation (maybe just me but I see very little difference between orange and pink)
green: a short escalation followed by a couple pulse beats (i like this one best)
purple: fastest pulses
dark blue: fast throbbing pulses (faster than blue but slower than purple)
pinkish purple: two short pulses and one longer pulse
hot pink: alternating fast pulses (similar to purple) followed by constant vibrations

There is also a turbo up function that will take you up to the highest intensity when the Seed is on steady vibration. This is done by holding down the "+" button for 2 seconds. Doing the same thing when you are in the pattern mode will turn off the LED back light. The lights can be turned back on by holding down the "+" button again for 2 seconds.

When the Seed is off, hold down the "-" and the "o" buttons at the same time for 2 seconds to activate the display mode. The Seed will remain off but a light show will begin! The LED back light will display 10 different colors in sequence. So if all else fails, you could use it as a high-end nightlight.

There is a travel lock that can be activated by holding down the "-" followed by the "+" button together when the Seed is off. The light will flash red to let you know it is locked. When locked, the display will simply flash red if any button is accidentally pushed. To unlocked, hold the "-" first and "+" together again for 2 seconds and the display will flash green.

The specs in the user manual say the Seed is waterproof but then call it splash proof a few pages later under cleaning. It does say to not submerse it so I would say to take caution and consider this one splash proof.

*Edit: I did manage to contact Zini and was told that Splash proof is correct. Water could get into the charging port and control pad and damage the toy.

You can get 3.5 to 4 hours of play on the highest speed out of a 2 hour charge. But it will last even longer if you use a lower intensity. It does hold its charge fairly well. Charging is simple. The silicone cover can be flipped up and the prong slides into the charging port. It does not go in all the way and should not be forced past where it clicks in.


There are 5 levels of intensity. In my honest opinion, the last two differ so slightly that to say there are 5 various levels is nothing but propaganda, making the Seed sound more diversified than it really is. The highest strength is comparable to Mimi's level 2, which is rather weak. It is difficult, however, to compare the two due to the buzziness of the Seed. This is not only an exceedingly buzzy vibrator, but weak as well. The vibrations do travel throughout the toy but are much more concentrated in the tip. Using it on a higher setting will make your fingers itch.

On the other hand, the Seed is relatively quiet (<49dB according to Zini). It can be heard through the covers on high but rest assured that it won't be heard through a closed door. The sound is very high pitched.

Since the Seed is not waterproof, cleaning can be a little cumbersome. The simplest way to clean it would be to use a toy wipe or toy cleaner. Warm water and a mild antibacterial soap can be used but take extreme care not to get water in the control pad or charging port. Always ensure that the cover is pushed in well so that no moisture can ever get into that port.

Don't forget to clean the Seed before its first use.

Having a silicone tip, only water based lubes will be compatible with the Seed. A silicone lubricant could react with the silicone on the toy and cause damage. Likewise, storing should be away from other silicone toys.

The box works great for storing provided that you have the space. Otherwise, the pouch is large enough to hold the Seed and its components.

The packaging is discreet and classy. The box is a solid, very rigid cardboard. It is black with a woven pattern and has Zini written in the bottom right corner of the lift-off lid. There's a chic cardboard sleeve to keep the lid on, that shows a small image of the vibrator and says "seed" below it. This slides off, and the lid lifts off to reveal the seed under a plastic and cardboard form. Of the three Seeds I had purchased, all of them had a tear in the lower form, so the vibrator was rolling around freely. It didn't seem to hurt it, but was nonetheless worrisome. The entire form can be removed as it is somewhat incommodious when storing the Seed in the box.

The box measures 4.5" by 6" by 6". This would be good for storage if space is not a concern.

The box then swings open to reveal a European charger and an adapter, two user manuals, written in 8 different languages, and a storage pouch. The pouch is elegant and highly durable. It features the same black woven pattern as is on the box with a small Zini tag. The drawstrings hold really well and the lining is lint free. The pouch is 4 3/4" by 5 7/8" so it will hold the seed and changer and then some. It functions wonderfully for storing and traveling with the Seed.

The thicker white user manual gives specs about all Zini's products as well as cleaning, charging, storing and other cautions and troubleshooting regarding the Seed. It also tells about the 1 year warranty against factory defects. The other user manual folds open accordion-style. I strongly recommend spending some time looking at this one before getting hot and heavy to avoid any frustration. This manual depicts a table that will tell you how to operate your Seed and learn how to use its many different functions. Both of these booklets are very concise and easy to understand.

On a side note, the lower compartment of the box had fallen apart in two out of three of the Seed I had purchased. This is just a matter of the glue not holding. This can be seen in the picture below.

Zini is a Korean manufacturer that values product quality and design, but evidently not customer care. I am rejoiced at having purchased mine from the serviceable folks at Eden, whereas Zini left me hanging. I have taken it upon myself to warns others against Zini's poor quality of assistance.

I had purchased two other defective Seeds before I got one that worked. I had emailed Zini to find out if there was anything they could do for me but never got a response to any of my emails. Thankfully, Eden was extremely accommodating and offered me a refund so I could buy a new one from them.

The biggest downside was that I had to wait even longer before I could take my Seed to bed. By the time I ordered my third Seed, I had little confidence in Zini's quality and could only hope that this would be the last. The third time was indeed a charm and has been working well thus far.

If the Seed still seems like a toy that could work for you, I highly recommend buying through Eden.

When I finally received a functional Seed, I couldn't get my pants off fast enough. Sadly, the Seed was a lunch-bag-letdown. I don't need a lot of power, and I don't mind some types of buzzy vibrations. These are simply way too buzzy for my taste. Rather than giving me the itchy fingers, I got the itchy clit.

I am able to cum using this during sex if I try really hard but it doesn't feel fully satisfying. It seems to work best if my partner is on top, grinding against the Seed. I can get some good pressure that way and the buzz doesn't distract me as much. I did notice that the vibrations get a little muffled if a lot of pressure if applied to the tip, but this seems to work in my favor. Unfortunately, I end up getting numbed up quickly even on a low speed.

I actually do like the patterns. I usually don't have much use for patterns aside from occasional teasing and foreplay. These are nice in that the speed doesn't vary so much within one pattern so I am able to enjoy the full cycle of the pattern.

My partner finds the vibrations overly buzzy. He claims to get absolutely nothing out of them, anywhere on his body. His exact words were: "That's disgusting, I don't know how you can use that."

After all the effort and waiting to get this toy, I will definitely keep trying to make it work better for me. I fear I may have too much pent-up frustration for now and am cynically willing to keep it by my bedside. What a sad, sad time.