Charisma ripply - discreet vibrator by Cal Exotics - review by Melan!e

The Charisma Ripply is one of six in a series of small vibrators from California Exotic Novelties. These are designed with women's needs in mind. Ripply, in particular, has small bulges and ribs along the shaft with a slightly engorged and curved tip for G-spot stimulation.

The shape and size of the toy will be best suited towards beginners and those who prefer slim toys. Ripply would also make a nice teaser or travel toy. This would be a nice choice for couples, not just as a teaser but the slender shape fits conveniently between bodies. Ripply is certainly not an intimidating toy either, for those looking to introduce a partner to the wonderful world of sex toys.

Aside from the obvious vaginal use, Ripply can be used on any erogenous zones. Rub it on the clit, drag it around the nipples, penis or testicles, or any other spot that enjoys vibrations.

As there is no flared base, Ripply is not considered anal safe. Should anal exploration be attempted without at least a very firm grip on the handle, the risk is your own and so will be the embarrassment in the ER. It is much safer to use Ripply to stimulate the external area around the anus.

Ripply is made even more versatile with a completely waterproof design. Take it in the shower or tub without the worry of damaging it.

Ripply is made of ABS plastic. This is rated an 8 on Eden's safety scale. Plastic is a body-safe, phthalate-free, non-porous material that won't harbour bacteria. The insertable portion is covered in a velvet-cote that's smooth and soft. There is essentially no drag and also no risk of attracting dust and lint. The plastic is firm and has no give whatsoever.

There is a silver ring just above the battery cap at the base. This ring is also made of ABS plastic but is said to be silver plated. Unsure about whether this posed allergy concerns, I thought it warranted a note here.

A visible, yet smooth seam runs up the middle and down the back of the shaft. It is flush with the toy and it surely won't be felt during use.


I did not notice much of a smell initially. If at all, it was just a new plastic smell. After several uses and washes, there is still no smell at all.

The vibrators from the Charisma line are offered in either black or pink. I have the pink, which is a vivid, hot pink color.

Ripply is 5" in total length. Roughly 3 and 3/4" are insertable. The tip is only slightly larger than the rest of the shaft and the curve is not a drastic one. This will be best suited to shallower G-spots that don't require a severe curve to access.

The shaft narrows down to 7/8", whereas the bulges come to just under 1" and the tip is just over 1". This is definitely a slim vaginal toy and absolutely beginner-friendly.

There are 2 bulges in the shaft that are more prominent on the top than on the sides. The are 2 thin ribs on each side located in between the bulges. The underside of the shaft is perfectly straight and untextured. The stimulation gained from the bulges and ribs is negligible. At least for me, that was the case.

As a smaller sized toy, it may not be discreet in appearance, but it is easily hidden. This feature also makes it perfectly suited for travel.

The Ripply is controlled by a single push button at the base of the battery cap. Push once to turn it on and continue to press the button to cycle through all the functions. Once the last function is reached, pushing the button again will take it back to the first function. The button must be held down for a few seconds to turn the toy off. Should you need to turn it off quickly, the battery cap can be twisted off instead.

As is common with many toys of this sort, it has an odd memory. Once the toy is turned off, so long as the battery has not been removed in between, Ripply will start up on the function following the one it was on when it was turned off. This is a bit frustrating since all 10 functions must be cycled through before that initial function can be reached again.

Of the 10 functions, there are 3 steady vibration speeds followed by 7 pulse patterns. They are listed in order below:
1. High steady
2. Medium steady
3. Low steady
4. Short escalating pulses, low to high speed
5. Medium pulses, medium speed
6. Long pulses, high speed
7. Short pulses, high speed
8. Throbbing pulses, medium speed
9. Longest pulses, high speed
10. Short pulses, low speed

There is an LED light that shines through the control button and slightly through the battery cap as well. It will either glow steady during one of the first 3 settings or will pulse along with one of the vibration patterns.

Though it may seem odd to begin with the strongest speed, the vibrations are not very strong so those who tend to start off slow and work their way up in intensity may not feel the need to with this one. Some may only find the lower intensity levels good for teasing. Power queens will certainly be left wanting more. The nature of these buzzy surface vibrations makes them even less persistent when pressure is applied. Under enough pressure, they all but disappear.

The vibrations are felt mainly in the tip. It may numb the fingers a bit on the high speed but otherwise, the vibrations are not really felt in the handle. They are, however, spread relatively well along the shaft.

At the highest intensity, the vibrations can be heard ever so slightly from under a blanket but not through a closed door. The lower intensities are barely audible from under a blanket.

A single AA battery is required to run Ripply. The battery cap can be removed by giving it a small twist. A diagram in the battery compartment shows the appropriate direction to insert the battery. The cap can then be replaced by lining up the grooves with the differently sized nubs on the inner rim of the cap. Once aligned, push the cap down and twist to secure it.


There is a thick o-ring that seals off the battery compartment from any water. After having submerged it underwater, I can confirm that Ripply performs admirably in all subaquatic settings.

As with any waterproof toy, cleaning is greatly simplified. Ripply can be washed with a mild antibacterial soap and warm water. Toy cleaner or wipes may also be used. For disinfecting, wipe Ripply down with rubbing alcohol. If sharing, be sure to clean it thoroughly first. As a mechanical device, this should never be sterilized by boiling. The dishwasher is also not a safe place for Ripply.

A great thing about plastic is the compatibility with any type of lubricant. Whether oil, silicone or water based lubes are your preference, the choice is yours with this toy.

Before cleaning and when storing, it is best to remove the battery. This will preserve battery life and keep the toy from being turned on accidentally. Make sure Ripply is not wet before opening the cap and also ensure the cap is secured afterward.

It can be stored in its original packaging or simply toss it in a drawer in your nightstand. A toy pouch may be more suitable for discretion.

The packaging is a reasonably sized, flimsy plastic box. The toy is clearly visible through it and there is not much by way of instructions for care or use. However, the toy is fairly basic and the essentials are described.

The toy sits in a plastic form that slides out of the box. A small paper is included with information on battery installation and cautions against battery leakage.

Since Ripply is exposed and, though there are no lewd images on the box, the descriptions and images of the toy are clearly displayed on the box, this may not be the best for gifting. For storage, the original packaging will do. Otherwise, the box can be recycled and a toy pouch can be used.

I didn't have the highest of hopes for this one, having an inclination that it was going to be pretty similar to several toys I already own. With these vibes, it's mainly the textures that distinguish them. Although I was a bit more excited about it when I opened the package and examined the design of the bulges and ribs, I was disappointed that I could not feel much of them at all.

I compared the vibrations to Handy, Ada, and Kinky Kat and found the only difference was that Ripply is a bit louder than the others. It's not loud enough for me to bump it up a bee but the buzz on the higher speeds is more high pitched. Aside from that, the vibration intensities, patterns and order in which they appear are all identical. What struck me as odd was that these vibes, though very much alike, come from 3 distinct manufacturers.

See from left to right Ripply, Handy, Ada and Kinky Kat above.

My order of preference and the reasons why follows:
1. Handy - distinct yet subtle texture, softness of silicone with curved tip
2. Ripply - pink color, curved tip
3. Ada - more useful than Kinky Kat but boring otherwise
4. Kinky Kat - novelty, has become part of my decor

For clitoral use, I enjoyed the shape of the tip that felt almost like it was hugging me. It was a good shape, but I only wish it weren't made of hard plastic. The shape is reminiscent of the Bcurious tip but much less pointed. Sadly, I love applying lots of pressure and the hardness became uncomfortable, even painful at times.

The clit cradling curve was no match for my G-spot, however. Even though I was able to reach it and the vibrations travelled decently, once again, I had a problem applying pressure. This time, the hardness was the good point but the curve was not enough and I wanted to feel the texture a bit more. This subtle texture might appeal more to novel users.

My partner can't stand the buzziness of the vibrations so I didn't bother even trying this one on him. They don't really do it for me either. I was hard-pressed for an orgasm at the end of my session with Ripply.

While Ripply didn't suit my needs, I am sure it could be a smash hit in someone's bedroom. I would recommend it to any beginner, or more specifically, any G-spot looking for shallow, pin-point and pressure-less vibrations. If you're unsure about textures then the subtlety of Ripply might be a good option.