I’ve had the immense pleasure (heh) of putting together part six of our SBTB Gift Guide! Be warned that this post is probably NSFW, as it includes sex toys (both for couples or for solo use) and some recommended reading material.
If you want to catch up with previous parts of the 2016 SBTB Gift Guide, there are bookish gift ideas, items for comfort and self-care, things for all your crafty friends and family, an assortment of unique items for those tough-to-buy-for individuals, and cozy homewares!
Show Me Your Shelfie
For those who don’t exactly want to jump into the sex toy gift giving pond, books are a great substitute, especially books that focus on navigating your own sexual preferences. For some general recommendations, I recommend many of the books on our second podcast with Emily Nagoski.
But truly, the end all and be all for me when it comes to books on sexual health and wellness is Nagoski’s Come As You Are. It covers a wide range of topics and has handy quizzes to help navigate your turn ons and turn offs. Plus, each chapter has a great breakdown of the points discussed.
There’s also What You Really Really Want: The Smart Girl’s Shame-Free Guide to Sex and Safety by Jaclyn Friedman ( A | BN | K | G | AB ), which stresses safety, communication, and sex positivity.
The Bawdy Bookworm box is more for fun than education. Each box comes with a romance novel, a sex toy, plus a few other goodies like candy or tea! It’s a quarterly shipment and is both approved by Elyse and her cat, Dewey!
Bits & Bobs
These next items are more like accessories for the bedroom rather than full on sex toys. We’re saving the good stuff for last!
First off, the Liberator Sex Wedge, which is priced at $80! The one featured below is in red, but it comes in seven different colors.
The fabric is soft microfiber and is great for those with chronic pain, or who experience discomfort with various sexual positions. The Liberator also comes in a variety of shapes as well – the Wedge/Ramp combo, the Arche Wedge, and the Heart Wedge. Several of the reviews for the Liberator series mention how helpful these are for individuals who experience physical discomfort during sex due to injury or disability.
Lush has a great assortment of massage bars! I really love the textured bars to get into my muscles and the bar that uses body heat to melt into your skin. The formula isn’t sticky and leaves your skin feeling moisturized.
Need some lube recommendations? Sliquid has a great line of products, but their organic line is especially great. Many of them are formulated for a woman’s body and come in water-based and silicon-based varieties.
My personal favorite, though, is Good Clean Love’s Almost Naked personal lubricant. It doesn’t dry out quickly and the smell of it is pretty mild, in my opinion. They also carry a Cinnamon Vanilla flavor/scent.
Candles are a great way to relax, whether you’re alone or enjoying some couple time. I frequently like to light some candles close to bedtime to help me get into a relaxed, sleepy mindset. (I have that issue with a brain that doesn’t like to turn off, so the more I can create a sleep routine, the better.)
But aromatherapy candles can also help set the mood! Wax Oils has a great assortment of scents in unobtrusive, delicate tins.
For something extra fancy, there’s the QUOZZ Lull Oil Diffuser available for $49.95. It has over 2500 reviews and has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon!
Pair it with this 6-pack of essential oils that’s currently 79% off. Scents include eucalyptus and lavender.
Adult-Only Toys
Now, onto the good stuff!
Sex toys can often be an expensive investment, so it’s important to buy something that is great quality. However, it also has to do its job.
Below are some toys that will hopefully fill you with…holiday cheer.
The Hitachi Magic Wand Personal Massager is pretty much the crème de la crème of solo time! It’s been on my personal wish list for ages and was Lifehacker’s top pick for the best vibrator. If you or someone you know likes to have the best of the best for everything, look no further.
If you want something sleeker and less bulky, there’s the Alessandro Yarosi Cordless Wand Massager! It’s waterproof and a little easier on the wallet for $39.95.
JimmyJane is a great producer of sex toys, many of which are designed for couples to use. A personal favorite of the Bitchery is the Form 3. I really love JimmyJane’s minimalist design of their toys.
For those who like to include their love of bookish style in the bedroom, Doc Johnson has a line of Alice in Wonderland themed toys – bullet vibrators, plugs, and cock rings! I own one of these, but I won’t tell you which one. All I’ll say is that I’m not disappointed by the quality and the packaging usually comes with a discreet carrying bag.
Lastly, the one toy that I cannot recommend highly enough is the XISE Silicone 10 Speed Bullet Vibrator. I have an earlier model that’s only 7 speeds, but it’s lasted me about six or seven years. It’s also waterproof and takes only one AAA battery. Plus, it’s pretty budget-friendly for less than $10!
What staples to do you have in your bedroom? What do you recommend for gifts for a special someone or someones? Let us know what toys or bedroom products are essential!
(And if you’d like to comment anonymously, please feel free – just don’t enter the email address you usually use, as it might pull up your avatar.)
Thanks to SBTB for pulling all these lists together. I know that a lot of work goes into them, which is why I’m a bit hesitant to make this rather pushy request: Would it be possible for the Amazon links to include the Smile link, too? 🙂
I’d recommend the coffee table book OBJECTS OF DESIRE, a beautiful collection of photographs and descriptions of assorted sex toys and items. (Review up at http://thearmchaircritic.blogspot.com/2016/04/objects-of-desire-by-rita-catinella.html )
One minor warning on the Hitachi: Comments from multiple websites mention that it isn’t all that quiet. There are multiple versions of this toy and the good old two speed has been compared compared to turning the key on a big block Chevy. If you can hear your neighbors, be assured that they WILL hear you…and your not-so-little toy too.
I just discovered that my Hitachi’s low setting no longer works. I almost cried. Going to have to replace that – possibly with the rechargeable model that I just found out about. For the time being, I’m using the Lelo Mona 2 which I had bought because I heard a lot of good things about their toys a few years ago. It’s all right, but not quite the right kind of buzz to get the job done as efficiently as the Hitachi.
Speaking of Lelo, I also have a pair of their Boa Pleasure Ties (the purple ones). They’re very pretty and feel nice against the skin.
If you like realistic sex toys, I highly recommend Vixen Creations’ VixSkin dildos. I have the Lonestar model and it’s a m a z i n g. Definitely worth the extra money for the quality. They’re silicone and made with a dual core so you get a nice soft outside with the heft of a harder toy (heh, hard). Also works great with the SpareParts Joque harness.
Oh, and I forgot to mention Erika Moen’s great web comic/sex toy review site, Oh Joy Sex Toy. She includes reviews of toys and websites, sex education, and just some sexy comics from herself or guest artists. If you’re ever curious about a toy, check on there because she may have covered it. Very queer-friendly and inclusive to boot.
If you’re using it for sex and not with a silicone toy, I recommend Swiss Navy’s silicone lube. Water based lubes always end up drying out on me, but the silicone lubes stay in place like whoa. The caveat is that they’re difficult to wash off fully, but for me it’s a good trade off if I don’t get all chafed up. (The other caveat is that you shouldn’t use them with silicone toys, as the lube could cause the toy’s silicone to break down. Get a good water-based lube for the toys.)
I am a big fan of the Wahl 7 in 1 over the Hitachi magic wand – hitachi offers more diffuse vibrations, and the Wahl is more focused – like a turno powered bullet vibrator. Other big tip – do mot buy these at a sex toy shop. Buy them from… a drug store or amazon or wherever. .. someplace selling it as a personal massager. The exact same item sold as a vibrator is, say, 60 bucks but when sold as a massager is 25.
FYI to all…the Jimmy Jane Form 3 is now on sale on the jimmy jane website with a bonus. Normally $139 , it’s now $99 and you get a free Hello Touch. They say it is a $218 value and it’s free shipping. So Merry Christmas all!