'I tried the sex toy that went viral on TikTok'

It seems that no matter where in the world you are, the statistics remain the same. For about eight in 10 women, penetration alone is not enough to orgasm.

Yup. That’s right. For all the assumptions and societal expectations, 80 per cent of females need a bit more than a nudge.

Enter the clitoris – the eternally underrated star of the show. In all her flaming glory with 8,000 sensory nerves, this tiny tip at the top of the vaginal opening can be a hot spot for success. For many, it’s one of the greatest pleasure buttons possible and the single key to great sex.

So any bedroom toy that tickles the fancy of the precious petal is going to get the nod of approval from me.

A rose by any other name

Shaped like a literal flower, the Lovehoney Rose Toy Clitoral Suction Stimulator is giving off major Beauty and The Beast vibes and let me tell you now, I am here for it.

Because at just three inches long, this near replica of a rose doesn’t even look like a sex toy at all.

Instead, it’s been – what I can only assume – lovingly crafted from velvety-soft silicone in a deep romantic red, resulting in an accessory that sparks passion with a huge helping of class.

In fact, it is so discreet and beautifully designed that you could keep it in a glass dome on your bedside table if you wanted to.

So with the promise of ‘Pleasure Air Technology,’ whatever that means, I delved right into this flower bed.

Kiss from a rose

I should preface here that going in my sexpectations were high. This was a toy that literally rose to fame on TikTok, with many users signalling an end to the need for men altogether, and I don’t take those viral trends lightly.

“I’m still trying to get my senses back,” one woman posted on the social media platform.

“That little gadget was worth every penny and then some. I would give it 20 out of 10.”

“When you want to last 10 mins with a Rose but only can last a second,” another satisfied customer said.

But when I settled into bed that night with my boyfriend, I just wasn’t feeling it. And I think that’s a hugely important thing to note – we aren’t all always ready to go.

For women particularly, sex and orgasms can be extremely mental, and if we’re tired, stressed or have a lot on our mind, climaxing can be next to impossible so sometimes a gentler stroke is needed.

And that’s exactly what I got because to me, the Rose Suction Stimulator didn’t feel overwhelmingly powerful. But boy, did it have pinpoint precision.

With direct application, I moved through the device’s 10 suction modes, each as unique as the flower beside it.

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Discovering what worked for me, and what didn’t, I leaned into the power of the petal and focusing on the multiple stimulations and direct sensations was exactly what I needed – and then I revelled in some good old foreplay.

All too often all we focus on is the end goal. The big finale. The explosive orgasm. But when you stop and slow it down, it’s the little things you appreciate – the small feelings that spread through the body, the building intensity and those sweet moments of intimacy.

So while this device wasn’t the star of our show, it had a crucial supporting role and would be a perfect entry-level appliance into the world of suction stimulation. At the end of the day, as a toy that aims to imitate a very oral act, you really can’t go past a good warm-up.

No rose-tinted glasses are required.

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