I don't have many gags, in fact I have a sum total of 1 dedicated gag. None of us really wants to have our efforts go quietly unrewarded, we like hearing the begging, pleading,and babbling! Still when I saw the black Rose line from Doc Johnson I wanted to give the simple bit gag a try.

The Black Rose Forbidden Flower Mouth bit isn't the top of the line in terms of materials but it is silky, beautifully colored and looks wicked on a playmate. This bit is aimed more at the sensual sadist or bedroom enthusiast rather than the hardcore BDSM players.
The silk ties are long enough to fit around any head comfortably and easily. The ties measure 24 inches from the faux leather roses on each side of the hollow plastic bit. The material is soft, silky and brilliantly colored. The edges of the material are double turned and very firmly stitched down. The points of the ties are knife sharp and don't have the shoddy workmanship wads one normally finds in this price range. The ties are easy to secure to the back of the head, either in a pretty bow or flatter for comfort if the wearer is laying down. The ties can slide around the head but we solved this problem by tying the bit at the back of the neck rather than trying to tie it at the back of the head. This caused the bit to slip around less and didn't interfere with the blinder being tied on.
I do like that the silk ties don't "crush" and need to be ironed after every use.

The bit, itself, is a hollow piece of black plastic that measures 5.25 inches long and nearly 2 inches around. It is slightly curved, and I am assuming this is for comfort, but I'm not exactly sure. It does make it easier to bear having the ties wrapped around the head as it changes the stress points and puts less pressure on the corners of the mouth.
After a good long session and chewing on the bit much more than I think I would normally, I haven't noticed any warping of the plastic tube or tooth marks.
The bit is held onto the silk sash by two faux leather roses set on either side of the gag. They add a touch of whimsy to a rather plain silk sash and plastic bit.

The bit is thin enough that it doesn't cause jaw strain and is flexible enough to be chewed on. It doesn't cause the wearer to drool which might be a downside for some users. It's fairly comfortable to wear and doesn't obstruct breathing. To be honest it doesn't really muffle sound all that well but it can be fun to loop the ties around the head and use the remaining tie length as reins. It can give a rebellious sub a wicked feral look.

Cleaning the bit can be tricky. The roses prevent removing the plastic bit so throwing the sash in the washer in a lingerie bag isn't going to be possible. If the sash gets wet underneath the plastic there's no telling how long it would take for it to dry. Throwing it in the dryer is problematic since the bit is plastic, though one could use the air dry cycle. A wipe down of the plastic bit with some soap and water or a 10% bleach and water solution.
There are plenty of germs that can be transferred from one mouth to another. Add in the fact that this bit is plastic and you might not want to share the bit, though the risk of illness is admittedly low.
If the ties on the bit should crush and wrinkle you can iron them with a cool iron on the silk setting.

The bit arrives wrapped around a thin piece of cardboard and it wrapped in plastic tightly. The box is heavy cardboard and much larger than the bit itself. The box is elegant, and has a picture of a woman wearing the bit. It isn't terribly discreet but isn't pornographic either.

We have never really wanted to use bits, gags or other sound muffling devices but we did have fun with this one. It seems to bring out the primal beast in all of us! I was feeling wicked and rebellious with the bit in my mouth and the guys seemed to really stretch to make me want to be noisy.

I can't imagine this bit will excite or do anything but frustrate the avid bit user as it does tend to slide around the head and the ties can pull hair. Having a knot in the back of your head, or even neck, causes your victim to naturally turn their head and you can't look into their eyes while you play as easily. There are other bits that seem as though they would work better for more avid players as they wrap around the head without tying. This would avoid the hair pulling and quite a lot of slipping around.

This is such a sweet, simple and elegant looking bit, though, for all it's drawbacks. It looks pretty darn amazing when worn with the rest of the set.

For a simple gag or a startup for a nervous sub this is tops. It's beautiful, soft and not as severe as a ball gag or open mouth/spider gag. It has held up well to being chewed on and if the gag itself gets chewed up you can replace the PVC easily and quickly.

I love the curve of the pipe because it causes less jaw strain and the small diameter of the pipe is great for people who have TMJ problems.

The stitching is holding up better than I ever expected and I would recommend this to anyone without reservation.