There's a lot to be said for the Ella, and much of it has been said many times before. It all stands as a testament to the quality of this exquisite toy-- she has lovers far and wide, and is something of a celebrity here on EdenFantasys.

Ella is easily one of the more elegant silicone toys. Smooth and sleek, and with a simple yet ingenious design. The straight end is meant for simple penetration, and is tapered to a slightly rounded point so that there's no unpleasant jabbing sensations. The opposite end is intended to stimulate the g-spot, and while I myself still need practice in this area, the testaments of so many other users of the Ella leave no question that she is an expert in this activity as well.

She has a very firm construction. The neck of the g-spot end is reasonably flexible, but the penetration end is largely immobile. The tip can be bent slightly with a little force, but that's it. The texture is velvety, and feels good even just to the fingers. You can spend a good while just running your hands along the Ella and not get tired of the feel. The texture produces a bit of drag, which can be remedied with a small amount of lube if drag isn't your cup of tea. Since this is a silicone toy, be sure to only use water-based lubes. The silicone material can be cleaned any number of ways: bleaching, boiling, putting it in the dishwasher (top rack), soap & water, or a special toy cleaner. Cleanliness should not be anything even resembling an issue with the Ella.

What I've found to be the Ella's most alluring feature is one that I haven't seen mentioned yet: her use as a dilating tool for a tiny passage. I don't know how many women out there are like myself, but my vagina is very, very tight. A smooth plastic toy with a 1" diameter fits snugly and stretches my opening a little bit. The Ella, despite largely being praised as beginner-friendly, intimidated me slightly with her girth of a quarter-inch thicker than what I'm used to. On top of which, she is not a vibrator, so I couldn't use the rumbling to dull any ensuing pain.

I was determined though, and the Ella's friendly, gentle appearance bolstered my resolve. Lo and behold, with some lube and a little patience, I was successful in getting her all the way in. Like a sweet friend who has only just confessed her desire for you, the Ella is completely willing to go at your pace, and fervently apologizes for any pain she causes you. This is a toy I'd recommend for anyone who shares my tightness and would like to do something, even a small something, about it. On that note, however, I must play the therapist and say that you should never force a stretch you truly don't feel ready for. After all, self-stimulation is all about loving yourself, and nothing less.

I've only had my Ella for a short time, but she's already a favorite. I still have some pain inserting her, but this has begun to fade. I still need lube to use her though, and I've yet to really get at my own G-spot (or, if I have, I just haven't hit it the right way for me... yet). Interestingly, the G-spot end is easier to insert than the straight end.

Is she wonderful? Yes. Is she beginner-friendly? Very. Is she worth all the hype? I'd certainly say so. The Ella's multiple uses, elegant appearance, body-safe material, and affordable price tag make her one of the most worthwhile toys on the market today. Go ahead and try her for yourself. You won't regret it.

Looking up at the original review, I'm a little embarrassed by it. I think it's because I was a little quick in many of my assessments - I was relatively new to toys and starry-eyed at having such a popular one. But I should have taken more time, and learned a few more things, before reviewing. For a few months after this was written, I only used Ella a handful of times.

That's right, dear Ella and I almost had a falling out. While it's true she gave me the confidence to go up a little in size, I couldn't use her without experiencing some pain, and it was very frustrating. She ended up sitting for a full month untouched. So when it came time for a follow-up review, I was almost ready to give her a more critical assessment, but I decided to give her one more shot, just to be fair.

I think there were two faults of my own that attributed to the earlier pain: one was that I wasn't willing to try warming up a little before using any toys, and the other was that, if I used lube at all, it would only be a teeny-tiny amount. Between my original review and now, I've learned that warm-up and lube can make everything so much nicer.

With both lubricant and a small amount of stretching out with my fingers beforehand, Ella and I played painlessly together for the first time... and several more times throughout the day. She now rests at the top of my toy box rather than buried under all my other toys. So I liked her, then didn't, now I love her.