The Glow in the Dark Emperor reminds me of something out of a science fiction movie. Between its size, chemical smell, and the fact that it glows, it almost makes you think that this is some sort of radioactive monster of a toy. It's very realistic in feel and is great for both solo and couples play, and is even better to play with in the dark. Its size makes it a good toy for those who need a little more girth, but may not be the best toy if you need powerhouse vibrations.

What did concern me about the glow emperor was that on the box it states that it is for external use only. I'm not sure if this is something that California Exotic simply puts on all of their toys as a liability issue, or if this is actually something that shouldn't be used internally. To be on the safe side I have only used this with condoms covering it, because I am not willing to take a chance on it being unsafe.

The first thing I noticed upon opening the toy was the smell; it was a very strong scent that smelled like a manufacturing plant. I am very sensitive to smell and it was almost too nauseating for me to be able to use. I tried washing it and the smell didn't diminish at all, and the smell rubs off on your hands, and it takes a couple of washings to get it off. I also tried to air it out in a closet for a week or two in hopes that the smell would fade, it has slightly but not a whle lot. So my best guess is that the smell is not going to be going away.

The Vibrating Emperor is made from pthalate-free PVC. This isn't hard PVC like your pipes are made of, but it is a soft, sticky material that has a lot of give to it. It feels similar to rubber and the texture has a lot of grip to it. It really attracts dust and hair, so it is important to find a place to store it where it will not come into contact with these things. PVC is porous and cannot be sterilized, so don't share this toy unless you plan on covering it with a condom. Although, like I mentioned in the first section, covering this toy with a condom might be a good idea even if you aren't sharing.

There are a couple of special features that separates the glow emperor from other realistic vibrators. The most obvious one is that it glows in the dark. It actually glows very brightly, especially if you hold it next to a light before you turn out the lights. It holds a glow for quite a long time, though, after a while it doesn't glow as brightly as when the lights are first turned off. Here's a picture of how well it glows.



Another cool feature is the suction cup. It is actually quite strong. I've been able to stick it upright as well as sideways and it holds the toy up very well despite the toy being somewhat heavy. I haven't yet had it fall down and I even had it sticking on the bathroom wall for about an hour, so it sticks very well. This opens up a lot of possibilities for hands-free play and not having to worry about the vibe moving on you.



The size is very large, and while the material has quite a bit of give to it I wouldn't recommend it as a first toy, and it's going to be a good idea to use a warmup toy before using this one. It is 1.75" in diameter or girth and 8" long with 6.75" being insertable. Here is a picture of it next to Tantus Vamp and Lelo Gigi so you can get an idea of its size relative to other toys.



Glow emperor is in no way discreet. It looks like a big green, glowing cock. Unless you are very clever there's not really a way to pass this off as anything other than a sex toy. It is very detailed, there are veins and realistic balls and a prominent head.

The controls are very easy. There is a remote attached by a wire to the vibe. There is simply a dial to control the strength of the vibrations; very straightforward and intuitive. The vibrations are about medium intensity and somewhere between buzzy and rumbly. The vibrations are concentrated near the tip where the motor is, and they don't really travel throughout the toy to you very much at all. It's about average as far as toys go. You can hear it through a door if you're really trying to, but if there was any sort of background noise, like a TV or music, you wouldn't need to worry about others hearing it.

Glow Emperor is a fairly easy toy to care for. To clean it, wash with soap and water or a toy cleaner. Be careful while cleaning it, though, because it is not waterproof and getting water inside may ruin your toy. Store it away from other toys so it won't warp or melt to any of them and only use a water based lube with it. Take the AA batteries out between uses to keep them lasting longer.

The packaging is simple, but is not discreet. It comes in a cardboard box with a picture of a woman and the toy. It comes wrapped in a little bit of plastic inside the box. There's no insert or anything, but there are directions on the box as to how to care for your vibe. There is also a site listed where you can register your toy and if it is defective within a certain time period they will replace it for you. The box could be used for storage, but honestly I just keep it in a ziplock bag.