When I first saw the Extase La Metropole, I thought it looked like a miniature version of a G-spot toy. And while it does have that familiar smooth curve, it's simply not was this toy was designed for, nor will it reach unless you have a very shallow G-spot. What it is meant for, and good for, is a pinpointing, discreet, clitoral vibrator. The motor is in the very tip of this toy, making it very easy to direct the vibrations where you want them. The curved tip can be used to pinpoint vibrations exactly where you want them, the curve in the plastic portion can be fittingly rested against the clit or vulva, or the albeit short shaft can be used to massage the genitals or virtually anywhere. I feel obligated to point out, for safety's sake, that this is not designed to be an insertable anal toy, nor should it be used as one. If you want to use it for anal pleasure, stick to the exterior areas only. It is equally easy to use alone or with a partner and is comfortable to hold and control.

At 4 - 1/2" inches long (only 2" being insertable) and 3/4" wide, this toy may not seem like it has much going for it besides discretion. And while it is small, it is not as average as I expected it to be. First off, the insertable shaft of the toy is made of shiny white ABS plastic that is nonporous and highly bodysafe. It's compatible with all lubes and is very easy to care for. The base of the toy is a jewel toned aluminum with a scroll design on it. I got mine in the Magenta and the scroll pattern is actually in a deeper shade of red. At the base (which is actually the base of the battery holder, but more on that later), you will find the very pretty Extase flower/leaf pattern in front of a bright blue LED light that doubles as a push-button control.

The packaging was also far more than I expected. The box for the toy is high quality and extremely sturdy, capable of being used for storage for this toy and even another small one or two if you removed the foam. When you take the elegantly designed lid white lid off of the purple base, you will first find a small booklet showcasing the Extase product line, atop the toy nestled in matte black foam. If you remove the foam, you will also find an envelope holding an instruction manual with the instructions for the toy in several languages and a black suede-like case for the toy. While it's still obvious that the box contains a sex toy, it's laid out in a very classy and gift-worthy way. And if you're that concerned with someone knowing it's a sex toy, it can easily be carried in a pocket or purse stored in the suede pouch that could easily be believed to be a lipstick case.

The other unexpected part about this toy is the vibration. It has multiple speeds, which is nothing too out of the ordinary for a high end vibrator, and they function as follows:

1. Steady low vibrations
2. Steady medium vibrations
3. Steady high vibrations
4. Short/long alternating pulses
5. Two short pulses followed by one long

The vibrations are turned on by holding the button at the bottom, changed by pressing it once, and turned off by holding it down again. What is unique, however, is the vibration itself. It's not buzzy, nor is it rumbly. The best way to describe it would be fluttery. It's consistent and smooth but almost like a low flitting rumble. It's not necessarily better than a deep rumbly toy, but for those that already have plenty of vibrators, it's definitely a nice change.

The toy is very quiet on its lowest settings - not audible through a blanket. But on high or medium settings, it would need a blanket and a door or a low stereo to drown it out. It's size is also optimal for discretion, seeing as it can be thrown into any pocket, bag, purse, or drawer to be hidden.

(continued in Experience portion)

They toy is constructed in a fairly unique way as well but it ends up being more of a pain than anything for me. To put the batteries in, you unscrew the aluminum portion. You will then find the battery chamber (1xAA) that slides inside the white portion and also has the light-up button at the base of it. Removing and replacing the battery is easy, but putting the chamber back in can be tricky; there is a tiny groove in one end of the chamber that has to fit over a little nub of plastic right under the motor contacts in order for it to work and for the aluminum to fit back in place properly. It can get very frustrating to get it in the exact perfect spot to make it work. It also apparently has a low battery indicator. I'm not entirely sure how that would work though, as I haven't needed to put in new batteries yet.

The toy is also splash proof but cannot be submerged, per the manual. I'm not willing to risk destroying the toy to find out if they're just teasing. It's remarkably easy to clean with toy cleaner or soap and water - just be careful to get under where the plastic and aluminum meet. As I mentioned before, it can be used with any lube and stored in its box, in its pouch, or with other clean non-porous toys.

Overall, I love the concept of the toy. It's beautiful, discreet, gift-able, and unique in many ways which is really important when you already own around a hundred sex toys. Unfortunately, with all that going for it, the toy just didn't cut it for me. I think the combination of the small size and the not earth-shattering vibrations just added up to a less than thrilling experience. If the toy had the same power, but a larger size or the same size and more power, it would've been great. Unfortunately, the design that initially drew me to the toy is what will most likely keep me from using it as any more than an occasional warm-up.