I think this toy was best used, in my opinion, as an extra to our regular play for clitoral stimulation. Essence for Couples works well with a couple and even worked fine for me during solo play. I would buy toys similar to this for a special time with my husband. I picked this particular toy because it looked easy to use and I wanted something that would be easy for my husband to use on me. I was very satisfied with this toy, and it is going to stay with me for a good long while.

The Essence is made of smooth plastic with a TPR silicone tipped head. It did not have a smell, and we loved the nubs on the tip. I believe that this toy would work well for anyone, but especially for beginners because it was easy to operate. The shape made it very easy to hold onto, even when we got more hot and heavy. When using lubricants use only water based lubes because others could damage the silicone tipped head.

It was 6 inches long and a little over 4 inches in diameter. It was very lightweight and used 1 AA battery. This toy was discreet and easy to hide for me, which makes it very suitable for travel. I used it a few times by inserting it but, I found that I enjoyed it more using it for clitoral stimulation. It can be inserted almost 3 inches which may seem alright, but that length did not do much for me.

I found the Essence to be very easy to use and the controls easy to get to. I felt that although the controls were easy to use, it might have been a better fit if you could have just pushed a button instead of twisting the dial base. For me, the vibrations were felt over the entire toy. I think I would enjoy this toy even more if it had multiple speeds. I really enjoyed the nubs on the tip. They provided increased sensation on the clitoris. It is a fully submersible toy but, I found that it seemed to lessen the vibrations that I felt. It was infinitely more pleasing to use in the comfort of my own bed. My husband could not hear it when I was behind closed doors, but when we were in the room together it could be considered noisy.

It was very easy to clean with soap and water or even cleansing wipes, whichever you prefer. I recommend storing your toys separately in cloth bags to increase the life of your toys. So far I have not used any lubes but being that this toy is can be submersed in the water I feel comfortable saying that you can use a water based lubricant if that is what you and your partner like to use.

My husband and I both enjoyed this toy. I have not figured out why this toy would be specifically for couples, but I must say that I enjoyed it both ways. Some days you just need a little solo play and this toy fits the bill. We were pleased with how easy it was to hold onto even after the situation got very "damp". In the grand scheme of good toys, I would say that the Essence for couples is well worth the money. I think you will definitely use it again and again.