The Envy Elegant is a large, dark purple vibrator. It has little raised hearts all over it (some of the hearts have little arrows through them), which add texture to the otherwise smooth shaft. The machinery in this vibrator is all enclosed in the bottom half of the shaft: if you hold it up to a light, you can see that the vibrations themselves originate from a large bullet housed in the middle of the vibrator. The top third is solid, squishy PVC: the quasi-realistic head of the vibrator is slightly thicker than the shaft of the toy and is set off by a raised bow detail. The entire shaft is flexible, true to the claim on the packaging that the toy is “soft and pliable.” The most notable aspect of this particular toy, however, is the giant crystal cap that serves as the control. It's nearly as wide as the vibrator itself.

The Envy Elegant takes two AAA batteries, which are inserted into the bottom of the shaft (the crystal cap twists on and off for battery insertion). There are no markings on the inside indicating which direction the batteries should face: as long as one battery has the + terminal facing out and one has the + terminal facing in, it doesn't matter which goes in which slot. The cap isn't particularly tight and makes a little bit of a rattling noise when the vibrator is turned on. The vibrations are controlled by turning the crystal cap, which clicks when you go from "on" to "off" or vice versa.

This toy is girthy: it has a circumference of 7.5 inches, so keep in mind that this is not a slender vibrator. The PVC material does, however, have a lot of give. In terms of vibration strength, the packaging claims that this toy is multi-speed, but I can only find one: it's a vibration of moderate strength (to be expected from the fact that the Envy Elegant vibe takes AAA batteries), but it carries nicely throughout the entire shaft of the toy. While this isn't the quietest toy on the market, the noise it produces is not audible through covers or a closed door.

This toy is not waterproof, and since the connection between the cap and the battery compartment is so loose, be sure to pay attention while cleaning. The packaging explicitly states that this vibrator should not be immersed in water (and does not even claim that it is splash-proof), so use caution.

The Envy Elegant is made of PVC and is not phthalates-free, so you should always use a condom when playing with this toy. There is a slight plasticy smell to this vibrator when you first open up the box, but it's nothing overwhelming. PVC is porous, so the Envy Elegant cannot be sterilized (and again, condoms should be used if sharing). As far as cleaning goes, soap and warm water will do just fine (although be careful not to get water into the battery compartment), as will toy wipes or spray-on toy cleaner. Be sure to wash before and after each use.

Cal Exotics has provided a URL on the packaging to a site where you can register your Envy Elegant for a 30-day warranty against mechanical failure. If you are in the market for a girthy toy with moderate vibrations (and you don't mind using condoms with your toys), the Envy Elegant is for you!