There has been a great deal of discussion about phthalates recently, particularly since Greenpeace called for a complete ban on phthalates used in the manufacture of sex toys.
What are Phthalates?
Phthalates are chemicals which are used to soften PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), making it more flexible and durable. They are used in a variety of domestic products from building materials to things like shower curtains, as well as food wrapping and many medical products. When used in sex toys, phthalates give them a soft, rubbery feel, making them a more realistic texture.
Are they harmful?
Since the call by Greenpeace to have them banned in sex toys, a serious debate has taken place between sex toy manufacturers and scientists regarding the safety of phthalates in sex toys. Whether or not they are harmful has yet to be decided. Certainly research with rats has shown a detrimental effect, but this was at very high doses. Other research has failed to show any risk at all to health, so we’re a long way from a firm position on this.
There are other issues to consider with phthalates, however, and these involve the quality of the material itself. Toys containing phthalates tend be use cheaper materials and are essentially porous which means that they can break down over time, allowing the chemicals in the plastic to leach out of them. This porousness also means the surface traps dirt and bacteria, making the toy difficult to keep clean.
Can I tell if my toys contain Phthalates?
Phthalate containing toys have a pungent plastic smell, not unlike the one you find with new shower curtains before they’ve had a chance to air and lose their smell.
Typically, phthalates are found in jelly toys which have a very soft and rubbery feel to them, and more commonly in cheaper sex toys. They can also be found in vinyl toys, although these tend to contain only minute amounts.
Should I throw my toys out?
If you think your favourite toy may contain phthalates there’s no need to consign it to the bin. Simply pop a condom over it and carry on having fun!
It’s also worth bearing in mind that so many toys nowadays do not contain phthalates at all. Silicone toys such as Dildos, Vibrators and Butt Plugs do not contain phthalates, and can even be boiled without damaging the toy (don’t forget to remove the vibrator unit first, if it has one).
There are also toys made from elastomer, a new plastic which contains neither phthalates nor latex, such as the LayaSpot
Which materials do not contain Phthalates?
Sex toys made of the following materials are phthalate free;
Silicone
Glass
Medical Grade Stainless Steel (316)
Other Stainless Steel (304) or Metal toys and Cock Rings
ABS Plastic – a hard plastic
Elastomer – a soft plastic
Leather
Wood
Polypropolene – a hard plastic often used for prostate massagers
It’s up to you which material you choose when buying toys, but be assured we will keep you up to date and informed on this issue and others to help you make a better choice for your self.
Monday
Help with Choosing an Anal Toy
Anal play has become more and more popular in recent years, and to meet the needs of adventurous lovers a whole range of anal toys has been developed. To help you find your way through the marvelous array of anal toys available on our site we’ve put together this article.
Butt Plugs
Butt Plugs are anal toys specifically shaped to enhance the thrill, excitement and arousal of anal play for men and woman. These traditionally have a tapered bulb style body to ease entry and a much more narrow neck for your sphincter muscles to close around and grip. All good butt plugs have a flared base to help the plug fit comfortably inside you, whilst also preventing over insertion. Their secret is in the delight of providing you with a slightly fuller than normal feeling, and exciting all the nerve endings around your anus. Butt Plugs are designed to be inserted then “worn” inside for a while. You can even wear a butt plug to your favourite restaurant or night club.
We have a wide variety of Butt Plugs for all occasions. At the top of our range are the popular Swarovski Cut Glass Crystal Plugs, they’re a truly sophisticated anal adornment made from stainless steel and topped with a beautiful sparkling crystal. Within this designer range you’ll find our most highly prized Baroque. Also of medical grade stainless steel are the nJoy Plugs.
If you’re looking for something a little softer, there are the silicone plugs: odour free, hypoallergenic and very easy to clean. Our most popular is the Strawberry Popper designed as 3 small balls to excite you as you pop it in or out, and new to our range is the Bluebutton. All our silicone toys are soft, flexible and quickly warm to your own body temperature. For those who enjoy “Puppy Play” we have a Puppy Tail vinyl butt plug. Simply plug it in and watch your lover wag his tail in delight.
Anal Balls
Anal Balls are exactly as their name describes, a variety of balls connected to one another by cord, and inserted one at a time. The higher quality and more hygenic designs have the cord made of silicone or rubber rather than string. The excitement lies in the sensation they provide as your anus opens and closes around each ball as it enters or leaves your body. For some people this sensation can be so arousing as to induce orgasm without touching the genitals. For others removing the balls at the very height of climax can make orgasm feel much more intense, giving more of an “all body” orgasm. We would recommend that you purchase either silicone, vinyl or rubber anal balls as these are more round and smooth than cheaper plastic versions. Some cheap plastic anal balls tend to have raised seams that need to be filed down before use to ensure they have no sharp edges. Anal Balls are available in a variety of sizes to suit both the beginner and the experienced anal player. If you are new to anal play and would like to experiment with the delights of these toys we’d recommend you start with our Small Anal Balls. These have a ball diameter of 30 mm and are made of smooth black rubber.
Anal Dildos
Anal Dildos are absolutely ideal for couple play, and wonderful if it’s thrusting that gets your juices flowing. They can be worn in a dildo harness so that your lover is able to determine the speed, angle, depth and motion of each thrust, whilst leaving her hands free. This is known as pegging and if you’d like to discover more take a look at our Pegging – A How to Guide. Dildos specifically designed for anal play tend to have a slightly slimmer, yet longer, shaft than other dildos. A slimmer shaft helps ensure comfort whilst the slightly greater length gives a better depth of thrust. Our most popular anal dildo is Aqua Pearl Vibrating Dildo followed by the Emporor dildo. The Purple Popper is an anal dildo which features the fun of anal balls as your sphincter opens and closes around the globe as your lover penetrates and withdraws. A man when wearing a strap-on harness with an anal dildo, with a bit of skill and practice, is able to simultaneously penetrate his wife or girlfriend vaginally and anally. For more information about wearing a dildo harness take a look at our Dildo Harness Delights Articles.
Double Dildos
Double dildos are the ultimate toy for a female lover to penetrate her male partner. Each of you experience penetration whilst the female driver directs the motion and pace of play. Ideal for games of Dominance and submission, and to fulfill the male fantasy of being penetrated by his lover, and submitting to Her. The delights of a good quality double ended dildo cannot be over emphasized! We have 4 hypoallergenic silicone dildos in this category and would recommend the blue Slim Feeldoe or the Shimmering Purple Nexus Rider as your first choice. Although more expensive than some double dildos the Slim Blue Feeldoe is a little more firm than the others giving more control to the female driver. The Nexus is a little cheaper and much more sensation for the driver as her end of the toy is more of a realistic dildo, or penis shape, than the Feeldoe’s bulb. The Maximus is similar the the Nexus and quite a bit longer. The new comer to the double dildo arena is the Fun Factory Share . This is a good introductory level double dildo, attractively priced but more pliable or flexible than other models. We would not recommend the straight long double dildos seen elsewhere. Because of their shape they don’t allow the “skin on skin” closeness of your bodies as you play, offering little intimacy.
Anal Vibrators and Vibrating Butt Plugs
Many anal dildos have the added thrill of sending vibrations to all the little nerve endings at the entrance of the rectum. Silicone Dildos such as the Aqua Pearl, the Feeldoe, and Silicone Vibrating Butt Plugs like the Silver Wave and the Pyramid all have a bullet vibe which can be inserted into the body of the dildo. The Doc Johnson Flex A Pleasure is vibrating butt plug with a flexible shaft that can be bent in any direction making stimulation, comfort and control easy for moments of self pleasure.
Male Cock Ring and Butt Plug Harness
Our Male Butt Plug Harness helps secure your anal plug in position, whilst at the same time holding your erection nice and stiff and ready to serve! Perfect for moments of submission to your Mistress.
Prostate Massagers
Prostate Massagers are designed specifically to excite or milk the prostate. Once inserted, the ball bearing on the arm of the Nexus range of Prostate Massagers gives a pleasurable massage to your perineum (the area between your anus and testicles) as you contract and relax your anal muscles. As you do this you feel the prostate massager move deeper inside you. The angled head pushes against your prostate and this can force any fluid in the prostate to be released as you ejaculate. Some prostate massagers have a ribbed shaft to tease all those sensitive nerve endings at the entrance of your anus further enhancing the naughty, delightful experience! Many men report that the orgasm you can achieve with a prostate massager such can be much more intense than other orgasms, it’s sort of an all over orgasm which starts inside your anus and spreads through your whole body. Ejaculation isn’t essential for that erotically charged orgasm, and during prostate massage you might not always ejaculate, though you should still be able to experience a highly pleasurable full body orgasm.
Materials
A variety of materials are used for anal toys. We’d recommend silicone for it’s hypoallergenic properties being both latex and phthalate free. It’s a soft yet firm material which warms nicely to your own body temperature and feels very comfortable. If you like something with a definite firmness and weight then consider a toy such a the nJoy or our AnalBuds made of Stainless Steel. The benefits of stainless steel is that it does not oxidize, like aluminium, it is hypoallergenic, latex and phthalate free and can usually has a beautiful polished finish.
Prostate massagers such as the Nexus range are also phthalate free and made from medical grade polypropolene. This is necessarily a much firmer material than silicone because of the work a prostate massager has to do.
Butt Plugs
Butt Plugs are anal toys specifically shaped to enhance the thrill, excitement and arousal of anal play for men and woman. These traditionally have a tapered bulb style body to ease entry and a much more narrow neck for your sphincter muscles to close around and grip. All good butt plugs have a flared base to help the plug fit comfortably inside you, whilst also preventing over insertion. Their secret is in the delight of providing you with a slightly fuller than normal feeling, and exciting all the nerve endings around your anus. Butt Plugs are designed to be inserted then “worn” inside for a while. You can even wear a butt plug to your favourite restaurant or night club.
We have a wide variety of Butt Plugs for all occasions. At the top of our range are the popular Swarovski Cut Glass Crystal Plugs, they’re a truly sophisticated anal adornment made from stainless steel and topped with a beautiful sparkling crystal. Within this designer range you’ll find our most highly prized Baroque. Also of medical grade stainless steel are the nJoy Plugs.
If you’re looking for something a little softer, there are the silicone plugs: odour free, hypoallergenic and very easy to clean. Our most popular is the Strawberry Popper designed as 3 small balls to excite you as you pop it in or out, and new to our range is the Bluebutton. All our silicone toys are soft, flexible and quickly warm to your own body temperature. For those who enjoy “Puppy Play” we have a Puppy Tail vinyl butt plug. Simply plug it in and watch your lover wag his tail in delight.
Anal Balls
Anal Balls are exactly as their name describes, a variety of balls connected to one another by cord, and inserted one at a time. The higher quality and more hygenic designs have the cord made of silicone or rubber rather than string. The excitement lies in the sensation they provide as your anus opens and closes around each ball as it enters or leaves your body. For some people this sensation can be so arousing as to induce orgasm without touching the genitals. For others removing the balls at the very height of climax can make orgasm feel much more intense, giving more of an “all body” orgasm. We would recommend that you purchase either silicone, vinyl or rubber anal balls as these are more round and smooth than cheaper plastic versions. Some cheap plastic anal balls tend to have raised seams that need to be filed down before use to ensure they have no sharp edges. Anal Balls are available in a variety of sizes to suit both the beginner and the experienced anal player. If you are new to anal play and would like to experiment with the delights of these toys we’d recommend you start with our Small Anal Balls. These have a ball diameter of 30 mm and are made of smooth black rubber.
Anal Dildos
Anal Dildos are absolutely ideal for couple play, and wonderful if it’s thrusting that gets your juices flowing. They can be worn in a dildo harness so that your lover is able to determine the speed, angle, depth and motion of each thrust, whilst leaving her hands free. This is known as pegging and if you’d like to discover more take a look at our Pegging – A How to Guide. Dildos specifically designed for anal play tend to have a slightly slimmer, yet longer, shaft than other dildos. A slimmer shaft helps ensure comfort whilst the slightly greater length gives a better depth of thrust. Our most popular anal dildo is Aqua Pearl Vibrating Dildo followed by the Emporor dildo. The Purple Popper is an anal dildo which features the fun of anal balls as your sphincter opens and closes around the globe as your lover penetrates and withdraws. A man when wearing a strap-on harness with an anal dildo, with a bit of skill and practice, is able to simultaneously penetrate his wife or girlfriend vaginally and anally. For more information about wearing a dildo harness take a look at our Dildo Harness Delights Articles.
Double Dildos
Double dildos are the ultimate toy for a female lover to penetrate her male partner. Each of you experience penetration whilst the female driver directs the motion and pace of play. Ideal for games of Dominance and submission, and to fulfill the male fantasy of being penetrated by his lover, and submitting to Her. The delights of a good quality double ended dildo cannot be over emphasized! We have 4 hypoallergenic silicone dildos in this category and would recommend the blue Slim Feeldoe or the Shimmering Purple Nexus Rider as your first choice. Although more expensive than some double dildos the Slim Blue Feeldoe is a little more firm than the others giving more control to the female driver. The Nexus is a little cheaper and much more sensation for the driver as her end of the toy is more of a realistic dildo, or penis shape, than the Feeldoe’s bulb. The Maximus is similar the the Nexus and quite a bit longer. The new comer to the double dildo arena is the Fun Factory Share . This is a good introductory level double dildo, attractively priced but more pliable or flexible than other models. We would not recommend the straight long double dildos seen elsewhere. Because of their shape they don’t allow the “skin on skin” closeness of your bodies as you play, offering little intimacy.
Anal Vibrators and Vibrating Butt Plugs
Many anal dildos have the added thrill of sending vibrations to all the little nerve endings at the entrance of the rectum. Silicone Dildos such as the Aqua Pearl, the Feeldoe, and Silicone Vibrating Butt Plugs like the Silver Wave and the Pyramid all have a bullet vibe which can be inserted into the body of the dildo. The Doc Johnson Flex A Pleasure is vibrating butt plug with a flexible shaft that can be bent in any direction making stimulation, comfort and control easy for moments of self pleasure.
Male Cock Ring and Butt Plug Harness
Our Male Butt Plug Harness helps secure your anal plug in position, whilst at the same time holding your erection nice and stiff and ready to serve! Perfect for moments of submission to your Mistress.
Prostate Massagers
Prostate Massagers are designed specifically to excite or milk the prostate. Once inserted, the ball bearing on the arm of the Nexus range of Prostate Massagers gives a pleasurable massage to your perineum (the area between your anus and testicles) as you contract and relax your anal muscles. As you do this you feel the prostate massager move deeper inside you. The angled head pushes against your prostate and this can force any fluid in the prostate to be released as you ejaculate. Some prostate massagers have a ribbed shaft to tease all those sensitive nerve endings at the entrance of your anus further enhancing the naughty, delightful experience! Many men report that the orgasm you can achieve with a prostate massager such can be much more intense than other orgasms, it’s sort of an all over orgasm which starts inside your anus and spreads through your whole body. Ejaculation isn’t essential for that erotically charged orgasm, and during prostate massage you might not always ejaculate, though you should still be able to experience a highly pleasurable full body orgasm.
Materials
A variety of materials are used for anal toys. We’d recommend silicone for it’s hypoallergenic properties being both latex and phthalate free. It’s a soft yet firm material which warms nicely to your own body temperature and feels very comfortable. If you like something with a definite firmness and weight then consider a toy such a the nJoy or our AnalBuds made of Stainless Steel. The benefits of stainless steel is that it does not oxidize, like aluminium, it is hypoallergenic, latex and phthalate free and can usually has a beautiful polished finish.
Prostate massagers such as the Nexus range are also phthalate free and made from medical grade polypropolene. This is necessarily a much firmer material than silicone because of the work a prostate massager has to do.
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