So far the only type of butt plug I have ever tried has been of the silicone variety. I’ve always wanted to try something different, something cold and shiny. So when I got the opportunity to review the California Exotics Aluminum Mini Butt Plug, I was very interested in seeing how Cal Exotics pulled this one off. It looked like a very interesting, a non-intimidating piece, and did you say temperature play compatible? Sign me up!
The Blurb
The California Exotics Aluminum Mini Butt Plug is of aluminum. It has an insertable length of 3inches (3.5 inches in total length), weighs 3.2 ounces or 0.2 pounds, and is 1.25 inches in girth. It has a round tapered tip which makes for easy insertion along with a flared base to prevent travel. Because this plug is made out of aluminum, it doesn’t hold onto any butt smells (because you know, butts smell), can be used will just about any lubricant of your choosing, and is very easy to clean. It has a really cute gem in the base of the plug which my partner very much approves of.
In Use
I wouldn’t necessarily say that this toy is beginner friendly. If you’re new to anal play, this is not the toy you run to pick up right away. As in, this is not your first butt plug. First timers need to grasp the concept of having something in their ass before having something in their ass that has some weight to it. Or else they will constantly feel the need to take a shit. I felt like I should get that out of the way before I dive in.
The design is pretty traditional to what you think of when you hear the words butt plug. The major difference however is in its transition from the rounded tapered tip to the largest insertable part of plug and then to the neck, which of course leads to the base of the plug. There isn’t this big drop from the insertable length to the base because the neck is so short. It makes for a smoother transition and less of a “pop” sensation once you have the full length inserted. In more traditional looking butt plugs, the neck is usually longer.
Inserting was an enjoyable experience for me, of course made better with lube. For me personally, I like using anal toys and some vaginal toys with water-based gel lubricant. I like gel lubricants because of their viscosity. They kind of create a barrier between you and whatever you’re using and just make things nice and slick. Along with the plug, I was also able to try out the Sliquid Organics Natural Gel Lubricant. This lubricant is the more natural version of the Sliquid Sassy. So the Sliquid Sassy but healthier, since it’s organic. What I liked the most about this lubricant it didn’t dry fast, and when it did dry, it wasn’t sticky. If you’re someone who is looking for a lubricant that is hypoallergenic and is as close to natural lubrication as possible, give this one a try. There’s nothing I didn’t like about it since it reminded me so much of Sliquid Sassy.
While I didn’t find this plug to be intimidating, my ass sure did. It was a bit wider than the other plug I used before. So when I got to the widest part of it, there was some pain. Not “It hurts so bad!” pain. More like “It hurts so good!” pain. That feeling of being stretched, matched with anticipating the feeling of fullness. Coupled with the weight of the plug, put pressure on the right spots. It felt gratifying. The pain of course was also my ass adjusting to something of a bigger size inside of it for the first time, but nothing I didn’t feel I wasn’t already prepared for.
I did find that with this particular plug, thrusting is damn near impossible. The neck is so short that your ass pulls it up, making thrusting a little difficult. So if your partner or you wants to pay a game of “Pull and Push” with the plug, good luck. As for wearing the plug around and about, it was okay for about 30-60 minutes. If the whole base was rounded more on the edges, it would probably more comfortable to sit in for longer. I feel like the edges are too blunt or sharp, where they cut into the skin after a while.
Ass for temperature play, my most fun came from running it under cool water, putting it in ice water, or just popping it in the freezer (placing it into a Ziploc bag first), and into my butt to see how long it took to adjust to my body heat. The perfect thing to do on a hot summer day, during a heat wave. It holds cold temperatures decently long but holds heat way better.
Quality Control, Cleaning, and Caution
While Cal Exotics has been around for a very long time, they haven’t necessarily been the most body-safe conscious sex toy company out there. And it’s because they didn’t have to be. They were one of the biggest players in the market and they were supplying a demand. Until people started to demand body-safe sex toys. I think they did pretty okay with this one. Especially for a min-range priced toy.
As for cleaning this toy, you can use a ton of different methods. Soap and water, water-bleach solution, rubbing alcohol, your favorite toy cleaner, or simply boiling it with water for 8-10 minutes. Maybe not that last one. At least not without caution or a cautionary tale. You see, because that lovely jewel in the base of the toy is attached via an adhesive (most likely) and is not imbedded into the base of the plug, boiling the plug to sanitize may cause the jewel to pop out. And since this is a mid-range toy, the jewel may crack from excessive heat. The plug itself will be complete fine. The jewel however, may not make a full recovery.
Should you buy it?
Let’s see. A mid-range butt plug made with body-safe material that can be used for temperature play and has some nice weight to it? Yeah. Get it. It makes for a great second butt plug and a great first time/try something different/I’m seasoned to anal stuff toy. It’s easy to clean, works with all lubricants and doesn’t hold on to butt smells after taking it out of your butt. If you’re looking to move up to a stainless steel plug, maybe you might want to give this one a try first.
If you would like to purchase the California Exotics Aluminum Mini Butt Plug, click here (<–click here or the image below)
If you would like to purchase the Sliquid Organics Natural Gel Lube, click here (<–click here or the image below)
The California Exotics Aluminum Mini Butt Plug and Sliquid Organics Natural Gel Lubricant was provided courtesy of Ignite Pleasure Products in Exchange for an honest review.