Iroha Stick Review: Kitschy but Effective

Design

The Iroha Stick is a straightforward lipstick vibrator. The handle is matte black with “iroha” printed along the side, like a lipstick brand would be. It comes with a clear cap to go over the fleshy, pink silicone head that’s shaped like lipstick. The cap is actually really nice to store the toy, and definitely makes it travel friendly. The bottom of the handle has two spinning layers. The lowest turns the toy on and adjusts the speed as it is rotated. The next layer unscrews the bottom to reveal the batteries. The design serves two functions, the first being to look like lipstick. The second is a byproduct of the first because of the angled head and forked lip. The head lays flat on your body while using it, and the lip points sort of tickle as they vibrate. The angled head makes it easier to use as well, helping your wrist to sit comfortably while holding it.

Experience

I was pleasantly surprised by this toy. A flat angled head and forked tongue make it easy to pinpoint pleasure. They lay flat against your clit, and the edges are there to turn to for a different sensation. The dial is lovely; instead of cycling through intensities with a button, you turn it to find the right speed. It’s a little awkward to get used to at first since you need both hands to do it. It does vibrate your hand quite a bit, but it’s not all that different from most bullet vibrators. It’s surprisingly quiet, leaning into it being a discreet toy in disguise. Honestly, the angle made it easy to use while sitting, so when I was testing it out, I had it next to me on the couch. I could see this being a good travel companion, easy to use without anyone overhearing something and easy to hide. The only downside to the experience was the rigidity of the head and lack of a round surface. Overall, it is a really fun, solid toy.

Quality

The quality feels equivalent to a vibrator you’d buy off a hanger near the checkout. It feels durable. The silicone is smooth and nicely crafted. It functions well and reliably. My biggest concern with quality comes from reading the manual. The toy is described as waterproof, yet under “how to clean,” they say not to submerge the toy. Later, there's a section titled “regarding water-resistance,” which is a paragraph on ways to cause the toy water damage. Ultimately, I wouldn’t trust the waterproof rating of this toy. Even just looking at it, I would never assume it’s waterproof because of all the seams and joints between the material.

Price

Iroha sells its Lilac and Black stick vibrator for $16, a total steal. Considering the toy's highs and lows, I don’t think you could find a better stick vibrator for this price.

Performance

With small vibrators, power is the biggest concern when it comes to performance, and the Iroha Stick delivers. For its size, the power is impressive and very satisfying.

Packaging

The toy comes in basic plastic packaging, probably so customers can see how clever the lipstick design is. It comes with a simple owner’s manual and a tester battery. Iroha recommends you don’t continue using the included battery and instead only insert it to test that the toy works. I used it for my full test of the product, and it held up fine. It would certainly be nice if they included a proper battery to use.

Materials and care

When washing the toy use tepid water and mild soap, do not submerge the toy. Be sure that the battery port is fully sealed before cleaning. Also, look for anything building up in the groove near the forked tongue.