{"id":627,"date":"2018-04-29T00:37:39","date_gmt":"2018-04-29T00:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bettybutch.com\/?p=627"},"modified":"2019-05-21T21:43:33","modified_gmt":"2019-05-21T21:43:33","slug":"review-the-luxe-scarlet-compact-vibe-by-ns-novelties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bettybutch.com\/index.php\/2018\/04\/29\/review-the-luxe-scarlet-compact-vibe-by-ns-novelties\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: The Luxe Scarlet Compact Vibe by NS Novelties"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Luxe Scarlet 7-Function Rechargeable Compact Vibe<\/a> is a 4.25-inch bullet from NS Novelties\u2019 Luxe Collection. Despite the name, the bullet I received from Peepshow Toys<\/a> is turquoise \u2013 which has created a few sitcom-y moments between my partner and I when I ask for the \u201cScarlet vibe\u201d and Buster tries to give me one of the various pink vibrators we have in our toy drawers. When I clarify that I actually want \u201cthe little blue one,\u201d I\u2019m usually handed the wrong one again<\/em>. (I\u2019m only 50% sure they do it on purpose.)<\/p>\n

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The Luxe Scarlet Compact Vibe laying across its box on a flowered, blue fabric background. The box is cleanly designed with inviting fonts and colors and some pale flowers, with a picture of the vibe as the centerpiece.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though it may not initially stand out in name or color from my collection, the Luxe Scarlet has its own identity. Its deliciously sleek silicone exterior is sculpted into a smooth, subtle spiral, ending in a white plastic base and a large, flat silicone button indented with NS Novelties\u2019 initials. There is a nearly invisible seam on its body but it\u2019s literally imperceptible in use. I love the modest design touch of the spiraling, which doesn\u2019t do much for my grip but does visually differentiate the Scarlet from a long line of chunky bullet vibes I\u2019ve used over the years. The minimalist spiral even makes an appearance on the inwards taper of the plastic base. In addition to turquoise, the Scarlet also comes in ivory and pink.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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A close-up of the NSN indented in the Scarlet’s button.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Though the silicone of the Scarlet is pleasingly buttery on the surface, the vibrator itself is hard and has absolutely no flexibility. For those who prefer a firmer press but want something with a different texture than the average plastic bullet, the Scarlet isn\u2019t an entirely unfriendly budget option (it retails for about $40 USD at Peepshow Toys.) Its rounded nose prevents even the most insistent pressing from becoming pokey or stabby in the heat of the moment. And with some lube, the Luxe Scarlet<\/a> glides<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The Scarlet has a blessedly modest 7 settings: three steady power settings, and four patterns. Seeing as this industry loves vibration patterns almost<\/em> as much as most bloggers hate them, I was pleasantly surprised to find just a few on the Luxe Scarlet\u2019s roster. This is an especially appreciated choice considering the Scarlet has just one button, meaning users have to click through every setting to get back to where they started. Like most one-buttoned toys, to turn the Scarlet on or off, you hold the button for several seconds; to change settings, you give the button a brief push. (The Luxe Scarlet\u2019s button requires a firm press, so if you have limited hand mobility\/strength, keep that in mind when considering this vibe.) To signal the toy is on, a cringe-inducingly bright white light shines in a ring around the button (shuddering constantly due to the vibration strength), and it blinks rapidly to denote patterns.<\/p>\n

I hate the prevalence of these lights in toys. I\u2019m autistic and I\u2019m light-sensitive, so they\u2019re not just annoying and distracting \u2013 they can cause headaches and shutdowns, especially when they\u2019re flashing. But like patterns, these lights seem to be an industry standard, so this isn\u2019t a complaint aimed at the Scarlet alone.<\/p>\n

Anyway.<\/p>\n

I was initially disappointed with the Luxe Scarlet\u2019s vibration strength \u2013 but that wasn\u2019t the toy\u2019s fault! Instead, it was due to the aforementioned sitcom-y moments. When I asked my partner to plug it in for me so I could test it later, they mistakenly charged a different vibrator; in the turmoil of moving in the last week, I never noticed the Scarlet didn\u2019t have its initial out-of-the-box charge topped off. I used it twice and had a decidedly meh attitude towards its capabilities. But when we were settled in our new lot, I charged it again (or, in actuality, for the first time) since I test toys at least six times, and suddenly it was giving me delicious, toe-curling orgasms.<\/p>\n

Always check your rechargeable\u2019s charge, friends!<\/p>\n

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The Scarlet with its charge cord coiled around it on a blue, flowered fabric background.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Nowhere on the box does the Scarlet<\/a> promise rumbles \u2013 in fact, all it promises are \u201crobust functions delivered by a powerful silent motor,\u201d which it arguably fails at (and we\u2019ll get to that in a moment.) But its first two steady functions have unmistakably rumbly undertones to them, with the vibrations steady and ripple-like. I prefer my rumbles to work deep<\/em> against my vulva in order to stimulate more of the clitoral complex… the Luxe Scarlet doesn\u2019t manage the same thuddy depth of some of my other favorite toys, but it doesn\u2019t leave me unsatisfied either, because even with the significantly buzzier third setting, its vibrations work past the surface and provide satisfying orgasms that don\u2019t numb me out. It\u2019s no bone-shaking wand but it\u2019s not trying to be.<\/p>\n

While I\u2019m also not a big fan of patterns, there is actually one I really<\/em> like among the Luxe Scarlet\u2019s small assortment: the very first, which is a rapid flutter that \u2013 unlike other pulse-style patterns \u2013 is continuous. There\u2019s also a hiccup of flutters with a pause at the end, a slow rev-up of power that ends in a pause, and a \u2018blinking\u2019 pattern.<\/p>\n

So if the Scarlet delivers powerful vibrations, then why do I say it fails at the claim on its box? It\u2019s the \u201csilent motor\u201d bit that gets me. This isn\u2019t a super noisy vibe but it\u2019s definitely not silent. It initially makes tame grumble-purrs but by the third setting it emits a droning whine like a strong electric toothbrush, and its patterns are definitely noticeable blips of droning buzz. Pressing it firmly against flesh of course dampens it, but not to the point of silence. Will a comforter smother out the sound? Yes. Will a fan on high drown it out? Yes. But the phrase \u201csilent\u201d implies something the Scarlet simply is not.<\/p>\n

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The Scarlet with its cord plugged in.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Charging the Scarlet<\/a> is easy. Its cord is USB, meaning you\u2019ll either need a base to plug it into an outlet (like the one for your phone) or you can plug it into your computer to charge. It connects to the butt of the vibe magnetically \u2013 the cord has two sturdy, stubby metal prongs that click into corresponding notches built into the Scarlet\u2019s button. It does wriggle a bit, but I haven\u2019t had any issues with it dislodging during charging.<\/p>\n

The issue I do<\/em> have is that the ring light flashes continuously during charging, which is just as annoying sitting on my shelf as it is between my thighs.<\/p>\n

The Scarlet Compact Vibe is also waterproof. I don\u2019t have a tub, but I do sometimes partially submerge toys in my sink when I clean them, and I haven\u2019t had any issues with the Scarlet. And because it\u2019s made of silicone and ABS plastic, cleaning is as simple as soap and warm water. I\u2019ve noticed it attracts a lot less lint and dust than my other silicone-coated toys. But in case you\u2019re concerned, the Scarlet also comes with a sleek black storage bag with a pullstring. I haven\u2019t seen many toys outside of the luxury price range that come with their own storage.<\/p>\n

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The Scarlet sitting on a blue, flowered fabric background with its box standing up behind it.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I love this vibrator. It\u2019s a significant step-up from the average plastic bullet that most of us with vulvas buy as our first sex toy. It feels like the perfect purchase for when you\u2019re willing to invest in something nicer but aren\u2019t ready, able, or interested in ponying up for a luxury-priced vibrator. Or the perfect present if your partner has consented to you buying them a better \u2013 or, perhaps, even first \u2013 vibrator. And with pleasant packaging that\u2019s approachable rather than hyper-sexualized, and features such as being rechargeable, waterproof, decently strong, and having its own storage bag, I imagine the Luxe Scarlet Compact Vibe<\/a> is just as attractive to in-store buyers as online shoppers. It\u2019s the kind of toy and presentation I wish had existed when I first stepped into a sex shop. The airy aesthetic of its box normalizes the naturalness of pleasure rather than ramps up implied naughtiness, and its quality is an immediate reassurance that sex toys are a worthwhile buy.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t actually do numerical scores for sex toys, but I\u2019m still giving the Luxe Scarlet Compact Vibe<\/a> a 9\/10 for being affordable luxury. Just make sure you top off its charge before use, because it\u2019s pretty wimpy when its power is low.<\/p>\n

You can buy the Luxe Scarlet Compact Vibe for $39.99 USD at Peepshow Toys<\/a>. Peepshow Toys has a large selection of great toys carefully curated into non-gendered categories. You can find other awesome vibes in their budget-helpful Vibrators under $50<\/a> section!<\/p>\n

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The Luxe Scarlet partially tucked into a thin black bag.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Thank you, Peepshow Toys<\/a>, for sending me the Scarlet Compact Vibe in exchange for an honest review. Affiliate links were used in this post.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Luxe Scarlet 7-Function Rechargeable Compact Vibe is a 4.25-inch bullet from NS Novelties’ Luxe Collection. Despite the name, the bullet I received from Peepshow Toys is turquoise – which has created a few sitcom-y moments between my partner and I when I ask for […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":630,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[12,14,721,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-627","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-external-toys","category-vibrators-external-toys","category-sex-toys","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t