So, our community has spoken – what you really want to be gifted is a vibrator. Adding some sex positivity to your wish list is one thing, but what if you’re looking to gift somebody else something fun?
Perhaps you’ve never considered wrapping up some sexual pleasure for a loved one? Or, it’s crossed your mind but you’re not really sure how to go about it? In a recent poll on our Instagram, 79% of participants shared that they’ve never given a vibrator as a gift.
Those who have, told us who the lucky recipients were...
It looks like we don’t just stop at treating a good friend or bestie, we also bring positive vibes into our group chats. Be it a bridal party or our vulva-owner gang, opening up about our sexuality collectively is a great way to make people feel comfortable thinking about their self-pleasure – out loud or in private. If you’ve a group of friends who love talking about this, why not try a sexy secret-Santa? Check out our guide to match vibes up with all the personality types in your friendship circle!
When it comes to sisters, a few members of our community mentioned younger siblings. Whether or not the adage is true – with age comes wisdom – a good starting point for gifting our loved ones is considering whether it will be their first vibrator. Our super-soft, silicone massagers are designed to be unintimidating and perfect for beginners. Not only that, but we ensure each is packed up with an easy-to-read and educational manual that includes some handy tips!
For partners, it’s good to think about what kind of pleasure you’d like to gift – is it for them or for both of you to use together. Introducing sex toys into your relationship can unlock new sensations and renew exploration of each other's bodies.
The most important thing to consider when buying a vibrator as a gift is who the recipient is to you and whether you know they will feel comfortable or happy to receive one! Dropping hints or having discussions with our loved ones about sexuality is a good way to get an indication of consent. Afterall, it’s all about bringing a smile to their faces!
Do your research.
Once you’re confident the lucky recipient will welcome positive vibes with open hands, there’s research to do! We asked our community what they would like to know about a vibrator before buying it for someone else...
Will it be a perfect match?
Every one of us experiences pleasure in a unique way, what makes you feel good may differ to what makes your friend or loved one feel good. So, perhaps we can’t promise perfect – but we can make you a personal recommendation to guide you in the right direction! Take the Smile Makers quiz, see what gifting outcome you get and be confident that our pleasure-positive sex education tips and how-tos will definitely inspire the recipient, if nothing else.
Is it safe?
Product safety and quality is important to us all, and especially so when gifting to loved ones! Key factors to consider include; is the material body-safe? Is it waterproof? Is it designed for a vulva-owners body? All Smile Makers are made with a super-soft silicone that’s phthalate free and 100% waterproof. All are shaped to complement specific points in our pleasure anatomy!
How is it powered?
The vibrator you’re looking to buy may be rechargeable, which might cost a little bit more, or be battery operated. Top tip: why not slip some batteries into the gift bag so the recipient has everything they need to start enjoying their new toy!
What type of pleasure do they want?
There are lots of different types of vibrators to choose from, all that aim to give pleasure in different ways. Clitoral, vaginal, tongue, g-spot, vulva, bullet... have a think whether the recipient could be looking for some quickie satisfaction (hello clit stim) or something a little more deep and sensuous.
Is the toy really giftable?
Find assurance that your recipient’s unboxing experience of their gift is going to enjoyable, from the outside packaging to the first time they switch their new self-love tool on. In our books, the smile should start way before any arousal. We arm each recipient with pleasure knowledge and masturbation tips, and a guide on how to turn their vibrator on. What about the actual vibrations and modes? There should be enough to play around with, to find one that matches their preferences – furthermore, pay attention to sound level in product descriptions. You don’t want there to be a buzzkill.
Whether it’s effective?
Read reviews. Take into account real-user thoughts to help decipher the right vibrator for your recipient, these are real people that all have different pleasure expectations and can share their personal experience. You could even go one-step further, like our customer Maya did, and gift one you know is good for yourself!
“Best gift ever! Received as a gift from a friend... and I had to pass it on by gifting another one to another friend.”
Where to gift a vibrator.
We should always keep in mind what environment our recipients will be opening their presents in. Some of us may feel awkward receiving a vibrator at a family gathering, at a dinner party or amongst work colleagues, for example. While we are all about sharing sex positivity and bringing conversations out in the open, it’s important to be respectful and conscious that sexual pleasure is a very personal and intimate experience!
Tip: Leave a small ‘open in private’ hint on the gift tag to leave any blushing cheeks for their first time using the gift!
