I’ll admit, as soon as I saw the Leaf vibrators, I started lusting. Cute little silicone rechargeable vibes modeled to look like objects from nature? Sounds like my kind of vibe, huh?

This is the video that basically sucked me in. Notice that it doesn’t show the markings on the toy:

“Wait… Leaf is made by Swan? Huh… Wonder what else they have…”

*goes to Swan’s website*

“…those…look just like the vibes in the Jopen Vanity line from California Exotics Novelties (aka CEN, CalExotics, Swedish Erotica, etc.)…ugh…”

So, that sent up a red flag. I’m really not a fan of anything from CalExotics, and the “silicone” that my Jopen vibe (click to open review in new window) was made of didn’t quite smell like the quality silicone I’m used to… So, what’s the deal with Swan and Jopen? Well, due to international agreements, Swan is currently only available to European, Australian, African, and Asian consumers. Jopen, however, bought the rights to sell the line in the Western Hemisphere as the “Jopen Vanity” line, owned by CalExotics. Same vibes and factory…

Details

Features: Waterproof, Travel-Ready, Rechargeable, Phthalate-free, Latex-free

Material: 100% Silicone exterior, ABS plastic interior

Dimensions: 7.2 cm x 4.6 cm (2.8" x 1.8")

Packaged Product Weight: 553 g (1.22 lbs)

Motor: Single motor powered by PowerBullet™ technology

Battery: Rechargeable Lithium-Polymer

Charging Time: Approximately 2hours

Run Time: Highest Speed - 40 mins / Lowest Speed - 1 hr 15 mins

Vibrating Frequency: 1800-7000 RPM

Frequency: 30/115HZ

Material

So, does the Spirit by Leaf (by Swan) smell like normal silicone? It, along with the box, had a slight odor to it, but nothing like what I smelled with the Jopen Vanity line. Also, it stopped smelling after one wash, which I can’t say for the Jopen Vanity vibe I have. It also has the same BMS PowerBullet™ in it as the Jopen Vanity line, so expect the power and controls to be pretty much the same.

Spirit is a very solid little vibrator, with a slight give around the edges. The finish is matte and very soft. You may want to use a drop or two of water-based lubricant to alleviate any drag of the silicone on your skin. Also, the “virtually seamless”, which is advertised on the box, means that I can feel the seam on the toy, but barely. I only feel it when I run my finger carefully over it, not during use.

Design/Shape

Yes, there markings on Spirit. No, I don’t like them, and Leaf by Swan knows they’re ugly:

“Hey there! Even though you might not mind the markings, some people do. So for those people, we just wanted to say sorry for having all those little symbols on your product. Unfortunately we are forced to put them on due to international laws, so please do not be mad at us. Look on the bright side though, we made them very smooth and the same color as the rest of your toy so you more than likely will not really notice them anyway.”

Fine, but I still don’t like them, and the grammar in that paragraph definitely needs checking.

The shape and contours of Spirit are perfect. The tip of the rounded triangle fits nicely between my labia and provides great stimulation for my clit, while the wider end is easy to hold onto. And, since it’s so small and fairly flat, it can easily be used during sex, sandwiched in-between my husband’s and my body. Also, it would fit just fine in a pair of panties for hands-free stimulation, which is why I assume the promotional image is the toy resting on a black panty.

Honestly, I wouldn’t mind having a second Spirit. (How weird would that sound out of context?) Since it’s so small, and has that nice gentle curve, it fits very well in one of my sports bra cups. Spirit reminds me of something I discovered on BreastNexus (It’s a forum for people to discuss various natural breast enhancement methods.), when I was really adamant about trying to increase my breast size. One of the ladies there was asking if anyone had tried breast massagers like those pink things. I’d love to have another Spirit to attempt that with and see if I get any results. The basic idea is: vibration increases blood flow, increase in blood flow + intake of various herbs/foods/extra water helps build more boobage.

And don’t worry, you can take this baby in the water. It’s completely waterproof. I know…there’s a hole in it for the charger. I’ve submerged it while it was on, and it was fine.

Vibration/Noise/Packaging

Just a quick overview of the packaging, vibration/noise levels, how to control the toy, etc…

Vibration: 4/5 Because the PowerBullet™ isn’t like your normal 1-speed or 3-speed boring, wimpy bullet, you get quite a bit of power in a small package. Thank you for a bullet that is actually powerful enough to get me off!

The vibrations transfer well throughout the whole toy. It’s not as deep and rumbly as the vibrations on some toys, but it’s not very buzzy. It does tend to be a bit buzzy as the intensity increases, but I’m fine with that.

Noise: 2/5 Spirit is fairly quiet. I’d say it’s a little quieter than my husband’s electric trimmer. I can hear it under the covers, but not through a closed door, when the intensity is turned all the way up.

Packaging: The packaging is fairly simple, sturdy, and should live up to quite a bit of abuse. The only things that might tip someone off as to what is inside are that the company website is printed on the box and the phrase “natural pleasure”.  There’s some basic information written in six languages. Also, it states that the toy has a 1-year limited warranty and a 10-year limited guarantee.

Cleaning and Care

Wash the toy with antibacterial soap, or use a toy wipe. You can also with it down with a 10% bleach solution. DO NOT attempt to boil or sanitize in a dishwasher, as this will damage the electronic parts.

Store it in the pouch and keep it away from other toys. Toys touch toys can lead to materials melting and/or fusing together.

There really isn’t much that sets the Leaf vibrators apart as something more “green” (aka eco-friendly) than other higher-end brands. The cardboard box and canvas tote appear as if they may be recycled but, Fun Factory packaging contains biodegradable PET and you can just recycle the rest of the packaging, and all of their toys are silicone and rechargeable, too. LELO’s toys are the same, but their packaging could be more eco-friendly. So, if the box and canvas bag really are made from post-consumer materials, then I’d say the Leaf line has a small step up on the “green” ladder.

Opinion

Alright, I was a little skeptical, at first. I tend to stick with manufacturers I know and love, and deviating from that tends to make me a little cautious. Throw in the possibility of being linked to CalExotics, and you’ve got me almost turning down the offer to review a toy completely these days.

However, I was pleasantly surprised by Leaf (Swan). My little Spirit vibe is a wonderful clitoral vibrator; perfect size, shape, safe material that I’m not left doubting about, rechargeable… Myself, I have no issues with it.

The single-button control may bother others, though, since the intensity can’t be decreased without turning off the vibe first. The price seems steep, too. My Yooo (click to open my review in a new window), which is silicone, rechargeable, waterproof, eco-friendly, and has more vibration features is about the same price. Spirit is cute and a nice vibe, but… I’d like to get more bang for my buck.

FTC Statement: Spirit was provided to True Pleasures for free by Leaf in exchange for a review. No form of compensation has been accepted. This has not affected the opinions within the review, and complies with FTC standards.