Glossary
A
Anal beads | Multiple balls or spheres attached to one another or with some space between them. Usually used to enhance an orgasm by slowly inserting them in the rectum and pulling out before or during climax. |
ABS plastic | Very chemically stable hard plastic. Body-safe material. Often used for vibrating toys and together with silicone. Legos are made of this too! |
Aluminium | Aluminium is non-porous and phthalates-free body-safe material. It can be used together with all lubricants and is easy to care for. Lighter than stainless steel. |
Aphrodisiacs | Aphrodisiacs are chemicals known to increase sexual desire and can be found in many foods, plants and herbs, for example, oysters, chocolate and chili peppers. |
B
Butt plug/Anal plug | Your anus is full of nerve endings which feel great when stimulated. Butt plugs are made for this reason - they plug your butt and have a flared based which makes sure the plug doesn't go too far in. Plugs have a tapered tip for easy insertion. They come in all different shapes, colours and sizes and can be vibrating or non-vibrating. |
BDSM | BDSM stands for Bondage/Discipline, Dominance/Submission, Sadism/Masochism and covers a wide range of activities all of which are always performed in an "safe, sane, consensual" manner. |
Buzzy | "Buzzy" is a way to describe the quality of vibrations made by a vibrator. Buzzy vibrations don't go as deep in the tissue, are higher-frequency and feel more surfaced than "Rumbly" vibrations. Most budget vibrators which are battery-operated will be more buzzy. |
Body-safe | Body-safe are materials which are safe, durable, hygienic and easy to clean. These materials don't contain phthalates and are non-porous which means that they won't harbour fungi and bacteria. The only non body-safe materials we carry are TPE and TPR which don't contain harmful chemicals but are porous and not meant for long-term usage. These materials are widely used for penis strokers such as Fleshlights. |
D
Dildo | Majority of dildos are phallic-shaped, non-vibrating sex toys used for vaginal or anal penetration. Dildos don't vibrate on their own but some can be used in combination with small bullet vibrators to make them vibrate. Dildos with flared base can be used for strap-on play and pegging. |
Dilator | Vaginal dilators usually made of hard plastic or silicone are used to stretch out the vagina and often come in a set with different sized dilators ranging from small (about a finger sized) to large. During vaginal dilator therapy a person will use the smallest dilator gradually moving to the largest. |
Douche | Anal douche, also called douching or enema is a tool which helps with the douching process in which the fecal remnants are removed from the rectum. Douching is usually performed few hours before anal sex. Unfortunately anal douching not only removes the fecal matter but the intestinal flora as well which is your good bacteria needed to maintain your intestinal immune system. Therefore douching should be performed sparingly. |
Dental dam | Dental dam is a thin sheet of latex or polyurethane made to function as a barrier during oral sex and protect from sexually transmitted infections. Dental dams are used to prevent contact between your mouth and the vagina, vulva or anus. |
E
Electrostimulation | Electrostimulation or e-stim for short is the act of using electronic impulses for stimulation. This translates to electrosex which contrary to popular belief doesn't hurt but creates a tingling sensation. Tools used in e-stim are commonly referred to as e-stim toys or e-stim devices. When practicing e-stim a common rule is to never go above the belt and avoid the heart, neck and head area. |
F
FTM | FTM or F2M is a term used to describe a trans person who is transitioning from female to male or any person assigned “female” at birth and who identifies as male or masculine. |
G
Glycerin | Glycerin (also glycerine, glycerol) is a sugar alcohol often used in cosmetics and lubricants. As glycerin is sweet it can act as food for bacteria and cause bacterial growth which can lead to yeast infections and UTIs. For this reason we don't recommend products which contain glycerin to those prone to yeast infections. On Peachy Vibes you can see if a product contains glycerin in the product description. |
Gender identity | Gender identity is how a person feels in relation to being female or male. Gender identity can correlate with or differ from the gender assigned at birth. |
H
Hybrid lubricant | Hybrid lubricant has a base and qualities of both water and silicone lubricants. Hybrid lubricants can be used with silicone toys however you should always do a patch test before doing so. |
K
Kegel | Named after the gynaecologist Arnold Henry Kegel who invented kegel exercises. The exercises are performed by repeatedly contracting and relaxing the muscles the pelvic floor muscles for strengthening and toning purposes. The exercises can be performed with and without tools. |
L
Latex | Latex is rubber and can be natural or synthetic. Natural latex is produced from the Hevea brasilienesis rubber tree while synthetic latex is composed of petroleum-based chemicals. Latex can be used to make condoms, clothing, accessories and many other items. |
M
Medical grade | Materials labeled as "medical-grade", such as some silicones, are tested to interact with human bodies and are regulated to make sure they won't negatively affect your health. These materials are more expensive therefore the item made from such materials will be more expensive. |
MTF | MTF or M2F is a term used to describe a trans person who is transitioning from male to female or any person assigned “male” at birth and who identifies as female or feminine. |
N
Nickel | Nickel is quite common silvery-white, hard metal used in strengthening stainless steel and other alloys. It has high resistance to heat and corrosion. Some people can have a nickel allergy therefore if a product contains nickel, we make sure to include this information in product description. |
P
Porous | Products which have the characteristic "porous" in the description are made from or contain porous materials. Such materials have pours which can harbour bacteria and fungi and can not be fully sanitised. Such materials are not considered "body-safe". Products made from these materials can be used only for a limited period of time. |
Polycarbonate | Polycarbonate (PC) is hard plastic material. Non-porous and safe to use with all lubricants. Polycarbonate has a higher impact resistance than ABS plastic. |
pH balance | A pH measures how acidic or alkaline something is. The scale of pH is 0-14 and the average pH is 7. Anything below 7 is considered acidic and above - alkaline. The lower or higher the number the more acidic or alkaline the substance is. On average a vagina has the pH level ranging from 3.8-4.5 while rectal pH is neutral at pH7.0 - anything above can cause infections and discomfort. The lubricant you use should match the pH level of where you're using it. |
Pelvic floor | A group of muscles which hold the bladder, uterus (womb) and bowel are called the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor has to be strong to prevent incontinence or prolapse. Additionally pelvic floor helps you with controlling bladder and bowel function. |
Perineum | The perineum (also called "taint") is the space between your anus and vulva or scrotum. It is an erogenous zone and can feel good when stimulated. |
Prostate | The prostate (P-spot) is a walnut-sized gland and a part of the male reproductive system. It grows larger with age. It is located between the bladder and the root of the penis and its main function is to secrete a fluid which makes up about 70% of the seminal volume. Prostate is highly sensitive and when massaged, can provide intense orgasms. |
Packing | Packing is done by wearing padding or a phallic object in your underwear to create the appearance of having a penis. Packing is often used for gender expression or exploration as well as to cope with gender dysphoria. On Peachy Vibes we stock a variety of packers - packing dildos in a flaccid form. |
Pegging | Although anyone can do pegging, it is usually practiced between heterosexual partners where the vagina-bearing person wears a strap-on and penetrates the penis-bearing person. |
Parabens | Parabens are preservatives widely used in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products to extend their shelf life. Parabens are believed to disrupt hormone function and are linked to breast cancer and reproductive issues. |
Phthalates | Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics softer, more flexible and harder to break. Phthalates are often referred to as plasticisers. How phthalates affect our health is not fully clear yet however they are often linked to asthma, breast cancer, neurodevelopment issues, reproductive development and male fertility issues. |
Propylene glycol | Propylene glycol is a water-absorbing substance often used in cosmetics to keep them moist and deliver active ingredients into the skin. It is often used in lubricants and is generally recognized as safe ingredient. However, for some it can cause vaginal irritation. |
Pheromones | Pheromones are chemical signals naturally released by the body. They work outside of the body and can induce sexual arousal. On Peachy Vibes you can find cosmetics infused with pheromones to affect physical attraction and arousal. |
R
Rumbly | Toys characterised as "rumbly" have strong vibrations which can be felt deep in the tissue. |
S
Silicone | Silicone is one of the best materials for sex toys as it is non-porous, hypoallergenic and especially versatile. Toys made from silicone are easy to clean and velvety soft. Silicone toys are not compatible with silicone based lubricants. |
Strap-on | Strap-ons are harnesses to which you can attach dildos with flared base and penetrate your partner. Strap-on belts come in variety of shapes, colours and materials. |
Silicone-based | Silicone-based lubricants do not contain any water, last longer and are perfect for long sessions. Silicone-based lubricants can dissolve silicone sex toys therefore should not be used together. |
Splashproof | Toys characterised as splashproof are safe to use around water but shouldn't be submerged or held under a stream of water. |
T
TPE & TPR | TPE (Thermo-Plastic Elastomer) and TPR (Thermo-Plastic Rubber) are considered to be the same material with the main difference being how the elastomers are bonded. These materials are porous and toys made from them are not made for long-term use. TPE and TPR are very elastic and soft. Toys made from these materials are not toxic but should be used with caution - as soon as damage, dark spots (which can signal the presence of mould) or mineral oil leakage is noticed, the toy should be replaced. |
Travel lock | Toys with travel-lock have a locking feature which prevents the toy from accidentally turning on. |
V
Vaginismus | When the pelvic floor muscles are very tight, penetration can be painful and cause discomfort. Such condition when the pelvic floor muscles involuntarily tense up is called Vaginismus. Current treatments available are sex therapy, pelvic floor physical therapy, and vaginal dilation. |
Vegan | Products marked as vegan don't contain animal-derived ingredients. |
W
Water-based | Water-based lubricants are the most common and come either with or without glycerin. As name suggests these lubricants are based on water and are safe to use with condoms and all sex toys. |
Waterproof | Waterproof sex toys are safe to submerge and use near water. |