How to Use a Rose Toy

In this guide: What is a rose toy? | How does it work? | How to use it | Top tips | What's the best rose toy?

Love your vibrator, but looking for something a bit different? Let us introduce you to clit suckers – toys that stimulate your clit (or other erogenous zones) with innovative air wave technology. The Rose isn’t the first clitoral suction toy, but it has blown up in popularity for its soft petals and unique design. Let’s face it, it’s a very pretty sex toy – and how often can you really say that?

If you have no idea how to use a rose toy, we’ve got you. In this guide, we’ll explain what exactly this powerful little toy is and how to get the most out of it. We’ll also review some of our favorite models, so you can get on your way to toe-curling ecstasy.

Only got time for a quickie?

Here’s the TL;DR version – check it out if you’re short on time or skip ahead to read the full guide in all its glory:

• A rose toy gives you all the OMG without the vibration. Instead, it sends pulses of air to your clit for stimulation that doesn’t desensitize you.

• You can use it solo or with a partner. Its small-petal design is easy to hold in your palm and suits a variety of positions, so you can experiment by yourself, or bring a partner in for double the fun.

• But it can take a little bit to get used to. Practice makes perfect, right? Take some time to learn how to use the suction center of the rose toy on your clit.

• The rose toy is designed to encircle the clit and feels similar to oral sex. Many people think it gives them stronger orgasms than a traditional vibrator.

• Don’t forget the lube. Your sensual session will feel smoother, without bothersome friction.

A rose toy is a sex toy that uses air pulses for clitoral stimulation, mimicking the sensation of tongue licking or sucking. You can cup this delightful little toy in your hand, but unlike traditional vibrators, a rose toy doesn’t vibrate your bits (more on how it works below).

The original Rose toy exploded in popularity after users shared their jaw-dropping weak-at-the-knees experiences with it on TikTok. With its beautiful petal design and soft silicone, the rose toy may very well be the best sex toy you never knew you needed. Read on to find out how it works.

The rose toy works by using a small internal motor to make it feel like your clitoris is being sucked or flicked by a tongue. Lovehoney’s rose toys have a soft silicone head which fits snugly around your clitoris while Pleasure Air Technology sends pulses of air to stimulate you.

Some people find the unique sensation of clitoral suction gives them much more powerful orgasms, without the buzzy, numb feeling you can get from low quality vibrators. If you’re a vibe lover, don’t be disappointed! You can get some rose toys with vibrating components, like a love egg that slips inside you to stimulate your G-spot.

One of our verified customers swears by the perks of using clitoral suction: “The rose stimulator is so easy to use with so many speed settings, and once I found the setting I loved the most, I actually squirted for the first time! Extremely happy with this purchase.”

Another customer, mrswatermelon, noted, “It takes a second to get the groove, but once you do it’s fantastic.”

A rose toy is easy to use once you figure it out, but it takes a little practice. Unlike a regular vibrator, its suction head is smaller and more precise, so finding the right spot may take some practice.

Below, we’ll show you how to use a rose toy, step-by-step, so you can get on your way to... well, getting off! But if solo play is pretty new to you, you might like to check out our guide on how to masturbate (for women) for a bit of general practice.

Get to know the buttons

Sure, no one likes reading instruction manuals. But taking a few minutes to figure out the buttons and what they do will help prevent distracting wait-how-do-I-work-this-thing moments when you’re trying to get it on.

No matter which type of rose toy you choose, they usually have a power button and an intensity button, along with a magnetic USB cable charger and port. Lovehoney rose toys have two super simple LED light buttons. To get an idea of the intensity level, try it out on the palm of your hand first before moving to more sensitive areas.

Make sure your toy is fully charged

If you like to live dangerously, you can technically use your new toy right away – just make sure to give the removable head an initial wash before placing it on your bits. Toys tend to arrive at least halfway charged, so you will get some fun out of yours. But to avoid any disappointing interruptions, get a full charge first.

Add a spot of lube

You can’t really go wrong using lube for any type of sex play. Lube proves slickness and helps you avoid painful friction (not what you need during an organism sesh).

Make sure you’re using a water-based lubricant, since it’s compatible with sex toys. AKA: it won’t break down the silicone. You can put some lube on the suction part of the toy, or on your clitoris – or both!

Press the center of the rose to your clit

The clit sucker head is designed to snugly encircle the clit. If you need to, you spread your labia and move around the suction head to find a good spot on the clit (trust yourself – you’ll know when you find it. You can also use a mirror to get in position – and consider keeping it there to watch yourself.

If the sensation is too intense, experiment by moving the toy around the clit, or up and down. There’s still a ton of nerve endings surrounding the clit, so you don’t have to specifically be right over it to still get plenty of pleasure. Some people have a very hooded clitoris, and if this is you, you can pull back this hood. Too sensitive? Leave that baby where it’s at for protection!

Start with a low intensity

Many people find the rose toy to be pretty powerful, so it’s a good idea to start on the lowest setting, before gradually increasing the intensity and getting your body warmed up. Practice makes perfect, right? You can also try increasing and decreasing the intensity for some edging, which is when you bring yourself to the edge of orgasm before backing off. This can be a huge tease, which may bring you a more intense orgasm when you do finally let go.

Try it on your nipples

The rose toy is excellent for your clit, but you can also try the toy on other sensitive areas like your thighs, perineum (which is the sensitive skin between your anus and your genitals), or nipples. Run the toy slowly over your inner thigh (lube can work here too to make it slide easier) or place the suction head over your nipple. It will increase blood flow to your nipple, making them even more sensitive to touch.

Use it alone or with a partner

You don’t have to use the rose toy alone. It's small and easy to hold, which means the rose toy works great using it with a partner in penetration positions, like Cowgirl or Doggy Style. Consider pleasuring yourself with the rose toy using one hand while your partner penetrates you. The Lovehoney Floral Fantasy toy has a flexible wand attached, so two people with vulvas can play at the same time (one person inserts the toy while the other presses their clit against the suction head... feels super close and sensual).You can also engage in some sensory play by having your partner blindfold you and place your rose toy on different areas of your body to see what feels best.

Now that we’ve walked through how to use a rose toy, it’s time for some tidbits on using it to its ultimate potential. Here’s some tips on using clitoral suction, and other sex toys for women or those with vulvas:

• Get aroused first: Spend some time getting warmed up before the big act. Consider daydreaming about a recent sexy encounter, listen to an erotic audiobook. Or light some candles and softly start out stroking up and down your stomach, inner thighs, or nipples.

• Try a different position: You don’t have to only lie on your back when using your rose toy. Try standing with a foot on a chair or bed, squatting, or kneeling.

• Go for blended pleasure: Stimulate yourself internally as well. Try fingering yourself or using a dildo at the same time as clitoral suction.

• Move your hips: Work your hips in slow circles, or front to back like you’re humping the toy. Some people find this more arousing than lying still.

• Play in the shower: The rose toy, like many clitoral suction toys from Lovehoney, can be used in water. Just hold on to that wall when the big O comes – trust us.

• There’s nothing sexy about an infection: To prevent bacterial buildup and other undesirable ick, make sure to wash your toy, or toy heads, in warm water with soap after every use. You can also use a spritz of sex toy cleaner to keep everything safe for next time.

To bring you the best recommendations on the internet, we’ve read hundreds of reviews from satisfied Lovehoney testers and customers. The list below takes into account the average star rating and amount of reviews on each toy, too. Here are our top picks for rose toy clitoral suction stimulators.