Lovehoney review, the retailer and its own brand toys

What it is.

Lovehoney started in 2002 in Bath, England, as an online retailer of sex toys and lingerie. It grew into one of the largest specialist retailers in the category and launched its own branded range, from vibrators to lube. It also makes the official Fifty Shades of Grey toy range under license.

In 2021 Lovehoney merged with WOW Tech Group, the company behind We-Vibe and Womanizer, to form Lovehoney Group. That matters for buyers in two ways. First, Lovehoney is not a small shop that might disappear; it is part of one of the largest companies in the industry. Second, the We-Vibe and Womanizer toys it sells are made by its own parent company, so its promotions on those brands are not neutral recommendations.

We grade toys and retailers on stated specs, listed materials and published policies. We do not run hands on tests, so nothing here is a claim about how any one toy will feel.

What it sells.

Lovehoney's range falls into three groups:

• Its own Lovehoney branded toys. Rabbits, bullets, wands, suction toys and couples toys, usually at mid range prices. The Happy Rabbit line is the best known.
• Licensed ranges. Mainly the Fifty Shades of Grey collection.
• Other brands. We-Vibe and Womanizer from its parent group, plus brands such as LELO and Satisfyer.

The quality question is almost entirely about the own brand range, because the other brands are the same toys wherever you buy them.

How the own brand toys measure.

There is no osmolality or pH for a toy, so this section is about materials and build.

The rechargeable own brand vibrators we list are silicone, per their listings. The Happy Rabbit 5.5 inch states silicone, 15 vibration modes and a rechargeable, waterproof build. The Lovehoney Rose Toy states silicone, six suction speeds and a rechargeable, waterproof build. Those are the specs that matter most: silicone is non porous, and waterproofing means the toy can be washed properly under the tap.

The range also includes cheaper toys, some battery powered and some in materials other than silicone. Material matters for hygiene. In a 2014 study from Indiana University, HPV was detected on a TPE vibrator 24 hours after cleaning in some cases, but not on a silicone vibrator. Read the material on every listing and skip anything labeled jelly, TPE or TPR.

Pros and cons.

Pros

• Established retailer, part of the company that owns We-Vibe and Womanizer
• Own brand rechargeable vibrators are listed as silicone and waterproof
• Mid range prices for named, warrantied toys
• Wide range, including licensed and premium brands
• Several own brand toys are also sold on Amazon

Cons

• Own brand toys are less refined than LELO, We-Vibe or Womanizer
• Range includes cheaper toys in other materials, so you have to check each listing
• Promotions on We-Vibe and Womanizer come from their own parent company
• Return and warranty terms vary by product and change over time

Who it suits.

People who want a named, warrantied toy at a mid range price. People buying their first rabbit or suction toy who do not want an unbranded listing with no stated material. People who want one place to compare many brands. A classic rabbit like the Happy Rabbit is a sensible first buy; see the best rabbit vibrators for how it compares.

Who should skip it.

Anyone who wants the most refined toy in a category: LELO, We-Vibe and Womanizer are better finished, and our picks in the best vibrators lean that way. Anyone who will not check materials, because the cheapest end of the range is where non silicone toys sit. And anyone who wants a fully neutral recommendation on We-Vibe or Womanizer, since Lovehoney shares their parent company.

How it compares.

	Lovehoney own brand	We-Vibe and Womanizer	Unbranded Amazon toys
Who makes it	Lovehoney	Lovehoney Group brands	Often unclear
Material stated	Yes on the rechargeable range	Yes	Often missing
Price tier	Mid range	Premium	Budget
Warranty	Yes	Yes	Rarely meaningful
Refinement	Good	Best in class	Variable

The Lovehoney Rose Toy shows the gap clearly. The viral rose toy is mostly sold unbranded, with no material stated and no warranty. Lovehoney's version names its material and has a retailer behind it. Our rose toy explainer covers the rest.

What to buy there versus on Amazon.

For the same product, the toy is identical. The choice comes down to the seller and the policies.

• Buy on Amazon when the listing is sold by the brand or a named retailer and you value fast shipping and a familiar returns process. The Happy Rabbit, the Rose Toy, the We-Vibe Nova 2 and the Womanizer Premium 2 are all on Amazon.
• Buy from Lovehoney when you want a product that is not on Amazon, such as much of the lingerie and the full own brand range, or when its own promotions make the difference.
• Either way, read the current returns and warranty terms. Sex toy return policies are stricter than most products, often limited to unopened or faulty items.

Avoid third party sellers you do not recognize on any marketplace, because counterfeit toys are a known problem in this category.

Which Lovehoney toy to buy.

• First rabbit. Lovehoney Happy Rabbit, silicone, rechargeable and waterproof.
• Curious about the rose toy. Lovehoney Rose Toy, the branded version.
• Best rabbit at any price. We-Vibe Nova 2, for its flexible arms.
• Best air pulse at any price. Womanizer Premium 2. See our Womanizer review.

Value for money.

Good, within limits. The own brand silicone toys cost far less than LELO or Womanizer and come with a stated material and a retailer that publishes its policies, which is more than most budget toys offer. They are not as refined, and the Happy Rabbit's fixed arm spacing is less forgiving than the flexible We-Vibe Nova 2. If a Lovehoney toy gets used, the premium brands are a confident upgrade later.

Care and lube.

Wash any toy with warm water and mild, unscented soap before the first use and after every use, rinse, and let it dry fully before charging. For the Rose Toy, rinse inside the opening, where lube collects.

Use water based lube with silicone toys. Silicone lube can degrade a silicone surface over time. Many lubes, including some sold by toy retailers, are much saltier than vaginal tissue. Good Clean Love Almost Naked measures 240 to 269 mOsm/kg with a pH of 4.7, inside the WHO's preferred range. Every popular brand is graded in the lube index, and the logic is in lube safe for toys.

Where to buy it.

Lovehoney sells through its own site, lovehoney.com, and several of its own brand toys are on Amazon. On Amazon, check that the seller is Lovehoney or a named retailer rather than an unknown third party, which protects your warranty and return options. Start here: Lovehoney Happy Rabbit on Amazon.