The earliest sex toy discovered was an estimated 28,000-year-old phallus-shaped dildo in a cave in Germany. The find was a rare one since examples of masculinity from that period are unusual to stumble upon, although female-inspired works of art are rather common.
Some shapes have proven effective over the years, considering the human anatomy has not changed much in a few hundred thousand millenniums. So, when it comes to the sex toys of today, they do not copy each other any more than one car manufacturer copies another. Almost every car has four wheels and an engine. Newer sex toys may enhance, improve upon, upgrade materials, components and functions of proven types of toys — but to say they are copying one another is often a bit of a stretch.
Sex Toy Shapes
There are only so many shapes that sex toys can take on; although with the advancement of technology, there have been a few that have come onto the market lately that look nothing like the toys of yesterday. Nevertheless, there are also some toys from the past that have stood the test of time.
Wands
The original Magic Wand, formerly known as the Hitachi, is 52 years old. It was — and is, to this day — the inspiration for all wands on the market. Some are as big as the Hitachi, some are larger, and some are smaller. There are also cordless and waterproof versions, and some that offer several vibrating patterns. Almost every wand has the same shape with a bulbous head and long handle, regardless if it is corded or wireless.
Bullets
Almost all bullets take on a very narrow, somewhat pointed-end shape — like a bullet. They usually can fit in the palm of your hand and are easy to travel with. Bullets come in a variety of materials (i.e. silicone, metal, ABS plastic) some are battery-operated while others are USB rechargeable and waterproof. Bullets of today can have as many as 20 vibration modes and around 10 patterns.
Butt Plugs
Butt plugs create a "feeling of fullness" or pressure, without the back-and-forth motion that dildos offer. Not only that, but when the pelvic muscles contract during orgasm, a butt plug can intensify the sensation by giving your body something to squeeze against. Most butt plugs are short in length with a tapered tip, a neck and a flared base so that they do not “slip” into the anal canal. Butt plugs come in silicone, metal, glass and even sustainable wood! Some have tails or Swarovski crystals.
You can choose between one that vibrates with or without a remote control — or a non-vibrating version.
Cock Ring
The purpose of a cock ring is to prevent (not stop) the backflow of the blood, which keeps the penis harder for a longer period. This means cock rings have been used as an aid for erectile dysfunction long before Viagra was a thing, but they can also help you enjoy yourself in the moment and remove stress about staying up. Cock rings come in silicone, hard plastic and rubber. They can be round, ergonomic or an adjustable lasso. They also make those that vibrate and with perineum-stimulating “extensions” to increase the intensity of your orgasms.
Rabbit Vibes
The first “rabbit” vibrator came out in the early ‘80s and was the first to deliver the one-two punch offering both external and internal stimulation. They all have a long shaft with an additional smaller extension for external stimulation. Some of these still take the shape of a small rabbit with bunny ears to stimulate the clitoris.
Suction
This new function in sextech gives you a touchless clitoral stimulation utilizing suction. Womanizer was the first to come out with this new innovation and it was soon followed by other versions from other brands. It is unique in the way that the airflow is what offers the stimulation to the clitoris and not by direct contact.
No Copiers or Imitators — Just Innovators
So just as there are only about 10 hot moves a male stripper can make and most all cars have four wheels and an engine, sex toy producers follow the standards in the industry as proven successes and improve upon them or add their own little innovation to improve on a standard toy that has been well-established. Why re-invent the wheel unless you decide to put a triangle peg in a round (butt) hole?
Taylor Sparks is a passionate erotic educator certified in both holistic aromatherapy and human behavior. With over a decade of experience in the natural skin care/cosmetics and retail industries she launched OrganicLoven.com.