If you’ve ever browsed the sexy side of social media, you’ll know all about the Rose — a suction-based clitoral stimulator that’s sent people with vulvas into a spin.
Over 100,000 hashtags have been generated around this powerful pocket rocket. One video — wherein the uploader claims she came in just 30 seconds — racked up a huge 631,000 likes.
Search for #TheRoseReview or #TheRoseToy (don’t bother searching for ‘sex toy’ — TikTok hides anything that’s obviously sex-related) and you’ll be inundated with personal reviews, instruction videos, and even memes about our flower-powered friend.
But it’s not for everyone. Not all the reviews of the generic ‘Rose’ are positive, and that’s because Amazon is full of different sellers, meaning it can be hard to tell where your new bedside buddy actually came from. The enjoyment (and safety) you get with the clit stim certainly depends on where you buy it and whether you’re getting a quality product, or a knock-off.
So, when Lovehoney jumped on the #TheRoseReview hype and dropped its own take on #TheRoseToy, we knew we had to try it.
The Lovehoney Rose Toy Clitoral Suction Stimulator is not the toy which began to trend on TikTok in 2021 and it is also not the same toy reviewed by dissatisfied customers. However, its appearance is similar to those that have gained popularity on TikTok — and so is its functionality and purpose.
The Lovehoney version is a completely waterproof clit sucker, shaped like a red rose. It also comes with an easy-to-use single button interface and 10 suction modes. It’s highly rated and, as vibes go, gets the thumbs up from us — but to make extra sure, two sex writers, Hollie-Anne Brooks and Honey Wyatt, team up to compare it to the OG Rose sex toy from The One.
Before you click ‘buy’, read on to find out whether the palm-sized vibe really comes up roses. Is it worth the hype?
Pros
- Totally waterproof, so you can get wet and wild
- A viral fave for a reason
- She’s a looker
Cons
- Can be fiddly to hold
| Type | Clit suction toy |
|---|---|
| Features | 10 suction modes |
| In the box | Magnetic USB-charging cable |
| Material | Silicone |
| Length | 3 inches |
| Power | USB rechargeable |
| Waterproof | 100% |
Where to buy the Rose sex toy
As excited as you may be to buy a trending sex toy online, it’s best to do some research first.
Dropshipping is big business when it comes to sex toys, which means you might not be getting the best quality pulser on the market. As many of the toys seem to come from China, the Rose may not even meet UK standards when it comes to body-safe materials and battery safety.
Ruby Payne, a sex toy expert from Uber Kinky says: “Sex toys fall under the very broad range of consumer product safety regulation, and they have no requirements specifically aimed at the design and creation of sex toys.”
“Because of this lack of regulation, many toys are made from unknown materials, possibly containing toxic chemicals, which are then bought and used by oblivious pleasure seekers. The best thing buyers can do is to only buy from reputable and legit sex toy companies.”
But listen, dropshipping isn’t an unsafe practice in general — it’s simply a way of cutting out the middleman. Once you order a product, you’re getting the product straight from the supply chain to you, but this does mean that the ‘middleman’, AKA a brand or retailer, isn’t around to check the product, ensure it meets standards, and covers things like postage, returns, and any issues with quality.
For this reason, we’d steer you away from buying sex toys off sites like Shein and Temu, and towards trusted sex toy retailers like Lovehoney, Sextoys.co.uk, Satisfyer, and Ann Summers.
How does the Rose sex toy work?
One reason you want to make sure your buzzy bloom is as high quality as possible is because not all suction stimulation is made equal. While lower quality oral sex toys can definitely get the job done, there is a noticeable difference between these toys and their higher quality equivalents (although these do usually come with a higher price tag, so beware).
With a ‘mouth’ opening, the Rose sex toy is designed to mimic the sensations of, like, really good head — which explains why the toy is sooo popular. Top tip: to get as close to a real mouth licking and sucking as possible, we’d recommend adding slatherings of water-based lube before applying it to your nipples or clit.
Each variation of the toy uses a different technology, but the Lovehoney version is equipped with 10 modes of Pleasure Air Technology (the very same used in Womanizer toys), which increase in intensity at the click of the higher up of its two buttons.
While this will vary from brand to brand, the Rose toy is generally designed to be beginner-friendly, so it’s pretty intuitive to use. Goodbye spending precious wank time trying to decode the instructions!
An honest review of the Lovehoney Rose clit sucker
Who I am
When it comes to sex toys, I (Holly) consider myself an expert. As a woman with mobility issues, sex toys have helped me explore my body and rediscover what pleasure meant for me when I first became disabled. Sex toys provided me with the initial privacy and pleasure to explore what I could still feel and what I wanted out of sex, both solo and with a partner.
I quickly learned that while G-spot sex toys aren’t for me, toys with a sucking function — which is exactly what the Rose is all about — really work, as I can use them on multiple erogenous zones.
So I was intrigued, could the Rose live up to the hype? Was it worth the money? And, was it safe? There was only one way to find out.
First impressions
Lovehoney’s Rose promised fast delivery and had many (!) five-star reviews. It arrived the next day and, according to the box, was made from hypoallergenic silicone. Nice and body-safe.
It’s also one of the prettiest sex toys I’ve ever held in my hands. Its ornamental look makes the Rose discreet by nature, and it comes with a privacy-awarding silencing feature. The Rose is also waterproof and makes for the perfect bath-time company.
Getting started
But when my Rose toy arrived, I employed some initial caution. Once it was fully charged (thankfully mine worked just fine), I carefully used the toy on my nipples just to see what the 10-point suction ability was really like. I have to admit, I was immediately blown away.
A simple easy-access button means you can go from one to 10 swiftly, although you might want to bite down on a towel if you’re going for 10 straight away.
I’ve tested a lot of supposedly realistic sucking sex toys, but nothing has compared to the Rose. On my nipples with a small amount of lube, it felt like I had someone there working on my sensitive parts and biting down at just the right moments.
I’d have been happy with just its nipple-sucking function. But, in the name of truly trying and testing, it was time to use it on my clitoris. Adding some lube (I’ve popped my favourites below), I set to work, initially starting slow and then working my way up the powerful pulsing modes.
Our sex writer’s fave lubes RN
While you can get some versions of the Rose that come with ‘tongue’, I went for the classic standard suction — but it proved to be anything but standard. The pulsating suction felt like I was at the mercy of an oral genius, giving, then taking away just enough pressure to help edge me closer to orgasm.
A quick finish
Rocking the Rose comfortably in the palm of my hand just backwards and forwards added to the pleasure and I found myself reaching orgasm quicker than with most sex toys I’ve used in the past — and absolutely quicker than most partners I’ve been with!
I later tested out the Rose’s waterproof feature in the bath, and, honestly, it felt like I broke some sort of Olympic record for having a super quick orgasm.
Does it live up to the hype?
So, am I as addicted to the Rose as the rest of TikTok? Yes. I’ve got to hand it to social media. I’ve been influenced to buy many products from online hype but this has to be the best purchase so far.
Whether you’re a sex tech beginner or more of an expert like me, the Lovehoney Rose doesn’t fail to help you achieve an absolute banger of an orgasm in no time. I’ll be reaching for the Rose again when I fancy something quick to set me up for the day, or if I don’t fancy being in the bath or shower alone.
So yes, I can wholeheartedly confirm the Rose that I purchased lives up to the TikTok hype, however, it’s clear that not all versions of the toy do. If you’re unsure, I’d recommend reading as many of the five-star reviews as possible to check if they seem fake.
If in doubt, opt for the Lovehoney Rose or another of their powerful clit suckers. Safety first!
How it compares to The One Rose
We aren’t making it up when we say the Rose sex toy is a cult fave — in fact, it’s become so popular that most sex toy companies have made their own versions of the floral friend.
The original version was created by The One, though. So ofc, in the name of good journalism, we had to try it out to figure out how it compares to the Lovehoney version.
Who I am
Having written and podcasted about sex and relationships for the last five years, I (Honey) know a good sex toy when I see one. I’ve tested every kind of vibrator, dildo, and sex aid out there — most of them in my role as Senior Sex and Relationships E-Commerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, so I was thrilled to be given the task of assessing which rose sex toy is best.
Pros
- Comes in three colours!
- On sale RN — run, don't walk
- Has just one button so you won't get confused between the two while switching modes
Cons
- The mouth is a little too flat if you ask us
| Type | Clit suction toy |
|---|---|
| Features | 3 vibration speeds and 7 patterns |
| In the box | Toy, charger, instructions manual |
| Material | Silicone |
| Length | 2.33 inches |
| Power | USB rechargeable |
| Waterproof | Ya |
Spot the difference
While the OG Rose is currently on sale, it usually comes in at around £20 more than the Lovehoney edition (we <3 their affordable sex tech options). Considering it has the same amount of vibration patterns, we’re not sure we’d be willing to splash out *that* much extra cash for it, though. But if you’re fussy about colours, unlike the Lovehoney version, The One comes in three colour ways: red, pink, and purple.
The other major difference is that the battery, when fully charged, lasts 120 minutes — almost double to that of the Lovehoney toy, which lasts 65 minutes — so if you’re into long and steamy solo sessions, you might want to go with this one.
Bath time masturbators be warned, though: this one is splashproof, not waterproof, so it’s not recommended to take it in the tub with you.
First impressions
Okay, we’ll be honest, the two toys do look pretty similar. Immediately, the petals on the Lovehoney toy are much more defined than that of The One Rose, and the ‘mouth’ itself is much more defined on the Lovehoney toy, too.
Instead of protruding from the bud, The One is a lot flatter around the mouth. It also comes with just one button to turn it on and off, so you’ll have to make sure you don’t hold down on it mid-session.
Getting started
With a coating of water-based lube on both my vulva and the rose, it was time to give The One a real run for its money. Instantly, the flat surface around the ‘mouth’ bugged me. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you this, but vulvas are not flat!!
This made trying to get the suction hole as close to my clit as possible a tricky ordeal, and (not to set myself up for failure or anything) I could tell this was not going to help me reach the big O.
Even when I moved the toy around my entire vulva, it was hard to feel the suction in the same way as with the Lovehoney Rose, which has a much more defined tip.
Heating up... or not
For a little helping hand, I ramped the power up to the third and highest intensity — and still, nothing.
While there was definitely something going on down there, the lack of direct clit stimulation was not enough to get me to the finish line — and after 20 minutes of trying, I gave up.
Final verdict
Not every viral product lives up to its online hype IRL — but it’s clear why the Rose sex toy has such blooming good reviews. As well as looking cute AF and pretty discreet, it’s loaded with enough suction power to rival real oral sex.
If you’re looking to get your hands on a Rose of your own, though, we’d recommend going with the Lovehoney version over The One. Not only is it slightly cheaper (and Lovehoney does regular sales, so keep an eye out for those) but the more pronounced mouth will almost guarantee you reach climax (not that that has to be the goal — it also feels unreal!).
Lovehoney’s flower is also a lot easier to clean, making it kinder on your flora *down there*. Yes, its battery might only last 65 mins, but we’ll doubt you’ll last long enough to care about that. And when something feels that good, you’ll always remember to charge it before the next round (speaking from experience, ofc).
Grab a Rose of your own right now
Lovehoney Floral Fantasy Rose Clitoral Suction Stimulator with G-Spot Vibrator
Lovehoney Power Petal 2-in-1 Clitoral Suction Stimulator with Thrusting Egg Vibrator
Or shop our other fave clit vibes
Why trust Cosmo?
As a leading women’s lifestyle publication, Cosmopolitan knows what’s up when it comes to all things sex. As well as speaking to our long list of sex and relationships therapists, educators, content creators, and experts every day, we hear from our readers their most pressing sexual concerns, and test a lot of sex tech that crosses our desk.
So you can rest assured that when we say a sex toy is Cosmo-approved, we’ve done our research.
Honey is the Senior Sex and Relationships E-commerce Writer for Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health and Men’s Health. She covers shopping guides and reviews of the best sex toys; deals events — including Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday; and sex, dating, and LGBTQ+ trends.
Her journalism career started in 2020 when she started Sextras, a podcast and digital magazine about sex and relationships. Find Sextras on Spotify or Substack, where she writes and chats about everything from positive masculinity and how to practise sex magic, to why the latest kink or porn category is blowing up.
She has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City, University of London, and previously reported for HR magazine. Her features also appear in Glamour, Refinery29, The Independent, and more.
When she's not asking everyone she meets invasive questions about their sex and dating lives, you'll find Honey singing around her flat, teaching herself a new craft, or working her way through a new '90s/'00s box set with her flatmate.
