As someone who spends a lot of her time playing and researching new products, lubricants have become more important to me than to most people. Trust me when I say that there is nothing worse than trying out a new toy when you're not fully aroused or wet enough in the right place. All I can say is, “Ouch!” So I set out a few months back to look deeper into the often confusing world of personal lubricants and what I found surprised even me.

Just like condoms, the number of types, companies, and flavors this slippery stuff now comes in can be overwhelming. Add to that the choices between gel, liquid, heavy, light, and a rainbow of other characteristics and it's not hard to see why people become confused. Over the coming reviews I hope to take some of the guesswork out of finding the right tool for the right job when it comes to lubricants.

One of the first things I discovered when researching this subject, was there are more choices than ever out there today. Gone are the days when Astroglide and KYJelly were the only choices. There are 5 basic types of lubes on the market, so let's start by breaking this down into those types:

Water Based Lubes: The majority of the lubes on the market today are water based, and that's no accident. Water based makes a great all round lube and are suitable for use with latex condoms, all toy materials, won’t stain clothing, or irritate sensitive skin. They are also easy to clean up.

Oil Based Lubes: These have a checkered past and for the longest time were the only lubes available to our ancient and not so ancient ancestors. General advise is that oil based lubes are best left for the boys to use as part of their solo play, as the very fact that they are oil based doesn't sit well when women use them internally. They are also not latex compatible and will break down a condom fairly quickly. That’s not really something you want to be doing, I think you'll agree.

Silicone Based Lubes: Silicone based lubes are still fairly new and fall somewhere between the two types of lube above. Unlike oil they are non-greasy, latex compatible, and generally longer lasting in the slickness department than water based lubes. On the downside, they take a lot more effort to clean than their water-based counterparts and can stain sheets and clothing. Silicone lubes are also unsuitable for use with silicone toys. Over a period of time they will break down the surface of the toy.

Flavored Lubes: As the name suggests these are flavored and come in a seemingly ever increasing array of tastes, from strawberry to cappuccino. Most flavored lubes are water-based, making them condom compatible and ideal if you want a change of taste, for whatever reason.

Organic Lubes: There are several companies that produce lubes that contain no artifical chemicals whatsoever, instead choosing to use natural preservatives and flavors. These maybe an alternative to anyone concerned with some of the chemical components commonly used in commercial lubricants or for those with sensitive skin.

As part of my research into lubes I wrote to many companies and requested samples for review. I then put each of the samples through some rigorous tests, which I've detailed below, and all the reviews in this series will follow this basic format.

Lube name and base type: i.e. water, oil, silicone, flavored, or organic.

Ingredients: When available, I've listed all the ingredients.

Packaging and Appearance: Some bottles and packages are easier than others to operate when you're hands are slippery! Some are almost impossible, and the way a lubricant is packaged is almost as important as the lube itself. Labeling was also taken into consideration here.

Texture and Smoothness: Gel, liquid, greasy, non-greasy, smooth, sticky are all words that can be used to describe lubes.

Taste and Smell: Self-explanatory really. Did it smell of anything and what did it taste like?

Stain Test: All the samples reviewed were rubbed into a piece of silk and cotton material, allowed to dry and then washed.

Solo Flight Test: Included under solo play are manual and toy play.

Duel Flight Test: My trusty lab assistant, otherwise known as my Hubby, joined in the fun and gave me his opinions.

Conclusion: Again, self-explanatory.

It is worth noting here, that like wine tasting, lube testing is somewhat subjective. The opinions offered should be used only as guidelines, and choosing a lube for you is a personal choice.
The reviews will be an ongoing project, as I really like to put what I review to the test, and if you have a lube you would like to see tested then please let us know and well do our best.