The French brand Rosebuds sent us the Tailbud.
You may already know rosebuds: small anal plugs designed to be decorative, adorned with crystals, gems or sculptures.
These very particular pieces of jewellery have built up a reputation to which fetishists and swingers of every stripe are rarely immune.
The Tailbud is a rather unusual model. This piece of jewellery that doubles as a sex toy, adorned with genuine horsehair, gives whoever wears it a tail, like a horse’s.
You’d have guessed it without my help: this accessory fits perfectly into BDSM or fetish play.
In English, “rosebud” means “rose bud”. Some might see this as a reference to the expression “to make a rose leaf”, a very vivid way of referring to rimming (and the example of this expression’s use in Wiktionary is quite disturbing).
Packaging and pouch
The Tailbud arrived in an envelope, inside a sealed plastic pouch, wrapped in bubble wrap.
The envelope also contained the item’s storage pouch, a small black velvet bag.
What the Tailbud looks like
Rosebuds come in various sizes, from S to XXL. But the Tailbud is only available in L and XL.
I imagine the “plug” part of the smaller models wouldn’t be heavy enough to counterbalance the “tail” and keep it in an attractive position.
We received a size L Tailbud.
I can see what you’re thinking: “L for Large? Well, I never, you stick wide things up your bum?”… Yeah, but no. A rosebud is tiny: it’s meant to be wearable for a long time as an ornament without causing any discomfort.
So size L is perfectly reasonable, and still smaller than a regular plug. In fact, the insertable part of the size L Tailbud measures 3 centimetres in diameter at its widest point and 6 centimetres long. (In the photos above, you can see it next to a small lighter, used as a size reference. I promise, one day we’ll find something else to photograph for size comparisons.)
Texture and material
As with all the other rosebuds, the insertable part of the Tailbud is made of surgical-grade steel. A very smooth, heavy and cold material. You can warm it up by running it under hot water for a few moments before use.
The item’s “tail” is made of horsehair. In case you’re concerned about this (I wondered about it myself, so I checked online): collecting horsehair doesn’t hurt the horse. It is, however, an animal product, so it won’t be suitable for vegans. To the touch, it feels like hair, only thicker and a little coarser.
The only minor flaw is that you can see a few traces of glue on the hair near the join with the base of the plug. But they’re barely noticeable.
Care
The metal part is very sturdy and unlikely to come to much harm, but the hair needs particular care:
- The “tail” is glued to the base of the plug. Don’t pull on the hairs, as you could pull them out. It’s best to avoid getting the hair dirty so you don’t have to wash it. But in case of an accident (lubricant marks, etc.), it seems (according to Google — I haven’t had the chance to check, thankfully) that shampoo (or Marseille soap) can clean horsehair.
- It tangles quite easily, and detangling it is as much of a nightmare as trying to brush a doll (hair that won’t grow back if you pull it out…). And a rosebud with dreadlocks would look a bit naff… In short, the best solution is to be really careful when putting it away, to avoid any risk of tangles.
Using the Tailbud
To put the Tailbud in place, push the plug into the anus after lubricating it sufficiently.
As far as comfort goes, rosebuds are generally designed to be worn for fairly long periods (several hours), possibly discreetly. The Tailbud can be worn without the slightest discomfort around the bum, but discretion isn’t its primary purpose — all the more so because it’s quite difficult to sit down while wearing it.
We used the Tailbud as part of BDSM roleplay. I was the one who wore it. But it can also be worn by a man (which we haven’t tested, at least not yet — still, I haven’t given up hope). It was pleasant, fun and a little embarrassing (I’m not used to wearing this kind of horse’s tail).
Provided you lift the “tail”, the Tailbud doesn’t get in the way of vaginal penetration (which is often the case with larger anal sex toys). On the contrary, the pressure it exerts increases the sensations you feel.
Verdict on the Tailbud
The good points:
- Its originality
- Its classy look
- The impression of quality
The bad points:
- It takes a little effort to care for (though that’s quite understandable given what it’s made of)
All in all, there’s nothing particularly remarkable among the good or bad points. The item has nothing to hide, except that overall it’s pretty well made. As long as you take a little care of the horsehair (but don’t worry, it’s not as fragile as a bow), it should last for several years of use without any problems.
As for the rest, I’ll leave it to your own judgement to decide whether or not an object like this has a place in your erotic arsenal. As far as we’re concerned, it certainly has a place among our accessories that are slightly geared towards dominance and submission, and we found it really fun to use.
Review score
Pros
- Original sex toy, designed for pet play
- Excellent quality
Cons
- Difficult to care for
Thanks to Rosebuds for providing us with the Tailbud for this review
