Butterfly vibrators spread a vibrating pad over the vulva and hold it with elastic straps around the thighs and waist. The silhouette that gives them their name is mostly marketing. What matters is contact: a broad-ish motor sitting on the clitoris while your hands stay free.

They had a big catalog moment in the early 2000s. Many were made of sticky jelly. Current versions in silicone are easier to clean and less likely to smell like a swimming cap. Some hide a small insertable arm. Most remain external.

Straps stretch out. Try the fit standing and sitting before you leave the house if discreet wear is the plan. A pad that felt centered in the bathroom can ride up on a walk. Remote models exist; the receiver usually lives in a pocket, not in the toy itself.

Fit and upkeep

• Adjust straps so the motor stays on the clitoris when you sit.
• Avoid jelly models if you can buy silicone.
• Rinse salt sweat out of elastic after a long wear.
• Replace stretched straps rather than knotting them tighter.