Vibrators, dildos and edible lotions: not a common thing to see at a college party, but for sex toy parties, they are the main attraction.

For most sex toy parties, the host will work with a company that specializes in sensual aids and toys. A consultant from the company will usually attend the party to explain their products and assist women who might be interested in placing orders.

Andrea Wedderburn, a spokesperson for Passion Parties, a company that specializes in romance parties, says the parties are not just about sex, but are very informational as well.

“Passion Parties consultants go into a great deal of information about how your body works, products that can help you with your partner and toys that can enhance your relationship,” Wedderburn said.

She also said that the consultants are very knowledgeable on the subject of women’s bodies and health and incorporate that into their presentations.

“For example, you’re not supposed to use honey and whipped creams during foreplay. What happens is that the sugars will break down and they are much more likely to promote yeast infections,” Wedderburn said.

She suggests using something edible and tasty, but will reduce the risk of developing a yeast infection.

“We have an edible powder you can apply where you want your lover to linger longer,” she said.

As co-founder of Passion Parties and a consultant for 21 years, Brenda Eberhart is a strong believer in the benefits of the parties.

“We do a lot of education-a lot of education,” Eberhart said. “It’s just stuff that your mothers don’t really talk to you about. Young girls don’t really know a lot about their bodies. You learn about safe sex, pleasing yourself and how to educate your partner to please you.”

Someone interested in hosting a party usually contacts a company that can supply the toys and aids. At Passion Parties, Eberhart said, they set you up with a consultant in your area. After finding a choosing for the party, the consultant mails the host a packet that contains invitations and catalogues.

The parties usually start off with the consultant going through both of their product lines. The first line, Love is in the Air, consists of bath products, cremes, lotions and edible products. Their most popular product, Pure Satisfaction, comes from this line.

“It is a unisex enhancement gel,” Eberhart said. “What causes arousal is a blood rush to the genitals and you start to feel a little tingly. When this is applied, that is what happens instantly.”

The consultant then covers Passion Parties’ other line, Let’s Play, which consists of sex toys, mainly vibrators.

“The consultants usually pass around the toys so, if the person has questions, they can feel them, touch them and look at them,” Eberhart said.

Natalie Priwer, senior, attended her cousin’s bachelorette sex toy party last August.

“I had no idea how many vibrators were out there,” Priwer said. “It started with one called the Silver Bullet that was like two inches, and went up to ones seven inches long with ridges, bumps, lights and things coming off the sides of them. It was quite interesting.”

Priwer said there were also taste tests available of the different kinds of powders and lotions.

“I tried the cotton candy, chocolate and mint powders,” Priwer said. “At first I thought it would be weird to try the powder, but the cotton candy-flavored one tasted exactly like cotton candy.”

After the presentation of the products, the consultant usually goes into another room so the women can place their order confidentially and ask any lingering questions.

Priwer said that even though there was laughing and joking as each new vibrator was presented, the guests definitely took it seriously.

“By the end of the presentation, the girls were sharing which vibrators they wanted or had already tried,” Priwer said. “I wanted to get the cotton candy powder, but it wasn’t in stock. Instead I got the hot massager. It is a heart shaped gel packet that heats up and is good to use for massaging muscles.”

In her 21 years as a consultant, Eberhart said she has never gotten negative feedback during a party, although there have been some obstacles.

“Sometimes you have a heckler in the crowd that tries to outdo you. They say, ‘I tried that and it didn’t work.'” Eberhart said. “I just try to explain to people that what works for one person may not work for another.”

Abbey Stang, junior, went to her sister-in-law’s sex toy party and said the guests there had mixed reactions to the presentation.

“Some people were kind of embarrassed about the whole subject of sex toys,” Stang said. “Then there were some people that had vibrators of their own and were very comfortable with it.”

Eberhart encourages college women to take advantage of the information and products now, while they are young.

“It’s nice for women to learn about their bodies and what they want so they don’t go through life like some of our mothers did, just pleasing the man,” Eberhart said. “These women learn it’s okay for them to have fun in the bedroom, too.”

Stang added that it was interesting because it is not a subject that you learn a lot about.

“It was a very educational party. Well, educational in a sexual way, not like education I learn in class.”

The consultants are free, Eberhart said, but they encourage the hosts to sell $350 worth of products. Also, the host gets 10 percent of the total party sales to put towards any of the products.

For now, however, these parties are for women only, Eberhart said.

“Co-ed parties just aren’t a good idea. Women are more comfortable talking about this kind of thing with other women,” Eberhart said. “Besides, could you imagine a guy saying that he needed help in the bedroom.” If you are interested in hosting a sex toy party you can visit www.passionparties.com or for a consultant in the area you can email Brenda Eberhart at [email protected].