Anarres is definitely your one-stop shop for non-toxic living. You probably know all about Anarres' body-care products, plastic-alternatives for the home, raw ingredients, educational workshops, and natural contraceptives, but did you know Anarres carries all-natural, non-toxic dildos too?

That’s right! Why is this necessary? Well, unfortunately, many of the sex toy products on the market are not that body-friendly. They’re often made of hard plastics or soft jellies, which are very affordable, but at what cost to your health? All plastics have endocrine-disrupting chemicals, which, in short, means all plastics have chemicals that mess with your hormones. Anyone who’s had painful periods, cyclical bouts of depression, or painful, itchy skin (to name a few) knows why keeping hormones in check is important. Hormones are the messengers of our bodies telling it when to do what, and when they’re out of whack, we’re out of whack!

Plasticizers are a group of chemicals that are potentially a great threat to our mental, emotional & physical health AND are often found in sex toys, along with other hazardous and banned chemicals! Phthalates, other plasticizers and chemicals get into our bodies through skin absorption. Where is our skin the thinnest (and therefore, most direct path to our bloodstream)? In our mouths, anus, and vagina.

(Tracey's note: Phthalates are substances added to plastics to increase their flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity. Most people in the US tested by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have metabolites of multiple phthalates in their urine. You can read about the health effects on Wikipedia here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phthalate#Endocrine_disruption and https://bitchmedia.org/post/the-trouble-with-toxic-sex-toys)

So, Tracey and I brainstormed a variety of materials that sex toys could be made out of that would be body-safe. We talked about glass, stainless steel, and stone (our Laid 1 Moonstone http://www.anarreshealth.ca/content/wand-black-norwegian-moonstone-laid-... is one of our favourites)

And then we found a toy so beautiful we couldn’t stop thinking about it, made out of... wood?!?

Of course! Wood! Why not? It’s renewable, beautiful, lightweight, and can be sculpted into all sorts of shapes!

Our first wood toy supplier is located in Texas. Their wood finish is waterproof and non-toxic, but the formula and process are a trade secret, even for us. We love their designs and their use of various types of wood, but we don’t love the distance the toys travel to get to us. (or the vagaries of the US exchange rate. ~ Tracey)

Here's a photo of "Seduction" http://www.anarreshealth.ca/product/wand-wood-seduction

I went searching high and low for a local supplier in Toronto, by Googling, on Facebook, and even on Bunz Trading Zone! Tracey tried to convince three Ontario spoon carvers to try it, but to no avail... Finally, I searched the interwebs until I found what I was looking for.

The artist’s name is Rickard Andersson. He owns a shop called Silvarus located in Ottawa. He had many beautiful designs, including some detailed wood-burning effects for added aesthetic. Before placing our first custom order, we corresponded several times as I asked him to describe his process from start to finish: "How do you finish your products?" I consulted with Tracey and convinced him to use natural, non-petroleum oils. He experimented and succeeded! He’s asked that I keep his process private, as it is his signature concoction! But I can assure you with great confidence that Anarres by Silvarus are body-safe, using only all-natural ingredients, with no petroleum-based finishes or products used at any point.

We love the custom dildos he made for us! They are made from Ontario Maple with wood-burned swirl designs. Lightweight and wonderfully smooth and sensual!

You can read more about the Anarres Arch and order it here http://www.anarreshealth.ca/product/wand-wood-anarres-arch-medium-large

Book a Healthy and Happy Between the Sheets Talk and/or party so I can show you all the sexy, all-natural, non-toxic sex tools I've curated!

Tynan Rhea is an AuDHD, queer, nonbinary settler with German and Slovak ancestry. Tynan has a private practice online across so-called Canada as a sex & relationship therapist and sex educator. Tynan approaches their practice from sex-positive, queer & trans-affirming, trauma-informed, anti-oppressive, and feminist frameworks. Learn about how Tynan approaches their aromatherapy practice here

You can find Tynan's sex therapy practice and their aromatherapy and art practice.