Intimate Wellness Glossary
Updated August 3, 2026 · Reference guide, not medical advice.
This glossary defines terms you'll come across throughout the Velvé Noir site and across the intimate wellness category more broadly — from materials like medical-grade silicone to features like USB-C rechargeable and IPX7 waterproof ratings. It's meant as a quick, plain-language reference rather than medical or legal advice; where a topic warrants a fuller explanation, our Journal covers it in more depth.
ABS Plastic
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is a rigid, non-porous plastic commonly used for the firmer components of wellness devices, such as handles or outer casings. It holds its shape and finish over time without flexing or degrading the way softer, lower-grade plastics can. The Journal's guide to body-safe materials covers how ABS compares to silicone in more depth.
Aftercare
In the context of intimate wellness devices, aftercare simply means the routine of cleaning, drying, and properly storing a product after each use. Consistent aftercare helps keep a device hygienic and can extend its lifespan, and it typically takes only a minute or two once it becomes a habit.
Air Pulse Stimulation
Air pulse stimulation is a type of sensation created using gentle waves of air pressure rather than direct surface vibration. It's a distinct stimulation style from traditional vibration-based devices, and many people find the sensation quite different, so it's worth understanding as its own category when choosing a device.
Body Literacy
Body literacy is the general concept of understanding your own body, preferences, and responses. In intimate wellness, the term is often used to describe the confidence and self-knowledge that comes from paying attention to what feels good and being able to communicate that clearly, whether to a partner or simply to yourself.
Body-Safe
Body-safe describes materials that are non-toxic, non-porous or close to it, and unlikely to irritate skin or harbor bacteria with normal use and care. It isn't a single official certification but a general standard the category uses to describe trustworthy materials like medical-grade silicone and ABS plastic; the Journal has a fuller explainer on evaluating body-safe materials.
Classic vs. App-Enabled Devices
Classic devices are controlled entirely with onboard buttons and have no app or wireless connectivity, while app-enabled devices can also be operated through a companion smartphone app, often adding remote control or extra pattern options. Neither style is inherently better — the right choice usually comes down to how much you value simplicity versus extra connected features.
Discreet Packaging
Discreet packaging means a product ships in plain, unbranded outer packaging with no explicit imagery, logos, or descriptive text indicating its contents. It's a standard practice across the intimate wellness category, intended to protect customer privacy during delivery.
EMS Stimulation (Electrical Muscle Stimulation)
EMS stands for electrical muscle stimulation, a technology that uses low-level electrical pulses to cause muscles to contract. In wellness devices, it's typically offered as an alternative sensation mode distinct from vibration, and products that include it usually let users select it as one of several available modes.
Hygiene Product (Return Policy Category)
Hygiene product is a return-policy classification used across the personal care and wellness industry for items that come into direct contact with the body. Because of hygiene and safety considerations, products in this category are commonly non-returnable or subject to stricter return conditions once opened; a brand's shipping and returns page will spell out its exact policy.
Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic describes a material that's generally well-tolerated by sensitive skin and less likely to cause an allergic reaction than common alternatives. Medical-grade silicone is frequently described this way, though individual sensitivities can still vary from person to person.
Intensity Levels / Modes
Intensity levels refer to the range of strength settings a device offers, from gentle to more powerful, while modes typically refers to different patterns or rhythms of stimulation. Most devices let you adjust both independently, so you can find a combination that suits your preference.
IPX7 / Waterproof Rating
IPX7 is part of a widely used international rating system that describes how well a device resists water and dust. An IPX7 rating specifically indicates a device is designed to withstand temporary submersion in water, which makes it suitable for use in the shower or bath and easy to rinse clean; always check a specific product's listing for its exact rating, since not all devices share the same one.
Medical-Grade Silicone
Medical-grade silicone is a synthetic, non-porous polymer that's chemically stable, hypoallergenic, and one of the most trusted materials in the intimate wellness category. Its stability means it resists breaking down or leaching over time and can typically be cleaned more thoroughly than softer materials; the Journal covers this material in more depth in its guide to body-safe materials.
Neutral Billing Descriptor
A neutral billing descriptor is the discreet, non-descriptive name that appears on a customer's card or bank statement in place of the brand or store name, protecting privacy around a purchase. It's a standard discretion measure used across the intimate wellness industry alongside plain outer packaging.
Non-Porous
Non-porous means a material's surface has no microscopic holes or pits where moisture, oils, or bacteria could settle in. It's one of the key properties that makes a material easier to keep clean, and it's a major reason materials like medical-grade silicone and ABS plastic are preferred over softer, porous alternatives.
Phthalate-Free
Phthalate-free means a product's plastic components don't rely on phthalate compounds to achieve softness or flexibility. It's a common label claim in this category, since the industry has largely shifted toward phthalate-free materials like medical-grade silicone and ABS plastic.
Phthalates
Phthalates are a family of chemical compounds once commonly used to soften plastics, including some older jelly-style materials. Because phthalates aren't chemically bonded into plastic and can leach out with use over time, the intimate wellness category has largely moved toward phthalate-free alternatives; the Journal's materials guide covers this in more detail.
USB-C Rechargeable
USB-C rechargeable describes a device that charges via a USB-C cable and port rather than disposable batteries. USB-C is a common, widely adopted connector standard, which generally makes cables easy to find and charging straightforward.
Water-Resistant vs. Waterproof
Water-resistant means a device can handle light exposure to moisture, such as splashes or a damp cloth, but isn't designed to be submerged. Waterproof means a device is designed to safely withstand submersion in water, typically indicated by a specific rating like IPX7. The two terms aren't interchangeable, so it's worth checking a product's listing for the exact wording used.
Whisper-Quiet / Noise Level
Whisper-quiet is a general description used to indicate that a device operates at a low volume relative to typical devices in its category, which some shoppers prioritize for privacy and discretion. Actual noise levels can vary by intensity setting and device design, so it's a relative descriptor rather than a precise measurement.