You may recall that I reviewed a series of products from Bijoux Indiscrets’ Slow Sex range almost two years ago. Since then, new items have been added to the line and a few of them arrived for me to test this week.

First up: the Slow Sex Massage Candle. This little candle in a tin comes attractively packaged in a Slow Sex-branded box.

Ingredients

I’m always curious about the ingredients in products like this, so let’s take a close look at everything that’s in the Bijoux Indiscrets Slow Sex Massage Candle.

• Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis oil: A carrier oil extracted from almond seeds, used as an emollient (skin softener) and for moisture retention.
• Cocos Nucifera oil: AKA coconut oil, which is well known for its skincare benefits and can even be used as a lubricant.
• Stearic acid: A fatty acid derived from both plant and animal fats (Bijoux is an all-vegan company, so uses plant-based stearic acid.) Functions as an emollient and emulsifier (stabiliser) as well as a texture enhancer.
• Butyrospermum Parkii butter: AKA Shea butter, an emollient and a powerful moisturiser that’s particularly great for dry skin
• Aroma: This is what’s added to the product to makes it smell nice.
• Glycine Soja oil: AKA soybean oil, this non-fragrant plant oil is an emollient and an antioxidant which can help skin to stay hydrated.
• Squalene: An oil compound found in some fish oils but also in some vegetable oils and which is an excellent skin hydrator.
• Glyceryl Stearate SE: A stabiliser, emulsifier, and emollient. SE stands for “self-emulsifying,” which means it blends with water without the need for additional emulsifying ingredients.
• Tocopherol: A pure form of Vitamin E, with many skincare benefits including hydration, moisturising, and antioxidation.
• Beta-sitosterol: A fatty acid derived from plants that’s a great moisturisor and can sooth irritated or damaged skin.

In short, nothing but body-safe, skin-friendly, and plant-based ingredients.

In Use

The Bijoux Indiscrets Slow Sex Massage Candle melts quickly once you light it. On the first use, I had plenty of useable oil within less than a minute. When I wanted to top up on oil mid-massage, it took no more than 10-15 seconds of the candle being lit to get the amount I needed. The box says to light it for 15 minutes but honestly, unless you want the entire thing melted, that’s not even close to necessary. Any oil you don’t use will just harden again as it cools, ready for next time.

Both my girlfriend and I loved the subtly coconutty scent of this candle. It’s distinctive without being obstrusive or overpowering, and helps to create a lovely romantic, relaxed vibe as it permeates your space.

Our skin felt wonderfully soft and moisturised after trading massages, and I still kept catching little whiffs of the scent hours later.

I often struggle with oily sensations for sensory reasons, but the Bijoux Indiscrets Massage Candle’s oil doesn’t leave my skin feeling unpleasantly greasy because it soaks in so well. An oil-based product that doesn’t have me running to wash it off my hands? That’s an achievement in itself.

Because there’s no wax in this candle, you can also use it as a moisturiser or as a fragrant addition to a bath if you like.

Is this the Same as a Wax Play Candle?

No.

Well, it’s similar insofar as you light the candle and then drip it onto your partner’s body as it melts. However, the melting point of the oils in this candle is lower than that of paraffin or even soy wax, meaning that – even if you drip it from very close to your partner’s skin – you’ll get a pleasant warmth rather than an “ouch.”

This candle also doesn’t actually contain any wax. The oil will start to harden again as it hits the body, but as soon as you run your hands over it, it’ll melt again and start to be absorbed into the skin as you massage. This means that, unlike with wax play, there’s no cleanup afterwards. You won’t even need to shower if you don’t want to, and leaving the oils on your skin for longer means you can keep enjoying their skincare benefits as well as the gorgeous scent.

Any Downsides?

Due to the oils it contains, this massage candle is not compatible with latex or polyisoprene (though it’s okay with polyurethane.) This means you’ll need to be careful if you’re using barriers such as condoms or dams.

I also didn’t love the slight black residue you get on the inside of the tin and across the top of the candle when it’s been burning a few minutes. It doesn’t really get on your skin in any noticeable way, but it looks a bit yuck.

How Long Will It Last?

Depending on how generous you like to go with your oil, you’ll probably get 4-5 massages out of one candle. You could make it last a little longer by going lighter on your coverage, but more is definitely more here in my experience!

Verdict

At €20/£18, the Bijoux Indiscrets Slow Sex Massage Candle is a little pricey. But it’s also a lovely luxurious little treat which makes a great addition to trading massages with your partner. When it runs out, I’d seriously consider spending money on getting another one.

Thanks to Bijoux Indiscrets for sending me this product to review. All views, as always, mine. Affiliate links appear in this post.