Flower body balm - cream by Hot Pants Products, INC - review by (Re)tired Stripper

This thick, minty balm is pleasant to smell, taste, and use on your beautiful flesh orchid. I've applied it to my clit, vulva, and nipples. I enjoy using it on my clit the most. I lightly massage it in, and it, in turn, lightly enhances my nerve endings. It's a great arousal cream for women who need a little boost, like those who are on SSRIs or any other libido/sexual response-reducing medication or those who are simply under a lot of stress. If you find that you could use a helping hand (a hand slathered in menthol, ginseng, and other sexy botanicals!) but don't want to give a new meaning to the term "fire crotch," then Flower Balm might be a good choice to test drive.

Since the first ingredients are almond and coconut oil, I would not use this with latex condoms. It also contains ginseng and menthol, which give Flower Balm its kick, but it may be too intense for the very sensitive. I'm quite sensitive to lots of topical enhancement products, and Flower Balm never irritates me--that's pretty rare. The menthol isn't one of the first ingredients, so it provides a gentle kiss of tingly coolness. However, the methylparaben raises a big red flag for me, as does the BHT (another preservative). I don't mind parabens as much if they're to be used in, say, a lotion, but for vaginal/vulvular/oral use, I'm not too keen on them.

It should be noted that parabens can cause allergic reactions in some people, so start with just a smidgen, or use a patch test by dabbing a little Flower Balm on the inner crease of your elbow. I practice this with every arousal product I use, and I highly recommend it to prevent unwanted reactions.

The almond and coconut oils give this product a slick, slippery feel that melts and spreads easily, while the beeswax and shea butter allow the Flower Balm to stay where you put it and not drip all over your sheets. It's not tacky or sticky, but it is a bit greasy, and you will definitely want to wash up with soap and water (especially if you use a lot). This can be a hassle because I'm the epitome of the oft-stereotyped male: I roll over and sleep like a log post-coitus. Sometimes I want a sandwich, but I never feel like hopping in the shower afterward.

I expected the taste to be unpleasant or waxy, given the ingredients. I didn't think my partner would enjoy the flavour/texture either, as he is quite sensitive to aromas. We both like the faint whiffs of peppermint and orange. There's also a bit of spice lurking about, which I suspect is the ginseng. It reminds me of those ginseng energy shots in the little glass bottles with the straws but is much milder (does anyone know what I'm talking about? They sell them at GNC).

While it doesn't blow me away or send me into spasms of ecstasy, Flower Balm adds a bit of tingle and increases circulation to the desired area. I don't find it long lasting enough for comfortable anal, but it can do the trick with vaginal sex if applied liberally. Unfortunately, I tend to need a lot to get the desired slickness and sensation, so Flower Balm ends up an expensive product for my uses.

The texture isn't such that I need to run and wash it off immediately, and it isn't so intense that the tingly feeling turns to an annoyance post-coitus. It doesn't really come off without soap and water because it's so waxy and oily, so a shower is in order if you plan to toss your clothes back on and get on with your day. I made the mistake of pulling on some nice panties after a quickie during which we utilized Flower Balm. I have to say, Flower Balm residue and my modal lingerie don't mix. I fixed the stain with a liberal application of cornstarch-based body powder, but it's worth mentioning that this stuff can and will stain your clothing and sheets.

I particularly enjoyed how it made oral sex so intense. When my partner applied it, rubbed it in, and licked a few times, he paused. He made me wait in delicious agony, then blew gently on my clit. It felt sublime. I never thought I could come from gentle breath on my clit! For me, this is where Flower Balm blooms into a useful, delectable product.

I'm not so keen on the ingredient list. I don't trust or enjoy parabens and BHT in my vagina or in my partner's mouth. I also expected a little more power behind the ingredients, especially when I saw ginseng listed. Ginseng is usually my magic, wizardly clit-loving potion. In this application, it was mild and not up to my expectations, but it is still a decent product for very sensitive women. Men could also enjoy this on their balls, penis, or perineum, but my partner needed a lot more than I did (proportionately), perhaps because he isn't as sensitive. He's circumcised while my clit lies under its little hood all day and doesn't rub against anything during day-to-day activities, so the playing field isn't very even.

There are a couple sizes of Flower Balm. The large size is one ounce, and the smaller, lip balm-ish tin is .25 ounce. Both are made of sturdy aluminum, which is recyclable in some areas, but if you can't recycle it, you could reuse it to hold just about anything from jewelry to breath mints.

The instructions are labeled on the bottom and mention that it is for external use only and is not latex compatible. It's also mentioned to simply apply to the desired area and massage until fully absorbed. I think a lot of arousal creams instruct the user to "massage thoroughly" because that alone--with product or plain old garden-variety lube--will bring blood flow to the surface and increase arousal.

I find the smaller size extremely discreet. It looks exactly like a high-end lip product, though the label does say "for her pleasure." Even so, I would leave it out on a nightstand or pretty much anywhere in the home without too much worry. If a visitor got grabby and used it as a lip balm, I doubt they'd even notice the difference. The one-ounce tin is as large as my palm, but it looks similar to some organic hand and cuticle balms on the market, so it shouldn't raise eyebrows.

If I took this traveling into a hot climate, I'd be wary of it melting. The container does seem fairly well sealed, so sticking it in a Ziploc baggie should prevent any mishaps in your travel toy bag.