Flickering touch massage candle - massage candles by LELO - review by Coralbell

This candle is intended for a sensual massage. The wax melts into an oil and after you extinguish the flame and let it cool for 30 seconds, you can pour the oil into your hands and massage it into the skin. Like a traditional candle, it adds scent and atmosphere to a room. It can also be used as a moisturizer. I find it too heavy for all over body use, but it works great on my hands and feet. It is not edible and shouldn't be used as a personal lubricant.

Before lighting, the wax feels hard like a normal candle. After melting, the oil feels a bit heavier and thicker than other massage oils I've used but is thin enough to dispense easily. It will run down the skin if poured directly onto it, rather than into your hands. It feels more waxy than oily and is very moisturizing. It absorbs into the skin well and leaves it soft. I would prefer a thinner, lighter texture, but I like the non-greasy feel.

The Snow Pear and Cedarwood candle has a soft scent. When it's not lit, I have to stick my nose right beside the candle to smell it. When lit, the scent fills my bedroom but is still quite subtle. It would be a good choice for people who are sensitive to smells.

When I first read the name of the scent, I thought it was going to be very heavy, masculine, and wintry with the cedar overwhelming the pear. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a light, fresh, clean smell that is well balanced between the crispness of the cedar and the fruitiness of the pear. It would work well for all genders and seasons. It's not the kind of scent I would usually pick for myself (the Vanilla & Crème de Cacao version sounds more my style), but I do think it's quite nice. This is not an edible candle, so I did not taste it.

I had never used a massage candle before, and I was worried about how hot it would be, but it feels pleasantly warm and not overly hot. The wax starts to absorb into the skin within a few minutes of rubbing but continues to reduces friction even when it no longer feels wet. You can always add more oil as the massage continues. The candle starts to re-solidify fairly quickly, but even if it's not totally liquid you can scoop out the softened wax and it will melt as you rub it in your hands. If you decide you need more oil during the course of the massage, just relight the candle and it will liquefy much faster the second time around since the wax is already warm.

It takes about 15 minutes to get a puddle of oil big enough to cover the back, but several hours for the candle to melt to the edge. Since I usually don't leave candles burning for hours, I end up having the scrape the wax down from the sides so that it isn't wasted.

I don't feel the need to wash it off my hands (it actually makes them feel really nice), but I wouldn't want to leave it on my back. Someone with drier skin might enjoy the very moisturizing feel all over their body, but it's a bit too much for me. Plus, waxes tend to clog pores and bacne is so not sexy. It doesn't irritate my skin or make me itchy like some scented products do. The wax can be a little difficult to wash off since water beads up on it. I had to use body wash and a washcloth to get all the residue off.

The candle is supposed to have a burn time of 36 hours, but if you're pouring out the wax for massages, the burn time will be lessened.

The candle is housed in a round, glass container. It is clear glass with a black coating on the outside. I know this because at the top of my container there are some tiny chips in the coating, probably from the lid moving around. The flame is visible through the side of the holder and appears dark red through the glass.

LELO is written in silver on the center of the holder, and at the bottom are the words Flickering Touch Massage Candle and the name of the scent in small letters.

It has a metal lid with a lime green, transparent plastic handle. I find the handle cheapens the otherwise elegant look of the candle, especially since mine has a noticeable seam on it.

There is no pour spout or applicator, so it can be a little messy to dispense as wax tends to drip down the side of the container.

The candle comes in a simple black box with green accents. On the side there is a picture of the candle and on the back are instructions and ingredients. There is an extra layer of black cardboard inside to provide some padding, and a small instruction booklet with the usual candle safety warnings. A piece of white foam is placed inside the candle on top of the wax and has a little black ribbon with LELO written on it attached so that it can be easily removed.

My box arrived looking a little scratched and beat up, but other than that it would make an awesome gift.

Ingredients: Glycine Soja (Soy) Wax, Butyrospermim Parkii (Shea Butter), Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Perfume (Linalool, Hexylcinnamaldehyde)