Shunga massage candle by Shunga Erotic Art - review by lostinidaho

This soy-based candle is ideal for couples play, as well as setting a romantic mood. The light scent will help relax the nerves, and the warm-but-not-hot oil feels amazing when dripped on the skin. If you are sensitive to strong fragrances, I would recommend testing out the scent before you dive in.

There are four scents available: Vanilla, Fruit, Rose, and (my personal favorite) Lavender. It is a soy-based candle so expect that distinct soy smell. Burn time is listed as 45 hours, but expect the candle to last anywhere from 20-24 hours, depending on the frequency of use as massage oil. The more oil you remove from the tin, the less burn-time the candle will have.

Texture is a little on the greasy side, but this is to be expected from a soy-based candle. The massage oil from the candle is a little thinner than conventional candle wax, and a little thicker than regular massage oil.

When warmed, the heat is equivalent to water from a hot tub: warm but not burning. The heat is ideal for sensory play without having to worry about leaving major burns on your lover.

After application, the oil does not completely absorb into the skin like massage oil. Expect some minor residue and a slightly 'greasy' feeling, but nothing too irritating.

I did not taste the product (mom taught me not to eat candles, after all...) but the smell is extremely relaxing. The candles will have that 'soy aftertaste' as most soy candles have, but the overall scent is pleasant.

I would recommend lighting several candles with similar scents to help set the mood. This massage candle must be extinguished before using the oil, so the other lit candles will help keep the romance on fire.

Both the vanilla and lavender scents are fantastic. The rose smells a little overdone, and the fruit candle does not smell like any fruit I have tasted. Lavender is by far the #1 choice.

The candle was a success on all avenues. Lit candles instantly set a romantic mood. After 15 minutes of kissing and heavy petting, I blew out the flame and slowly dripped the wax onto my bedmate. She was expecting that white-hot sting you get from a normal candle, but was pleasantly surprised by the 'not too hot' sensation.

I dripped the wax on my lover's nipples and abdomen. The oil rubbed into her body with ease. The oil felt a little greasier than conventional massage oil, but it's to be expected from an oil/candle hybrid. Surprisingly, the oil stayed warm for minutes and not seconds, so feeling the warmth when I pressed my body against hers was a delightful treat.

The smell lingers on the body like a light perfume. It is not overpowering, and couples with the smell of sex nicely. You can feel a slightly greasy residue after the oil fully absorbs, so I would recommend a washoff with soap and water when done (not needed, but you feel better when you're clean).

The product comes in a black tin, adorned with erotic Japanese paintings. While not the most discreet packaging, it certainly looks good.

The candle comes with a lid, making travel simple. While not considered a liquid, I would recommend putting this candle into checked baggage. You may run into some minor issues if this product is in carry-on luggage.

The candle comes with a spoon to scoop up the massage oil (when melted) but is not really needed. The instructions mention using the spoon, but you can simply tilt the candle and let the wax drip onto the body.

I would recommend the Lavender or Vanilla scents to start. I didn't care for the Rose or Fruit scents, but to each their own.

Please please PLEASE remember to extinguish the flame before pouring wax onto your lover! You could easily burn yourself when tilting the candle (not that I'm *cough* speaking from experience or anything...)

The candle is best used with multiple like-scented candles. This will cut back on the soy smell (assuming you're not using a gaggle of soy candles) and will keep the romantic candle-it atmosphere while you use this candle for its intended purposes.