Knead Me massage set - sensual kit discontinued by Jimmyjane - review by joja

Fans of Jimmyjane products know that opening the box is like a gift in itself. This company has impeccable packaging down to the last detail, and this set is no exception. The Contour M "massage stone" and Afterglow candle are set snugly in their original boxes within a larger white Jimmyjane box made of sturdy cardboard. Everything about the toys' presentation emanates purity and luxury. Even the pink ribbon in the picture is included. My only criticism of the packaging is that there are no good ways to store the candle - the wax is very soft, and could easily be scraped out if the candle tips in a toybox or suitcase. It would have been nice to have a cover provided for easier storage and travel. I recommend keeping the original boxes for the toys if you plan on keeping them hidden.

The M and Afterglow are made of pure white ceramic, decorated with a tasteful gray Jimmyjane logo. The only imperfection to be found is a small firing hole in the glaze of the M, at the base of the inside curve. However, this is inconsequential to anything but aesthetics. The candle is equipped with one slightly curved corner that functions as a spout.

Much to my surprise, the Afterglow was my favorite part of this set. Although this kit only offers the dark vanilla scent, I found it very agreeable, as did my partner. It's relatively strong, and when lit subtly fills the room with a calming, sensual aroma. Unlike other massage candles I've tried, the smell not too light, not too strong, but just right. During massages the smell is much stronger for the massager, but the receiver will notice the scent lingers for hours afterwards, a pleasant reminder of the encounter.

Now to the bad stuff: despite being the best massage candle I've ever used, the Afterglow simply doesn't compare to real massage oil. It has a greasy feeling, and although some absorbs into the skin, it takes a while. It's also quite unpleasant to get any of the oil in your hair, and will have to be washed out. Though it isn't particularly hard to wash off with soap and water, I don't like needing to hop in the shower after every massage. I was left feeling uncomfortably greasy after each use.

The candle forms a nice pool of wax in about 10 minutes, which will remain soft enough to use for 10-20 minutes. Neither my partner nor I found it too hot to pour right on after blowing the candle out. The oil starts off nice and slick, but gets a bit thicker after a few minutes. However, the wax melts at body temperature, so it will never harden on the skin. Some reviewers have reported having problems with the Afterglow burning unevenly, but this was not the case for me. I found it burns a straight column down the center, the only problem being wasted wax in the corners (which can be easily, though messily, pushed down). The only other maintenance it requires is wiping down the sides (which inevitably end up dripping with wax thanks to the inadequate spout) and trimming the wick to avoid getting ash in the wax.

The Contour M is a great tool for those whose hands get tired during massages, but I found it rather lackluster on the receiving end. Its best uses are gliding up and down the sides of the spine (with the spine between the "feet" of the M), and using the feet on the lower back, shoulders, and butt. I wasn't impressed with the broad end - it did nothing but tickle me! I was also particularly ticklish around the shoulder blades with both ends. Though I may be unusually ticklish, both my partner and I prefer human hands to the M, and save it for days when one of us is too tired to give long or hard-pressure massages.

The cold ceramic can be quite a shock when used with hot oil, so be sure to warm the M with your hands or in a bowl of warm water. The toy holds it heat relatively well, but if left unheated is long to warm up - even after 15 minutes of constant massage, my hands were much warmer than the ends of the massager.

Overall, despite the lovely presentation, the Knead Me massage set is not worth the whopping fifty dollar asking price. One would be much better off purchasing a proper massage oil than the Afterglow, and the M is only really beneficial as a tool to take stress off of the arms and hands of massagers. However, if that's what you're looking for (especially if you just want a really beautiful, lovely-smelling scented candle), you should enjoy it.

Though I still find the oil too greasy to use comfortably, the candle has served me well just for its soft light and wonderful scent. I don't use the massage stone that often, but it's nice when my hands get tired or I feel like changing it up.