Aromatherapy massage oil - oil discontinued by Intimate Organics - review by Pixel

So, I'm a bit of a massage oil snob. I've tried dozens of oils, lotion, and candles, and I'm always on the lookout for something new that will make my epic massages even better. Until it was recently discontinued (But it's back now, thank goodness! I'm stockpiling bottles of the stuff), Sensuous was my go-to oil. So, when I saw that Eden had new organic massage oils up for review, and that it came in one of my favourite scents, chai, I requested one right away!

This oil arrived with minimal packaging, just a plastic bag surrounding it so there wasn't casualties if it leaked during shipping. The top of the bottle had a seal over it too, for extra spill protection. The bottle is simple: clear plastic with a black push top that can be flipped open one handed. You need to squeeze the bottle to get oil out, which is great, because I am clumsy! I love bottles that won't pour out over my bed if I accidentally knock them over! I love the label, though some may want to hide the bottle because of it. The main picture is of a naked female torso, though you can't see her breasts. I don't think it would look too out of place in a bathroom, but you may wish to hide it in a drawer or something in your bedroom, as it may raise eyebrows.

The ingredient list is fairly straightforward:

Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut Oil), Parfum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Certified Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Certified Organic Lycium Barbarum Goji Berry Fruit Extract and Certified Organic Cymbopogon Schoenanthus Lemon Grass/Leaf Stem Extract and Certified Organic Aloe Barbadensis Aloe Leaf Extract.

The only ingredient I didn't know was Tocopheryl Acetate. So, I looked it up, and it's a Vitamin E derivative. To be honest, I'm a bit surprised that Intimate Organics used it, especially considering how many other awesome oils are in this already. I went on several cosmetic ingredient safety sites to check out the safety rating of Tocopheryl Acetate, and they all rate it as a risk due to potentially contaminated with impurities linked to cancer or other significant health problems, and also as a possible cause of skin sensitivities. It can apparently instigate immune system response that can include itching, burning, scaling, hives, and blistering of skin. Eep. That being said, neither my partner nor myself had any sensitivities to this oil.

You may also wish to avoid this massage oil if you are allergic to garlic, as aloe is in the same family and can trigger an allergic reaction as well.

This actually smells exactly like a large cup of chai latte when you pour it onto skin. It's definitely a sweet/foody scent, though the scent ended up morphing with time. It went from very sweet to an almost savory type smell which (to both our noses) smelled more like garam masala meets snickerdoodle cookie than chai. The scent also lingers on the skin for a while after the massage. For me, the scent, while not unpleasant, just wasn't something he or I wanted to smell like, so we ended up taking a shower post-massage. Now, this could just be a body chemistry sort of thing, as everyone reacts differently, so it may not smell this way on you!

Given that this is an all organic product, it's not going to be the end of the world if you accidentally lick oil covered skin. I didn't find there to be any real taste to the oil, and didn't have any ill effects from licking and biting my partner's back and shoulders a little bit after I had given him a massage.

We found that this massage oil works best if you only plan on giving a short massage. For me, my massages usually last at least 20 minutes to half an hour or 45 minutes, if I'm trying to fix some serious knots and aches. The slickness of this oil seemed to be best til about 15 minutes in, and then I needed to reapply. Each time, I'd use about two quarter sized puddles of oil. The oil clung to my skin after the massage, to the point where I actually had to use soap and water for my hands to feel clean. I prefer oil leaves my hands feeling moisturized, but not slick. My partner said that he didn't feel overly greasy after the massage, and it seemed to have sunk into the skin of his back fairly well.

Bottom line? If you prefer certified organic ingredients in your massage oil, don't care if you'll need to wash your hands with soap and water after use, are ok with reapplying, and can afford this? Go for it. For those who don't require those things from their product, and just want affordability and a great all around oil, get a bottle of Sensuous instead for less than half the price.

I've tried this a few times since I wrote the original review, but the scent still morphs oddly on my boyfriend's skin as well as mine. I'll pass it along to someone else, but it's just not working for me.