Very Vanilla

The Exotic Massage Oil from Shunga is a wonderful oil to use for massages, putting in the bath, or using as a moisturizer. I chose the Vanilla scented one, but you can also get it in: Fruit, Lavender, Floral, Orange, Rose, Peach, Apple, and Strawberries & champagne.

The ingredients are: Sweet Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil, Sesame Oil, Avocado Oil, Safflower Oil, Vitamin E, Ylang Ylang, Fragrance, amyl cinnamal, benzyl alcohol, cinnamyl alcohol, citral, eugenol, isoeugenol, benzyl salicylate, coumarin, d-limonene, geraniol, lyral famesol, lilial, linalool, benzyl benzoate,cironellol, hexyl cinnamal, alpha-isomethyl ionone.

NOTES:
Amyl cinnamal is used in personal care products to add fragrance. The smell is like that of jasmine.

Alpha-isomethyl Ionone has been banned in perfumes and colognes, but is still used in other cosmetic products to add fragrance. It is known to trigger allergic reactions and skin irritation, so if you are sensative to fragrances, then I wouldn’t get this massage oil. The other ingredients are basically essential oils and preservatives.

This oil is very slick and provides a nice glide. It doesn’t absorb too quickly, so you shouldn’t feel the need to reapply. I find that if I reapply it, my skin feels too oily, so I prefer to stick to one thin coating. The oil is thicker than other oils I have used, but it still has a tendency to run if you don’t rub it in right away. Before, I never liked thicker oils because I found they take too long to absorb, but then I realized only a tiny bit of oil is needed, and therefore the bottle will last a very long time. The oil feels like it leaves too much residue on my hands, but it washes off easily with soap and water.

When first poured, the oil has a smoky undertone, but I’m guessing that’s from the Ylang Ylang and sweet almond oils. That goes away though, and you are soon left with the sweet smell of vanilla. The smell seems to last about an hour, and longer if the clothing you are wearing absorbs the scent. There was no taste when I licked my skin, which was surprising to me considering all the ingredients in this product.

So, I’ll admit it, I’m a little obsessed with sensual products, but this stuff is very good. A small drop of this oil really goes a long way. I like to use a drop of it in my bath to add a bit of aroma, and I use it in the morning for moisturizing my skin. I even use this on my dog’s paws so they don’t dry up or crack from rock salt. Even though the scent is Vanilla, she doesn’t lick her paws when this is on. Some oils are harmful to dogs if ingested, so know your dog before doing this.

Only use this massage oil topically and not as a lubricant. It will upset the PH balance of the vagina, and it can also ruin condoms.

The massage oil comes in a tall cylindrical bottle with the usual Shunga couple, and all the product information is on the bottle. The cap is a push style tab, which is easy to open with one hand. Be sure to remove the foil seal located under the cap before using. You get a generous 8 fl.oz which is a great deal. Store the bottle upright, and it shouldn’t leak. This would be a nice gift for a partner.

For the price, you get a lot of oil, which already puts this product ahead of the others. I have been extremely impressed with every Shunga product I have tried, and this oil is no acception. I know I will be getting this again, but I already know Vanilla is the one I like best.