Shunga massage candle by Shunga Erotic Art - review by oncetwice

I personally love giving massages and when I saw this massage candle I just had to try it out. After trying out the lavender scent for a few weeks we liked it so much that we decided to get a second in vanilla.

The candle comes packaged as shown with a clear plastic wrapper around the outside. Inside you will find a small plastic spoon used to scoop out the melted wax. The candle takes about a half an hour to get enough melted wax to be usable, so you will need to prepare ahead of time if planning a surprise massage.

Having now tried both the lavender and vanilla scents, we both agree that the candles smell great and are just about perfect in regards to the strength of the smell. I am somewhat sensitive to artificial aromas from candles and oil burners, but have had absolutely no problems with these (yet still notice the aroma from across the room).

The lavender has a pretty strong herbal smell which is great for relaxation more than stimulation. We sometimes even like to leave it on after a nighttime massage because lavender is recognized as a sleep inducing scent. The vanilla provides more of a sensual aroma than the lavender.

The instructions state to first pour the wax into your hands before applying to the body, which I would recommend (or wait a few minutes for it to cool). If the wax is poured directly onto the skin just after blowing out the candle, it can be startlingly hot. While pouring directly onto the body would not cause a burn, it can be slightly painful on sensitive skin or if the candle was just blown out.

One slight thing that I've noticed is that if you aren't careful, then part of the wick can fall into melted wax. You can then end up getting a black ashy substance mixed into the wax, which is quite undesirable. I accidentally did this once and ended up trying to scoop out pieces of wick with the spoon.

The only other problem that we've seen with the candle is that if too much of the oil is used or it is allowed to cool too much, that it can build up a waxy residue on the body. You will likely need to shower after the massage to get rid of the residue, although we sometimes get away with a warm washcloth with soap and water.

Overall, the melted candle works great as a massage oil and is comparable to traditional oils. The warm oil gives a great sensation and as the oil slightly cools it can be sensually dripped over the skin. Massage candles are PERFECT for setting the mood on a romantic evening and can't be recommended enough. After using the lavender candle over a half a dozen times, we are hardly even halfway through the wax. The previously mentioned issues are to be expected with a candle of this type and don't take away anything from the experience.