That's right. Minty fresh. Not the first phrase you want associated with any orifice besides your mouth... or so I thought.

Right out of the box, this lube sets up some pretty high expectations. The bottle's label proclaims, "Meet your new best friend" across the top. On the back there is a little bullet list and the very first point is "JO- The highest grade silicone lubricant in the world." Impressive claims, so it had better back them up.

This 2.5 ounce bottle of System JO Premium Warming is clear plastic with a label done in black, red, and silver; there are no images, with the most prominent text being "JO" in red. The black push top cap is easily opened with one hand since the bottle is so small. It's ingredients as listed on the bottle are as follows: Cyclopentasiloxane, Cyclotetrasiloxane, Dimethiconol, Dimethicone, Capsicum Olearesin, and Mentha Piperita.

Those interested in warming should pay attention to the last two ingredients. Capsicum olearesin is the stuff that makes peppers spicy, and if you Google it the first result will likely be a Wikipedia entry for pepper spray. Don't be alarmed. In this case, capsaicin is meant to provide an enjoyable warming sensation, not self defense or crowd control. Mentha piperita (peppermint) adds a minty smell and a slight tingle. That doesn't translate to a minty taste, in fact it's pretty tasteless and doesn't even tingle on the tongue. It contains no glycerin, L-arginine, or parabens.

The consistency of this lube reminds me somewhat of high-grade machine oil. It isn't viscous or sticky in the least, or even what I would call thick. It is the definition of smooth and silky. It also isn't the least bit runny; in fact, if you put a drop on your vertical finger tip it will take some time to work it's way down to the palm of your hand on it's own. I don't have a lab in which to confirm that this is the "highest grade" of silicone lubricants on the market, but based on the feel of this compared to others, I wouldn't be surprised. It also has the distinction of being FDA approved, meaning (among other things) that it was manufactured in a facility adhering to strict pharmaceutical standards.

Performance wise (purely as a lube, I'll talk about the warming later), System JO gets five stars, no question. It provides maximum glide in exchange for minimal application. Some lubes require the approach of a firefighter, others the approach of a chemist. This is one of those lubes where less is really more. Apply too much and you might find yourself wishing for some of that friction back. Start out with a couple drops until you find your sweet spot. The silicone won't absorb into the body as fast as a water-based lube will (although it does seem to absorb somewhat, since there is not much detectable residue afterwards, just a lingering smoothness), so no need to reapply. I can already tell this 2.5 ounces will last a good long while. All in all, System JO will serve you very well for any penetrative endeavor, as long as you aren't using a silicone toy.

But in addition to giving superior performance, this lube claims that it "warms on contact without blowing". BJ jokes aside, this is simply not the case. Upon application there is no significant warming, the way you would expect from a product like Tiger Balm which does, indeed, warm purely on contact. A more accurate description would be "friction activated warming". Once the motion starts, you can expect a nice rush of warmth, but not anything that is that much more intense than the heat generated by friction itself. The warming sensation is a bit more significant during anal. Of course, your sensitivity to it may vary, so test with a small amount rubbed between your wrists first. Anyone still wary will also be comforted to know that the warming sensation goes away without movement, so you can easily put a stop to it if you wish. Personally it is a nice amount of warming for me, but I also believe that a product should live up to the letter of its claims. This lubricant warms, but it doesn't warm on contact.

System JO is safe to use with condoms and also great for playing in the shower or tub (just don't let any drip onto your feet or the floor). I haven't noticed any dried residue, but any residual slipperiness on the skin can be washed off easily with soap and water. It can be washed out of fabric in the laundry and doesn't appear to leave permanent stains, though I would be careful around fabrics like silk.

The 2.5 ounce-sized bottle lends itself well to traveling, but silicone lube is famously prone to leaking and spillage. Always store it upright. To secure it before packing, I've had success with laying a small piece of plastic wrap over the open neck of the bottle and then screwing the cap down over it.

This lube performs as well as it ever did, but the bottle leaks way to easily. There is no option for "I still like it, but this one little thing annoys me" but that is the most accurate description. Even when fully closed, the bottle leaks if it's left on it's side for any amount of time. As far as I can tell it's not leaking out of the top, but from around the sides of the cap. I keep a piece of plastic wrap screwed down under the cap at all times now, just in case it gets knocked over. It sucks to have to remove the plastic whenever I want to use it, but it's better than cleaning up leaks. Still a great lube, but I really wish they had put some thought into leak proof packaging.