Review - Shunga Erotic Art - Arousal Gel - "Secret Garden" Female Orgasm Enhancing Cream

Note:  I started writing this review in 2011 and am posting it now for the sake of completion.  Babeland no longer sells this product, to my knowledge, and it is not clear to me whether Shunga is still an operating business.

However, there are still a number of sites selling this product.  It concerns me that they may be selling a product that is actually many years old.

_______________________________________

The word Shunga refers to erotic Ukiyo-e Japanese art of the 16th to 18th centuries, one of the major historical roots of pornography and sex manuals today.  

Shunga Arousal Gel comes in a classy, thick black box with the image of a Geisha on the front.  On the back of the box, "gently apply with your fingertips to your secret garden," *eyeroll* My secret garden?  Really, Shunga?  Who are you trying to protect from the word clitoris here?  Is someone who is too delicate to read the word clit supposed to be buying a product like this? "and you will discover new sensations that will take you to the limits of the female orgasm..."


I open the box to be hit with a strong but pleasant minty scent, a small 1 ounce black bottle, instructions, and a warning card telling me that every woman is different and I may find the orgasm cream too strong or too weak on the first try.  I may need to rinse off the product right away if it's too much or I might need to apply it as many as 3 times to get any effect from it.  Interesting.  


The instructions, which are in English and French, include advertisements for other Shunga products, and go into slightly more detail about how to use Shunga Arousal Gel, specifying that it is for the clitoris, should be massaged throughly into what says under the clitoris, but I think they mean under the clitoral hood, and that I may need to apply 3 consecutive days if I don't feel sensations immediately.  I have to say that I really think the outer instructions should be more specific that it is for the clit and not meant to be a sex lube, because someone out there is probably going to think that "secret garden" is their vagina.  


The instructions specify that Shunga Arousal Gel is not for pregnant women, or women with genital herpes.  Ingredients include glycerine, l-arginine, l-ornithine, damiana, peppermint oil, vitamin E, and also, unfortunately, parabens.  Yeah, I'm not happy using a product with parabens on one of my most delicate and porous body areas.  Product made in Canada.


There are also several wording inconsistencies and misspellings on the packaging, instructions and bottle, which is a pet peeve of mine and does not inspire confidence.  The ingredient list on my package and the ingredient list on babeland.com do not match. Babeland's ingredient list has capsicum, no parabens, and overall a healthier list of ingredients.  Babeland states that the product is not for internal use, and I agree that it's not a great idea, but Shunga does not have this written anywhere.  Shunga says their product may be used with a partner, but does not specify whether it is safe to use with condoms, or whether oral sex is safe after applying the product.  If you are prone to vaginal or urethral infections, I would recommend using this product with care, as some of the ingredients are irritants for some people.  


Technically, I believe this product is safe to use with a condom, however, I unfortunately couldn't not find any handy to test it on, since I haven't used one in a couple of years.  My guy and I have been monogamous for many years now and since I can't get pregnant anymore, I see no point in him wearing one, I hate them as much as I'm sure he does.


There is no silicone in this product, therefore it should be perfectly safe to use with all sex toys and dildos, however, again, I don't particularly recommend using this internally.  I'm sure some women might like it, but I personally have yet to really enjoy using any kind of warming or cooling lube, and if this gets into your vagina, it's basically going to feel like a cooling lube because of the peppermint oil. YMMV and it's your risk to take, but be aware you may experience unpleasant irritation, dryness, or infection later.


Going to the Shunga website, after some digging, I see that they state Shunga Orgasm Cream is edible, however their ingredient list seems to support the one I have listed with the box I received.


Test one, just seeing what the cream did on its own - I applied a nickel-size dollop of the clear gel onto my clit, lifting up the hood, and let it soak in for awhile.  I felt some tingling almost instantaneously, and frankly, my clit started feeling a little oversensitive and "bruised" in just a minute or two.  I also got wet quickly.  The tingling and sort of a "heavy" feeling in my clit lasted about 30 minutes.  Later on I masturbated and my clit still felt kinda bruised from the start, but I did come more quickly than usual.


Test two, [never completed.  Do not want to use a cream that is years old, for safety, at this point, sorry.]


I feel that Shunga needs to use less of their instruction page on adverts and more on important product information.  It should always be clear what a product is used for and what is safe and not safe.

Final Verdict - Indeterminable.  Did not test enough to feel comfortable giving a rating.





--------------------------------------


Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.

Review - Shunga Divine Oral Pleasure Lip Gloss

Note:  I started this review in 2011.  It's probably a little pointless to post it now, but I figure better late than never.  I made the mistake of taking on a review item that I wasn't as interested in as I first thought - and I intend to think more carefully about assignments in the future.  

Babeland no longer sells Shunga products.  I'm not really clear if Shunga is still in business.  The market is more flooded with these kind of tingling minty lip products than before, so I still believe this product is a bad value.

______________________________________________

Shunga is a Canadian sex aid company that specializes in classy couple-centric items.  The word Shunga refers to erotic Ukiyo-e Japanese art of the 16th to 18th centuries, an important precursor of pornography and sex manuals today. 


Divine Oral Pleasure Lip Gloss, a "little Geisha's secret," is meant to "sensitize and excite both the male and female intimate areas" and help kickstart orgasms with its "warming-cooling effect".  Ideally, after one puts the gloss on, you can indulge in a tingly kiss with your partner and then you can both go down on each other and sensitize each other's naughty bits.  Obviously, this would work great for "69".  


I don't see any reason why this wouldn't work marvelously for a pairing of any two genders (or even more people).  I wonder if Shunga couldn't reach more customers by making it a more unisex, purely mint lip cream/balm in less girly packaging?

Babeland describes the lip gloss as "strawberries and champagne", but I think it smells more like strawberry bubblegum, and tastes like that, with a pepper and mint edge.  It's not unpleasant, which is good since you're going to be eating this stuff, essentially.


As makeup, it disappears quickly and is like a lot of other tingling, lip-plumping lip glosses.  It is just as smooth as tacky, texture-wise, at first, but becomes more tacky over time.  The moisturizing qualities are better than average for this type.  It is neither the worst, not the least tingling I've ever tried, but it is the most expensive by far (although I did not pay for this item, I mean comparatively by what I've paid before).  There is a one dollar lip gloss out there that is more tingly if that's what you're looking for, but if you are looking for a gift for someone else, then this product offers much classier packaging.


Divine Oral Pleasure Gloss comes in a lovely black paper box with the image of a Geisha and her client kissing in Ukiyo-e art style, and a magnet closure.  It's very attractive and tasteful.  The gloss is nestled in a lovely inset, and the bottle itself, clear, black, and gold, is also classy.  It's twice as much gloss as many other companies offer.  It is fairly intense, and manages to linger a surprisingly long amount of time.  


Since it's not as intense as a couple of other similar glosses I've tried, that can actually be a good thing if that means there is less drying peppermint oil in it, or more buffering moisturizers, since it might be going onto various delicate bits of skin.  Some glosses leave your lips dryer and more chapped than before you put it on, but this one is not bad.

I agree with this other blogger, that it's off-putting to use a product with a lot of unrecognizable ingredients.  They could all be harmless, but you wouldn't know unless you did a ton of research.

As a couples-oriented sex aid, I think that if you ask a lot of guys if they want to put on some lip gloss, even to get some nooky, they will be reluctant.  A lot of men don't like makeup products, even to see or feel on their girlfriend or wife.  My husband is like that, and he is also very sensitive to strong scents.  He's also vehemently opposed to combining food and sex.  So, this was a non-starter.  And many women feel the same way.  

But if you and your partner like getting messy, you can make each other tingle at all the erogenous zones and make oral sex more adventurous.

As a solo sex aid, tingling lips is somewhat arousing.  It could be rubbed on the nipples, or the clit, as well, but unless it is licked or rubbed off completely before penetration, I would personally be concerned about any potential chemical reaction with this gloss and your toys, because this really isn't an appropriate lube, or getting this inside the vagina or urethra, where it could potentially be irritating or trigger an infection.


Rating:  3/5.  Shunga, I would consider marking the price down a little on this item, you just don't have anything different enough to offer with your tingling lipgloss that justifies the cost to a cost-conscious buyer, and you might sell more of them if it wasn't such a huge price jump from comparative products.




- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.

Review - Tenga Double Hole Sleeve Masturbator

Tenga often gives me a wicked case of penis envy.  Just looking at their innovative disposable male masturbation sleeves makes me die of curiosity of what they feel like to a penis.  Alas, I don't have one, even just to borrow now and again, so this review is from my husband.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

My initial reaction to the Tenga Double Hole Sleeve was "Why does this exist?"  But on giving the product a spin (perhaps "thrust" is a better term), I came around (no pun intended) and found that the variety added quite a bit to the masturbation experience.

If you've never used a Tenga sleeve, it is a cylinder about 6 inches long and 3 inches in diameter.  There's a hole at the end.  Penis goes in the hole (lube recommended), and the rest comes naturally (pun intended).  The gimmick to the Double Hole Sleeve is that there are two holes, one at either end.  The "Sweet Side" is lined with nubs that provide a subtle effect.  It's not a highly realistic simulation of a vagina, but it still feels very good.  The "Bitter Side" is tighter and ribbed, providing a more intense experience.  The effect of the ribs is definitely not subtle, but it's not so tight as to be uncomfortable.



My initial doubts came from wondering whether the two sides would serve a purpose--after all, wouldn't I just stick with one side, or use two different masturbation aids?  But the two-in-one approach worked well--it's quick to switch sides (withdraw, flip the sleeve around, and get back to business), which added variety and helped prolong the experience.  While the packaging implies this is a threesome simulator, it's not all that realistic.  But real women aren't six inch long cylinders, so I wasn't looking for a precise simulation.  The two sides are well designed for the trip to Happytown.



The trip to Happytown isn't without bumps, however.  First, a sleeve like this is messy.  You'll want to use lube--although the sleeve comes pre-lubricated, it's not an overwhelming amount, and it dries eventually.  I'm a neat freak, so I spread out a towel (washing the bedspread is a pain) and make sure to have some towels or tissues nearby to wipe my hands.  If you've taken the cap off both sides of the sleeve, you'll be pushing some lube out through one end, which contributes to the messiness.

Speaking of pushing things out through the other end, I also had an encounter with what I call "Creepy Tenga Foam".  There were two small pieces of foam that came out mid-wank.  While not too disgusting, lube-coated foam is not a turn-on.  The foam also presents an opportunity for hilarity during cleanup--trying to pick up slippery foam while lubricated hands produces all sorts of comic hijinks.

If you're concerned about being discreet, be aware that there's no mistaking what this product is for on close inspection.  The label includes icons in the universal language of "this is a masturbation device meant to simulate a threesome".  It's not so obvious that it screams out across a room, but anyone who takes a look will figure out what this is for.

Final Verdict:  4 / 5  This sleeve does its job well, and the two sides provide a fun novelty.  It has some of the flaws I haven't liked about other Tenga sleeves (creepy foam, only intended for one use), but the overall experience was positive.

Click on the Babeland banner to look for this and other Tenga products.

Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.

Review - Icicles #24 Tentacle Glass Dildo

I was a bit leery about buying this unique dildo for myself after reading a few other mixed reviews for it, but I was really intrigued the moment I laid eyes on the Icicles #24 and finally decided to just go ahead and go for it.  No more dithering.  I figured, if nothing else, I could admire it as a lovely piece of glass tentacle art.  You see, like many others around my age, I must confess to a slight tentacle fetish.  Perhaps it was all the hentai anime I watched as a teenager.  Perhaps it is all the tentacle fanfic I read.  Either way, some part of me longs for some steamy tentacle action sometimes. ;)  And luckily for me, it seems that right now tentacles are very much in vogue and I've seen quite a few contenders for my pocketbook.

Happily, this purchase is no regret of mine, and it may even become one of my favorite toys, to my very pleasant surprise.  While it does have a caveat or two, Icicles #24 feels amazing, and like nothing else.  It's not an everyday toy, at least not for me.  More like a special treat.

However, Icicles #24 does have one tragic flaw, as many others have stated.  This toy really is just a little too short to be perfect.  It's essentially only 4.5" usable, 1.5" diameter.  I'm not sure why the manufacturer decided on this length, but I really wish it were just two inches longer!  Then it would truly be perfect.  As it is, it can't be used for thrusting very well, there just isn't enough length to work with, even though the end is useful to hook my finger into as a handle.  I like to slowly rock this dildo back and forth a little, just an inch or two, or just use it to clench around, since its many bumps and satisfying girth is great just for that purpose.

It is difficult to tell from pictures, but this is a very unique dildo in how it is shaped, it is more of a flat oval like a tongue, than round like a penis, and it has somewhat of a groove in the middle of the top, like the underside of a tongue.  The top is what I would call spikey, while the bottom is covered in thick "veins".  I recommend a goodly amount of lube when using Octopussy, because the "bumps" or "spikes" are fairly formidable, but very pleasurable with enough warm-up.  They can definitely be felt and enjoyed, unlike so many other bumpy dildos I have tried where you can't even feel the tiny bumps. It is also pleasant to play with externally by rubbing it across my clit and labia, and any other place I desire.

Icicles #24 is made of Pyrex, a special kind of glass which can be boiled to sterilize, put in the dishwasher, or cleaned with soap and water.  It can be warmed or cooled for temperature play.  It could be potentially broken like glass, so be careful not to drop it on a hard surface, and examine it carefully no matter where you drop it.  Never use a glass toy that has cracks or chips in it whatsoever, for your safety.  Pyrex can be used with any kind of lube.

Like other textured glass dildos I have tried, this is rather a bitch to clean by hand if you don't do it soon after use, and you'll want a brush to get to all the dried bits in the deep nooks and crannies.

This toy came in tasteful, non-offensive packaging, well-padded, but not including any kind of special case, although you could just keep the box.

Final Verdict:  4.5/5, a truly excellent addition to my toy collection.  It makes my inner tentacle freak very happy.

Hey, pipedream, if you're listening, I would LOVE if you were to make a second version of this toy that was blue or purple Pyrex, 1.7" diameter, and 8" long, with a flanged base so it could be used for anal pleasure as well.  Maybe just a bit more curve to it as well.  Then it would be a bazillionity/5.  Tentacles should be long and a little scary  ;).



Icicles #24 can be purchased at edenfantasys.com.  Use code SSA for 15% off your order!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -


Disclaimer - This product was purchased on my own, not provided to me.

Review - We-Vibe Tango

We-Vibe Tango is a dimunitive rechargeable travel-friendly vibrator, which is essentially an high-end bullet vibe. It is really too small to be used as a dildo, at 3" x 5/8" (it is slightly longer than the typical size of a tube of lipstick, and the tip of the Tango is also tapered like the end of a lipstick), rather it is intended for clitoral use, and it is definitely not safe for anal use, since it has no safety measures to keep it from getting lost inside the body.  The Tango's small size is great for slipping between you and your partner.  It is easy to carry in a pocket, a purse, or a travel bag.

Overall, I think it has a lot of great qualities, but could use some improvements.

Tango is made from body-safe hard PC-ABS thermoplastic, can only be used with water-based lubes, and should be cleaned with soap and water.  It cannot be boiled or bleached for sterilization.  We-Vibe claims the Tango is waterproof and submerge-able.

We-Vibe states that the toy is fully recyclable and manufactured carbon-neutral. Designed in Canada, Made in China. One year warranty. The packaging is elegant and tasteful.  Everything inside was separated and packaged well to prevent damage.   It includes a white satin drawstring bag for the Tango, which is a thoughtful and appreciated touch.  The instruction booklet is in many languages, but doesn't actually give that much information about the toy other than the barest necessities.

Tango comes with a 2-part charger - a wall plug that's maybe a little larger than the typical "slim horizontal brick-type" phone charger with a decently long cord, and a small adapter that on one side, the cord plugs in, and a magnet slot on the other side.  There is a light on the adapter that comes on when you plug it in, and off when it is fully charged.  The Tango weighs enough that you cannot dangle it from the outlet, the magnet is very weak, it just falls right off.  You will have to place the Tango on a stable surface so that there is no cord tension.  It can take up to 90 minutes to charge, which provides you with roughly 2 hours of play.  It is claimed that the Tango is good for 500+ charges and that it will hold a unused charge for up to 2 months.

One detail about Tango that immediately irritated me, is that the very tip of the toy has a little rough spot on it from the mold.  Worst possible placement for something like that.  I could feel the spot on my naughty bits, in fact, although it was not so rough that I could not use the toy, and probably less damaging than being felt up by someone with rough, dry, scratchy fingers.  There is no center seam, but there is a seam on the bottom that is not smooth.  There is also lightly raised lettering and so forth on the bottom half-inch of the toy from the title and logo images on there.

For my preferences, I wish the Tango were not actually quite so smooth.  I used to use a lot of cheap, smooth plastic vibrators, but for several years now I've almost exclusively been using silicone vibes, which are textured enough to tug at the skin a little, which I personally find more enjoyable.  This is higher quality plastic, so it's harder to break, but it feels the same as the cheap stuff on my skin.

A small button turns on the Tango, keep clicking until you hit the setting you want.  Holding the button for 2 seconds turns it off.  The button is small enough that it's a little bit hard to push when it is on, I wish the button stuck out just a bit more.  It would help if it stuck out further than the magnets do, although I realize that makes the entire endcap more of a design challenge.

The Tango has 8 intensity and pattern settings.  I believe that the patterns are on '3' intensity, but I am not 100% sure.

1 - low
2 - medium
3 - high
4 - ultra high
5 - steady pulse 9 + quick pulse 9
6 - "rollercoaster" high to low
7 - steady pulse
8 - dot dot dash dash dash
9 - off

If you turn the Tango off with the 2 second push, and then you turn it on again, it resumes on the setting you were last on, so if you turned it off on setting 6, that's where it will start next time.

Well, I have tested this one off and on for almost 2 months, I really wanted to like this toy, and despite my best efforts, this vibe just does not get me off, so there's a full point off. To me, this feels way more massaging than stimulating.  On the other hand, it's a really good "teaser" vibe when used on the patterned settings.  Also, We-Vibe is not kidding when they say the Tango maintains its charge!  I've left this thing without a charge for weeks now, and used it for several minutes at a time here and there, and the battery just keeps going and going, at full strength, which in my experience is nothing short of amazing.  Man, if this thing could just give me an orgasm, I'd send We-Vibe a fruit basket.

Final Verdict:  3.5/5.

I would rate the Tango higher if the manufacturer changed the design to make it smoother on both ends and took off the pointless logos that most people probably won't even notice anyway.  Make the surface of the vibrator at least somewhat textured silicone.

At the end of the day, this is simply an upscale bullet vibe, and the battery cannot be taken out and changed, it will slowly weaken over time and eventually will not hold enough of a charge anymore.  It costs about as much as 3-4 cheap bullets, so you will have to think about whether the improvements are worth the cost.  Unlike a cheap bullet, Tango has many settings and speeds to choose from.  It is sturdier, and waterproof.  I can break a cheap bullet just by looking at it, I've gone through a ton of them over the years, so I appreciate the improved hardiness of Tango.  You will save money, in a sense, by not having to buy batteries.




Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.

Review - Sweet Beauty Chocolate Body Cream

Sweet Beauty Chocolate Body Cream, from the Organic Chocolate Spa Treatments line from Seattle-based Sweet Beauty, is a truly delightful treat for all you chocoholics out there!  Organic, All-Natural, Paraben-Free, Silicone-Free, Phthalate-Free, Sulfate-Free, No Artificial Fragrances.  Deep moisturize with grapefruit seed oil, shea butter, cupuacu butter, babassu seed oil, and organic fair trade cocoa.  This does contain glycerin.

Chocolate Body Cream is very intensely chocolate scented.  It has a fairly strong scent even before you open the jar!  Once you open it, it's like being in a chocolate factory.  It's a deep, sugary milk chocolate scent that reminds me of a Cadbury chocolate bar the most.  Sweet Beauty describes this product as dark chocolate, but I eat dark chocolate almost exclusively and I think it smells much more like milk chocolate, even though the ingredients may more closely resemble dark chocolate.

Thankfully, I think, for most of us, the scent is curiously much less intense after it is applied to the skin.  Although I suspect it depends on how much you apply.  It absorbs very well and reasonably quickly for such a thick and rich body cream, and leaves only a tantalizing hint of chocolate on the body.  You have to work a little to rub it on, due to the thickness, but it does not leave an oily sheen.  A little goes a long way, as well.  The scent lasts for hours.

The "spa treatment" label holds up in this body cream.  These are excellent ingredients for repairing severe dryness with repeat use, and it's a truly indulgent and sensual scent.  You can get the spa experience at home for much less money, over and over again.  Chocolate has phytonutrients.  Cupuacu butter helps you retain moisture, preventing wrinkles and aiding skin elasticity and regeneration.  Grapeseed oil is astringent and great for acne-prone skin.

And guys?  I'm sure you are going to think this product is not for you, but I think you should rethink the stereotype and really give some thought to trying Chocolate Body Cream on your body.  The scent is pretty unisex, actually.  Although there are floral ingredients in the cream, you can't make them out, rather, I would say they add complexity to the chocolate scent.  Are you going on a hot date?  Night out at the strip club?  Long weekend with your partner?  Swingers' event?  Whoever you are trying to seduce will appreciate this unique and sexy scent.  Probably a lot more than drenching yourself in a chemical cocktail with a high budget commercial.

Sweet Beauty Chocolate Body Cream has a 6 month shelf life due to its lack of chemical preservants and should be stored in a cool, dark place.  It is available in both a 2oz and 8oz jar, and you may also be interested in checking out the massage oil version.

Final Verdict:  5/5, love it!  Check this awesome body cream out!  I am definitely going to buy this later, and recommend it.  It's not any more expensive than, say, a boutique beauty shop at the mall, and the ingredients are top-notch, with real substance rather than fluff and fakery.




Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.

Review - Burning Desire Massage Candle Set @ Babeland

Babeland's Burning Desire massage candle set is the first massage candle I've ever used. I have mixed feelings about it.  Although it would make an elegant and tasteful gift, it did not work for me personally.

The set is elegantly packaged, mostly in French, although all the essential English is there (also, the included directions are in quite a number of languages).  The Burning Desire set includes a 1.7 oz candle in a black painted clay holder having some decent heft to it (and a cheap but effective plastic cap to keep the candle clean), a pack of plenty of matches, and 2 "invisible love cards".  Also some hysterically overblown directions - YESforLOV invites you to the dance of pleasure, your hands tend me like precious embers, awaken the magic, etc.  Some eco-conscious people might consider the packaging wastefully elaborate.

Be really careful with the matches, they burn quickly!  Even after blowing one out, the wood was still red for a second.  I recommend lighting the candle some place more flame-resistant, like the bathroom counter, and throwing the used match someplace also flame-resistant, or wetting it down thoroughly first.

I decided to try out the set with a post-coital massage for my man.  The instructions say to light the candle for 10 minutes and then pour into your hand or directly onto your partner.  I am not sure if it's because it's still a little chilly, and so the container was a bit cold and could possibly have worked against the melting, but it actually took more than 20 minutes for the candle to melt to my satisfaction.  However, YMMV.  Somewhat to my surprise, I believe there are at least 3 "servings" of oil in this candle, so you can get more than one use out of it.  You definitely have enough to that you can both give each other a generous full-body massage if you want, at the very least.  To be clear, even with waiting about twice as long as the directions advised, the candle still only melted down about an inch or a little less, so you would have to melt some, then pour, then wait again, and so forth.

While the candle was burning, we both tried out the cards, which did not say anything particularly interesting, IMO, but the cards themselves were fun, you had to wave them over the flame slowly, and pretty close to the flames, while the messages slowly appeared.  Shortly after taking them away from the fire, they went opaque again, so read fast!  It was an interesting novelty, but I wish the set came with more cards, and that the messages were more specific, maybe some sex tips or positions to try, rather than something "romantic".

Also, a little goes a long way with this oil, which was extremely thick and greasy.  It definitely feels a little like candle wax even after it is totally melted.  I am more accustomed to thin, oily massage oils, so this was a bit startling to me, and I have concerns that this massage oil could provoke acne.  I would recommend not leaving it on and planning on taking a shower within a couple of hours of using this oil, if you have acne-prone skin.  If you don't have sensitive skin, you might like that this oil is so emollient and rich.

There was no problem with pouring the oil on my partner as soon as I blew out the flame, it cools down almost instantly and never got very hot.  It is not super-drippy, thick enough to only puddle and run down a little, though I put down a towel to be cautious.

My man seemed impressed with the massage oil, he liked the subtly musky, sexy unisex scent, which was not too overpowering (he hates strong scents).  It is not a girly scent at all.  I myself think it is a unique and sexy scent, and the thing about this set that I most enjoyed.

He stated that it felt like my hand movements were magnified for the first few minutes, which felt really amazing, and then the effect diminished over time as the oil cooled more and dried out a little.  It was not the kind of oil that feels more slippery with massaging, rather it becomes harder to work with and you become aware of how thick it is.  I think this oil is best suited to a slow, leisurely, sensual massage, rather than a vigorous one.

On my part, it oil washed off my hands fairly easily, although the scent lingered on quite strongly even afterward.  My guy said he had to scrub a little with soap to get it off, and it wasn't super easy but not very troublesome either.

Ultimately, I give the Burning Desire Set a 3/5, this product did not quite suit my preferences,  I felt like I had to struggle to make it a good massage because it was a little too thick and didn't spread well over time, and the set seems like a somewhat poor value for someone on a budget.  I would prefer more traditional massage oil for giving massages.  Also, I would prefer a real candle that burns just a little bit hotter, if I wanted to enjoy some wax play.  I enjoyed trying out this product, however, and I'm sure it would suit other people a lot more than myself.  The set would be great for someone looking for an indulgent, romantic gift, who loves the "cheesy" kind of language all over this set, or who would enjoy very "safe" wax play, or who really enjoys getting or giving slow, deep massages.




I may follow up later from the flipside, with me getting the massage and him giving it.


Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.

Review - Sliquid Oceanics Lubricant

Sliquid Oceanics, botanically infused, water-based natural lubricant with carrageenan (shown in some lab tests to help prevent the spread of HPV), nori, and wakame (moisturizing).  Hypoallergenic, PH neutral, non-staining, vegan, mostly organic, no parabens, no glycerine, no animal testing, and made in the USA.  Additional ingredients include aloe, vitamin E, hibiscus (moisturizing and soothing), flax (healing), alfalfa, green tea (anti-inflammatory), and sunflower seed.  (see also Sliquid's information sheet on this product, if you have any remaining concerns)  It is plastic type 1, so should be recyclable in most cities.  This is one classy lube, people! ;)

The bottle is elegant and tasteful, and does not look like a sex product at all on first glance.  You could leave it on your bedstand and most people would probably think it was fancy lotion.  It's a squeeze bottle, so, not as easy as a pump, but you're more likely to get every last drop out of the bottle.

I am a fan of Sliquid products and I was excited to try this one out, since it sounded very body-friendly.  Let's see how it stacks up!  It has virtually no scent, if you sniff deeply, there is just a clean, slightly soapy smell.  It tastes like plastic, not too pleasant, and I would not recommend this for oral sex.  It is a fairly thin lube, but maintains a decently thick, even coating, and I think it mimics natural female lubrication very well!  It's a little bit sticky, like natural girl lube, as well.

As a water-based lube, it can be used with anything - flesh, silicone, glass, metal, latex, etc, and it washes up with ease.  Even just wiping it off worked surprisingly well as a temporary measure, if you plan on washing up later, it came off pretty easily, did not leave me feeling sticky at all, and it blended in with my natural fluids better than any other lube I have ever tried.  It it not prone to dripping everywhere and stays where you put it.

For those of you looking for a really natural feel, for vaginal sex, I think Sliquid Oceanics would be a wonderful lube to try.  I will definitely be preferring this as a sex lube in the future because it doesn't dry out quickly combined with my natural wetness, it just makes for a great boost when I need it, and it has a really great feel compared to most other lubes that I have tried in the past (which is quite a few, of all types).  This is also a good pick for health/medical needs because of the light, natural feel.

It would work for anal sex as well, but maybe not for a beginner, or for a larger toy or very girthy penis or fisting, or whatnot, you would probably want a thicker lube in that case.  Sliquid Oceanics simply did not seem spectacularly slick or thick to me, and thus not suitable for every single occasion where I would need lube, but superior in some respects.  Oceanics may be the best choice for outdoor sex and other non-home locations since it doesn't leave you feeling like you need to scrub it off immediately.

I used this with the Octopussy dildo, which I will be reviewing soon, and it was not quite thick enough to slick-up this toy, which is fairly thick and very bumpy, as well as I would like.

Ultimately, I give this lube a 4 out of 5!  It is uber-natural, has a great viscosity, and is suitable to most sexual occasions.

Sliquid Oceanics also appears to be very similar to Babeland Natural.





Disclaimer - This product was provided to me as a Babeland Affiliate. However, all my reviews are completely thoughtful and honest.