Kama Sutra Ignite Massage Oil Candle Sweet Almond

The Kama Sutra Ignite Sweet Almond is a massage candle that does two jobs: it lights the room, and once it has burned for a while the melted pool becomes warm massage oil you pour straight from the tin. The wax-free formula is made with coconut oil, shea butter and vitamin E, and the sweet almond scent is soft and nutty, closer to marzipan than to a perfume.

How this massage candle works

Instead of paraffin, Ignite uses a blend that melts at a lower temperature than a typical decorative candle. You light it, let it burn until a pool of liquid forms, then put the flame out and pour. The tin has a pour spout, so the oil goes where you aim it rather than running down the side. The step-by-step version:

• Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before lighting.
• Let it burn for roughly 20 minutes, until there's a warm pool of oil.
• Blow out the flame and test the temperature on the back of your hand or inner wrist.
• Pour a little into your palm, or drizzle a thin line onto your partner's back, and start the massage.

Always test before pouring onto someone else. Oil that has just come off a flame can be warmer than expected, and a few seconds' wait makes a difference.

Setting up a couples massage

Light the candle when you start getting ready, so the oil is melted by the time you are. Lay a towel under your partner, dim the other lights and keep the tin within reach on a stable surface. Pour small amounts often rather than a lot at once. Warm oil cools quickly on skin, so keep your hands moving and reload from the tin when the glide fades. Long, slow strokes up the back with flat palms are a good place to begin before moving to shoulders, arms and legs.

Choosing the sweet almond scent

Sweet almond is the quietest scent in the Ignite range, a good choice if fruity candles feel too much like dessert. If you'd prefer something more tropical, the same candle comes in Coconut Pineapple and Tropical Mango. For an unscented-candle evening with the same almond note, Kama Sutra's Aromatics Sweet Almond massage oil comes in a bottle instead.

What it isn't for

This is a massage product for the outside of the body. It isn't a lubricant, so don't use it for penetration or with toys. Kama Sutra doesn't list it as condom-compatible either; with latex barriers, keep the oil away from the condom. Never leave the lit candle unattended, keep it away from curtains and bedding, and don't pour while the flame is still burning.

Care and storage

Put the lid back on once the tin has cooled so dust and hair don't settle in the oil. If the surface hardens unevenly, it will melt flat again next time. Retail listings give a burn time of up to 35 hours. Wipe any oil off wooden furniture straight away.

Specifications

• Brand: Kama Sutra, Ignite line
• Type: wax-free massage oil candle in tin with pour spout
• Scent: Sweet Almond
• Size: 6 oz (170 g)
• Key ingredients listed: coconut oil, shea butter, vitamin E
• Burn time: up to 35 hours (as listed)
• Also in Coconut Pineapple and Tropical Mango

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