Earthly Body Edible Massage Oil – Vanilla 8 fl oz / 237 ml

Vanilla is the quiet one in the Earthly Body range: soft, creamy and sweet rather than fruity. This 8 fl oz (237 ml) bottle of edible massage oil suits people who like the idea of a tasteable oil but find fruit flavours a bit much. It gives a slippery, unhurried glide for long strokes and leaves a mild dessert-like taste on the skin.

Why choose vanilla over a fruit flavour

Fruit flavours announce themselves. Vanilla blends in, which makes it the easiest choice if you're buying for a partner whose taste you aren't sure about, or if you plan to use the oil on large areas where a strong fruit taste could get tiring. It also tends to suit the neck, chest and stomach, where you'll be close to each other's faces for a long time.

A slow edible massage oil routine

Vanilla suits a slower pace. Start with your partner on their back, warm a teaspoon of oil in your hands and rest your palms on their chest for a moment before moving. Glide outwards across the collarbones and down the arms, then return to the centre and work in slow circles over the stomach. Keep your strokes long and your pressure light; this is about touch, not knots, and there's no need to hurry from one area to the next. Follow your hands with kisses as you go, adding oil in small amounts so there's always a little flavour left on the skin.

Taking turns

Vanilla works well when you swap roles. Set a timer for ten or fifteen minutes each, so neither of you feels rushed or stuck giving the whole time. The person receiving chooses where they'd like attention, and the person giving follows with kisses once the oil is on. It's a simple structure that helps couples who feel awkward about asking for what they want, because the question is built into the game.

Texture and finish

It's a blend of plant oils, so it moves easily and doesn't drag. Earthly Body describes it as non-greasy, and it slowly sinks in during use; plan to reapply on larger areas. A thick layer leaves a slight sheen that a warm, damp cloth removes easily.

Matching it with a candle

If you like a scent in the room, Earthly Body also makes a vanilla massage candle. Burning it while you massage makes the room smell of what your partner will taste, and it adds a second, warmer option once the oil runs low. Light the candle ten minutes before you start so a pool of melted wax is ready when you want it.

Good to know

It's for external massage, not for use as a personal lubricant. Oils damage latex, so don't let it meet a latex condom; wash it off first. Check the label if allergies are a concern; almond, apricot kernel and sesame appear among the oils. Oil can mark bedding, so protect it with a towel.

Specifications

• Brand: Earthly Body, Edible Massage Oil
• Flavour: Vanilla
• Size: 8 fl oz / 237 ml (also in a 2 fl oz bottle)
• Base: plant oil blend (sweet almond, grape seed, apricot kernel, avocado, sesame and hemp seed oils), flavour, rosemary leaf oil, vitamin E, as listed by retailers
• Use: external massage; safe to taste
• Latex condoms: not compatible

Browse more massage oils or the Earthly Body range.