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

Earthly Body's Watermelon is the lightest-tasting of its fruit flavours: fresh, juicy and sweet without the heaviness of grape or the creaminess of vanilla. This 8 fl oz (237 ml) bottle of edible massage oil gives the slippery glide you need for a real massage, then leaves a summery taste behind for whoever's doing the kissing.

Light flavour, long sessions

Because watermelon is a lighter flavour, it's easy to live with over a long massage or a big area like the whole back and legs. The taste is there when you kiss the skin but doesn't coat the mouth. If you like fruit flavours but find some of them too sugary, this is the one to try first. It's also one of the three flavours in the original gift set, alongside strawberry and vanilla.

The tasting trail: a game for edible massage oil

Here's a simple way to use it. One partner lies back with eyes closed. The other dots small drops of oil across the body: a wrist, a collarbone, behind an ear, the inside of a knee. Then they find each drop again with kisses, in any order, while the person lying down guesses where they'll go next. Swap after ten minutes. It's playful, it doesn't need any skill, and it works just as well as a warm-up before a full massage.

Who picks watermelon

Watermelon tends to suit couples who use massage oil often and want something easy-going, and people who are new to flavoured products and want to start gently. It's also a sensible choice for warm evenings, when a heavy, sweet flavour can feel like too much. If you find you want a stronger taste, grape is the boldest in the range; if you'd like something less fruity, try vanilla.

Glide and feel

This is an oil blend rather than a lotion, so it slides easily and lets your hands keep moving without catching. Earthly Body describes it as non-greasy. It gradually sinks in as you work, so add a few drops at a time instead of pouring a puddle. Any left on the surface afterwards comes off with a warm, damp cloth.

Cleaning up after a massage

Oil on sheets is the most common complaint with any massage product, so plan ahead. Lay down an old towel or a dark sheet you don't mind marking. Wash your hands with soap before touching phones or switches. If oil does reach the bedding, dab it with a little dish soap before washing on the warmest setting the fabric allows, and skip the dryer until the mark has gone.

Before you start

Keep it for massage on the outside of the body; it isn't designed as a personal lubricant. Latex condoms and oil don't mix, so wash up before one is used. The ingredient list includes almond, apricot kernel and sesame oils, which matters for anyone with tree-nut or seed allergies. Store the bottle closed, out of sunlight, and away from heat.

Specifications

• Brand: Earthly Body, Edible Massage Oil
• Flavour: Watermelon
• Size: 8 fl oz / 237 ml; also in 2 fl oz
• Base: sweet almond, grape seed, apricot kernel, avocado, sesame and hemp seed oils, with flavour, rosemary leaf oil and vitamin E (retailer ingredient list)
• Use: external massage; safe to taste
• Latex condoms: not compatible

Pair it with the watermelon massage candle, or see the whole Earthly Body collection.