How to Use Massage Candles

Have you heard of massage candles? Gaining in popularity, massage candles take the ambiance of a candle – and mix it with the sensuality of an extra-warm massage.

Essentially, massage candles look like a standard candle – but they have a lovely secret. When the wax of a “massage” candle burns down, it melts into massage oil. Since the fire has been creating it this whole time, the massage oil is warm, and this warm, sensual massage oil can easily be drizzled onto the skin and used for a massage.

Now that you know what a massage candle is, let’s talk about how to use massage candles:

How to Use Massage Candles?

If you’ve never used a massage candle before, you’re in for a treat. Essentially, think of a massage candle like it’s solidified massage oil. To “get at” that massage oil, you need to warm it up first so it turns into its liquified state again.

It’s important to realize that a massage candle is VERY different from a standard candle you burn for decoration or scents. Massage oil candles burn turn at temperatures that are safe for the skin – and are made from ingredients that are safe for the skin. Do NOT attempt to use random candles for massage oil purposes to learn how to use massage candles. You’ll be very, very sad (and likely burned).

So, if you’re wondering how to use massage candles, here’s how:

• Put the candle on a safe, sturdy surface. It’s going to be lit on fire, so make sure that the surface is safe for flame and away from anything that will catch on fire.
• Trim the wick to 1/4th of an inch – or whatever wick length the massage candle manufacturer recommends for you.
• Set the candle wick on fire using the fire-producing methods you prefer. Stick lighters have always been my candle burning tool of choice.
• Wait 15-25 minutes. It will depend on the size of your candle, how chilled the wax was, and other factors. Essentially, you’re looking for a small puddle of wax to have accumulated in the bottom of the candle. Since this IS a candle designed for sensual enjoyment, I recommend letting this burn while enjoying other forms of foreplay – or a gentle massage without massage oil.
• When you have a nice puddle of wax accumulated in the bottom of the candle, take the candle to where the two of you are playing. Ensure that any location you’ve chosen can take oil getting on it – or put down protective blankets and towels. Oil CAN stain fabrics (though that doesn’t necessarily mean it will), so protect things like it might.
• When you’re ready to apply the massage candle wax to your partner’s skin, blow out the fire. Wait about 20 seconds.
• Then pour the candle wax onto your partner’s skin from 8″ to 12″ away from the skin. Do not wait too long or the wax will begin to solidify again – but don’t jump the gun because it might be too hot. If you’re concerned, consider placing your palm, face-up, a few inches above your partner’s skin, then pouring the candle into your own palm with the same distance and time waited. This will let you judge how the pouring of the wax feels – temperature-wise – before directly going onto your partner’s skin.
• Start rubbing the massage candle oil into your partner’s skin. If you’re using the Honey Play Box candle, you’re likely getting some serious scents right about now (like we were). The melted massage oil will feel exactly like a super-warm massage oil with a slightly thicker consistency. Go ahead and start in on that massage, rubbing the massage oil into your partner’s skin while your hands glide over their body.
• If you’re planning on needing more massage oil, take a break from your massage, and use one hand to relight the candle on a sturdy surface to let it start forming another round of massage oil. (To stay present in the massage, if possible, I’d recommend keeping one hand at least touching your partner’s skin)
• When you want/need more massage oil, blow out the candle and repeat the process once the candle has accumulated another puddle of massage oil. Since the candle is already warm, it should take much less time for this second time around (and for subsequent times). Probably less than ten minutes.
• Once your partner is used to the sensation of the candle wax for massage and you’re used to how it gets poured, you can experiment with the height – and time waited after blowing out the wick – to find the ideal temperature for the two of you. Pouring it closer to the skin will result in a hotter sensation. Waiting less time after the wick is blown out will als make the wax warmer.
• When you’re done, ensure the massage candle is blown out and clean up accordingly. That’s it!

Safety Cautions with Massage Candles

Honestly, learning how to use massage candles is relatively safe (especially when you start comparing it to other kink activities or even athletic sex positions), but there are still some things you should be aware of:

• A massage candle is still a candle. Take proper fire precautions.
• Unless you really, really, really know what you’re doing and are familiar with the brand of massage candle you’re using, you shouldn’t pour the massage candle’s oil onto your partner’s skin while the candle is still lit. This puts the person’s skin at much higher risk for burns.
• And yes, you can burn someone with the massage oil wax if you aren’t careful.
• Do NOT leave the candle burning like a decorative candle. Keep a close eye on it. This isn’t as much of a safety issue as it is a functionality issue. If you let the candle burn down, you’ll “lose” a lot of the massage oil – and massage oil candles can be expensive to just burn like standard tealights!
• Massage candle oil is still oil. Oils can stain some fabrics. Protect your playing surfaces – or clothes – accordingly.
• Massage candles have a lower burning point than many decorative, scented candles. This means they can melt in a hot closet – or hot car. Take care to keep them at room temperature and away from direct sunlight – or prepare to clean up melted wax.
• Do NOT use massage candle wax as lube for intercourse. I know it can be tempting, but nope. There’s a lot of stuff that really shouldn’t go in the vagina or butt – especially fragrance ingredients. Instead, keep a water-based lube nearby, and if the massage candle oil has somehow gotten onto genitals, do a quick soap and water bath before trying to have intercourse.

Now that we’ve talked about how to use massage candles, let’s talk about an easy, trial-sized candle that makes it simple to start exploring the fun of massage candles.

Packed in sultry, black jars, the Honey Play Box massage candles offer an introduction into the world of massage candles. At 2 ounces in size (about the size of a shot glass), these candles let you try out massage candles with a low temperature, soy wax that slickens movements between the skin and hands.

The Honey Play Box massage candles are available in three scents: Vanilla, Rose, and Pheromones. My review is over the Rose-scented version.

How’s the Size of the Rose Scented Wax Play Candle?

The Honey Play Box massage candle is surprisingly small. If I would have paid attention to the listing, I would have noticed that it said 2 ounces. The Honey Play Box candle arrives in a small glass container that is effectively the exact same size as a shot glass. It’s a very small candle.

After looking at some other massage candles on the market, competitor massage candles are priced at $12 per ounce, $6 per ounce, and $7 per ounce. The Honey Play Box massage candle is 2 ounces, so it’s $9 an ounce.

That being said, those other massage candles were larger in size, and Honey Play Box’s candle is much smaller in size (and, respectively, cost). This means you aren’t paying $50 for a massage candle you’re unsure about. You’re getting an introduction to massage candle play in a smaller size – that’s less expensive overall. This can be a great way to see if massage candles are for you.

It can be hard to justify putting down $50 on a candle to give it a try. But $18? That’s a lot more palatable.

That being said, when Honey Play Box is having a sale, like they were a few weeks ago, for “Buy One Wax Play Candle, Get One Free”, that makes them $9 per candle – at $4.50 an ounce – which is very, very, very well-worth the price. It lets you easily explore three separate scents in mini, “trial size” designs.

My Review of the Honey Play Box Massage Candle Scent

I absolutely LOVE the Rose scent. As I sit here and type this, my back actually still smells like Rose – because we used the candle last night for a massage on me. Over 18 hours later (I’m about to workout and hit the shower), I can still, very easily, smell the scent of rose. The scents in the Honey Play Box massage candles pull their weight – seriously.

The scent tends to be most noticeable when you’re pouring it. While it had a scent while it was lit and burning, it was hard to smell it across the room. This isn’t one of those massage candles that will waft a scent all over the bedroom as you wait for it to burn. Instead, if you bring the Honey Play Box massage candle closer to the both of you, you get a hint of the scent, and once you start pouring it, your senses will be lovingly overloaded with the scent of the massage candle.

And once it’s on your skin? Consider it the strongest perfume you’ve ever used. Again, I can easily smell it on my back a day later with no problem.

I love the rose scent itself, too. It smells fantastic. It’s definitely a bit on the “overpowering because it’s a faux rose” spectrum, but that’s not a bad thing. It reminds me of other rose-scented things I’ve smelled – and loved. If you’re into rose, I highly recommend this scent. (And now I’m curious about the vanilla-scented one too!)

How was Using the Honey Play Box Rose-Scented Wax Play Candle?

It was a pleasant experience! As noted above, the scent was perfectly overwhelming, and the entire room smelled of roses throughout the entire massage. (I was a very happy camper).

Following my above instructions led to a hot – but not painfully so – feeling as the massage candle wax was poured on my skin – and it was his first time using a massage candle on someone, so he’s likely in the same “newbie” category that a lot of people are. That warmth quickly spread around as his hands kneaded the slippery wax into my skin – but that rose scent stuck around in the best of ways.

We both were pleasantly surprised by how long a single pour of the wax lasted. After giving it 15 minutes to melt, the first pour of massage oil wax lasted about 25 minutes of constant massaging. The second pour finished us out for a massage that was about 45 minutes long (then my arm went numb from how I was laying).

We still have, easily, 3/4th of the candle left, so we’ll likely get another two or three massages out of it – which is much more than I expected.

We do have a complaint about the design of the glass container – but that’s about our only complaint (aside from the surprise over the size). The massage play candle is contained in just a shot glass, essentially. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing when it comes to reusing/recycling the container when we’re done (it’s glass! Fully recyclable!), but it also means that this wax play candle doesn’t have any sort of pour spout.

This means that, when we poured it, some of the wax dribbled down the sides of the candle container in addition to pouring it onto the location where we wanted it. He had to get up and fetch paper towels to put the candle down to avoid the spill-over dribbling down the sides and onto our furniture. That’s entirely because of the pour spout design.

It isn’t a dealbreaker, but it is something to be aware of. You might want to keep a paper towel nearby to protect wherever you place the candle.

Honey Play Box Rose Scented Wax Play Candle ingredients: Ingredients: Soy Wax, Coconut Wax, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter, Mixed Nut Oil, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Fragrance.

Final Notes about the Honey Play Box Wax Play Candle

The Honey Play Box Rose Scented Wax Play Candle comes in a branded cardboard box that’s easy to break down for recycling. Inside the box, you’ll find the candle itself (in its sturdy glass jar) with a parchment paper-esque liner sitting on top of the candle that should be removed before use.

It’s worth noting that this candle isn’t a “wax play” candle. I’m not sure if it’s just a misunderstanding on Honey Play Box’s part, but wax play candles are candles that offer skin-safe wax temperatures – but still dry and harden on the skin like wax. (There are some fantastic wax play candles out there).

Instead, the Honey Play Box “Wax Play Candle” is a massage candle – where the wax melts into a massage oil and is designed to be easily absorbed when rubbed into the skin. Actual wax play candles will dry into puddles of wax that have to be manually picked and scraped off the skin.