The JimmyJane Little Afterglow Sampler Set is a gorgeous gift-giving set that allows you to sample six different scents of the Afterglow candles. The set is sold by Babeland Adult Toys. The Afterglow candles are probably my favorite Jimmyjane product, so this kit just amazing for me. The candles are the “little” versions of the regular Afterglow candles, so they are about one-half the size. The six scenes included are Cucumber Water, Pink Lotus, Truffle + Gardenia, Grapefruit, Dark Vanilla, and Bourbon. These candles are not just regular candles; they are intended to be massage candles. Each one of the candles is intended to be able to be used for around 12 hours. (Of course, if you use the massage oil, obviously, you’ll be reducing the candle’s lifespan.)
The box is really pretty. It’s a regular white/pink cardboard box, but the outside is tied together with a pink ribbon. I can’t manage to get the ribbon to go back as nicely as the box came, so that’s something to consider if you are giving this as a gift. Each one of the little candles sit in its individual spot in each of the six spots in the gift set. Included is a little booklet about how to use the candles. (It sounds silly, but since these are massage candles, it’s best to read it.) Also included is a piece of cardboard much like a chocolate-cardboard “directive”. It is placed on top of the candles, and it lets you know what each scent of each candle is since the candles aren’t decorated differently. The candles can be a bit difficult to pull out of the box, but that’s for the best so they didn’t get harmed during shipping. As a sidenote, if you order during the summer, be careful since people have had issues with candles melting during shipping.
The instructions for the candle are really basic. You are supposed to remove the protective packaging then light up the candle. The candle is supposed to burn until all of the wax is evenly melted. The instruction manual recommends around 45 minutes. After that, you blow out the candle, and you can use the oil for massaging. The higher up you hold the candle from the skin, the less hot it will be. We were having no problems using the candle while still lit (oooh. naughty), so you should have no problem using it from about a foot up. The oil can be drizzled on the skin then it can be massaged into the skin. If you are worried about harm from the candle, you can keep ice/water nearby to soothe your fears. It didn’t burn us at all though.
I do like the this Sampler set. I’ve never tried a full-size Afterglow candle, and since they are a bit pricey, I was worried about purchasing a full-size candle just to find that I hated the scent. This allows me to have a good set to try out a variety of scents before deciding. Not only that, this kit is great for gift-giving to a newlywed couple or sexually open. The packaging is pretty much devoid of all sexual language. The only thing that hints at sexuality is a couple sentences in the book that tell you you can “get closer” with the candles, and the fact that a couple of the candles are named “kink” and “seduce”.
The candles work amazingly for massage oil: quite amazingly. They melt really evenly, and we actually can use the candles while they’re still lit (while I don’t recommend it.) The poured max usually ends up putting it out anyway. Each little candle has a little spout that makes it really easy to pour the wax. The wax pours nicely, and the boyfriend remarks that it doesn’t burn at all. He liked the sensation of it. It was warm and soothing but not hot. I personally loved being able to smooth the oil over his skin. It wasn’t sticky at all. Even after it dried, it ends up drying into the skin instead of being slick and gross. After we had completed the massage, he let it sit for a bit, and he just put his shirt back on; there was really no need to actually shower which is amazing. It doesn’t feel waxy at all. It just ends up being nicely absorbed by the skin.
I can definitely smell the candles while they’re burning. It’s actually really nice. If they weren’t meant for massage use, I’d just burn them for the scents. Most of them smell great! I can’t smell it across the room as nicely as I can in the same area, but it’s still very easy to smell if you and your partner are keeping it near your play-space. Along with that, if you rub it on your partner’s skin, it’s also very easy to smell the scent on your partner after you’ve given them a massage. It blends nicely into the skin. The wax didn’t irritate our skin at all. If you really like using the wax as lotion for yourself, the candle is actually soft enough (even when not burning) to scoop some out and apply some to your rough areas.
The candles are divided into three “sets” in which the scents of each set are supposed to be similar:
“Wit” Set: Provoke, which is the grapefruit scent, smells nice. It smells a bit melon-y, but it isn’t in a bad way at all. It actually smells pretty sensual which is really nice. Cucumber Water, which is the Explore scent, wasn’t nearly as yummy-smelling. It definitely smells like a cucumber, and it’s probably one of my least-liked scents out of the collection. It’s not a bad scent, but I just don’t find it a sexy scent. Both of these scents are supposed to be more fruit-y, natural smelling.
“Charm” Set: Dark Vanilla, which is called Flirt, is easily my favorite scent. It’s probably the strongest scent of the entire box, and anytime I open the box, it smells like the Dark Vanilla. I really love this scent. I love it a lot. I think I’m going to order a large version of this one. It’s strong (but not overpowering) and very sensual. Pink Lotus, which is Connect, smells amazing as well. It’s like a sensual flowery scent. It does smell a bit feminine, but it’s not in an overpowering manner. Both of the “Charm” candles smell amazing and are candles I would purchase on their own.
“Kink” Set: Bourbon, which is Intrigue, is a light, more-masculine scent. Honestly, it reminds me of the woods/nature, but I honestly can’t place the scent. It reminds me of sex in the open woods though. Truffle & Gardenia, also known as the Seduce, is a really sexy scent. It’s not sensual, but I’d call it slightly flowery. It’s not feminine flower-y though. It kinda smells like a bar of body soap. It has to be a bar of soap. The liquid stuff doesn’t smell like this. It’s actually a really great scent. I’m really fond of this scent. It looks like the “Kink” scent is trying to be more masculine and “strong” instead of sensual and feminine.
So my favorites? Dark Vanilla, Pink Lotus, and Truffle + Gardenia. The one I disliked? Cucumber Water. The other two were so-so in my book.
I really like this set. The scents are pretty damn awesome, the candles burn really nicely, and they all function great for massage use. The pour spout works well, the wax doesn’t burn, and they leave you smelling great and feeling lotion-ed. Aside from substituting something else for Cucumber Water, I can’t come up with a single way that they could have improved this collection. I guess they could make these scents in non-massage versions and bring down the price. Then I’d be in heaven. I really love ths set though. Thanks to Babeland Toys for sending me the Jimmyjane Little Afterglow Sampler Set.
