It doesn’t get much hotter than wax play — literally!
Wax Sex … Got a Light?
When we say wax play, we’re not talking about waxing your body hair. We’re talking about lighting a candle and dripping, drizzling and pouring warm melted wax onto bare skin in the name of getting your rocks off.
For some couples, erotic wax play is about shared sexual exploration, which can build trust and increase intimacy in the relationship. For others, the thrill comes from the dangerously exciting sensation of experiencing short, sharp and hot flashes as molten wax hits the skin—and not knowing where it’s going to land next. And for the extra kinky folks who roam among us, wax play is about the power dynamic that comes with a sadist consensually tormenting a writhing, willing submissive by dripping almost too hot wax on their naked flesh in the pursuit of painful pleasure.
Not all Wax Candles Are Built the Same
When it comes to choosing candles for wax play, not just any candle will do. The type of candle you decide to use will ultimately decide whether your wax play experience is going to be a totally painless or moderately painful one.
Avoid using candles you normally find around the house. These are likely to be made of beeswax, which typically burns at 170 F and can injure the skin. Also, don’t use candles that are scented or have artificial coloring, as they’re likely to contain chemicals or oils and be made of paraffin wax, which burns between 120 F and 135 F, and can potentially burn or otherwise irritate the skin.
Stick to body-safe candles that have been specifically created for pouring and dripping on skin. You’ll find most wax play candles are made of soy or shea butter, which don’t generate as much heat and have a medium burning temperature.
Also, candles designed for wax play are typically categorized either as wax play candles or massage oil candles. Basically, these candles are great for dripping on the skin, but will leave traces of wax behind, whereas massage oil candles melt at a lower temperature and will be the consistency of massage oil as they’re poured onto the skin, making them ideal for a sensual rubdown.
Before You Play
If you’re going to quite literally play with fire, it pays to play it safe.
Before you start lighting candles and exposing each other to naked flames, make sure everyone’s onboard with the planned activities. Surprises are good in the bedroom, but spontaneity is not your friend when it comes to beginners wielding lit candles and hot wax. Have a chat before the lighter comes out, discuss your boundaries and come up with a safeword for cooling down the play in case things get a little too hot.
Fire can be unpredictable, so wax play necessitates even more forward planning. Prepare a dedicated space in your home for your adventure. Make sure it’s free from clutter and that there are no flammable objects looming close enough that a cheeky flickering flame could lick. If you’re going to set up on your bed, couch or rug, make sure you lay down a tarp, sheet or towel that you’re happy to have destroyed. Nothing kills a boner faster than having to pick stubborn chunks of dried wax out of the bedsheets, upholstery or carpet.
And finally, make sure you have a bucket of water, a wet face cloth and a first aid kit nearby in case of an accident. It might sound like overkill, but it’ll save you one hell of an awkward conversation by preventing an inferno and avoiding firefighters having to come to your rescue.
How to Start Wax Play
Once you’ve set up your designated play area, discussed safewords and foraged for your arsenal of body-safe candles, you’re ready to start getting sexy with wax.
Have your partner lie down on the tarp, towel or sheet and massage their body with an oil or moisturizer. This helps set a sensual mood and relax any jittery nerves, but it’s also a bit of practical prep because a slippery coating on the skin will make for a friendlier removal process at the end.
When you’re ready, light one of your candles and drip small amounts of wax onto your own arm at different heights, so you can test the temperature. When you’re happy with the level of heat, slowly splash a few drops onto your partner’s body to see how they react. This is going to immediately let you know how they’re feeling about the temperature. Stay at a slow speed and play around with dropping the wax from various heights. The higher you lift the candle, the further the wax has to travel—therefore the cooler it’s going to be when it hits the skin. If your partner is reacting positively, get creative by experimenting with the height and speed at which you allow the wax to hit the skin. Also, feel free to make patterns and layers on their body.
When you’re done turning your lover into a human candle, remove the wax by gently sliding a credit card under it to tease it off the skin. Wax can be clingy, so hope for the best that you haven’t coated any body hair—or it’s likely to be literally waxed off in the removal process.
The concept of wax play can sound a little freaky to the uninitiated, but we guess you could say it doesn’t take much to warm up to it!
We’re not saying you “should” try this adult play, but if you want to, getting the right tools will be very important. You do not want to end up in the emergency room with one of those embarrassing stories. It must be more popular than we may realize if Amazon advertises it, and think of the bright side: You will not have wasted your money if this does not work out for you. You can always cast some spells or something.
