The Mer du rougir ("Sea of Blush") of SOS Novelties' line of high-class candles is quite a treat for the olfactory and tactile senses. Touted as a "3-in-1" item this is not only a mood enhancing candle that offers a romantic flicker of light, but also offers a nicely scented warm oil for massage. The best part is that the wax can also be used a cold emollient lotion before you even light it. As like most massage candles, allowing the candle to burn for twenty minutes and blowing the flame out creates enough oil for a sensuous and relaxing massage.

NOT recommended for lubrication.

The texture of this candle is fascinating in which the cooled wax is very pliable and even melts when applied to the body. The very low melting point of the wax makes it quite easy to use the candle as a suggested emollient "cold cream", as the solid state can be simply scooped up with a fingertip. Besides being used as an emollient this way, it can also be used as a solid perfume; the wax blends quickly into the skin at body temperature on pulse points and lingers subtly for hours.

As a massage oil, the oil itself feels on par with olive oil in thickness, and glides on like silk while fluid. The warmth upon melting is quite relaxing and soothing, but does quickly cool down to body temperature when rubbed onto the skin. The oil absorbs enough in which there is little that lingers on the surface of the skin, but it certainly doesn't drip. On that note, a half-minute after blowing the candle out the oil has cooled enough to still be fluid, but does not drip off the fingers when dipped into the oil.

The feel of the massage oil is the same as baby oil - not sticky, not greasy, but does glide nicely. Once absorbed, the oil leaves the skin feeling velvety.

Although a scent is not listed, the candle has a strong but not overpowering jasmine scent. Enclosing the jar in its container does release a strong wiff of scent when opened, but it dissipates into the background quickly. When lit, the scent is gentle and fills a medium-sized room with a subtle aroma. It does travel well through the air, so it could be detected outside the room.

All of the ingredients are technically "food grade", but the unlisted scent throws an unknown into the equation. However, on the tongue it does taste waxy.

According to SOS's website the candle has a burning life of 60 hours; instructions on the candle itself state to discontinue use when there is a half-inch of wax left on the bottom. Using as a massage candle, even every night, will still provide a couple of months of enjoyment.

There are no instructions on how long to burn before massage use (just to blow the flame out before using the oil), but 20 minutes of burning produces a nearly two inch wide puddle of oil worth about two teaspoons. The oil is smooth and absorbs into the skin in about five to ten minutes (although still leaving an oil sheen on the skin). The oil completely absorbs with no residue in about a half hour, giving the skin a velvety feel. The scent lingers on the skin for several hours, giving a spicy floral perfume to the body. The scent can be washed off with regular soap and hot water.

Since this is an oil-base wax, use oil-cleaning methods if any gets on sheets or clothing.

The candle is in a heavy glass jar with the SOS logo and the candle name ("Mer du rougir") printed on it. The bottom of the glass has the usual candle-burning warning sticker in both English and French, along with a notation of "Hand Made" and "Made in USA". A plastic cover over the candle gives a brief product description (including the "3-in-1" uses and a list of ingredients but no mention of the scent). Amusing is a note on the plastic cover stating "Remove the plastic befor(sic) lighting". Yes, that is how it was spelled.

The actual packaging is another matter. The jar is packaged inside a black velvet-flocked two piece cardboard cylinder, giving it moderate protection and a rather nice presentation, as well as providing a container to keep lint and dust out of the candle. The box is imprinted with the SOS logo in silver and the name "Mer du rougie(sic)" also in silver. Yes, the candle name is misspelled on the outer container. The bottom of the cylinder has a clear plastic "coaster" bottom held in place with doubled-over tape (it can be seen through the plastic). The whole package is wrapped in a clear plastic bag for shipping.

Since the wax melts at low heat, it would be risky to take it for travel unless one is assured that it will stay upright. Also be cautious when ordering during the dead of summer and/or the mailing address is in a warm climate (over 100 degrees F).

The silkiness of the massage oil is unparalleled in its absorbancy and feel. Not to mention the softness of the cooled wax makes using it without burning quite easy.

According to the website (but not on the packaging) this candle is paraben-free, no sulfates, no petrochemicals, no animal products, and not tested on animals. The wick is 100% cotton. The wax is paraffin-free and lead-free.

Ingredients are (according to packaging) coconut wax/oil, soy wax/oil, apricot wax/oil, caprylic/capric, aloe vera oil, vitamin E oil, shea butter, and jojoba oil. (As mentioned, the scent oil is not listed.)

Completely vegan and safe for body use. However, please test patch first on inside of arm to see if there are any allergies.

The Mer du rougir candle's versatility is amazing. Light the candle before a bath, enjoy the scent and flame while relaxing in the bath, then apply the resulting oil to your body after getting out of the tub. Also, being able to run a finger over the cool wax surface and swiping the wax over pulse points gives a lasting impression of scent without anyone feeling you've "marinated" in perfume. Both wax and oil are good for dry skin, as I had used it to soothe some rough patches on my belly after medical tape had irritated my skin - the oil restored the moisture and softness quickly. With use, the jasmine perfume has become a second signature scent for me, and people are surprised to learn this scent came from a massage candle.