For some reason the idea of pouring hot wax on a lover's skin has always been very sexy to me. I had never indulged in this fantasy because I was worried about hurting my boyfriend. A little pain can be fun, but hot wax and skin could potentially equal a regrettable encounter. So, I began looking at massage candles, which I figured would satisfy my fantasy. I looked at multiple massage candle options, but to me the Ember Massage candle seemed to stand above the rest. I considered all the scents, but I was especially interested in the Special Edition Absinthe & Sugar Water. However, I couldn't bring myself to spend the extra 24.99 on a candle I wasn't even positive I would like. So, instead I ordered the Ember in Ginger & Date and anxiously awaited its arrival. Needless to say the candle was everything I had hoped it would be. My Ember candle experience was so good that I would love to own and smell every candle of the collection. I knew I had to order the Absinthe & Sugar Water, especially since it was a limited edition product and could possibly run out.

The scent of the candle is exquisite and unlike anything I've ever smelled before. When I burn it I smell hints of vanilla, fennel, citrus, mint and black licorice. I decided to do a little research on absinthe since I've never had it before. I learned that Absinthe is an alcoholic liquor made from a blend of herbs. Among the most popular herbs used for production are anise, licorice, hyssop, fennel and most importantly, wormwood. The Jimmyjane website states that the Absinthe & Sugar Water scent is composed of Fennel, Fig, Lemon and Wormwood. It seems the Absinthe & Sugar Water candle is accurately named, since the candle scent has similar ingredients to the actual liquor. The overall scent of the candle is woodsy, fresh, sweet and slightly bitter all at once. I thought that it was a wise choice for Jimmyjane to pair the scents of Absinthe and Sugar Water since I read that many people drink their Absinthe with sugar to soften the sharp taste.

The regular Ember candles come in a white shiny porcelain container and the Special Edition comes in a matte black porcelain container. One of the corners of the container has a spout that makes pouring the wax easier and cleaner. The container also has a lid which can be placed over the candle when not in use to keep off dust. The Ember Massage candles each hold a 12 oz mixture of cosmetic-grade soy wax and natural plant extracts. There's a slight discrepancy between the candle package and the booklet as to how long the candle lasts. The booklet states that it burns for up to 72 hours plus afterglow, whereas the box says it burns up to 60 hours not including afterglow. I've used the candle about 5 or 6 times now and I've only used somewhere between a quarter and a third of the wax. When I use the candle to massage my boyfriend I burn it for about 20-30 minutes. If you want to use it for a full body massage or a couples massage, then you're probably going to want to burn it for 45 mins to an hour.

The scent of these candles is pretty strong, especially the Absinthe & Sugar Water. The strong scent is nice when it comes to perfuming a room or having the scent linger on your skin for a while. If you're sensitive to strong smells, than you might want to look elsewhere for a massage product. No matter how long I burn this candle for, it's always the perfect temperature. So, you don't really have to worry about burning your partner, unless you burn it for an extended period of time. I would suggest using a small amount of wax at first and adding more if you need it because a little bit of this stuff goes a long way and it tends to be a little runny. Also, the oil lasts for a while before it fully absorbs into the skin. The Ember wax feels thick, oily and slightly silky. It stays liquid for a while but begins to get thicker the longer it sits. My boyfriend wasn't overly fond of the slightly oily feeling his skin had after his massage, so he decided to wash it off. I on the other hand liked the scent so much that I didn't want to wash it away. I generally have sensitive skin but leaving the Ember wax on my skin for a prolonged period of time didn't cause any issues.

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I loved how smooth and soft the oil made my skin feel. In fact, using the candle as a moisturizer has become one of my favorite uses for it. I tend to get really dry elbows and using the massage oil on them has made them the softest they've ever been. These candles are great because they can be used in an erotic setting, for relaxation, by couples, or even by yourself.

The Absinthe & Sugar Water Ember comes packaged in a sturdy box. The box is white with the Jimmyjane logo and name on the front in silver. Below that are the words “Ember natural emollient massage candle.” The top of the box is light green to signify that the candle inside is the Absinthe & Sugar Water scent. The green area also has information about the scent and the ember massage candles. The little blurb about the Absinthe & Sugar Water scent states: “Iced Sugar Water clouds the pale green Absinthe, drawing bright fennel and anise notes from within. This pair of aphrodisiac scents intoxicates with a sweet rush.” The back of the box is cut out so that another box can slide into into. The black interior box has a red band around it with information about the Ember Massage candles and what they are made out of. The candle slides into the top of the black box. The first time opening the box, there's a piece of foam taped to the inside of the candle cover, and a piece of foam on the inside of the box. I disposed of the foam that was attached to the candle cover, but I kept the piece of foam that came in the box because it keeps the candle from moving around too much when placed inside.

The candle comes with a booklet with information about the Ember scents, how to use your candle, and safety tips. The booklet suggests that you always blow out your candle before you start pouring or playing with the wax, to avoid burns or other possible mishaps. The booklet also suggests that you place the candle on top of the candle cover to keep the surface that the candle is on from becoming too hot.

There's only three differences between the regular Ember Massage candles and the Special Edition Ember. The differences are: the limited edition scent, the ceramic container it comes packaged in and the additional 24.99 the Special Edition costs. One of my favorite things about both of the Ember Massage candles that I've tried is that the scents are neither overly masculine or feminine and can therefore be enjoyed by any gender. I also like how discreet these candles are. Whether it's in the box, or sitting out with it's cover on, these candles aren't that noticeable or identifiable as massage candles. Still on the fence about the extra $24.99 the Absinthe & Sugar Water costs? My advice is to buy one of the regular Ember massage candles first and if you enjoy it as much as I do, order the Special Edition.