This lube is wonderfully thick, even thicker than hair gel. After applying it to a toy or a partner, it stays put until it's spread. I love this about it. With other lubes it's necessary to be quick to spread it before it drips. There are no such worries with this lube.

It has no scent at all. Thinking that perhaps allergies had affected my ability to smell - how can it have no scent? - I applied some to my hand and waved it under my cats' noses. Neither responded. Trust me, with their uber-sensitive noses they would have reacted had there been any scent.

The taste, on the other hand, is horrendous. It reminds me of the smell of bitter apple spray, a taste deterrent used to keep dogs from biting their fur. Perhaps this product could serve a double purpose. This lubricant is definitely not suitable for sessions where a mouth will go where this product has been.

The ingredients are: Water, Carbomer (thickening agent), Hydroxyethylcellulose (a thickening agent derived from cellulose), Methylparaben (preservative), Trieti Ianolamine (used to make it slick), Propylene Glycol (solvent), Aloe Vera Extract, Sodium Benzoate (preservative commonly used in food), Peg-8 (another thickener, often used in toothpaste), Citric Acid (a natural preservative).

It contains one paraben, a possible concern. Parabens have been widely used for decades in many products intended for use on the body. In fact, a quick search through my bathroom reveals that parabens are in my mascara, eyeliner, foundation, hand cream, eye cream and vitamin E cream. I slather myself with them daily it seems. Given the popularity of Maximus, which contains four parabens, sensitivity to them must not be a problem for most people. Sinclair Institute responded to my email question that it contains no more than 5% methylparaben. Kudos to them for a fast, honest response.

In an effort to attempt a fair comparison of this lube with Maximus, my workhorse lube, I applied 1/4 teaspoon of each to a leg and rubbed with my hands. After each was spread and the friction experiment was underway you would be hard pressed to tell which lube was on which leg. They truly felt the same. Both lasted for quite a while. But eventually, tiny clumps began forming on the Better Sex leg where lint (?) began adhering together. This didn't happen on the Maximus leg, so Maximus wins in longevity. It was equal to Maximus in that it only became very slightly sticky after extended use. Both regenerated nicely with a few drops of water. In actual use with anything going inside me though, I find that after a while both lubes disappear or are absorbed. I have never understood how one is supposed to add water during use with a partner. Do you keep a bowl of water handy? Disrupt your session by running into the bathroom? Use a mood-killing spray bottle? Visions of hosing down dogs in heat come to mind. But it doesn't matter. You can't regenerate what has vanished.

After the friction trial, I was alarmed to see how red both legs were. I'm forced to revise my thinking about the safety of parabens or perhaps another ingredient used in both lubes. If Better Sex can make my legs red, what on earth is happening inside me where I can't see? I have always had very sensitive skin, so this may well not happen to others. I repeated the friction trial using just water - no experiment is complete without a control - and no redness resulted on the water leg, even though there was considerably more friction.

I used this lubricant with a large dildo to test how well it could ease that experience. I believe it worked slightly better than Maximus for this purpose. But with both lubes, after a few minutes there is no lubricant left at all. I'm convinced they are absorbing into my apparently sponge-like interior.

This lubricant is L-arginine free (a plus for those with herpes), glycerin free (good for those like me who are prone to yeast infections), non-staining, water-based and non-toxic. It is safe to use with any toy or condom and will wash off easily. It was not tested on animals, which means it contains only ingredients that have already been established as safe enough for human use.

Due its thickness and the fact that it stays slick for a long time, it would be an excellent choice for anal play, although I did not try it for that purpose.