Wax play: About candles, wax, and candle wax
“Wax Play: About Candles, Wax, and Candle Wax” was written for BDSMforyou.nl by Mistress Moriah.
In wax play, you use candle wax to deliver certain painful stimuli; in other words, it involves “playing” with wax. It is part of temperature play, which also includes, for example, playing with ice cubes.
Not all candles are suitable for wax play. Some candle waxes are much hotter than others. Within the kinky sex/BDSM community, special SM candles are available for purchase, with the heat level indicated. These candles are (relatively) safe to use and have a low/lower melting point. But even then, the experience depends on the distance between the candle and the skin (the closer to the skin, the hotter the drops) and the location on the body. On the penis or nipples, the hot drops will feel much more intense than, for example, on the buttocks.
Wax play and safety
Preferably choose odorless and colorless soy or paraffin candles. These candles are specially made for wax play, reducing the risk of burns. They often also contain skin-nourishing oils.
Start dripping with the candle about 90 centimeters above the skin and begin on a less sensitive area, such as the buttocks. That way, you can build up the intensity gradually.
Always stay well away from the eyes, mouth, or nose.
Keep a cool compress nearby in case the skin becomes red and feels warm.
Check the temperature of the wax before applying it to the sub.
Use gauze that you can dip in the melted wax and gently place it on the skin.
To add color to the wax play (without using a hot colored candle), you can melt a colored pencil into the wax. It adds color but does not raise the wax’s melting point.
If you want to use burning candles, make sure you are not wearing clothing made of acrylic or polyester. These fabrics can melt from the hot wax. Also be careful with long sleeves (to ensure they do not catch fire).
Keep in mind that multiple layers of clothing can increase the heat on the skin.
Adding other materials to the wax can raise the melting temperature.
If the skin turns bright pink or red and feels warm, stop immediately and apply a cool compress to the skin. Avoid placing ice directly on the skin (due to potential tissue damage).
Types of candles
If you are not using specific SM candles, opt for unscented candles in a solid color. Avoid candles where the color of the inside differs from the outside. Also, do not use glitter candles or those small birthday candles.
Thick candles with a thick wick produce hotter wax than thinner candles. Beeswax drips are also hotter because the melting temperature of beeswax is higher. Scented candles can easily raise the melting point by 5 to 10 degrees, and this also applies to colored candles. So be sure you know what you’re doing. After all, you don’t want to cause burns.
Solidified candle wax can be easily removed from the skin (unless it’s tangled in body hair). Keep in mind, however, that the skin underneath the wax may be more sensitive.
Melting points
| Paraffin | 49 – 63 °C |
| Low temperature wax | 49 – 52 °C |
| Standard candles | 52 – 57 °C |
| Standard pillar candles | 57 – 60 °C |
| Beeswax candles | 60 – 68 °C |
| Oil-based candles | 74 – 88 °C |
| Gel jar candles | 74 – 82 °C |
Extra tips
Use a vacuum cleaner to remove the candle wax from the body. It keeps things tidy, and the suction also adds a unique sensation.
Use a Wheel of Pain or knife to remove the candle wax, alternating with a small brush or scouring pad if necessary.
By using different temperatures – hot and cold—you can increase the intensity of wax play. If, after a few drops of hot wax, you let a sip of cold water flow over his body, he won’t immediately perceive it as cold and will be startled by it. Even though it’s actually so harmless. Alternate between the two, using ice cubes if necessary.
You can also use massage candles; these candles have an even lower melting point than BDSM candles and also give off a lovely scent. The melted candle wax will feel wonderfully warm but never too hot. You can then massage the melted wax into the skin just as you would with massage oil.
If you rub oil (baby oil or massage oil) into the body beforehand, the solidified wax is even easier to remove (even from body hair).
More information
Source
Text & image: Mistress Moriah
