Category: (Sado)Masochism
Subcategory: Types

Hot Wax Play

Hot wax play involves dripping or pouring melted candle wax onto the skin. Different types of candles create varying temperature ranges, with paraffin candles burning hottest, while soy and specialty play candles melt at lower temperatures. The distance between flame and skin controls temperature on contact - higher drops allow more cooling before impact.

The physical sensation is a brief, intense heat that quickly cools and hardens on the skin. The wax creates a sharp initial sting followed by spreading warmth. As it hardens, the wax forms a second sensation as it contracts slightly on the skin. Colorful waxes create visual patterns that can be artistic or decorative. The hardened wax is later peeled off, creating a final mild sensation. Purpose-made play candles are safest, as household candles may contain additives that increase burning temperature or cause skin irritation. Too high temperatures can cause serious burns.


This is a description of an activity in the BDSM checklist (also known as a 'kink list'). Want to discover what (more) kinks you might have? Maybe share them with a partner? Start the checklist!

About the category (Sado)Masochism

Sadomasochism involves the consensual exchange of sensation that many would find painful or intense in non-erotic contexts. This spectrum encompasses both the giving (sadism) and receiving (masochism) of such sensations, creating experiences where pain, intensity, and pleasure become interwoven through deliberate and controlled application.

People enjoy sadomasochistic activities for diverse reasons: the intense endorphin rush that creates natural highs, the intimate trust required between partners, the transformation of pain into pleasure through context and arousal, and the cathartic release many experience through intense sensation. Rather than being about suffering, well-executed SM play creates unique states of consciousness and connection that many practitioners find impossible to access through other means, offering profound physical and psychological experiences when practiced with skill and care.




All activities in the checklist: