Mistress Ariachne's BDSM Workshop: Chemical Play Scenes

Chemical play -- the use of substances like Tiger Balm, cinnamon oil, and the like to produce strong sensations -- can be an important part of your BDSM tool kit. For instance, it's a great way to play when you and your partner don't have the room to swing a whip, or you must be extremely quiet and discreet (playing at your parent's house during Thanksgiving comes to mind). There are a variety of ways to use chemicals to add spice to your play. Here are a few of my favorites.

The chemical banquet

Some chemicals that can be used in play are delightfully edible. One of my more memorable feasts was a banquet of fresh sushi -- laid out in a perfect pattern on the nude bodies of a couple of friends. The soy sauce was pooled in their navels. We got a bit creative with the wasabi, rubbing it on the erect nipples of both the guy and girl. We pinched their nipples a little first to make them extra-sensitive. Both of them reported a warm, tingly sensation as the Japanese horseradish was applied to their delicate nipple areas. This helped enhance the later sensations of guests licking the wasabi off to complement the sushi.

Altoids and other strong mints are yet another version of a sensation-producing chemical that can be consumed. You can use these edible chemicals in a variety of ways. One good scene involves tying someone down, sucking on a mouthful of strong mints, and then giving your willing victim a long, slow tongue bath, concentrating on the naughty bits. For an extra-cooling effect, lick an area with your mint-covered tongue and then blow gently. For more intense mint sensation, grind up the mints and dissolve them in a tiny bit of water or lube and apply directly to your partner's body.

Another time-honored favorite edible chemical is the confection known as Pop Rocks. Place a pinch of Pop Rocks on your partner's skin and slowly lick them, holding your tongue down to keep the reaction going on the skin. You'll be giving your partner the feeling of a million little explosions popping against their flesh. This sensation can be quite intense on very sensitive areas like the glans and the clitoris, so if you're going for these areas, try just a little bit at a time. Be warned that Pop Rocks can leave a sticky residue -- you might just have to hose your partner off in a warm shower afterwards.

At one time there was a candy called Zots that contained a form of baking soda in the middle that fizzed. You can use straight up baking soda for this effect as well. Rub some gently on the skin and sprinkle with water. The sensation won't be terrifically strong, but it is interesting nonetheless.

You may find it fun to put together an entire evening of edible enjoyment, with your partner as the buffet table. You and/or your friends can try a variety of different consumable chemicals on the quivering flesh before you.

Mindplay with chemicals

Chemicals can be used to great effect in what can be called "mindfuck" scenes. Harmless chemicals that leave no lasting effects can be substituted for more nefarious substances. I've seen and participated in some truly creative scenes where this was done.

For instance, in one scene, the bottom was blindfolded and taken to a friend's house, where they were stripped and restrained on a chair. The Master's friend then proceeded to perform a mock interrogation scene, including chemical torture. The bottom was told that if they did not cooperate, they would be subject to the application of radioactive substances that would eventually cause mutations. These chemical weapons smeared on the bottom's body were in reality innocent substances like Tiger Balm and cinnamon oil. The strong sensations they provided really helped make the scene more real in the bottom's mind, and of course they were easily cleaned off afterwards during an intensely loving aftercare session.

I've done one particularly interesting scene where the submissive wanted to be burned and then treated by a strict but caring nurse. This submissive really wanted to be burned with a flame, cigarette, or iron. I wanted to help him act out his fantasy, but I didn't want him to have permanent damage from our play. So instead, I tied him up, blindfolded him, lit a cigarette and held it near his skin. Instead of touching it to his skin, however, I dabbed some very concentrated clove oil onto his flesh. While it didn't hurt as much as an actual burn, it was close enough that he could vividly imagine he was being burned. I then moved him to a medical table and carefully swabbed and bandaged his "wounds," removing the clove oil and returning his flesh to a non-irritated state, real burn wounds avoided.

Another "mindfuck" instance involved telling a bottom I was going to douse him with gasoline and set him on fire. I had bought a brand-new, never-been-used gasoline can and filled it with rubbing alcohol (70%). I poured it over the bottom (avoiding his head and eyes) and told him he was about to make the ultimate sacrifice for me. With a fire safety person beside me armed with a large wet towel, I waited a few minutes for almost all the alcohol to evaporate. I then touched a lit match to my bottom's chest, where there was still a minute trace of alcohol puddled. It lit on fire and burned at low heat above the skin for a few seconds before I put it out with the wet towel. This is a type of scene that I don't recommend for beginners -- make sure you are experienced with alcohol-based fire play. And of course my bottom didn't actually believe I would do something so dangerous as douse him with gasoline. But the chemical swap-out provided plenty of fodder for the imagination and gave him a satisfying shot of fear and endorphins for a few seconds.