Will I become paranoid or wet the bed? What is it going to smell like down there?

If marijuana isn’t legal in your state, don’t purchase THC-based products unless you have a medical card.

These were just a few of my thoughts as my partner eagerly unwrapped a bottle of Quim Rock’s Intimate Oil. (The word “quim” is 17th century slang for “vagina.”) After four years of dating, things aren’t quite as hot and heavy as they were in the beginning of our relationship when we weren’t sharing a toilet. In an effort to reignite the flame (a venture we fondly dubbed “Project Spice”), we’ve been experimenting with everything from Masters and Johnson’s Sensate Focus exercise to much less scientific methods, like chocolate syrup, Velcro handcuffs, and matching panties and bras (hey, sometimes it’s the little things).

Quim Rock’s lube is coconut oil-based, infused with tea tree oil and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive component of cannabis, which reportedly enhances sex drive, sensation, and climax. According to the website, tea tree oil is what makes this lube considered a “vaginal health supplement.” The oil’s antifungal and antiseptic properties may help prevent urinary tract and yeast infections.

This dual benefit for both sexy and not-so-sexy occasions (aka between the sheets and between itching) helped me rationalize the $50 price tag. The hard-to-ignore anecdotal testimonials on Quim Rock’s website, which refer to the oil as “pure magical gold in a bottle” among other things, helped too. Slightly skeptical but primarily curious, I ordered a bottle to try.

As
someone who’s naturally anxious and constantly in their head, the feeling I got
helped me focus on what was happening in my body — not my brain.

“So, how does it feel?” asked my partner, who diligently applied the six to eight pumps to my inner and outer labia, clitoris, and vagina. (Quim Rock recommends six to eight pumps of Intimate Oil, which is equivalent to about 8 to 10 milligrams of THC.)

At first, the application felt cool and refreshing. Ten minutes later, I noticed how lubricated I was. You know when you can just instinctively tell when things are slippery down there, without even doing a quick finger check? It was like that. In terms of sex drive, I felt stoked to get frisky about thirty minutes after application. I’ve used other lubes before that made me just as wet but none have made me this eager to get it on. Perhaps Quim Rock did put my libido into overdrive.

Applying THC topically doesn’t result in the same feeling one might get from inhalation or food intake, so while my vulva and vagina didn’t necessarily get “high”, my clitoris was much more sensitive. I had to ask my partner to go slowly during stimulation, which made foreplay particularly sensual. There was more warmth down there, perhaps due to increased blood flow, but it never felt hot or like my vagina was on fire. Rather, it was like spreading my legs on the beach and letting my lady bits bask in the sun.

As someone who is naturally anxious and constantly in their head, this feeling helped me focus on my body — not my thoughts. I forgot that I needed to move my clothes over to the dryer. I stopped worrying about taxes. Instead, I tuned into my body and deeply relaxed into the physical experience.

My pelvic muscles sometimes tighten in anticipation of insertion, which can cause initial discomfort. But during this transition, I experienced zero pain. My partner’s penis literally glided into my vagina because of the additional lubrication and my chilled-out state. Sexual intercourse was more intense than usual, perhaps because we were going more slowly. When it came time for my orgasm (I typically don’t climax from penetration, so my partner usually resumes manual or oral stimulation after a while), I came much faster than usual. The transition in sensation from intercourse to tongue action was extremely intense, resulting in a very strong, powerful climax.

Sex, science, and THC

  1. Research shows that THC topical products like creams, gels, and oils are absorbed through your skin and mucous membranes, vagina included. However, there’s no conclusive evidence pointing to sex benefits, such as increasing sex drive, enhancing orgasms, and reducing vaginal pain. While evidence suggests that our biological system that regulates our response to cannabis is tied to female sexual function, more research is needed to explore the effects of THC and long-term use.
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Of course, hot sex and orgasms are part of keeping your vagina healthy. But what about the rest of Quim Rock’s “vaginal health supplement” claims? It was important to me that the Intimate Oil was just as useful outside the bedroom as inside, especially given the price tag. Since I’ve gotten this bottle, I’ve been applying one to two pumps to my vulva and vagina as part of my morning routine. (Six to eight pumps as they suggest provides extreme lubrication and enhanced sensation, which I’m not necessarily looking for before morning meetings.)

My vulva also tends to sweat a lot more than other parts of my body while exercising. My daily pump or two of intimate oil has kept the area less stinky after yoga. I suspect the tea tree oil might be preventing bacterial growth that can lead to odor. One 2015 study points to tea tree oil’s ability to treat difficult yeast infections, but only when combined with other medications. However, overall, there’s a lack of scientific evidence to conclusively state that tea tree oil itself can prevent and treat vaginal infections.

The one thing tea tree oil has probably helped? My ingrown hairs in this area. My skin is smoother and less bumpy since using the Intimate Oil specifically. After a few minutes of application, any redness or irritation quickly diminishes.

I love having a dedicated product for one of the most intimate areas of my body. Intimate Oil, which tingles but never stings, is incredibly moisturizing. And since I use stuff to take care of my armpits and eyebrows, why not my vagina, too?

Topical THCTHC
levels tend to be much lower in topical items than in smokable or edible
products. The Drug Policy Alliance explains that with topical products, THC is
not released directly into your bloodstream.

Though many of Quim Rock’s reported benefits, like enhanced sex drive and reduced UTIs, are still medically inconclusive, my own personal experience with the product has proven them to be mostly accurate.

Try Intimate Oil if you have trouble with:

  • vaginal dryness
  • focusing or getting out of their head in the bedroom
  • experiences pain with intercourse
  • enhanced vulvar and vaginal sensation
  • finding a health product to generally care for your vulva and vagina
  • lady parts occasionally smell, get irritated, or feel itchy
  • vulvar ingrown hairs
  • yeast or urinary tract infections
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Use with caution: Keep in mind, since the Intimate Oil’s made with coconut oil, you should avoid using latex condoms during sex. They’re known to break or become damaged when exposed to oil. Instead, reach for a polyurethane condom. Oil-based lubes may also leave a coating in your vagina and rectum, increasing your risk of bacteria and infections if not cleaned properly.

Since there is THC in this product, Quim Rock’s Intimate Oil is only available in California. This is partly because, according to the law, you can only purchase topical products containing THC in states where marijuana is also legal (since THC is a byproduct of marijuana). If marijuana is legal in your state, an authorized dispensary or delivery service is the best way to find and purchase products like the Quim Rock Intimate Oil.

For me, my partner, and Project Spice, the $50 was well worth it. Has it reignited our physical fire? No — it’s not a miracle product. But it’s helped to light a spark, something that strawberry lemonade-flavored condoms and scanty outfits that made me feel more insecure than empowered were not able to do. Plus, the generous bottle size will go a long way and hopefully lead to many more happy endings.

English Taylor is a San Francisco-based women’s health and wellness writer and birth doula. Her work has been featured in The Atlantic, Refinery29, NYLON, LOLA, and THINX. Follow English and her work on Medium or on Instagram.