Once a niche alternative wellness treatment, CBD now seems to be in every product under the sun, from makeup to dog treats. Demand for CBD-infused sexual wellness products has skyrocketed too. Natural health website Remedy Review recently surveyed 1,000 people and found that 68 percent of those who had used a CBD intimate product said it improved their sex life. CBD sex is hot right now and manufacturers are riding that wave.
The overwhelming number of CBD-infused enhancers on sex shop shelves has become a challenge for consumers. Faced with so many options, many aren’t sure how to identify quality cannabidiol products among a sea of lookalike bottles. They all promise supercharged sex; however, many shoppers fear they’ll end up with snake oil capitalizing on a trend. Adult film director Michael Ninn realized he could harness his creative power to develop a line of CBD-infused intimate products with maximum shelf appeal, he got to work.
The big, long game plan is to be the [brand] that gives rebirth to romance.
“I thought that there was a need for a high-end product, and I didn't see it,” Ninn told XBIZ. “I wanted to develop the product that I thought was missing: a high-end lubricant, both CBD and non-CBD.”
Ninn is now the founder and CEO of NEO Sensual, which offers a line of luxury lubes, lotions and enhancers made with cutting-edge cannabis technology and all-natural ingredients. Industry veteran Joey Wilson teamed up with Ninn and serves as NEO Sensual’s director of distribution. They both recently spoke with XBIZ about this new venture.
Actively involved in the formulation process, Ninn was committed to developing what he calls “conscious products.” NEO Sensual’s offerings are vegan, paraben-free and cruelty-free, plus use high-quality CBD and non-cannabidiol extracts. What really sets NEO Sensual’s CBD apart, though, is its utilization of nanotechnology.
“We're the only product line I'm aware of that uses nanotechnology and nanoemulsification,” Wilson explains. “What that does is that takes the CBD molecule and breaks it down 10,000 times smaller. So, with that, it becomes water-soluble, becomes more potent, and more able to saturate through mucosal membranes into the bloodstream. With the nanoemulsification, you now get the true physical and psychological experience of what CBD does to the body and to the CBD receptors. We’re one of the only products that do that.”
According to Wilson, NEO Sensual believes transparency is vital to its reputation. Consumers often suspect CBD companies of over-inflating the quantity and/or quality of cannabidiol they use, and for good reason. A 2021 analysis by CBD educational resource Leafreport reviewed potency and purity lab analysis data for nearly 3,000 CBD products from 136 brands. What they found backed up those suspicions.
Leafreport uncovered significant discrepancies between advertised potency versus what was verified by lab testing. In fact, 84 percent of products tested didn’t measure within an acceptable variance. In addition, 25 percent of brands skipped purity testing that measures things like microbiological impurities and pesticides. Customers can verify both the purity and potency of NEO Sensual’s CBD by viewing the Laboratory Certificate of Analysis on its website, the company says.
NEO Sensual’s signature lubricant, Intimate Glide, is an all-natural, CBD-infused water-based lube that’s safe for use with toys, all kinds of play, and is latex-compatible. It’s available in four varieties — Strawberry, Vanilla Sky, Original Sin and Champagne, which was nominated for XBIZ 2021 Sex Lubricant of the Year.
The topicals category includes a variety of enhancement products. Tingle Clitoral Stimulating Gel is designed to increase blood flow and heighten arousal. Male enhancement lotion ManUp Nano Glide is formulated to reduce overstimulation without eliminating sensation. The Sensual Massage Oil uses lavender almond oil and jojoba, plus is hypoallergenic. All are available in CBD and non-CBD versions. NEO Sensual also offers tinctures and vapes containing a custom blend of terpenes and full-spectrum CBD, CBN and CBG oil designed to enhance various activities like sex or sleep.
When developing NEO Sensuals, Ninn says that he was driven first and foremost by his artistic vision. While the technical aspect of utilizing quality, clean ingredients was imperative, designing products that cultivated multi-dimensional, emotionally driven experiences was just as important. According to Ninn, “Our core mission is just to bring something to the bedroom that enhances the lovemaking process, the sexual experience. But the big, long game plan is to be the [brand] that gives rebirth to romance.”
NEO Sensual’s soft launch kicked off at ANME in early 2020 and the line is currently carried by a handful of retailers. After riding out pandemic shutdowns, NEO Sensual is primed to hit both the pleasure products and cannabis trade show circuits once again. The first stop was in September, at the International Lingerie Show in Las Vegas.
This fall, the company also debuted its double-decker bus, custom-designed for retail tours and shows. Wilson describes the interior. “The downstairs is dressed out like a showroom. So, it looks like you're walking into a store that has all the products. Then upstairs is the lounge. It's got a couple of beds, a jacuzzi upstairs, a full bar, and couches and beds, and everything!” The bus will also serve as home base for educating industry insiders about NEO Sensual.
Wilson believes one of the biggest barriers for shoppers is unfamiliarity with what CBD does to the body. That’s even more important when it comes to understanding how nano CBD amplifies cannabinoid delivery. Rubbing the product on the inside of the wrist is an ideal way to gauge how intimate body parts may react.
Not only does the company supply retail testers so shoppers can perform the wrist test in-store, but according to Wilson, this demonstration is also a cornerstone of retailer education. “You'll be able to see it right there on your wrist, you'll see what it does to the tissue. How it permeates through into the blood flow. You’ll see how it reacts with the human body.” The company is also on the verge of launching a robust affiliate program. For online shoppers who can’t sample products firsthand, influencer and review testimonials are the next best thing.
Currently, NEO Sensual’s CBD products ship throughout the U.S. and its non-CBD products are available worldwide. The company also has an office in London with plans to expand into the European market. In anticipation of the company's international growth, NEO Sensual’s chemists and R&D team are currently in the lab working on several new products. The company is forging ahead with its venture into pleasure products with the goal of creatively integrating the latest in technology and cannabinoid delivery methods with Ninn’s unique artistry guiding the way.
