Let me first give some background: I'm 36 this year, working in sales. I have a lot of social engagements and high pressure, and my performance in that department has never been ideal. I tried oral products before, but the side effects were quite obvious, so I stopped using them. Later I thought I'd try topical products. After looking around, I saw that the Japanese Marumori long-lasting spray for men had decent reviews and wasn't too expensive, so I bought a bottle. I've used three bottles so far over about two months, and I'll share my honest experience.

First bottle: From skepticism to a bit of surprise

The first time I used it was at night. After showering, I sprayed twice, roughly around the coronal sulcus area. The instructions said to spray 15 minutes in advance, so I waited about 20 minutes before starting. To be honest, I felt nothing at all in the first 10 minutes, and I thought I'd bought a fake. At around 15 minutes, a slight warming sensation began—not intense, not the burning kind some products have.

What I really noticed was at about 20 minutes—my endurance was indeed noticeably longer than usual. I roughly calculated that from penetration to finish was about 20-plus minutes, whereas normally it's just seven or eight minutes. The effect the first time was fairly obvious, but not exaggerated.

Second bottle: Figuring out the usage that suits me

After using it a few times, I found that the onset time has a lot to do with where you spray and how much. With two sprays, it takes about 15–20 minutes to kick in; with three sprays it's a bit faster, but the numbness is also slightly more noticeable. I later settled on two sprays, applied 20 minutes in advance, which felt the most natural.

As for duration, based on how it felt, it lasts about 3 hours. Once I used it after 8 PM and it was still effective past 11 PM. But after 3 hours the effect gradually fades, which basically matches the product description.

As for side effects, the first two times there was a slight warming sensation—not severe, gone in about ten-plus minutes. After the third time I basically felt nothing, probably because my skin had adapted.

Third bottle: Starting to compare with other brands

While using the third bottle, I also tried the German Black King Kong recommended by a friend, and the Elus 101, which has good reviews online. Here's a quick comparison:

For details, you can check my earlier Elus 101 hands-on test, where I wrote about it in more detail.

Let me talk about the drawbacks and inconveniences

The first issue is having to wait after spraying. Although 15–20 minutes isn't long, you still have to plan ahead, and it's not very convenient for spontaneous occasions. Once after dinner I wanted to use it on short notice and waited almost half an hour for it to kick in, which took away from the experience.

The second issue is washing off. If you spray and then decide not to continue, you need to wash it off with soapy water—rinsing with plain water doesn't quite work. Once I sprayed and then had to go out unexpectedly, and it took two washes to basically get rid of the sensation, which was a bit of a hassle.

The third issue is that effects vary from person to person. A friend of mine used the same product and said the effect was so-so; he later switched to the Jiu Huang one, which he said suited him better. So this really depends on individual constitution.

Summary after using three bottles

My overall assessment of the Japanese Marumori long-lasting spray for men is: mild, natural, suitable for beginners. It won't give you that sudden numb feeling; the effect builds up gradually and is closer to a natural state. But if you're after a particularly strong effect, you might find it not strong enough.

Who it suits: those trying topical delay products for the first time, those sensitive to numbness, and those with a budget of under 10 yuan per use—this is a good fit.

Who it doesn't suit: those seeking extra-long duration, those who need a fast onset, or those with particularly sensitive skin (even though it's mild, I'd still suggest testing a small area first).

One last reminder: no matter which product you use, I suggest trying a small amount the first time—don't go straight to three or four sprays. Also, if you have broken skin or a history of allergies, it's best to ask a doctor before use.