The origin of Gwyneth Paltrow’s controversial candle: A joke that got out of hand?
Businesswoman and actress Gwyneth Paltrow has finally revealed the story behind one of the most talked-about products from her brand: the candle titled “This Smells Like My Vagina.” In a recent appearance on the podcast Friends Keep Secrets, hosted by Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky, and Kristin Batalucco, the celebrity clarified how a casual comment during a creative session ended up becoming a viral sales phenomenon.
As Paltrow recounted, it all started while she was collaborating with perfumer Douglas Little on the creation of a fragrance with earthy notes. The actress, known for preferring woody and unique scents, was looking for something distinctive for her wellness line. During the process of experimenting with ingredients like algae and tomato leaves, she made a comment that, according to her, was born purely from her sense of humor.
I have a very bodily sense of humor and nobody really knows that side of me. And I said, ‘Well, this one smells like my vagina.’ Like a joke!
Gwyneth Paltrow
From joke to commercial success
What began as a whim was taken with complete seriousness by Little, who found the idea brilliant. Shortly after, the Goop team received a physical sample of the product with the name that is now widely known. Although Paltrow initially thought it was an ironic response from the creative, the item ended up being officially marketed.
The candle, launched in 2020 with a price of 75 dollars, became an instant hit, selling out its stock quickly. Its aromatic composition included a sophisticated blend of:
- Bergamot
- Geranium
- Damask Rose
- Cedar absolutes
- Ambrette seed
The decision to withdraw the product
Despite the high demand, the businesswoman confessed that the product’s popularity became a challenge for her company’s reputation. The excessive attention toward the candle began to overshadow the main mission of her lifestyle brand, which led the company to make a drastic decision.
“It became so popular that we stopped selling it because it was distracting people from what we were doing,” concluded Paltrow, making it clear that, beyond the anecdote, the product did not represent the actual scent of her anatomy, but rather a marketing strategy that ended up being too effective for its own corporate goals.
