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The True Meaning Behind Goop's Vagina-Scented Candle

Gwyneth Paltrow Reveals the Inspiration Behind Her Viral Vagina-Scented Candle

The True Meaning Behind Goop's Vagina-Scented Candle
Image Sources: Getty / Taylor Hill and goop.com

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Gwyneth Paltrow may have officially out-Gooped herself when she introduced the "This Smells Like My Vagina" Candle in 2020. Currently out of stock, the vagina-scented candle is one of many unique products included in the actor's notoriously over-the-top lifestyle brand. (Goop has since introduced a "This Smells Like My Orgasm" candle, which is also sold out.) Now, years after rocking the internet with the unconventional candle, Paltrow revealed the true inspiration behind the home-decor piece.

"It was supposed to be this strong feminist statement."

In an Instagram Stories Q&A on 30 Aug., Paltrow revealed the logic behind the candle. "The thought process behind the infamous candle essentially was that it was a really strong feminist statement," she explained, adding that the candle was meant to be a statement rejecting misogynistic ideologies. "So many women have been raised to think there's something wrong with themselves or that the vagina is weird or gross or something to be ashamed of. So the candle was supposed to be a very strong punk-rock kinda FU to anyone who ever made us feel like that."

Paltrow added that the intent behind the unconventional candle was, unfortunately, misconstrued early in its release. "It was not supposed to actually smell like anyone's vagina, it smelled like roses and all sorts of things and that was the point . . . but, unfortunately, because of the media and things being so click bait-y, people tried to make it into something else . . . which is kind of a shame because it was supposed to be this strong feminist statement," she said.

Produced by artisanal fragrance brand Heretic, the "This Smells Like My Vagina" candle offers a "funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected scent," thanks to a combination of geranium, citrusy bergamot, cedar absolutes, damask rose, and ambrette seed. This unique mixture of ingredients caught Paltrow off guard the first time she sniffed it while testing new fragrances with Heretic perfumer Douglas Little, leading her to compare it to her lady bits. "It started as a joke," the star recalled during an appearance on "Late Night With Seth Meyers" in 2020. "I think a lot of us [women] have grown up feeling certain degrees of shame around our bodies, so this is just a little bit of a subversive candle for all of us out there."

Like many other products sold on Goop's website, the 10.5-ounce hooha-inspired candle is relatively pricey, ringing up at $75. Amid various restocks, that hasn't stopped a flurry of curious online shoppers from bagging one in hopes of gleaning feelings of "fantasy, seduction, and a sophisticated warmth," as the product description promises.

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