Gwyneth Paltrow Reveals How Goop's Vagina Candle Came To Be—And Has Some NSFW Words For Critics

Gwyneth Paltrow defended the controversial candle line that made headlines in 2020 after being named and marketed as “This Smells Like My Vagina.”

The exclusive and now sold-out candle was featured on Paltrow’s lifestyle brand Goop at a $75 value.

At the MindValley Manifesting Summit held in Los Angeles last Saturday, Paltrow told the host about the success and scandal that her vagina-smelling product caused:

“That product is so fascinating because we were messing around with different scents one day."

"I smelled something and I was like, ‘Oh, that smells like — you know.'”

So…what does Gwyneth Paltrow’s “you know” actually smell like? Working with perfumer Douglas Little, the product touts the scents of geranium, citrusy bergamot, cedar absolutes, damask rose, and ambrette seed.

The candle was sold in a ceramic medallion container or a rollerball scent and marketed as a "funny, gorgeous, sexy and beautifully unexpected" fragrance.

That fragrance became the talk of the internet in memes, late-night talk show jokes, and social media buzz. The brand also landed in legal trouble after a consumer filed a class action lawsuit claiming that the candle’s manufacturing caused it to explode in flames. In Goop's defense, there is a disclaimer on the product stating not to burn longer than two hours.

But the “floral vagina” smelling candle was not the first Goop product that raised eyebrows, as the brand has often faced scrutiny for pseudoscience and unsubstantiated health and wellness claims.

In 2018, the California Food, Drug, and Medical Device Task Force filed a complaint about Goop’s misleading statements regarding its vaginal jade eggs. The brand eventually settled the $145,000 consumer protection lawsuit and claimed no “liability on Goop’s part.”

Paltrow continued to explain the candle’s controversy:

“People tried to make it about something else, which is kind of a shame because it was really meant to be this strong feminist statement.”

In 2023, the Oscar winner made a similar statement during a Q&A in her Instagram Story:

And despite the backlash, Goop was able to sell out the product, now selling on eBay for $400 at a 433 percent return.

Refusing to back down, Paltrow defended the decision for the company not to pull the product:

“I kept it on the site because there is an aspect to women’s sexuality that I think we’re socialized to feel a lot of shame. I sort of loved this kind of punk rock idea. We are beautiful and awesome."

And if you still disagree, well, Paltrow has some choice words: “Go f‑‑k yourself.”

You can watch the full interview below:

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While others had their own choice of words for the Oscar winner:

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Even though Goop no longer sells the original candle, it has added additional vagina-positive scents including “Hands Off My Vagina” and “This Smells Like My Orgasm.” Very punk rock, indeed.