Gwyneth Paltrow reveals surprising origin of $600 ‘vagina-smelling candle’
Gwyneth Paltrow is known for a lot of things across her storied career between Oscar wins, MCU hits, and some of the most iconic movies ever such as Se7en and The Royal Tenenbaums.
For many however, when they think of the celebrity, they unfortunately think about her slightly whacky lifestyle company Goop and their viral ‘$600 vagina candles’ which supposedly smelled of genitals.
Paltrow started Goop in 2008 as a newsletter and 18 years later is one of the most well-known wellness and lifestyle brands in the world, valued as high as $400 million.
In 2020 however was when most people came to know the company because they started selling ‘This Smells Like My Vagina’ candles, initially selling them for $75.
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According to Paltrow however the entire thing started as a joke, discussing how they came to be in a new interview with Lil Dicky, Benny Blanco, and Kristin Batalucco.
Paltrow claimed that she joked about making a vagina candle prior to it being made into a real product
Speaking on the trio’s podcast Friends Keep Secrets she revealed that it came out of a conversation with ‘nose’ Douglas Little working on a new perfume.
She explained that she has a ‘very bawdy sense of humour’ and that she likes unusual smells, adding: “I went ‘this one smells like my vagina’.”
Paltrow continued, saying: “He thought I was serious,” and explained that Little then went away and created the ‘This Smells Like My Vagina’ candle.
She added that ‘it was a joke’ but he had gone ahead and made the candle anyways, explaining: “My team bought the candle I thought I was joking.” The actor continued by confirming that, despite the name, it did not indeed smell like her or any vagina.
Goop ended up ceasing sales of the candle because it was ‘distracting’ from their wider work, with Benny Blanco confirming that to get one for the podcast it cost them $600.
Speaking on her Instagram in a Q&A in the past she explained: “So many women have been raised, at least in my generation, 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 ‘F you’ to anyone who ever made us feel like that.
“It smelled like roses and all kinds of things [instead of smelling like a vagina] — and that was the point.”
Paltrow explained how ‘Goop’ came to be, and has previously explained the name
In the podcast the Shakespeare in Love Oscar-winner explained the story behind the brand, stating that she considers herself to be a ‘pretty discerning person’ and that in the early days of the internet ‘all the information was so bad’ regarding the best cultural spots in various cities.
She explained that she had wished that there was a place where ‘all of the good stuff is accurately aggregated’ and this is why the newsletter initially launched with advice and lifestyle tips.
Paltrow in the podcast is about to explain why they named it Goop when the conversation goes on a tangent, however she has spoken about it in the past.
The actor has revealed in the past that the name ‘Goop’ came because she was told by an expert that lots of successful brands had two O’s, so she took her initials and put two O’s between them. The more you know.
Topics: Gwyneth Paltrow, Lifestyle, Celebrity, TV and Film
Michael Slavin