'I Thought I Was Joking': Gwyneth Paltrow Reveals Wild Truth Behind 'Vagina Candle' That Became a Viral Hit

Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed the wild truth behind her infamous 'This Smells Like My Vagina' candle, saying the provocative product began as a cheeky joke that her perfumer took seriously before it unexpectedly became one of Goop's most recognisable products.

The actress and Goop founder revisited the candle's unlikely origin during the 8 September episode of the Friends Keep Secrets podcast, telling hosts Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky and Kristin Batalucco how an offhand remark evolved into a viral sensation.

The Origin of Gwyneth Paltrow's 'Vagina Candle'

Paltrow said she was working with perfumer Douglas Little on an earthy fragrance for Goop when they began experimenting with unusual scents, including tomato leaf and seaweed.

'I like things that smell kind of unusual,' Paltrow said. 'I like woodsy, leathery. Our first perfume is called Church; it's incensy.'

Describing herself as having a 'very bodily sense of humour', she recalled telling Little that one of the fragrances 'smells like my vagina' as a joke.

Little apparently did not realise she was joking and thought the idea was 'brilliant'. He went on to create a candle with the provocative name, which Paltrow's team ultimately bought.

'So he thought I was serious, and made a candle called "This Smells Like My Vagina," and my team bought the candle,' she explained.

'I thought I was joking and, anyway, the rest is history,' Paltrow added.

She also made clear that the candle was not intended to smell like her vagina literally.

'It definitely did not smell like my vagina,' Paltrow said, describing a fragrance featuring citrusy bergamot, geranium, Damask rose, cedar absolutes and ambrette seed.

'Vagina Candle' Became a Viral Hit

Goop first released the candle in January 2020 for $75 (£55), and it quickly became a bestseller and sold out, generating widespread attention and mixed reactions.

The product's provocative branding turned it into a viral talking point, with its unusual name attracting attention far beyond Goop's usual lifestyle audience.

Paltrow said the candle eventually became so prominent that Goop stopped selling it because the attention was distracting people from the company's wider work. The product, however, continues to attract interest.

During the podcast, Blanco revealed that he paid $600 (£442) to obtain one, prompting Paltrow to quip: 'We should make it again.'

Paltrow Defends the Provocative Name

The Iron Man star has previously defended the candle's deliberately provocative branding, saying it challenged the shame surrounding female sexuality.

During an interview at the 2025 Mindvalley Manifesting Summit, she said: '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.'

She added that she liked the 'punk-rock idea' behind the product, saying: 'We are beautiful and we are awesome and go f*ck yourself.'

In 2023, Paltrow also described the name as 'a really strong feminist statement'.

Goop later expanded the collection with other candles, including 'This Smells Like My Orgasm' and 'This Smells Like My Prenup.'

The original candle also attracted criticism, with Martha Stewart previously saying she would not buy it. Although Goop stopped selling the original candle, the product has remained a pop-culture curiosity, with Paltrow's latest revelation putting the spotlight back on the joke that unexpectedly became a viral hit.