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Gwyneth Paltrow has revealed that the unusual name behind one of Goop's most talked-about products was never meant to be taken literally.
The actress and Goop founder explained the story behind the viral "This Smells Like My Vagina" candle during a recent appearance on Benny Blanco, Lil Dicky and Kristin Batalucco's "Friends Keep Secrets" podcast.
Paltrow said she was working with perfumer Douglas Little on an earthy fragrance for her lifestyle brand when the provocative name came up during their experiments with scents including tomato leaf and seaweed.
"I like things that smell kind of unusual," Paltrow explained, adding that she has a "very bawdy sense of humor." While discussing one of the fragrances, she jokingly told Little, "This one smells like my vagina."
Little apparently took the comment seriously and created a candle using the idea. Paltrow said her team at Goop ultimately purchased the product, turning what began as a joke into a commercial product.
"I thought I was joking and, anyway, the rest is history," she said.
The candle, which launched in 2020 for $75, featured a combination of bergamot, geranium, Damask rose, cedar and ambrette seed. Despite its provocative name, Paltrow clarified that it did not actually smell like what the title suggested.
"It definitely did not smell like my vagina," she said.
The product quickly attracted attention and sold out on Goop's website. It remained available for several years before being discontinued, with Paltrow explaining that its popularity had become so overwhelming that it began distracting from the rest of the brand.
The candle's popularity continued even after it was removed from sale. During the podcast, Blanco revealed that he had paid $600 to obtain one from a reseller, prompting Paltrow to joke, "We should make it again."
The original candle also became the first of several provocative products from Goop, including "This Smells Like My Orgasm" and "This Smells Like My Prenup."
Paltrow has previously defended the unusual product name, describing it as a statement about women's sexuality and the shame surrounding it. In 2023, she called the candle "a really strong feminist statement."
