In January, Gwyneth Paltrow elicited many a chuckle when she debuted a new scented candle. The candle came via Gwyneth's lifestyle website, Goop. The candle was aptly called "This Smells Like My Vagina."
The sensational name garnered a lot of attention. The candle sold out quickly despite its $75 price tag. Later on, Gwyneth explained the name started as a joke. She gave it greater meaning when she related it to the shame and self-consciousness that come with having a female body.
Gwyneth has taken her candle rebellion a step further with her new candle. She debuted it during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
After talking to Jimmy about the hype around the first candle, she teased that her second candle was one he could give his wife. It's called "This Smells Like My Orgasm." The orgasm-scented candle is now available for preorder. Chances are, it'll be just as successful as its predecessor.
Gwyneth Paltrow surprised many by debuting a scented candle on her lifestyle website, Goop. In January, the internet went abuzz about the candle. It was called "This Smells Like My Vagina." Immediately, people assumed the name meant that the candle smelled like Gwyneth's vagina in particular.
"With a funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected scent, this candle is made with geranium, citrusy bergamot, and cedar absolutes juxtaposed with Damask rose and ambrette seed to put us in mind of fantasy, seduction, and a sophisticated warmth," the candle's description reads.
So is that what Gwyneth thinks her vagina smells like? Not exactly.
She offered further explanation for the name during an appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers.
"So it sort of started as a joke. I was with the [perfumer] Douglas Little for his brand Heretic and we were kind of messing around and I smelled this beautiful thing and was like, 'This smells like my vagina!'" she explained.
"And I was kidding obviously. And we were on mushrooms — no, no we weren't on mushrooms."
Once she made the joke, the name kind of stuck. "So it actually became this thing that it was funny to us and but also a little bit punk rock," she noted.
"I think women, a lot of us, have grown up feeling certain degrees of shame around our body or whatever. So this is a little bit of a subversive candle for all of us out there."
The sensationally named candle sold out pretty quickly and has been restocked since. Still, there were some who thought the name was just a little too much. Martha Stewart boldly dismissed the idea during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live.
"I'm sure it's sold out," Martha tartly said of the candle. "She does that kind of irritating … she's trying to zhuzh up the public to listen to her, and that's great. Let her do her thing."
"I wouldn't buy that candle," she added.
During an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy joked with Gwyneth about the popularity of the candle.
"That's the name of the candle and it sold out like crazy. I think it's hilarious," he said.
"It's pretty funny. The idea was it was sort of a punk rock, feminist kind of, like … [candle]," she replied.
"And we have a new one which actually might be more for you to give to your wife," Gwyneth teased. Jimmy eagerly asked what it was called.
Gwyneth coyly held up the new candle, called "This Smells Like My Orgasm."
Jimmy naturally began cracking up. "Oh my heavens," he joked.
"And the box has fireworks," Gwyneth said before holding it up for the camera.
Jimmy was hysterical. "Of course it does! Of course it has fireworks. You are crushing it, man."
The orgasm-scented candle is available for preorder on Goop.
"A fitting follow-up to that candle — you know the one — this blend is made with tart grapefruit, neroli, and ripe cassis berries blended with gunpowder tea and Turkish rose absolutes for a scent that's sexy, surprising, and wildly addictive," the description reads.
The first round is set to ship on June 25.
Some people who watched the interview criticized Gwyneth for speaking so bluntly about sex and sexuality, because her son, 14-year-old Moses, was sitting just beyond the frame. Jimmy later invited him to join them to talk about his time sheltering at home. Other people thought her whole overtly sexual power grab was just a little too much.
Whether or not you're into Gwyneth's reclaiming of femininity through scented candles, you can't deny that it's working for her. This candle will undoubtedly sell out like its predecessor. It's just another zany lifestyle product, courtesy of Goop.
