Gwyneth Paltrow&

The Controversy Around Gwyneth Paltrow's Candle

In early 2020, Gwyneth Paltrow and her lifestyle brand Goop released a new candle called "This Smells Like My Vagina." The candle, priced at $75, sold out within hours and sparked a media frenzy.

The name was meant to be provocative and tongue-in-cheek, but many found it offensive or inappropriate. Detractors accused Paltrow of finding new ways to monetize vaginas and promote harmful feminine stereotypes.

But others argued the candle naming was empowering. As a woman confidently owning her sexuality and femininity, Paltrow was reclaiming the narrative around the female body. The candle challenged taboos and showed vaginas deserve to be spoken of positively.

The Origins of the Candle

According to Goop, the idea for the candle's name came from Paltrow herself. While testing different scents with perfumer Douglas Little, she declared one fragrance "This smells like my vagina."

The statement was meant as a compliment, suggesting the scent was unique, intimate, and personal. Paltrow did not actually mold her vagina to create the scent profile. Little composed the candle using a blend of geranium, citrusy bergamot, and cedar absolutes juxtaposed with Damask rose and ambrette seed.

The resulting scent is a warm, musky floral. Goop claims it is "funny, gorgeous, sexy and beautifully unexpected." The candle's description emphasizes its provocative name while hinting at deeper themes of femininity, power, and sexuality.

Goop's Brand and Past Controversies

Goop, founded by Paltrow in 2008, is no stranger to criticism. The company focuses on high-end fashion, travel, and Paltrow's own interpretations of clean eating, holistic medicine, and New Age spirituality.

While Goop has found success as a luxury lifestyle site, it regularly promotes unorthodox practices not backed by science. Health experts have accused Goop of providing misleading information about jade eggs, colonics, coffee enemas, and other products.

The company has received lawsuits for making unsubstantiated medical claims. But devotees appreciate Goop's willingness to "open up the conversation" on taboo wellness topics. They see Paltrow as a positive disruptor of the status quo.

Public Reactions to the Candle

The This Smells Like My Vagina candle drop generated exactly the kind of buzz Goop looks for with its releases. Social media immediately lit up with takes ranging from outrage to amusement.

Many found the concept tacky or juvenile. "Is Gwyneth Paltrow ok? This seems like something a 16-year-old would make on Etsy," tweeted columnist Emma Hogan. Others were disturbed by the thought of purchasing a candle replicating Paltrow's intimate scent.

But plenty of people also voiced their support for the candle. They applauded Paltrow for boldly celebrating womanhood in an unexpected way. Writer Lauren Rowello tweeted, "The people mad about Gwyneth Paltrow releasing a candle called "This Smells Like My Vagina" are the same people who praised GoT for its gratuitous use of violence against women. We love shaming women for claiming ownership of their bodies."

The Candle Sells Out

Within hours of the candle's launch, Goop's website listed it as sold out. Soon it was being resold on eBay for over $250.

Goop hinted the candle was in high demand, tweeting: "this candle started as a joke between perfumer Douglas Little and GPthe two were working on a fragrance, and she blurted out, Uhhh..this smells like a vaginabut evolved into a funny, gorgeous, sexy, and beautifully unexpected scent."

The tweet also noted the candle would be available again soon due to popular demand. Goop's initial run of the candle was approximately 6,000 units. But the company quickly produced more once it realized how swiftly the first batch sold.

The Science Behind Human Scent

Though Paltrow did not actually model her vagina for the candle fragrance, there is scientific evidence for a distinct human scent profile. Smells are deeply connected to attraction and choosing a mate.

Studies show the vaginal area contains apocrine glands that secrete pheromones, signaling fertility and sexual readiness. The major vaginal odor components include pyridine, squalene, urea, acetic acid, lactic acid, and tetradecanoic acid.

Some scientists believe the vagina has a signature scent unique to each woman, akin to a fingerprint. Diet, hygiene, hormones, genetics, medications, and health conditions can all influence vaginal smell.

Criticism of the Candle Marketing

Though the candle sold well, many felt Goop and Paltrow relied on exploitative marketing ploys. Headlines focused on shock value over the scent profile itself. Words like "vagina," "private parts," and "intimate" dominated coverage.

Critics accused Goop of playing into the trope of female celebrities monetizing and oversharing their bodies. Writer Clem Bastow declared: "I dont want to smell Gwyneth Paltrow's vagina I want her to stop trying to make us pay for her irrelevance.

Others pointed out the hypocrisy of candle profiting from taboo vagina talk after Paltrow herself condemned vulgarity in 2019. Amadi Ajamu tweeted: Gwyneth Paltrow did not come for our cultures objectification of women only to turn around and start hawking candles called This Smells Like My Vagina.

Supporters of the Unconventional Marketing

But supporters viewed the marketing choices differently.

Feminist writer Jill Filipovic argued: "If men got candles called "This Smells Like My Penis" we'd shrug it off. Good for Gwyneth Paltrow for having a vagina and making tons of $ off it."

To fans, Paltrow was simply removing stigma around vaginas and acknowledging a powerful part of womanhood. Her boldness provided a new example of how to be unashamed of having a female body.

By naming the candle as she did, Paltrow forced society to say the word "vagina" and directly confront why that makes some people uncomfortable. The marketing was political, not gratuitous.

Criticism from Gynecologists

Medical experts also weighed in on whether the candle accurately represented vaginal scents. Obstetrician-gynecologist Dr. Jen Gunter, a longtime critic of Goop's medical claims, stated the candle "seems more like a marketing ploy than a physiologic reality."

Gunter noted healthy vaginas should not have a strong odor discernible across a room. While vaginas have a signature scent, it is only noticeable very close up. She worried the candle mythologized the concept of a idealized, sultry feminine aroma.

Other gynecologists like Dr. Donnica Moore agreed, noting vaginas have many possible smells depending on genetics, menstrual cycles, infections, and hygiene. Moore did not think any single perfume could universally capture this complex body part.

Public Interest in Intimate Health

Though doctors critiqued the candle's marketing, they agreed it reflected a genuine public interest in vaginal health. Moore was glad to see people asking questions and debunking taboos against using the word vagina.

Paltrow's candle provided a chance to educate about vaginal hygiene, discharge changes across menstrual cycles, and potential medication effects on scent. By sparking conversation, she did a service despite the candle's dubious marketing claims.

Goop's Follow Up Products

Following the runaway success of This Smells Like My Vagina, Goop doubled down on provocative products centered around the vulva and vagina.

Days after the first candle sold out, Goop announced a follow up version called This Smells Like My Orgasm containing notes of tart grapefruit, neroli, and ripe cassis berries. Goop described this candle as "sexy, surprising, and wildly addictive.

In 2021, Goop released its Vulva lipsticks and supplement capsules labeled with anatomical diagrams of external genitalia. Paltrow claimed the products empowered women to "take ownership of their sexuality and pleasure.

Goop also regularly promotes vaginal jade eggs, steaming, and yoga. Critics argue these purported wellness products are potentially unsafe and spread misinformation about vulvovaginal health.

Paltrow's Iconic Brand

The viral success of the This Smells Like My Vagina candle cemented Paltrow's cultural status as a lifestyle trendsetter. She leveraged her celebrity to overcome taboos and spark dialogue, for better or worse.

Paltrow herself admitted to enjoying how provocative the candle was. As she told Jimmy Fallon: The best part is that its made the word vagina and the vagina something you can talk about. And its even been empowering for me to walk around saying vagina' all the time.

True to Goop's mission, Paltrow succeeded in getting people to discuss and think about vaginas in new ways. Her company's luxury vagina-themed products paired fittingly with its emphasis on feminine power and openness.

While experts may debate the medical claims and ethics of how Goop promotes wellness, Paltrow's candle cemented her role as a trendsetting entrepreneur. She leverages her celebrity platform to openly embrace taboos and carve out a unique niche.

The Lasting Impact of the Candle

Gwyneth Paltrow's infamous This Smells Like My Vagina candle left a cultural mark. Some saw it as a triumph for female empowerment, while others found it offensive or exploitative.

But the candle succeeded in sparking true conversation about vaginal health and societal taboos. Though its marketing was brazen, it opened the door for more women to celebrate their bodies without shame.

The frenzy over a single candle showed Paltrow's cultural influence through Goop. She was able to turn vaginas into a viral talking point overnight, for better or worse. Goop's female-centric wellness empire only grew stronger in the wake of the candle's success.

While the candle itself was just a passing novelty, it marked a cultural moment of taboo-breaking. Paltrow' provocative marketing forced society to directly confront why vaginas make so many people uncomfortable. Even those critical of her methods ended up saying the word "vagina" more freely.

Ultimately, Paltrow managed to turn vaginas into a commercial sensation. Only time will tell if society will remember the candle itself or its role in sparking larger conversations around female sexuality and wellness.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.