Yes, back in 2020, Paltrow and Goop really introduced such a candle – along with a roll-on perfume bearing the same name, and a follow-up candle, “This Smells Like My Orgasm”.
The product was instantly ridiculed online, and at least one vagina candle that reportedly exploded even sparked a lawsuit.
On Wednesday, Paltrow opened up about Goop’s best-known product in a Q&A on her Instagram Stories, after being asked about the thought process behind the vagina candle.
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“This is a great question. So the thought process behind the infamous candle, essentially, was that it was a really strong feminist statement,” Paltrow said.
“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,” she continued.
The actress added: “And so the candle was supposed to be a very strong, punk rock kinda F-you to anyone who ever made us feel like that. It was not supposed to actually smell like anyone’s vagina. It smelled like roses and all kinds of things, and that was the point.”The Shakespeare in Love and Iron Man star went on to say that the media’s reaction to the candle is what twisted the narrative into something less in line with her vision.
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“But unfortunately, you know, the media being what it is and things being so clickbaity – people tried to make it about something else,” said Paltrow. “Which is kind of a shame because it was really meant to be this strong feminist statement.”
Unfortunately, Paltrow has some bad news if you want to experience the vagina candle for yourself.
“We no longer make the candles,” she said.
This article originally appeared on Insider.
