Aussie punk band Private Function have launched a “scratch and sniff” vinyl variant of their new album that smells like Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina. Find all the details below.
The Melbourne outfit released the original version of their fourth studio record, titled ‘¯_(ツ)_/¯’ , last Friday (May 23). They celebrated its arrival by sharing details of a unique “goopy” edition – a play on Paltrow’s wellness and lifestyle brand, Goop.
In a preview video, Private Function guitarist Lauren Hester recalled “one news story that completely dominated the headlines” in 2020: “Gwyneth Paltrow released a candle that smelt like her vagina.”
The musician added: “This was potentially the greatest thing anyone had ever done […] We immediately tried to buy one, but due to the overwhelming demand, it sold out instantly. They now sell for over $700 each.
“Not owning one is a source of shame in every member of PF’s household. So we decided to take things into our own hands.”
She went on to say that not being able to access the smell was “classist”, explaining that Private Function believe that everyone should be able to enjoy it.
According to the guitarist, the band got in contact with a perfumer in France who was able to recreate the distinct scent from Paltrow’s famous candle. The list of scents used are said to include Geranium, Bergamot, Cedar, Damask Rose and Ambrette Seed.
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Private Function collaborated with a record plant to add this scent combination to a limited edition variant of their new album.
The “goopy” edition, however, is now sold out on the group’s official website. It was reportedly priced at $150. Earlier this week, Private Function told fans that there were just nine copies of this version left in stock.
However, they have “put one aside” for each show of their current Australian tour. “If you pre-order a ticket to a show you’ll be given a raffle ticket at the door,” the band wrote. “At every show we’ll be doing a live raffle where someone is walking home with a Goopy 👌.”
Private Function’s new album follows on from ‘St Anger’ (2019), ‘Whose Line Is It Anyway?’ (2020) and ‘370HSSV 0773H’ (2023).
In 2020, they spoke to NME about the cover art for ‘Whose Line…’, which depicts a five-dollar note folded in a way that makes it look like a whale giving head.
“I think [bassist] Joe Hansen came up with it as a t-shirt design. And then we decided ‘Wait, that’s a way funnier statement to put on the cover of an album’,” frontman Chris Penney told NME.
Meanwhile, Gwyneth Paltrow recently defended her $75 (£56) vagina candle, telling critics to “go fuck yourself”. The now-discontinued product, called ‘This Smells Like My Vagina’, and gained widespread media attention upon being launched.
In 2021, the candle in question reportedly burst into flames in a woman’s living room, “with bits flying everywhere”.
Last year saw Blood Records release a vinyl version of the Saltburn soundtrack – filled with cloudy bathwater in reference to the movie’s most notorious scene, which sees Oliver (Barry Keoghan) spy on Felix (Jacob Elordi) as the latter masturbates in the bath.
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