Erykah Badu has never been one to follow convention, and her latest conversation on Drink Champs reminded everyone why.
On August 31, the legendary singer revisited the incense line that first made headlines back in 2020: the viral Badu “p*ssy” incense. With the product burning in the studio, she explained the story behind its distinct aroma.
“All I’m saying is, I’m giving you the gift of Badu pussy incense,” she said during the sit-down. “And I want everyone to enjoy it. I enjoy making them, and I enjoy sharing them. I made the incense, but I didn’t make the legend. The legend made itself.”
When asked what exactly the scent captured, Badu offered an unusual mix. “Most guys say that my vagina smells like strawberries and gunpowder. So I tried to duplicate that," she explained. "I don’t know. That’s what they say… I don’t know where they’re getting the strawberries from, but yeah. That’s what they say. So I tried to duplicate the smell of strawberries and gunpowder. And I hope that I’m doing that.”
The incense was first announced in early 2020, following Gwyneth Paltrow’s infamous vagina-scented candle, per Rolling Stone. At the time, perfumers noted that while it’s technically possible to recreate intimate scents, it’s more about impression and marketing than precise accuracy.
Christopher Gordon of The Perfumer’s Studio in Los Angeles told The Guardian at the time, “We can create virtually any scent – the question is whether we want to or not.”
Badu has leaned into the mythology rather than shy away, letting the story grow on its own terms. “The people deserve it,” she said when first launching the incense.
Her return to Drink Champs also doubled as promo for her upcoming project with The Alchemist, Abi & Alan.
Initially slated for release on August 29, Badu revealed on Instagram that the album has been delayed. “Hey guys. Alchemist told me to tell y’all that the album is not dropping at midnight,” she said in a video post, captioning it with, “Don’t worry tho … No aug 29. It’s @alanthechemist fault.”
No new date has been confirmed, but anticipation remains high. According to the Dallas Observer, the pair’s live shows hint at a lo-fi, electronic direction that marks Badu’s first full-length release since 2010’s New Amerykah Part Two (Return of the Ankh).