The launch of Meghan Markle’s new lifestyle brand had already set social media abuzz, but it reached another level of virality when American political commentator and TikToker Link Lauren unboxed one of her products on his show—only to discover that the candle had no wick.
The $64 “Wildflower & Fern” candle, part of Markle’s recently launched Signature Collection, quickly became the subject of both humour and debate, sparking conversations about quality control, celebrity branding, and the optics of luxury marketing gone wrong. Link Lauren’s discovery, described as both ironic and hilarious by viewers, led to a flood of reactions online, with many dubbing the incident a metaphor for the Duchess of Sussex’s often polarising public image.
A Viral Unboxing Gone Wrong
Link Lauren, who is known for his witty commentary on pop culture and politics, decided to test Meghan Markle’s latest product during a live segment of his show. The clip, later shared on X (formerly Twitter), showed the influencer unboxing the elegantly packaged candle—an off-white ceramic vessel embossed with minimalist branding. Everything about the presentation suggested refinement and luxury, until the moment Lauren tilted the product towards the camera and exclaimed, “You guys, this is not a joke. I’m testing Meghan Markle’s new candle on my show. There’s literally no wick.”
The moment instantly became viral fodder. With his trademark blend of humour and sarcasm, Link Lauren remarked, “I got Markled! I unboxed Meghan Markle’s new $65 candle at my show today. There’s no wick! Kind of a metaphor for her career. Nothing’s lighting.” The post, captioned with this jab, quickly racked up more than 162,000 views, drawing laughter, disbelief, and debate in equal measure.
The candle, which retails for approximately Rs 5,600 in Indian currency, had been marketed as part of a premium home fragrance line that celebrates the Duchess’s “signature style of mindful living.” Its description highlighted hand-poured wax, an artisanal ceramic jar, and a fragrance blend said to evoke the “essence of wildflower fields and English fern.” Yet, for Lauren, the luxurious experience ended before it could begin—the missing wick rendered the candle entirely unusable.
I got Markled! I unboxed Meghan Markle’s new $65 candle on my show today. There’s no wick! Kind of a metaphor for her career. Nothing’s lighting. Tune in this afternoon to @spotonwithlink pic.twitter.com/rqDTdaXFmD
— Link Lauren (@itslinklauren) November 10, 2025
In his clip, Lauren can be seen laughing as he inspects the smooth surface of the wax, holding the jar close to the camera to show the complete absence of a wick. “Quality Control really needed to check the quality because it’s out of control,” he said at the end of his video, shaking his head with amusement. The viral moment quickly spread across TikTok, Instagram, and X, where users debated whether the incident was an isolated manufacturing error or an unintentional symbol of overhyped celebrity ventures.
Mixed Reactions and Online Mockery
As the video gained traction, social media users flooded the comments section with their own interpretations of what had happened. Many laughed along with Lauren, calling the blunder “peak Markle branding” and suggesting that it symbolised the perceived hollowness of her post-royal business pursuits. “Oh no! Perhaps you were supposed to order the wick separately?” one user quipped, echoing the tone of lighthearted disbelief that dominated the thread. Another wrote, “Strange how there’s a hole in the candle where a wick must have been. Call me cynical, but it’s almost like someone may have removed it.”
Others, however, offered more charitable takes. Some suggested that Lauren might have received a defective batch or a display unit rather than a functional product. “Manufacturing errors happen all the time, especially in small-scale artisanal production,” one commenter reasoned, adding that the incident was likely a one-off mistake rather than a reflection of the entire product line.
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A smaller but vocal group of users theorised that the candle might have been designed for use with a candle warmer—an increasingly popular trend among eco-conscious consumers who prefer melting wax through heat plates instead of open flames. “What if it’s supposed to be flameless?” one user asked. “That could explain why there’s no wick.” However, others quickly pointed out that the product’s own promotional images and description referred to it as a traditional candle meant to be lit.
The discussion soon evolved from amusement to critique. While many viewers enjoyed the humour of the situation, others seized the opportunity to question celebrity-led brands more broadly. “This is exactly what happens when influencers and royals try to sell luxury lifestyle without substance,” one commenter wrote. “The candle looks good on camera, but if it doesn’t serve its basic function, what’s the point?”
The clip also reignited conversations about Markle’s ventures into the lifestyle space. Her new brand, reportedly inspired by her own “vision of calm and curated living,” had been both celebrated for its design aesthetic and criticised for its steep pricing. With candles, teas, and homeware items all falling within the mid-to-high-end market range, consumers expected premium quality. The wickless candle, however, provided ammunition for critics who viewed the brand as more about marketing than craftsmanship.
The Broader Symbolism of a Wickless Candle
While Link Lauren’s unboxing was primarily comedic, it also carried an unintended symbolism that many online commentators quickly picked up on. In the eyes of detractors, the wickless candle served as a metaphor for what they perceived as Meghan Markle’s overproduced but underwhelming ventures—a project that looks beautiful on the outside but lacks the essential spark within. Lauren himself leaned into this narrative with his remark, “Kind of a metaphor for her career. Nothing’s lighting,” a statement that resonated with those critical of Markle’s public reinvention since stepping down from royal duties.
From a branding perspective, however, the viral incident underscores the inherent risks of luxury celebrity entrepreneurship in the social media age. Unlike traditional marketing eras where quality issues could remain largely contained, even minor manufacturing errors now have the potential to go viral within hours. For a figure as polarising and globally scrutinised as Markle, even a missing wick can become a trending topic.
Experts in consumer branding were quick to weigh in on what the incident revealed about the pressures faced by celebrity-backed companies. According to several analysts, public figures who lend their name to a brand face unique challenges because their personal reputation becomes inseparable from the product itself. A small error—whether a late shipment, confusing ad copy, or a wickless candle—inevitably becomes a commentary on the celebrity’s perceived authenticity.
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In this case, Lauren’s video amplified the tension between the brand’s promise of mindful luxury and the public’s readiness to question that promise. While most luxury labels can absorb minor quality control mishaps quietly, Markle’s status as a former royal and media personality ensures that every misstep is magnified. The resulting humour, memes, and think pieces transform what would otherwise be a forgettable manufacturing error into a cultural event.
The timing of the incident also contributed to its resonance. Markle’s lifestyle label, which debuted earlier this year, had been marketed as her “new beginning” after years of media scrutiny. The brand sought to capture a serene, California-inspired aesthetic—a blend of nature, simplicity, and modern elegance. Products like the “Wildflower & Fern” candle were intended to represent this ethos. Yet, with one missing wick, the narrative quickly shifted from sophistication to satire.
For many observers, the candle’s flaw highlighted the fragility of modern celebrity branding: the delicate balance between storytelling and substance. In an age where luxury consumers expect both authenticity and function, even a symbolic item like a candle cannot afford to falter. As one industry expert commented on X, “The problem isn’t that the candle had no wick—it’s that the brand didn’t anticipate how fast the internet would turn that into a metaphor.”
The ripple effect of Lauren’s unboxing continued across platforms. TikTok users created parody videos pretending to “light” their invisible wicks, while others joked about “Markled candles” becoming the next viral trend. Some went further, imagining alternative uses for the product—“Maybe it’s a decorative paperweight?” or “A wax sculpture for minimalists.” The humour proved contagious, but it also reinforced the power of virality in shaping brand perception.
For Meghan Markle’s team, the incident will likely serve as an early lesson in the high stakes of launching a celebrity-led lifestyle brand. While no official statement has been released regarding the specific candle Lauren received, many analysts believe the company will need to double down on quality assurance and customer communication to prevent similar episodes from undermining consumer confidence.
Ironically, despite the ridicule, the controversy may have provided an unexpected marketing boost. Searches for the “Wildflower & Fern Candle” reportedly spiked following the viral video, with curious consumers eager to see what the fuss was about. In today’s attention economy, even negative publicity can drive traffic and awareness—though whether it converts into lasting brand loyalty remains uncertain.
In the end, Link Lauren’s unboxing video has done more than expose a simple production flaw—it has captured the contradictions at the heart of celebrity entrepreneurship. The candle, beautiful yet functionless, has become a symbol of how easily the promise of luxury can be undone by oversight. And for Meghan Markle, whose career has often been defined by public fascination and divided opinion, the wickless candle is yet another reminder that in the court of online opinion, even the smallest spark—or lack thereof—can set the world alight.