When celebrities reach the pinnacle of fame, they often venture into unexpected advertising campaigns, launch personal products, or collaborate with companies. From beer brands to football teams, and even candles with unusual scents, everything is fair game for extra income that diverges from their primary career. The latest to join this trend is Sydney Sweeney, a 27-year-old actress from Spokane, Washington. Recently, she became the ambassador for body care brand Dr. Squatch, but has now taken things a step further by launching her own soap line.

In less than 24 hours, the announcement on Instagram garnered over 230,000 likes. "You've kept asking for my bathwater. Presenting happiness! A very real and very limited soap made with my actual bathwater," Sweeney wrote on her Instagram profile, where she has 25.2 million followers. The buzz began last October with a viral commercial featuring Sweeney enjoying a bubble bath, promoting Dr. Squatch's bath gel under the slogan Dirty Little Boys.

The product, named Sydney’s Bathwater Bliss, will be available starting June 6. "A perfect blend of the two best places on earth: the great outdoors and Sydney Sweeney's bathtub. Experience ultimate outdoor serenity with refreshing notes of pine, fir, moss, and a touch of Sydney's genuine bathwater," describes Dr. Squatch's website. "When your followers start requesting your bathwater, you can either ignore it or turn it into a Dr. Squatch soap bar. It's bizarre in the best way, and I love that we've created something unforgettable that smells amazing and works like any other product," the actress stated in an official release.

This exclusive product, limited to 5,000 units, is priced at eight dollars (approximately seven euros) per bar and includes a certificate of authenticity verifying the bathwater origin. Additionally, it's specifically designed for men, aiming to raise awareness about conventional personal care products. "I hope this helps guys wake up to the reality of conventional products and nudges them toward natural options," Sweeney expressed in the statement.

Social media reactions were swift, with supporters and critics alike voicing their opinions. Having often been sexualized, Sweeney now finds herself in the spotlight due to this commercial. Comments like "This happens when you're admired mostly by men. You're reduced to a mere object of desire" or "We'll never escape patriarchy" have surfaced in recent hours.

Sweeney's case is not the first—nor will it be the last—where a celebrity goes viral for endorsing quirky products. In January 2024, Jacob Elordi, Sweeney's co-star in Euphoria, became the unintended focus when Etsy monetized the actor's fame by selling candles inspired by his supposed scent from a scene in the film Saltburn. Though Elordi had no involvement, anyone could buy a candle promising the aroma of Elordi's bathtub.

Sweeney's approach resembles Gwyneth Paltrow's marketing strategy with her brand Goop, which faced criticism for launching intimate-scented candles named This Smells Like My Vagina at $75. "That product is fascinating. We were experimenting with different scents one day, and I smelled something and said: 'Oh. That smells like... you know," Paltrow explained. Despite the controversy, the candles sold out within hours of their 2020 release, proving to be a successful marketing move that kept Goop in the conversation.