Meghan Markle mocked after podcaster finds $64 candle with no wick and 'terrible' fruit spread

MONTECITO, CALIFORNIA: Meghan Markle’s holiday product line has come under fire after one of her branded items reportedly arrived defective.

A podcaster raised eyebrows when a prized item marketed as part of her festive collection arrived with a major flaw. The criticism comes amid scrutiny over the quality and presentation of her luxury-priced holiday offerings.

Podcaster Link Lauren unboxes Meghan Markle’s holiday product line

Link Lauren, host of 'Spot On With Link Lauren', unboxed Markle’s $64 “Signature Candle No. 084” from her brand As Ever’s holiday collection, only to discover it lacked a wick.

He showed on camera that while the candle had a small hole where a wick should have been, there was nothing to light.

He exclaimed, “You guys, there’s no wick!” and asked his producer whether she was seeing the same thing.

Lauren noted that the candle smelled of water lotus, sandalwood, and California poppy—the scent profile marketed for the product.

While he admitted the scent was “feminine” and the candle “weighty… heavy… it doesn’t feel cheap,” he concluded that for $64 he expected a functional candle. “If I’m paying $64 for a candle, there better be a wick. Okay? There better be something that I can actually light.” 

Lauren described the candle as having “literally nothing to light in here” and insisted that the missing wick was not a gimmick or part of any marketing stunt. He also noted that some customers had already taken issue with the candle’s price.

In addition to the candle, Lauren reviewed other products from Meghan Markle’s holiday collection, notably the trio of fruit spreads and a container of dried flower sprinkles.

He described the packaging of the strawberry, raspberry, and orange marmalade jars as “cheap,” calling the wrapping nothing more than “crinkly paper… thrown in a box.” 

The fruit spreads had been featured on Oprah Winfrey’s 2025 Favorite Things list.

Lauren tried the strawberry spread and said, “It tastes like Smuckers… It’s nothing groundbreaking. You could put it on toast in the morning.”

He was far less kind to the orange marmalade, calling it “diabolical” and “literally the worst thing I’ve ever swallowed.”

Regarding the raspberry spread, he said he neither loved nor hated it. For the dried flower sprinkles, which cost $15 for a tiny container, Lauren said they tasted “like straw” and compared them to “printer paper.”

He pointed out that Markle had been mocked during her Netflix series With Love, Meghan for using dried‐flower sprinkles in multiple recipes, claiming they were a simple way to “elevate” dishes.

Lauren joked, “This is like Meghan Markle’s career… failure to launch.”

Social Media reacts to Meghan Markle’s holiday product line

The situation drew further attention when Link Lauren made a pointed remark: “This is like Meghan Markle’s career… failure to launch.”

Reacting to Lauren’s video, one viewer expressed disbelief at the purchase:

"You ACTUALLY spent money on that garbage... NoooOooooOoooo.”

Another X user joked, “Markle has a new product to sell the masses. Wickless candles."

Commenting on Markle’s attention to detail, one user wrote, “No wick on a candle. Such attention to detail."

Poking fun at the brand’s craftsmanship, a social media user quipped:

"No wick on a candle. Such attention to detail."

Another comment read, "Link Got Markled. He spit out the marklemelade. Said it tastes like vomit. A $100 candle with no wick is not a candle."

Reacting to the spread, one viewer remarked bluntly, "It looks disgusting."

Sharing a humorous reaction, another commented, "Hilarious!!!! I spat when you threw up the marmalade!!!!"

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