It is a post-grunge song with psychedelic elements that features bass guitar and drums. Lead singer John Wozniak was inspired to write the song after a woman told him that a room smelled like "sex and candy. In , Wozniak said that "Sex and Candy" is an unorthodox love song; later, he said he does not know what the song means. Music critics mostly praised the song. Some found it sensual; many compared it to the music of Nirvana.