It was supposed to be a cozy winter launch. A simple, paper-cutout design on a 3-wick candle meant to evoke the feeling of being "Snowed In." But within hours of hitting social media, the Bath and Body Works Snowed In candle became the center of a PR nightmare that most retail experts still use as a cautionary tale about design oversight.
Retail is messy. Sometimes a snowflake isn't just a snowflake.
In late 2024, images of the "Snowed In" candle began circulating on TikTok and Reddit. What consumers saw wasn't a festive winter scene, but a stylized snowflake design that bore a jarring, unmistakable resemblance to the pointed hoods worn by the KKK. It was a classic "once you see it, you can't unsee it" moment. The internet, as it tends to do, caught fire.
The Design Flaw That Went Viral
Designers usually look for symmetry. In this case, the paper-cutout aesthetic featured two eye-like holes in a pointed white shape. For a brand that prides itself on being the "happiest place in the mall," the imagery was devastatingly off-brand.
People were confused. How does a multi-billion dollar company let this happen? You have to imagine the layers of approval a product goes through. There are graphic designers, product managers, marketing leads, and legal teams. Yet, the Bath and Body Works Snowed In candle made it all the way to the shelves before the public pointed out the obvious connection to hate group imagery.
The brand didn't wait around. They pulled it.
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Honestly, the speed of the removal was a bit of a whirlwind. Bath & Body Works issued a formal apology almost immediately, stating that the resemblance was completely unintentional. They killed the product line and scrubbed it from their website. But as anyone who spends time on eBay knows, a "banned" item is basically a gold mine for resellers. Within 48 hours, the $25 candle was being listed for hundreds of dollars by people looking to profit off the scandal.
Why This Matters for the Brand
It’s about trust.
When you buy a candle called "Snowed In," you want to smell cedarwood and vanilla. You don't want to engage in a sociological debate about unintentional bias in corporate design. For many customers, especially those from marginalized communities, the oversight felt like a slap in the face. It suggested a lack of diversity in the room where decisions are made.
If someone in that room had recognized the shape, the candle would have been redesigned in five minutes.
The "Snowed In" scent itself was actually quite popular. It featured notes of wintry air, pine, and a hint of sweetness. It’s a shame, really. A good scent died because of a terrible silhouette. This wasn't the first time a major retailer faced this kind of backlash. H&M and Zara have both had similar "design oversights" that referenced insensitive or racist imagery.
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What makes the Bath and Body Works Snowed In candle case unique is the specific medium. Candles are lifestyle products. They sit in your living room. They are part of your "vibe." Having a product in your home that looks, even accidentally, like a symbol of hate is a non-starter for 99% of the population.
The Aftermath and Resale Market
The "Snowed In" label was quickly replaced. Bath & Body Works didn't just throw away the wax; they often re-pour or re-label items to recoup losses, though in this case, the specific "paper-cut" style was abandoned.
If you go looking for it now, you'll find "ghost listings."
- Secondary markets like Mercari and eBay cracked down on the listings.
- Most platforms labeled the candle under "offensive materials" policies.
- Collectors still trade them in private groups, often for astronomical prices.
It’s a weird subculture. Some people collect these "error" items like misprinted stamps. Others just want to own a piece of "banned" history. Regardless of the motivation, the brand has been very clear: they want this specific version of the Bath and Body Works Snowed In candle gone from the public consciousness.
How to Handle Sensitive Products in Your Home
If you happen to own one of these candles, you've basically got three choices.
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- Burn it and move on. If the scent is what you care about, the wax is fine.
- Re-pot the candle. You can freeze the candle, pop the wax out, and put it in a different jar.
- Dispose of it. Many people felt uncomfortable having it in their house and simply returned it to the store for a refund.
Bath & Body Works generally has a very generous return policy. They took these back without question. They knew they messed up.
Actionable Steps for Consumers and Brands
For the average shopper, this is a reminder that brands are fallible. For companies, it’s a loud signal that "Design Justice" and diverse review boards are not just corporate buzzwords—they are essential safeguards against alienating your entire customer base.
If you are a collector of Bath & Body Works items, pay attention to the "Summer 1" and "Holiday 1" launch windows. These are usually when the "test" designs come out, and often when errors are caught. If you encounter a product that feels "off," the best move is to contact the brand directly rather than just fueling the social media fire. It often leads to faster corporate accountability.
Check your cabinets. If you have the original "paper-cut" version of the Bath and Body Works Snowed In candle, know that you're holding a piece of retail history that the company would very much like to forget. For everyone else, keep an eye on the labels. Sometimes, a snowflake is just a snowflake, but other times, it's a very expensive lesson in the power of visual symbols.
Move forward by supporting brands that demonstrate a clear commitment to inclusive design. It’s better for your peace of mind and your home’s aesthetic. If you're looking for a winter scent without the baggage, the reformulated "Snowed In" (with the plain blue label) or "Fresh Balsam" are much safer bets for your next haul.