‘I wish more ppl knew’: Pennsylvania woman gets fired from Bath and Body Works after 3 years. Then she reveals ‘everything they made us hide from you’

We all know a Bath and Body Works enthusiast: waiting for the next drop of special edition candles, who considers the semi-annual sales a holiday, and whose home is adorned with plug-in wallflowers. The company they revere, however, is being badmouthed by an alleged disgruntled ex-employee. According to them, the home fragrance brand is not as wholesome as it seems. 

In a viral TikTok, Taylor Clark (@taylor.clark112) “exposed” the so-called secrets Bath and Body Works “hides from you.” But how true are they? 

Fired worker tells all 

“Bath and Body Works just fired me after 3 years, so here’s everything they made us hide from you!” Clark writes in the text overlay of her video. In the clip, a woman donning a B&BW apron is ringing up candles at the register. Clark then implores viewers to “read the caption” to learn more. 

Here are the claims Clark listed about the company:

1. Be careful with the candles. They smell amazing, but we’ve had them explode out of nowhere. I’ve seen glass shatter during testing and we were told to just “keep it quiet.”
2. We throw out returns, even brand new ones. Whether it’s used once or totally sealed, it all goes straight in the dumpster. Girls literally come to the back of the store and dumpster dive for huge hauls.
3. Bath & Body Works actually gives out $500 store credit to review new scents if you sign up at ReviewBath.com Anyone can qualify!
4. If your Wallflower plug stops working, bring it back. Most people don’t know this, but we’ll replace it for free, no questions asked.

Let’s break down–or in some cases, debunk–Clark’s claims one by one. 

Do Bath and Body Works candles explode?

There have indeed been reports of certain B&BW candles exploding on customers. In one incident Business Insider reported on, a woman ended up at the emergency room after her candle exploded. Another woman shared a TikTok of how she narrowly avoided her house burning down after her candle combusted. Even on the subreddit r/Bathandbodyworks, several users have posted or asked about exploding candles, so it’s clear the phenomenon exists. However, there have been no verified reports of the company telling workers to “keep quiet” about it. 

The company has a Candle Use Safety section on its website, where it claims that its candles are safe.

“They undergo extensive quality and safety testing under rigorous burn and use conditions and meet or exceed all applicable industry and government standards for safety and performance,” it claims. However, they do state that there are “factors” that can affect a candle’s performance. 

The site also shares candle care instructions. 

Does Bath and Body Works throw away returned items?

While there appears to be no official report or policy on the company’s website about throwing away returns, some Redditors who claim to have worked for B&BW say it’s true. In one post on Reddit, a commenter revealed how “If the items are used, they’re thrown away. If they are unused and current, they may go back out on the floor, or go out during the semi-annual sale.”

Additionally, some dumpster divers have had luck scouring the trash behind Bath and Body Works and finding a treasure trove of unused hand soaps and candles. 

Is there a reviewer site with $500 store credit?

This is more than likely false. There is currently no evidence to suggest Bath and Body Works is associated with a site such as ReviewBath.com. This is more likely a scam to get people to sign up when in reality it is not connected to the actual company at all. Other TikTokers have made similar claims before, with one alleging to be a former Walmart worker who got fired “spilling secrets” about the company. They also told viewers to “sign up” to be a reviewer. Furthermore, the TikToker only has three videos on its account, all of them related to Bath and Body Works and pushing the reviewer site. 

Does Bath and Body Works replace wallflowers?

While Bath and Body Works had a more lenient policy, its current Return and Exchanges Policy states that it does not allow “change of mind” exchanges. 

“Returns and exchanges are only accepted for damaged, faulty or if you have received an incorrect item(s),” the policy states. “There will be no returns for change of mind. Any purchases made online cannot be returned in store.”

The Mary Sue reached out to Clark via TikTok message and to BB&W via email. 

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