Bath & Body Works refutes U.S. woman's lawsuit about exploding candle made at Canadian facility

Retailer Bath & Body Works is refuting a lawsuit filed by a woman who says she was severely burned by an exploding candle manufactured at a Canadian facility.

Renita Francois says she was lighting the candle from Bath & Body Works, with a scent called Sweater Weather, on Jan. 19, 2023 in her home on Long Island, New York. She leaned in to smell the candle when “a sudden explosion erupted from the glass container, propelling molten wax and flames outward in every direction,” according to the lawsuit obtained by National Post. The explosion occurred “within moments” of lighting the candle, the claim says.

As well as Bath & Body Works, Francois is also suing Premier Candle Corporation, the Canadian candle producer, for “negligence, failure to warn, product defect, breach of warranty,” which are related to “a defective candle that exploded and caused severe burns and permanent disfigurement.”

The suit, filed on July 4, alleges that both companies, “despite knowing of prior explosions and safety risks related to their three-wick candles, failed to recall, redesign, or properly warn consumers about the risk of catastrophic injury.”

In an emailed statement to National Post, a spokesperson for Bath & Body Works denied the allegations. They said the explosion was due to misuse.

“In millions of hours of testing we have never seen our candles explode. Based on third party testing it is evident that the candle involved in this incident was improperly burned and extinguished.

“Bath & Body Works stands by the safety of our product, and when used appropriately, our best-in-class safety and testing standards make our candles safe,” the statement said.

It continued: “All Bath & Body Works candles made by Premier in Canada are subject to the exact same quality standards, inspections, and rigorous testing as other candles manufactured and sold by Bath & Body Works in the United States.”

According to its website, Premier Candle Corporation says it has “stringent procedures from incoming material inspections, batching confirmations, in process inspections, and many other quality checks up to the final pre-shipment inspection.”

Francois said she followed the instructions on the bottom of the candle and adhered to its safety warnings. The label says the candle should not be lit for more than four hours and that the wick should always be trimmed to a quarter of an inch before it is lit.

“This explosion was not the result of improper use, negligence, or failure to follow safety guidelines,” per the lawsuit.

Francois suffered severe second-degree burns, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, emotional distress, and permanent scarring, the claim says.

Francois’s husband, McEvans Francois, is also named in the lawsuit as a plaintiff. He was there when Francois was lighting the candle and “witnessed his wife’s face catch fire, crackle, and blister as molten wax burned her skin, resulting in severe emotional distress, PTSD, and loss of consortium.” Loss of consortium is when the intangible benefits of a relationship — such as companionship, comfort, affection, and love — are lost or impaired, according to Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute. It can be claimed by a spouse.

The lawsuit called the candle “defective” and maintained that the explosion occurred “within moments” after lighting.

A webpage dedicated to candle safety by Health Canada says most cases of candle fires are caused by “human errors.”

It also says “the obvious hazard when you burn candles is the risk of injury or death from fire.”

“But the design of candles can also increase the risk of fire and fire-related injuries,” per the federal government, adding that candles with three wicks, depending on the kind, can produce high flames. This can lead to a “very intense heat” that can cause materials such as curtains or clothing to catch fire. “These candles can also melt rapidly, leaving a large pool of hot wax that can cause burns,” per Health Canada.

Francois’s lawsuit says she is a mother, wife and leader in public safety, community advocacy, and strategic policy reform.

“This is not just a physical injury — it is an emotional and psychological battle, an assault on her self-perception, and a daily reminder of a tragedy that could have been prevented,” says the lawsuit.

In 2017, a Texas woman said that a three-wick Bath & Body Works candle “burst” in her face, news outlet NBC 5 reported . However, she said that she did not follow its warnings, which told consumers not to blow on the candle or to throw water on it in order to extinguish the flame.

There have not been any recalls for Bath & Body Works candles reported by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission since 2004. That year in March, Bath & Body Works voluntarily recalled its “Real Essence” votive candles — a different kind of candle than the three-wick Sweater Weather scented candle in the lawsuit.

In the recall announcement, it says the votive candles that were recalled could “burn with a high flame or irregular flame, posing a fire hazard to consumers.” Votive candles are smaller candles, sometimes used for prayer.

“The safety of our customers is our top priority. With hundreds of millions of units sold, our candles have a longstanding, exceptional safety record. Our candles undergo extensive quality and safety testing under rigorous burn and use conditions to meet or exceed all applicable industry and government standards for safety and performance,” the emailed statement from Bath & Body Works said.

“Many factors beyond the construction of the candle itself can affect any candle’s performance, which is why we provide safe candle burning tips on our website and proper use guidelines on our products. For more information on safely enjoying room-filling fragrance, follow this important safety information when caring for your candle.”

Premier Candle Corporation did not return National Post’s request for comment.

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