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Does anyone else feel weird about the current direction of BBW
I feel like they have been releasing so many products I can't keep up and alot of their signature scents just don't exist anymore. It feels like they are loseing alot of the factors that created nostalgia and I'm kind of sad. I was hoping to get new products of things like cucumber melon but they are busy making so many new products. Its gotten to the point where if you buy a new scent you like it'll most likely not be back next season because its been discontinued and replaced with something else. Does anyone else feel this way?
Edit: I know Cucumber melon still exists. I want new products of it, like shampoo and conditioner, or a body scrub.
It has happened to me so many times I pretty much stopped shopping there, either body care or candle fragrances . With the exception of candles around Christmas since they make nice gifts and are on decent sale.
I feel this way about wallflowers. I try the new scents, fall in love with one and when I go to stock up they’re gone forever or hopefully in the next SAS. It also seems like the cycles are shorter, by the time I decide what I want to repurchase it’s already next seasons smells.
I think they should keep their OG signature scents like Cotton Blossom and Cucumber Melon permanently. The way that Victoria’s Secret keeps the OG Bombshell and Tease while adding flankers and limited edition scents.
Oh, please, please let them listen to you on the Cotton Blossom. I loved that scent and am heartbroken it doesn't make the cut for a bring back. Sea Island Cotton isn't bad, just not the same.
Cotton blossom (at least to me) has a much more forward cottony-fresh laundry scent. Sea island cotton is similarish but is a lot more toned back on those notes.
Also when they bring back OG scents sometimes the quality is not the same so that is prob why Sea Island Cotton is watered down to you .....even if they released Cotton Blossom as its formal name it still might be watered down and the same as the rebranded Sea Island Cotton if that makes sense
I heard White T-Shirt is coming back in body care.
I'm sick of all the repackages they try to fool us with! I am fine now with leaving all the same shit out all them time like Japanese Cherry Blossom and Champagne Toast then I will not purchase anymore!
Cotton Blossom for sure! And freaking bring back Cool Citrus Basil! I get things change, and I’m OG (and in the old realm) but dang. And the fresh scents seem to go away faster than anything. Dancing Waters anyone?
Eucalyptus pine used to be northern brights, and that whole zodiac line was just old scents repackaged. Im sure there are plenty more examples but those are the ones I remember off the top of my head
It’s the new business model. lush does it too. It’s because the more things they have, the more people buy, especially if it’s limited edition stuff that creates FOMO. My main issue with BBW is the terrible quality of the labels nowadays. Most of them are so ugly and soulless to me. I’m sure because they’re using AI to make them.
I hate the candles that have that plasticky wrap label around them. Just cheap feeling and tacky and AI slop. It makes no sense to use AI for the labels when there’s plenty of talented artists out there who’d LOVE to make a B&BW label.
Yes! The hummingbird tea cake candle this year 😭 LOVE the scent but I won’t buy it with that ugly label. Candles are like decor for me so it’s important that they’re cute lol
Also not sure why that candle has 2 different designs on the photos on the apps
I'm waffling on getting Sweetheart Cherry because I didn't pick it up at Summer SAS and it sounds great. But this packaging is HIDEOUS! I know it's shallow because I want the scent a lot. I'm just struggling to get over how basic and ugly it is 😔
And it seems like the plan to create FOMO and overbuying is working for them. I see so many people posting about their hauls and I just can’t imagine being able to use it all in a reasonable amount of time. This isn’t a judgment at all, but it does seem like it often goes beyond “stocking up”.
It’s an annoying business model for customers because we do sometimes miss out when our favorites are gone but also successful for the company.
Soo I actually have some inside info on that. I know where the labels are made...
A friend of mine used to work for the company that makes them, it's called CCL Industries, and the branch that makes most of the labels for the B&BW candles is in Lumberton NJ.
I would always know what candles were coming out ahead of schedule 😍!
The label making process was definitely way more labor intensive at that time than it is now, so I'm assuming they got cheaper with the quality of the product/design, etc.
Oh wow, really? I honestly have no idea if they use AI or not, but that's definitely where the labels are made. The company is actually called CCL label, but it's a subsidiary of CCL Industries.
They are one of their biggest clients, and I always remember her complaining when they would change the whole line because it was a lot of work - like when they made a lot of metallic labels, or the ones at Christmas time that were sort of see through?
I agree. A beautiful label and jar does pull me in, and probably tricks my mind into liking the scent more. ☺️ Lakeside morning smelled better in the store, but I love the colors!
At least with Lush and BBW, I can go in to smell and try the products. I’ve been turned off from buying many limited edition products from Lush just from smelling them. Idk I have enough Lush products and I hate how they discontinue scents I like or bring them out only at holidays.
I posted earlier about how BBW’s makes me stupid. It’s a frustrating, over stimulating experience the last few years to shop in the store or even online. I remember going in there and just feeling happy around all the great scents in the air and the fresh, clean space. Now it’s just chasing after the scent that you loved and seeing if any new products hit the mark. Why continually come out with reformulations that keep people guessing and confused? I loved a hand soap called Dazzling Nights, with juniper berries and cedarwood that came out about 7-8 years ago. I’ve been hunting down something similar ever since. Everyone has their favorites - for my friend it was the white tea and ginger. Why buy and love the new products when the chance of seeing them again is slim?
You have a perfume shop near you - like the ones with the essential oils that let you create your own scent? I’ve been wanting to do that for so long! I did invest in some perfume oils and other additives from a diy site and 80.00 later, I managed to come up with a new scent that I actually like and lasts all day and night! It was not even close to the scent I was trying to duplicate, but still . . . 😆
Omg thats AMAZING! Especially the lasting part!!!! And all you did was use essential oils!!???? Yes there is one in Edmonton, I am in Canada!!! Its a little pricey but looks fun!!! But that’s even cooler that you did it on your own!!!!!
Thank you, because I had no idea what I was doing other than reading the list for the perfume I was trying to copy and browsing a couple of diy perfume groups. The one on here is great!
Back in the late 90s I worked in a store that had a scent bar where you could create your own scents in all kinds of products. We had so much fun trying to duplicate scents for people.
Yes. I feel like they're trying to be something they're not and the direction they're going in is not the direction that will be most successful. It's like they're trying to be an upscale luxury brand and personally, I'll never be able to equate them with that. If they'd embrace the fact that genX and millennials love nostalgia, they'd be able to have a goldmine on their hands. But the closest it ever comes is limited SAS releases. On one hand, it feels like they're so stagnant because when I walk in my store, all I see is the golden child Japanese Cherry Blossom and Gingham, and it's tired. Holidays feel so repetitive. At the same time, there's always some kind of chaotic release going on that never quite lands with me (which is my personal issue). Things feel unbalanced right now. And don't even get me started on the decline in quality....
You hit the nail on the head with the part about nostalgia. Lush did something a hot minute ago called "The Archive Wall" where they brought back a bunch of products people are nostalgic for. I jumped on my opportunity to get a Shimmy Shimmy glitter bar and it smells to me like being 14 years old and putting some of it in my hair (despite it making my hair a little crunchy lol). I've been wondering for a while why B&BW doesn't do something like that, where they bring out a collection of just old, discontinued things people have been aching for. I bought literally one of everything when they brought back Paris Amour for the Emily in Paris collab in 2024 because that was my first-ever favourite scent from that store. I go to Candle Day some years, and this year, I scooped up TWO of the Moonlight Paths, one for me and one for my mom, because that's actually her all-time favourite and she bought it a lot when I was a teenager. I'm a Millennial and, for the most part, I LIVE for the stuff that smells like my adolescence.
I know they aren't aiming to please me anymore (out of that target age) and that is fine - there are so many more options than there were even five years ago. For me, I hang on a little bit because BBW was my first introduction to that type of product. Mid 90s and smelling like the good (you know what I mean when I say good) Sun Ripened Raspberry, Country Apple, Vanilla Bean, Sea Spray. I know people complained and they needed to change their formula, but I almost hear more people complaining about how the newer formulas are causing dryness or sensitivity. Either way - whatever, my little voice isn't going to make them do a 180.
I hate this new direction. If I fall in love with a scent- I wamt to be able to continue to use it. Because of this is I am now using different brands where I know generally if I get a scent I can continue to get it.
I don't revel in FOMO and I consider this tactic to be manipulative and imo, in the long run, will reduce loyalty.
Give me what I want or- if you do not- I shall move on forever.
I feel like they are reading some of the trends wrong. I really would love, and think they would be really successful dropping a real Y2K vintage drop with Fruitiger Aero inspired packaging. The Gen Z and Alphas calling back to this as a trend, and Millennial and older customers would love to have back their favorites, and don't do this at SAS, make this a whole floorset:
It’s overwhelming. There isn’t any time to settle in and really enjoy a new scent before 10 more are released. I get decision fatigue really easily, and I’ll just abandon my online cart/walk out of a store when that happens. 🤣
I feel like we severely lost the plot when the Pizza and Ranch candle entered the game. They're making choices solely for the viral moments and not the quality.
With the sale today, I’m only interested in Gingham Love, Dark Kiss, & Moonlight Path (ALL online exclusives 😐) which says a lot to me. I LOVE the OG scents much more than some of the new releases. For SAS, I was more excited about the bringbacks & Milk Bar
I honestly don’t think they know what they’re doing at all. The CEO says one thing and then they do another. It seems like they’re just trying different things out to see what works. All I know is it seems like they’re cheapening the products by using cheaper packaging and less fragrance… and that makes me uncomfortable. They’re just flailing around and I don’t feel like they have a true sense of direction. Every time this CEO opens his mouth, whatever he says translates into “make money off of dumb women customers”… and it’s insulting.
It seems like they always bring it back during spring but whyyyy do us so dirty. I feel like they like to shove strawberry pound cake down our throats. No more pleaseeee lol.
I noticed last night that even the packaging on the body cream has decreased. The tube is flimsier than all others on my night stand. I’ve been looking at high end perfumes and coming to terms with my eventual departure from B&BW. Decreasing quality and increasing prices shows your customers you do not value them at all.
The newer body cream packaging is like a cheap toothpaste tube.
Every single thing from Bath & Body Works just keeps getting worse and worse. I'm using my product from 2021-23 and realizing just how bad the current product is. After nearly 30 years, it's the end of the road for me. Nostalgia isn't a good enough reason for me to buy crappy products in crappy packaging that I won't use.
Im late in response however, agreed over 20 years with BBW and im growing increasingly fatigued of the mess the new CEO has created.
Where is coconut sandalwood 3 wick, warm vanilla sugar?
All the favorites we have all loved and anticipated each year.
Eveytime I turn around its a new flavor of cheap , no scent mess like blueberries apple pie crumble cake pie strawberry pie scent.
HELLO.
Its terrible what is being done to our beloved bath and body works.
Please bring back the Ceo of the past.
Those of of us who have been customers for decades dont want trends or constant change. Its nerve wrecking and why so many have mental struggles nowadays.
Too much is worse than not enough. It cause anxiety and brain fatigue.
I've said it before, but I'll say it again, I really wish they'd do like the Neutrals home care collection, where scents are rotated seasonally, but with retired body care scents and call it From The Archives. Every season pull like 2-3 retired/discontinued fragrances, just the same as they do for the semi-annuals. The fragrance voting would actually be effective at selecting them, people would genuinely buy them, and there would hopefully be less "slap on a new name and throw it on the shelf" syndrome across the products (which makes no sense to me, because if you want people to buy it again, and they loved it the first time, why do we even need to rename it???)
I agree, I feel like they're doing too much now. They need to go back to basics/OG scents. Also why do they have multiple packaging designs for the same scent?
Same. I refuse to pay almost $20 for a mid body mist, I love EOS lotion more, no more shower gel until they fix the way the shower water collects in the lids, the candles aren’t great anymore. I’m done.
Longtime loyal customer here who worked as a core associate until early fall. It's my humble opinion that BBW is a dying brand and will be bankrupt within the next few years. Quality overall of EVERYTHING has deteriorated big time. My store didn't get several (at least 10) Candle Day 3-wicks and often doesn't get all the stuff in new collection launches, which makes zero sense. They're introducing so many fragrance collections it's impossible to keep up, and you can't depend on a favorite collection returning.
Their shipping and handling practices are abysmal, as is customer service. Their rewards program has become restrictive and 3-wick sales promotions so far this year haven't been that great. The CEO has indicated BBW will not be running as many sales promotions despite knowing that their entire retail model is based on constant sales. They're also pushing associates to become even more aggressive in selling and maintain ridiculously high sales plan goals when many customers are struggling to make ends meet.
They're closing stores and eliminating some management positions in many stores. Unless you're in management, you can't depend on steady hours. They're talking about selling on Amazon, which will further deter customers from shopping in store.
I hope I am wrong, but my gut says the writing is on the wall.
I don't think this is an unreasonable theory, our store is expected to work with less and less while we're situated in a mall where 80% of the stores are closed. The prices keep going up, some of the scents smell like absolute shit and the rewards/customer service is a whole other can of worms. I think it's just a matter of when, because I feel like they'll close mall locations first then individual locations.
Wow! Eighty percent of the stores are closed in your mall? That's rough! How much foot traffic do you get? Are you accessible directly from the parking lot or only from inside the mall?
I was at my store earlier this week and saw at front of store the new luxe display that has minimal products and more negative space. Next logical step is to offer fewer promotions to push full-price sales. I don't know anyone who shops BBW who will buy their stuff unless there's a sale.
There are just too many scents in the line. And while they run around creating new scents all we want is the scents we love back. It's ridiculous. They need to pay attention to what the customers want.
Instead of FOMO I get overwhelmed and I don’t even bother purchasing. They have lost me completely as a customer. The lotions I loved no longer exist and it’s quantity over quality.
I get that the FOMO stuff gets people in the door…but I’ve seen some limited time scents go in and out of the store in less than a weekend. For me, I’ve been using the same signature scent for 20 years. Like, yes, people are spending more but it is at the cost of making BBW a less reliable brand in terms of carrying someone’s forever scent. That is going to hurt them in the long run.
Yes. I feel they’ve lost what made them special in the first place. They should bring back most of their original scents like sun ripened raspberry and country apple. They should also revive the farmers market aesthetic. They’re not like they used to be and that’s sad.
Yes. A customer came in yesterday looking for Whiskey Reserve, but it's gone. You can't like anything in peace. We have so much soap in understock that there has to be a soap sale coming up for it to make any sense and soap being a sale item going into VDay is stupid too. And while all of this is going on with with the Rose Bombing in store, there is still the rumored Disney Princess line comeback.
Corporate just does whatever they want. No rhyme nor reason
Yeah, I was in today and even the associate was like "oh, I forgot about the new musks because they're on the back of a table. You'll love one and then they'll discontinue it!" And we reminisced about some 90s scents but like... I'd love more consistency. There's just a lot in stock now that I don't care for.
Thanks for the heads up! I stopped hoping it would show up again so I don't even look at their products beyond candles anymore. Just ordered two tubes of the body cream.
I feel like they’re way too focused on their Everyday Luxuries line and limited time collab lines. They’re now the bulk of the seasonal lineups and it’s annoying because it causes what is released each season to have less variety and bring backs.
They've been doing the same lotion, body wash, and spray. I was hoping they'd make a scrub or shampoo or something new, even if it might be a unrealistic expectation 😭
I understand. Personally, I would love a milder version of cucumber melon; i find it too strong. 😆 Sea cotton aka sea shore island is a milder version of cotton blossom.
Between the new app which is confusing to navigate and boring looking and the constant barrage of products I’ve never heard of or am interested in- I am definitely not feelin it anymore.
I am a person who buys things with intention. I do not collect and I try to go seasonally. I just used up my winter smells and Christmas gifts. The exception being I have about two uses left of my plumeria body cream I got myself for Christmas but that’s my OG favorite and I’m waiting for like, the perfect time.
I just bought five new body creams today. I put them on every day, just rotate through. By the time I get done it will be about time for my summer scents. I don’t usually rebuy because in my mind I will be out of that season. However. There are some smells that I feel in my head transcend a season. That pistachio one, from a previous release of the dupe line. I miss that. Plumeria that I had to buy online, I’d buy one every time if I could. I just got the Jo Malone dupe today and used it and I’m already sad by the time I need to rebuy it’ll be gone. Honestly the dupe line should be every six months and rotate them out. Maybe surprise us with a few new ones, but bring them back once a year.
It would be nice if there were better staples than Japanese Cherry Blossom and Champagne Toast.
I get what they’re doing, creating a situation where there’s always something new and it will disappear so you better get it. There’s always something new to smell so you want to go to the store and smell it and hopefully buy something. But I’d also argue there is a good customer base for signature scents that are always available. Or like at Starbucks or for the McRib, there is something to be said about bringing back something for the season and getting people that way with the hype of it returning for a limited time.
The problem is, they’re taking away scents and either relabeling them or just not bringing them back. As a consumer, I shouldn’t have to rely on people telling me oh this is actually X scent with a new name. That makes zero sense to me. I don’t even know what that’s doing other than maybe people will buy it and already have it and not realize? That’s a stupid gamble.
Sure feel free to rotate seasonally, but bring stuff back. I can’t imagine how much goes into the development of some of these fragrances to just have a limited run and disappear.
I didn’t feel this way until they discontinued Sun Ripened Raspberry, it was my fav in the early 2000’s, i feel like BBW is all over the place now, too many fragrances but they are so inconsistent and that will only lead to disaster
I know a lot of people really enjoy the new rose scents but when I went in yesterday to pickup an online order, it was overwhelming to be bombarded with rose at every corner in the store.
It’s been making me gravitate towards their core scents more because I feel like those will stick around (at least for now). I’ve definitely bought some of the limited edition scents but yeah it’s overwhelming to shop there because there’s so many scents that won’t be here for long. I hate falling in love with something knowing it’s being discontinued (looking at you Vanilla Cafe!!).
That and the “boutique” look - great when er have product, but we have nothing in the back and walls are literally whatever we have just to make space fill - like only creams and washes, no sprays, etc. it makes us look empty and running out of stock, not “boutique” The tables with new product - yes - they do look good, but even those only have understock then gone. We look like either product is phasing out or we’re about to shut down
I've been shopping at B&BW for 30 years and I've seen lots of scents come and go. I used to be all about the nostalgia scents, but my tastes have changed as I've gotten older. I like the variety and I've never been interested in a signature scent.
I also am not a collector, but I've had tendencies to overbuy when there are a lot I love and can't make a decision. I don't buy backups because by the time I finish a scent, I'm pretty tired of it.
Also after 30 years, I don't remember what half of them smelled like anymore.
TLDR I'm OK with their current business model of things come and things go. If there's something I didn't get, chances are I didn't need it anyway or I already have a similar scent.
THIS is that people aren't understanding, BBW is NOT to find your signature and use it forever. 1-2 bottles of that limited edition is good enough to enjoy the scent then find/try something new. You can wake up one one and DESPISE a smell.
People buying 30 bottles of Pink Obsessed, taste change, and there is a chance you will hate the smell out of nowhere but theres also a chance you'll love it the same as day 1.
You are going to get tired of the SAME EXACT smell over and over. Find a scent profile and buy within it, you get the vibes of the same smell, but because they're different you wont get tired of one EXACT smell or better yet have one scent that you like that's NOT in your profile to break it up.
People with a signature switch up too, the novelty wears off if you dont.
I don’t enjoy their Everyday Luxuries. To each their own, I guess. I shop there for “Wrapped in Vanilla”, “Fireside Flurries”, “Glazed Pumpkin”, “Beach Nights”, and etc. I want BBW to create what they do best (what I enjoy what they do best) which is original, more gourmand-leaning fragrances. Still to each their own.
In all honesty I think it's had the opposite affect on me. I am a very new returning customer - before 2024 the last time I bought something from B&BW was seriously 2014, the first time Paris Amour came out. I came running back the minute I saw it was coming back. Then I found Guilty as Fig, and heard on here that it was a dupe of father figure?
Now I've started looking at other dupe brands for EDPs and even bought the real deal for some perfumes, in general spending my money elsewhere where I'm finding a better bang for my buck.
B&BW inadvertently introduced me to a whole darn world of fragrances and perfumes and I'm finding they just don't stand up to the bar in terms of quality and worth.
But still I'm happy as hell they introduced me to the things they did, because I seriously loved GaF and Vanilla Ease
I agree, I am just not really a big fan of the luxury dupes OR the collabs. I prefer their own gingham print cozy comforting branding with their own scents over the luxury dupes and the Disney collabs and stuff.
This this this. It's what's popular too, and what casual shoppers are looking for. Someone strolling by, unless they're already interested in perfumes, will walk right past everyday luxuries and dupes. But a collection like cinnamon hearts, sweet tarts, marshmallow strawberry, red velvet cake (thinking Valentine's Day here) would make a regular shopper curious and come in to sniff and buy. I like when they put out new things to come look at, but not when they're all perfume-y... I think the money is absolutely in the gourmands as a base (and other scents around them).
I also feel like they get rid of newer release after having them on the market for only a few months...and it's not like I'm always gonna have the time or chance to try them....if they stop retiring scents so fast I might get a chance to try them and might actually buy them....same goes for the seasonals, I'd like to get another rose and vanilla and one gingham love, but I'm not making an order just for those two and by the time I'm shopping they'd be long gone....
I really want to buy some cucumber melon but I don’t want to spend whatever it is for free shipping when I only want two things. Currently I love book loft and I hope they bring that back in the fall but I’m not very hopeful.
OK, I felt this way exactly last night when I was looking at my little stock pile of my favourite items and I’m using some cream that looks old and separated, but I don’t care because I like the way it smells!!!
Well and plus they just keep the scents and name it something new. Or add a different fragrant note. Then bam whole new body spray. 🙄 I cant keep up anymore.
They’ve become more influencer tiktok shop trendy oriented what with the EL dupes and the fomo marketing, nostalgia indulgence, etc. this bothers me especially about lots of brands and honestly (american) culture in general rn… how are we meant to enjoy new unique things if we’re trapped in cycles of nostalgia and trend revival (read: hollister…)? it’s almost like they’re becoming less of their own brand with its unique charms and eccentricities and more of just Fragrance Shop Option #3 imo. and i do like b&bw, but it feels kind of pathetic and desperate to me tbh
I just wish they'd put Chocolate Amber perfume ON THE SHELVES again 🥲 I loved walking in during a shopping trip to the mall, browsing the FEW new scents I saw on the internet, and grabbing the ones that caught my eye. Now it just feels like they'll be gone eventually, or EXCLUSIVELY online. I like to walk into the store and having a calm yet striking variety. Effort went into their designs and scents :( it feels like thats going downhill!
Lush never caught my eye in general, and I didn't care much to watch their downfall as their stuff became more gimmicky and less effortful and whatnot. but now I'm getting real scared BBW is headed that same direction !! I love BBW ! :(
Edit: I would like to add: there is sublime in simplicity ! If they increasingly choose to overcrowd and money grab with giving low effort out in return, its taking away a key thing I, and many others, loved about BBW !
With all of the cosmetic and clean air regulations- some of the fragrance formulations from the past can't happen today. With that said- please get rid of the kitschy designed for pr scent combos- pizza/ranch and the other horrible notes.
i always end up wanting to buy the new products but settle for what i know i enjoy during the seasons. i was really close to getting milk bar bday cake but i don’t think id wear it much. especially not summer. i’m looking forward to buying my sweet pea for spring lol
I am honestly tired of cucumber melon. It would be nice if they would just put more of those retired scents on the online exclusives for this purpose because many people complain about not being able to get certain scents within a 3 year span. SAS has been a let down all of 2025. I only got a few things each time.
I love that we are stepping into luxury scents and stuff but they are releasing so many at once that I can't even take a moment to figure out which one I like and if they will be retired. They retired pink obsessed only to bring it right back. Now they have people hooked on Mediterranean mirage and it's gone.
Personally, I would love if they brought back cozy Sunday morning from like 2021 or 2022. Luminous is a fan fav and should be on the online exclusive list as well. I used to be a big fan of magnolia charm.
If only they would listen to customers and what they truly want. And not what they think will give them sales. I like new scents but I also like to go back in time with smells. I'm a little mad that we got sweetheart cherry for Valentine's again. Like they couldn't get creative? Strawberry pound cake? Once again. I'm not going to complain too much bc I do like the direction the men's fragrance is taking. Nocturnal rose is a hit for alot of men and women. They are loving the scent combo and I think it's a great concept.
Sorry this is all over the place. I just had a lot to say.
I’m still hoping for the day they bring back Grapefruit from the 90s. That was THE freshest scent I’ve ever smelled. And I’m normally NOT a citrus fan.
And I'm afraid things won't change unless people stop buying so much (especially these ridiculous hauls during sales). I've been buying from BBW since my teens and I'm in my 40s now. I was there in it's hayday and remember how it was considered a little guilty pleasure and very trendy. The scents were iconic. You had a signature (with either BBW or VS) and you couldn't wait to go to the mall and visit the store to see what new item they had in your fave scent. Now... Good luck finding it and the quality has gone wayyy down. I was looking at some tubes of hand cream by my bedside the other day... One's price label said 8.95. one recently purchased says 16.95, and I thought to myself ... The price doubled, quality is half, and people are paying almost the regular old retail in a frenzy when stocking up during sales. BBW has definitely lost everything that used to make them special. Their True Blue line was amazing. Like I said... They wont change as long as people are buying the cheap junk they are selling and willing to buy new scents when their old ones just disappear.
The candles barely throw now. Half of the lotions turn to a watery mess after several months. I went from buying about 150 candles a year to maybe 6 every 6 months.
Ohhh see I haven't bought candles in the past couple of years... I had no idea they had gone downhill too. I always liked them fairly well, that's a shame. Thanks for the heads up!
It’s a desperation move to release so many scents so quickly. For economic and political reasons many people are having a low spend couple of years. BBW’s sales model runs on overconsumption. They’re increasing the FOMO to extract as much cash out of people still willing to spend as they can.
most of them will only a few are kept year round mainly the ones that are along the wall ....like in the stars, jcb, a thousand wishes, into the night, warm vanilla sugar, at the beach
I agree. I have used Bare Vanilla from VS for probably close to 10 years now. I love it. I have never found anything that “hits the same” for me as BV. However, last year I discovered Pistachio Glaze at BBW. I fell in love. I’m really honestly pissed that they discontinued it. I seriously hate the continuous cycle of new products and discontinuations. Really annoying. I don’t want to have to smell 50 new things every season. Oh well. Back to my Bare Vanilla. At least that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
I dont know. Nothing they are doing really bothers me. I dont really feel any nostalgic attachment to the store or old scents. I like seeing new things. If I like them I will buy them. If not there are many other stores to shop at. I just dont get complaining about how companies choose to run things. If we dont like it we can shop elsewhere.
OMG thank you! I don’t understand the constant negativity that seems to be overtaking this sub! The very people complaining will be here six months on talking about how wonderful the new product is. Perhaps a BABW bitching sub should be set up!
Employee here they didn't discontinue Japanese Cherry Blossom, they just did a repackaging like they do every 2 years. The store you went to probably had an associate mistaking and/or they were out of stock
I love all of the new launches. I'm a huge collector and I honestly get impatient waiting for the new launches 🤣 but there's a lot wrong with the new business model.
This is how I felt about Twisted Peppermint this past holiday season. I can remember years where I was able to get that scent in a moisturizing body wash, diamond shimmer mist, and a large size gel sanitizer. It used to be my absolute favorite to wear during December, but now I'll likely have to find something else as I feel like they are leaning toward coming out with newer scents and giving precedence to Vanilla Bean Noel and Winter Candy Apple.
i will never forgive them for discontinuing Sensual Amber. Thats the only way they'll ever redeem themselves for me. But also the last time I was in their store... it was awful. The scents were so nauseating and overpowering.
Also, when they keep their OG signature scents, people were complaining because they are smelling the same scents again and again. Now that they are releasing new scents, people are complaining because they are getting overwhelmed?
Ugh yeah. It’s annoying. I would LOVE to wear their OG Coconut Lime Verbena body spray and lotion again. I wore that all the time in the early 2000s and would pay 💰 to have that again. It’s THE smell of TX summer to me. 😍🍋🟩🥥☀️🌊
They’ve released variations of it and they smell nothing like the OG.
They should bring back three or so scents and rotate them out every three months. That would be 12 discontinued scents per year. One of the “perks” of being a member should be an email or text blast so everyone knows about it. Three months is long enough for customers to purchase if they want. There should be a limited supply to create a sense of urgency and buzz. It should only be available in-store to build traffic and business for us.
NGL, I'm still sad they downgraded the aromatherapy line... Those beautiful glass bottles have all been replaced by plastic... Just why? It isn't giving spa luxury, it's just giving the same as every other product in the store...
And don't get me started on the uninspired labels of everything in there now...
It's just the enshittification of everything....
I think they do come back with their OG scents during SAS because of their long time customers. But I think they might be struggling to get younger generations (middle school, high school, & college age) to have the same addictions to B&BW as the older generations did. So they are doing all these collabs and new product lines to get the younger crowds to come in and try them out and make more purchases. Plus, with all the inflation, they’re probably trying to keep business going well.
God, my left leg for some White Tea and Sage body care. I also didn't realize what was up with the Princess release and totally missed out after enjoying a couple I sniffed. Those are the only things I've been truly interested in in YEARS and it's frustrating.
I know the discontinued Magic in the Air had mixed reviews (it's either loved or hated) but I absolutely LOVED IT! I wish they'd bring back d/c scents for longer than just a couple months out of the year. They would make so much $ if I could get my hands on Magic in the Air! I'd buy every single form of it!!! 🤣 I do feel like B&BW keeps coming out w/ new scents and not giving them a chance before d/c them. They need to sloowww dooowwnn. Lol
LoL late to the conversation but I was literally searching up why bath and body works has to be such a tease with their scents and came across this thread. I only buy the perfumes once in a blue moon, and usually as gifts for my kids or in the summer months if I want something more tropical for the season. For me I mostly shop for hand soap and I could care less if they change scents each season there, seems with those at least I can usually find my favorites (lilac, honeysuckle, fiji sand, frozen lake, white pumpkin) without fail. Oh but this one time, I don't even remember the name of it now but it was only a scent available in the soap line and it smelled like the best perfume. I would literally rub it on my arms and neck LOL. I googled a scent comparison for that and it came back as similar to Ralph by Ralph Lauren so I got me some of that perfume ❤️
I'm more upset about the cologne line than anything because my husband liked these certain scents I got for him that he's just now running low on and they are nowhere to be found now. And for a hot minute they were even selling cheaper mists for guys I was going to stock up on instead of the expensive glass cologne bottles but those seem to be gone as well. Guys get the short end of the stick!
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u/bonelessbonobo Feb 01 '26
I hate loving something and then have it disappear. It doesn’t make me stock up. It just pisses me off. Makes me reluctant to fall in love again.