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

National Post

3 days ago

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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.
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The lawsuit called the candle 'defective' and maintained that the explosion occurred 'within moments' after lighting.
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A webpage dedicated to candle safety by Health Canada says most cases of candle fires are caused by 'human errors.'
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It also says 'the obvious hazard when you burn candles is the risk of injury or death from fire.'
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'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.
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Francois's lawsuit says she is a mother, wife and leader in public safety, community advocacy, and strategic policy reform.
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'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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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'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.
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'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.'
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