Bath & Body Works

Profile

Once a countrified chain proffering gingham-lined wicker baskets, Bath & Body Works has modernized with apothecary and aromatherapy brands. Organized by scent—ripe Cucumber Melon, lush Gardenia Lily, spicy Pearberry or tropical Coconut Lime Verbena—the shelves are lined with soaps, creams, scrubs, cleansers, lotions and hair products aplenty, complemented by room sprays and scented candles. While Bath & Body Works might have first gained mass appeal with its combination of sweet and floral scents, the chain’s recent shift towards a more sophisticated inventory and presentation—and the addition of lines from other manufacturers—is drawing new crowds. Kids and teens still bop by for sparkly raspberry-scented lotions, but their mothers and aunts are right behind them, scooping up Henri Bendel candles or Le Couvent des Minimes shea butter from Provence. Taking cues from the popularity of spa treatments, the True Blue collection of scrubs and oils might look strikingly familiar to another line of blissful bath products, but fun, high-quality items like the Footloose and Fancy Fizz Foot Soak deliver results that are all their own. — Jeannette Park

Taking a bath can be educational, too. A large selection of B&BW's anti-bacterial soaps and shampoos are kid-friendly, and the Circle of Friends collection—created by mothers—is designed to teach children about different styles and cultures, and includes items like Abebi's Safari Detangle and Chehen's Dragon Dance Conditioner.

Sales
January and June is usually when the goods go on sale. Look out for glycerine soaps and discontinued products that the store brings in for the occasion.