Bath & Body Works is a prominent American retailer specializing in personal care and home fragrance products. Established in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio, it began as a beauty line for Express, Inc., a subsidiary of The Limited. The first store opened in September 1990 at a mall in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Bath & Body Works, Inc.+1Bath & Body Works+1CT Insider+3Wikipedia+3Tumblr+3Course Sidekick+3Tumblr+3Zippia+3

In 1991, following a lawsuit from The Body Shop, Bath & Body Works rebranded, introducing a fictional founder named "Kate" and designing stores to resemble her country home. This unique branding contributed to the company's rapid growth, and by 1997, it had become the largest bath shop chain in the United States. Wikipedia+1Course Sidekick+1

The company expanded its product offerings over the years, launching the White Barn Candle Company in 1999 to focus on scented candles. In 2006, Bath & Body Works introduced a seasonal catalog and a website, marking its entry into e-commerce. Wikipedia+1Wikipedia+1

International expansion began in 2008 with the opening of six stores in Canada, followed by stores in Kuwait in 2010 through a franchise agreement.

In August 2021, Bath & Body Works became an independent public company after L Brands separated Victoria's Secret into a standalone entity. As of 2023, Bath & Body Works operates over 1,900 stores worldwide, offering a wide range of products including lotions, fragrances, and candles.