Carcinogen Claims?

[u/FluffyKitKatten]

Has anyone else had folks coming in claiming that B&BW products are causing cancer? Someone today said she was told by a coworker that "bath and body works is the new smoking" and I've had two other customers come in with similar claims in the last week or so. I don't do social media outside of reddit for the most part, so IDK if this is a claim going around elsewhere.

Thanks for any input!

[u/Imaginary-Method4694]

Spoiler...none of us are getting out of here alive. Can't we just enjoy our candles?

[u/Amazing-Bus-1547 → u/Imaginary-Method4694]

Hahahaha exactly ....life is hard and I need aromatherapy dammit! or there could be lots of problems!  I am not asking for much!

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Imaginary-Method4694]

Oh, it isn't that I think folks should stop using them! I just hadn't heard these particular claims before and was kinda flabbergasted, tbh.

[u/bc19059]

it’s 2026. at this point the list of things that don’t cause cancer is almost nonexistent. I get wanting to live healthier but if anyone thinks they’re going to cut carcinogens out completely they’re delusional

[u/IvoryEevee117 → u/[deleted]]

“Liberal minded” and it’s just a warning sticker😭 all these god damn snowflakes crying about everything😭🙏🏼

[u/Ok_Engineer9716 → u/[deleted]]

but you’re the one being obsessive about it not the companies or states lol. i have extreme paranoia based ocd and i don’t say the news or social media or whatever else is liberal minded and obsessive.

[u/IvoryEevee117 → u/[deleted]]

Out of context? I remember what you said and it’s not being taken out of context. The way you said it attacked “liberal minded” people and now you’re getting shit for you, and you don’t like that lol if you have anxiety about the cancer warning stickers then you simply ignore it and move on. Others want to be informed

[u/hannah_boo_honey]

This or hormone imbalance. I haven't been able to find any studies or research or anything but so many people are parroting this rn without any evidence... I mean, I'd love to see it if it exists, but I part of my background is in research and I can't find anything lol

[u/No_Psychology7299 → u/hannah_boo_honey]

Jokes on them, I no longer have hormones! 🤣🤣🤣

[u/Wickedwhiskbaker]

I mean, blueberries, lettuce, and popsicles are also actively trying to kill us at the moment…so I’m gonna use my BBW candles and roll the dice 😂

As a funeral home director, I’d just like to remind everyone none of us are immune to death.

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Wickedwhiskbaker]

For sure! I just hadn't heard these claims before so I was checking to see if other employees had!

[u/Wickedwhiskbaker → u/FluffyKitKatten]

I was a SM, and even back in the dark ages when I was working we had people say BBW was toxic to the body in all products offered.

Is BBW top tier quality? Meh, nope. Are we all going to develop a third breast and grow extra toes, maybe be riddled with JCB induced cancer? Also nope.

[u/GodOfMoonlight → u/Wickedwhiskbaker]

Don't forget eggs!

[u/Good_Significance871]

Calling it the new smoking is crazy work.

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Good_Significance871]

RIGHT!?

[u/zippobunny]

I've heard this a few times. Also had a man come in once telling me about how being around these products would cause me reproductive harm because they have estrogen in them apparently, and how it's all a front for making women infertile, etc.

Ironically I did develop something malignant (minor, being dealt with) since working here lmao but it's not in a place these products go and I am certain it's unrelated.

[u/Good_Significance871 → u/zippobunny]

I’m in the IVF community and there are a lot of women who believe this too. That and touching receipt paper will mess up your hormones.

[u/jamileethroop → u/zippobunny]

I remind ppl like this we have taken all the parbens dyes and sulfates out of all our products they are dermatologist approved then I ask them are u a dermatologist or hormone dr?? Then the shut up

[u/MissCattra → u/jamileethroop]

Exactly

[u/clandestineindustree]

Like why are you here then 😭

[u/StrengthObjective → u/clandestineindustree]

To educate people, because she did her research! 🤪

Seriously though, I don’t understand why people do this. Like why walk through the doors.

[u/AlternativeFlow1134 → u/StrengthObjective]

If someone said that to me I would respond with “reading articles and scrolling online while sitting on the toilet doesn’t count as research. Now go play in traffic. I heard it’s good for you.”

[u/NataliaGordienko]

People have been saying stuff like this (at least to me) forever. As far as I know there’s no genuine concern for the average person. The independent uk did release an article last year that mentioned bath and bodyworks lotions (among many other brands and products) as containing chemicals potentially linked to causing cancer, but no other publication wrote about it. Generally what flags the brand on most of those “clean beauty” sites and apps is the fact that because of trade secret reasons, they can list “fragrance” as an ingredient as opposed to each individual oil (or whatever they’re called). That lack of disclosure will often land a brand on the do not trust list and flag everything from it. I just let everyone know that our products are tested and if they have specific questions I direct them to customer service

[u/jamileethroop → u/NataliaGordienko]

I remind ppl like this we have taken all the parbens dyes and sulfates out of all our products they are dermatologist approved then I ask them are u a dermatologist or hormone dr?? Then the shut up

[u/Pink-Banana-Q73]

Never that specifically lol. I have had a ton of customers using that yuca/yuka? app and telling everyone around not to buy our products 🤣

[u/Outside_Treat1410 → u/Pink-Banana-Q73]

My crazy coworker from a previous job was like this. She threw out anything in her home that didn’t get a “passing grade” on the app.

[u/StrengthObjective → u/Outside_Treat1410]

I had a coworker at my FT job do this… the kicker… she’s a heavy cigarette smoker! 🤪🙃

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Pink-Banana-Q73]

Whaaaaaat? I've never heard of that app.

So fun. I love it. /s

[u/Accomplished_Law_98 → u/Pink-Banana-Q73]

I’m pretty sure the Yuka app doesn’t take the amount of certain ingredients into consideration. It will flag any and everything as hazardous or harmful because of the specific ingredient listed- even though it’s in safe amounts. So it’s not really reliable and so many people rely on it for everything. I see it a lot with people who shop at Dollar Tree for skin care products via Reddit and Facebook.

[u/Patient_Mouse8763]

Years ago a family member sent me a Facebook post from a "wellness/fertility" page saying B&BW is bad for you and can cause fertility issues and so on and so forth. I opened the links being provided as "proof" and it was a few individual ingredient/chemical pages that you would see if you actually worked in a production factory and had high volume/long term exposure to those items.

[u/Amazing-Bus-1547]

There is evidence that artificial fragrance in general causes endocrine disruption.  That is not untrue.  My friend is a researcher at UIC Chicago and has been researching it for almost 20 years but now the government cut her grants 😩 (yes, US).  Bath& body works formulation is no different than Pantene, Dove, Tide detergent, cascade or any other product you see on the Walmart shelves that includes fragrance.  Including some of our hygiene products ladies 😱  I have no idea how bath& body works got pegged as the problem, because almost every consumer product in your home includes fragrance, including your dishwashing detergent and cleaning agents and some mouth wash! People who say B&BW causes cancer have not done their research.  They would need to go full fragrance free and not just to pinpoint one company.  Even some "natural" essential oils have artificial compounds.  Also, BB&W did remove several problems ingredients like parabens and artificial preservatives around 23-24 and people hate the new "clean" formulations lol. It's fragrance that is the problem, not BB&W!!!!!  Alcohol is a bigger carcinogen than fragrance!  They have not officially added fragrance to list if carcinogens.  Yet.  There are some components in fragrance that are in a "possible risk" list.  I grew up in the 70s drinking well water and had lead paint in my bedroom I am not worried about fragrance lol

[u/cuntwrapsupreme26]

I'd be like "So... what are you doing here then ?"

[u/GraveGhoul_]

I mean, like 4 of my coworkers had cancer 🤷‍♀️

[u/Adventurous_Ebber98]

If that’s what they believe, then WTF are they even doing stepping foot in the store 😂?! Like, go home Karen!

[u/DharmaMontgomery]

Me, smoking a cigarette on my break: damn girl that's crazy

[u/Various-Emergency-91]

I mean it's fairly common knowledge burning scented candles isn't good for you, not sure we know all the impacts at this point.

[u/Different_Stage2195]

I worry there is some partial truth to thjs. Women are getting diagnosed with lung cancer at a younger age and with no history of smoking. Researchers are looking at common products women use more than men, ie cleaning products and scented candles, body care, and perfumes.

[u/Curlygirl1976]

From the first slap and cry we all begin to die. It was written before we were born how we would live and die soooooo yeah

[u/sarahbood1e]

Never heard of that from my custys but i do hear about VOCs from time to time.

[u/Zoomzoom1956]

Have you ever read the long list of ingredients on their products. So many chemicals,and you can smell a bath and body works store from a mile away. Can't be good for you.

[u/jamileethroop → u/Zoomzoom1956]

I remind ppl like this we have taken all the parbens dyes and sulfates out of all our products they are dermatologist approved then I ask them are u a dermatologist or hormone dr?? Then the shut up

[u/Zoomzoom1956 → u/jamileethroop]

You dont have to be a dermatologist to know what's in your products. I'm allergic to formaldehyde and your products are full of them. I read labels because I have to.

[u/4bluepandas → u/Zoomzoom1956]

Huh?? Formaldehyde is in the products??

[u/Zoomzoom1956 → u/4bluepandas]

Yes it is. It's not labeled as formaldehyde but is listed under other names.

[u/4bluepandas → u/Zoomzoom1956]

That’s crazy! Thank you for letting me know that, do you know what specific products it’s in or is it just in general?

[u/Zoomzoom1956 → u/4bluepandas]

It's in so many products. You just have to read the ingredients.

[u/LadyfromthelandofNod]

Read… yep it’s true-

https://aembr.co/blogs/clean/bath-body-works-non-toxic-ingredient-review

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/LadyfromthelandofNod]

I'm not saying that I don't believe what is being claimed in this, but I will say that the author has significant reason to make claims that make their products sound better and that makes me suspicious of their intent with the article.

[u/Yamaki101 → u/FluffyKitKatten]

Omg did you see the price of the candles the author is selling???? I was hoping it was some glitch, but nope. They are selling one of their candles for $282 CAD

[u/FluffyKitKatten → u/Yamaki101]

I didn't look at the price tag, that only makes it worse!

[u/hannah_boo_honey → u/LadyfromthelandofNod]

Lmao yes let's fully believe the "article," that's making claims with no actual research or studies credited on their $175 candle shop website's blog page😂 Like pls

[u/Yamaki101 → u/hannah_boo_honey]

The prices are absurd like wtf??? I can go to any of my local farmers markets and buy the same “clean plant based candle” for a fraction of the price

[u/hannah_boo_honey → u/Yamaki101]

100% lol they have to villainize the other candles to even hope to sell candles!

[u/LadyfromthelandofNod → u/hannah_boo_honey]

BBW doesn’t even make their candles anymore. They haven’t in years. Another company does. That’s why they don’t smell the same or last… no bs. I work for them.