A Look at Holiday 2024 — and a Moment to Pause
Today, Bath and Body Works shared a sneak peek of some of the upcoming Holiday 2024 collection. One of the spotlighted releases was the Polar Planet Luminary Candle Collection—a collection that immediately brought smiles to those of us who adore seasonal decor and cozy vibes.
Even though it’s only October and we're still deep in fall scents and flannels, this glimpse into what’s coming for the holiday season—just weeks away—was such a welcome treat. Beginning November 1st, stores will officially transition to the Winter Wonderland "lights on" experience, and that means snowflakes, sparkle, and everything festive.
Here in Pennsylvania, snow is a natural part of our holiday season. So, when collections include snowflake-themed accessories, it's especially exciting. Snowflakes are timeless and beautiful symbols of winter joy, and for many of us, nostalgic childhood memories.
But Then… Something Changed
As I was updating the Holiday Archive this morning with some of the new photos, I saw some Reddit conversations circulating around one of the candles in the new collection—specifically, the Snowed In candle.
At first glance, I didn’t think anything of the design. It looked like snowflakes, cutout-style—exactly like what you'd expect in a winter-themed collection. A little retro, a little papercraft. Charming.
But as I read on, I noticed some folks sharing a different perspective—one that was clearly unsettling to them.
Some saw the design and were reminded of something else entirely, something rooted in hate and historic fear. I didn't see that at first, and I imagine many didn't either. But that doesn’t mean their reaction isn’t valid.
We all view the world through our own lens—shaped by our experiences, histories, and traumas. Just because something doesn’t strike one person a certain way doesn’t mean it can’t strike someone else deeply.
And that’s something I think we can all take a moment to recognize and respect.
Where Things Stand Now
It seems the Snowed In candle has since been removed from the website, likely in response to the discussions taking place on social media.
Will it come back with a label change? Will it be quietly sold in-store with a new design—or none at all? It’s hard to say. We’ve seen this happen before (the NOOK candle, for instance). So maybe time will tell.
In the Meantime
Let’s keep sharing, celebrating, and enjoying the things we love—candles, coziness, community—but let’s also listen, when others say, “this feels wrong to me.” You don’t have to agree to hear someone out with compassion.
Snowflakes may be universal… but meaning isn’t always.
And I’ll continue to keep the blog updated with every bit of info as it becomes available—labels and all.
Polar Planet Luminary Candle Collection
Frosted Forest -
Frosted Coconut Snowball -
Winter Golden Pear -
What it smells like: crisp air rustling through a frosted orchard.
Fragrance notes: snowy golden pears, wintergreen leaves and a hint of cypressFrozen Lake -
Snowed In -