Bath & Body Works (BBW) is not so much a perfume shop as a full-on sense experience wrapped up in nostalgia, brand brilliance, and aromatherapy. It is a brand that retails not only scent but also mood, memory, and sentiment.
What began as a small offshoot in 1990 of The Limited has turned into a multi-billion-dollar giant with a fervent cult following. Its rotating catalog of scents covers everything from cozy vanilla to exotic botanicals. But among hundreds of options, a few fragrances have stood the test of time.
Here, we delve into the 10 most beloved BBW fragrances, exploring their unique compositions, popularity, and the reasons they’ve captured the hearts of many.
1. Japanese Cherry Blossom
Japanese Cherry Blossom has been a top seller for over 15 years. This scent is not just another floral; it’s an understated blend of Asian pear, mimosa petals, jasmine, and sandalwood. The scent has made over $30 million per year in sales, proving that its balanced floral-fruity-musky profile appeals to a wide range of preferred smells.
Interestingly, the product has been used in academic studies on scent memory and cultural nostalgia. Further, studies have shown that cherry blossoms are seen as a feminine and tranquil scent in Eastern and Western markets. Its iconic packaging and popular product range make it the brand’s most recognizable and multi-purpose fragrance.
2. Warm Vanilla Sugar
Vanilla is the world’s most universally appealing scent because it has deep psychological roots: it stimulates the brain’s pleasure and memory centers, creating a unique mix of craving and comfort.
Using a warm mix of vanilla, orchid, and sandalwood, the scent achieves this comfortable, old-school, calming feel. The fragrance has been a number-one seller since the early 2000s and is unusually gender-neutral and multi-seasonal, which makes it a sleeper hit across the board.
According to a 2020 Monell Chemical Senses study, vanilla is the most universally beloved scent, which may explain this perfume’s humble and enduring popularity.
3. Sweet Pea
A Y2K staple, Sweet Pea was launched in 2000 and quickly became popular among teenage girls. Its ethereal, frilly scent—with sweet pea blended with pear-fresh water note, raspberry, freesia, and musk—ensconced it in its status as a millennial-defining scent.
What’s incredible is its longevity: in spite of its softness, it’s consistently been one of the top 10 BBW scents for over two decades. Cultural theory explains its enduring popularity as a subconscious longing for innocence and simplicity in an increasingly disordered world.
Even in today’s contemporary market with so many complicated niche fragrances, Sweet Pea still sells millions of units annually. It’s Y2K nostalgia in a bottle, and it works.
4. Black Cherry Merlot
An unexpected bestseller, Black Cherry Merlot is a blend of dark cherry, black raspberry, and velvety merlot aromas. Released during the early 2010s, it delighted fans with a more mature scent that combined alcoholic and fruity notes with flair.
Sales for this scent increase in fall and winter, making it among the brand’s best-selling hand soaps and candles., Unexpectedly, TikTok fans have resurrected it as the “cozy vampire scent,” perfect for wine moms’ and goth girlies self-care routines.
5. Eucalyptus Spearmint
One of BBW’s aromatherapy offerings, this scent is not only pleasant—it’s actually clinically proven to influence mood. Eucalyptus boosts concentration, while spearmint reduces stress, creating a spa-like, calming effect. According to a 2021 internal study conducted by BBW, 72% of frequent users felt less anxious after regular use.
Wellness influencers and therapists frequently endorse the blend of essential oils. It has become a cult favorite among students, white-collar professionals, and anyone who needs an energy boost. Although most BBW scents are seasonal, this one isn’t—it’s a daily necessity for many, proving that perfume can be self-care and not always a mere luxury.
6. A Thousand Wishes
Created for the 2014 holiday season, A Thousand Wishes became a year-round staple in no time. Its signature scent—shimmering quince, crystal peonies, and amaretto crème—smells like a party in a bottle.
It is fruity but not childish, floral but not powdery, and warm but not heavy. Gen Z particularly favors this scent, which they enjoy layering over other BBW mists to create customized fragrance cocktails.
Its luxurious packaging and complimentary profile have earned it several fragrance awards. In fact, it was so successful that it boosted BBW’s fourth-quarter sales by 41%.
7. Mahogany Teakwood
If you’ve ever walked into an Abercrombie in 2006, you already know this scent. Mahogany Teakwood is a pungent, cologne-type blend of robust mahogany, black teakwood, and lavender.
Initially designed as a unisex home fragrance, its popularity prompted BBW to roll it out in body care channels. As of 2023, it’s the number-one seller among male consumers and a surprise bestseller among women who appreciate its clean, masculine fragrance.
Perfumers note its similarity to Tom Ford’s Oud Wood, making it an affordable substitute for niche luxury scents. It’s lumberjack boyfriend perfume—and yes, he does sport flannel.
8. Strawberry Pound Cake
Don’t be fooled by the name—it’s not just a bakery scent. It’s a sweetly refined gourmand with notes of whipped cream, strawberry, golden shortcake, and sugar glaze. Released in 2020, the scent went viral on TikTok as fans loved its dessert-inspired vibe.
According to psychologists, gourmand scents like this one can even stave off hunger pangs by triggering the brain’s reward pathways. BBW saw online sales soar by 130% during its first quarter and decided to expand the range.
Now, Strawberry Pound Cake is available as a body spray, candle, and hand soap. It’s the fragrance and skincare equivalent of comfort food, a scent so fine it should almost come with a calorie count.
9. Gingham
Gingham is BBW’s version of modern minimalism, and it works. Released in 2019, the scent pairs blue freesia, clementine, and soft musk in a bright, airy personality that’s easy to wear and hard to dislike. Its name and styling remind one of picnic blankets, sandwiches, and sun-kissed afternoons, but it’s surprisingly chic and modern in its execution.
The scent proved so popular that the brand launched a whole secondary line, including Gingham Love and Gingham Vibrant. Sales statistics show it’s especially popular with first-time BBW customers and, therefore, a “gateway fragrance” to the rest of the brand’s collections.
10. Fresh Balsam
The sensory embodiment of Christmas, Fresh Balsam is a seasonal fragrance that sells out almost every winter. With notes of woodland balsam, fir needle, and cedarwood, it encapsulates the aroma of a Christmas tree farm in a bottle.
It produces strong scent memories for many people—childhood Christmases, cabin weekends in the snow, or that one special December. According to BBW’s 2022 sales report, nearly 25% of candle purchases in December included this fragrance.
It’s also one of the top-rated holiday party scents, proving that it’s not just a fragrance; it’s a tradition, filling your home with the smell of Christmas.