scorecardI shopped Bath & Body Works' Halloween collection. Here are the highlights, from blood-red shower gel to a $250 candle holder.
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I shopped Bath & Body Works' Halloween collection. Here are the highlights, from blood-red shower gel to a $250 candle holder.

Amanda Krause   

I shopped Bath & Body Works' Halloween collection. Here are the highlights, from blood-red shower gel to a $250 candle holder.
The Vampire Blood line from Bath & Body Works' 2023 collection.Amanda Krause/Insider
  • Bath & Body Works released its annual Halloween collection online and in stores on Monday.
  • I visited my local shop and was impressed by the vast array of products, from soap to decorations.

Bath and Body Works released its highly anticipated 2023 Halloween collection on Monday.

Bath and Body Works released its highly anticipated 2023 Halloween collection on Monday.
This display sat in the front of my local Bath & Body Works store.      Amanda Krause/Insider

You might argue that it's too early to shop for Halloween decor, but Bath & Body Works shoppers seem to disagree.

For weeks leading up to the launch of the store's annual Halloween line, holiday enthusiasts and Bath & Body Works fans alike have anticipated its release on social media.

Some posted excited Tweets about the yearly event, while others shared leaked product information on TikTok.

So after seeing the buzz around the collection for weeks, I visited Bath & Body Works on Monday to check out the collection for myself.

Not only did I quickly understand the hype surrounding the Halloween items, but I also noticed a few highlights that really stood out from the rest of the line.

I visited Bath & Body Works the day the line was released, and immediately felt drawn to a candle stand shaped like a crystal ball.

I visited Bath & Body Works the day the line was released, and immediately felt drawn to a candle stand shaped like a crystal ball.
This candle stand, called the Fortune Teller Waterglobe, retails for $69.95.      Amanda Krause/Insider

Bath & Body Works is known for its lotions and candles. But during Halloween, the store is all about decor: car air fresheners, water globes, and wall plug-ins are just a few examples.

In 2021, there was even a candle stand shaped like a witch hand that became so popular it led to mass complaints and skyrocketing resale prices when shoppers couldn't find it online or in stores.

So when I noticed this new candle stand, I was immediately reminded of the beloved item. The $69.95 Fortune Teller piece has white, witch-like hands wrapped around a water globe, which stands as a base to place a three-wick candle on.

I was impressed by the decoration on its own, but even more so when I realized the water within it swirls, shimmers, and changes color.

Then I noticed a stand covered in blood-red lotions, shower gels, soaps, and candles.

Then I noticed a stand covered in blood-red lotions, shower gels, soaps, and candles.
A stand displaying the Vampire Blood line at Bath & Body Works.      Amanda Krause/Insider

I first tried Bath & Body Works' Vampire Blood line in 2021, and have been thrilled to see the berry scent return with new packaging each year since.

This year, most Vampire Blood products are decorated with golden skulls and bleeding roses. I personally prefer previous designs — which featured cute bats and gothic collages — but love the scent enough to buy refills anyway.

These products ranged in price between $4.95 and $26.95.

My favorite items on this table were the extravagant candle stands.

My favorite items on this table were the extravagant candle stands.
These candle decorations were stunning, and caught the eye of many shoppers.      Amanda Krause/Insider

I really loved the one designed to look like a dripping rose, which retailed for $19.95 and holds a single-wick candle.

Another customer seemingly felt the same way. I noticed her run past me with the decoration in hand straight to the register — a smart choice, considering there was only a handful at the store and others have been listed on resale websites for triple the price.

There was also a golden, skull-encrusted clock pedestal that holds a three-wick candle and actually tells time. It caught my attention, but the $69.95 price tag led me to put it back on the shelf.

I'm a sucker for Bath & Body Works' hand-sanitizer holders, and there are two that really stand out this year.

I
The sound effects really make this accessory unique, in my opinion.      Amanda Krause/Insider

The first PocketBac holder I noticed featured another spooky hand — this one belonging to a skeleton — wrapped around a red, dripping candle.

At first, I thought the keychain, which was priced at $13.95, was a little expensive. But then I noticed the hand glows in the dark, the candle flame lights up, and an eerie sound plays when you press a small button on top.

I immediately purchased the PocketBac holder shaped like a crystal ball.

I immediately purchased the PocketBac holder shaped like a crystal ball.
I plan to keep this in my purse throughout the fall season.      Amanda Krause/Insider

Retailing for $9.95, the keychain holds your hand sanitizer and also illuminates with varying light patterns.

But I was most drawn to the product's spooky details, particularly its green hands and the tiny rings placed across them.

My favorite candle from this year's Halloween line smells like a garden and is adorned with a gold crown.

My favorite candle from this year
Though it's designed for Halloween, you could display this candle all year round.      Amanda Krause/Insider

The burgundy candle matches the gold skull portion of Bath & Body Works' Halloween line. Though the aesthetic doesn't scream Halloween to me, I'd still add the $36.95 candle to my collection (if I paid with a coupon).

It has a similar berry scent to Vampire Blood, but with more floral elements — as if you're walking through a magical garden.

There seemed to be a lot of buzz around the Halloween wall plug-ins this year.

There seemed to be a lot of buzz around the Halloween wall plug-ins this year.
The different designs ranged in price between $14.95 and $39.95.      Amanda Krause/Insider

As I debated which candle stands to splurge on, a group of women entered the store and immediately flocked to the display of Wallflower fragrance wall plug-ins. Naturally, I followed their lead.

And quickly, I understood their interest. There was one scent dispenser shaped like a horse-drawn carriage that illuminated to reveal skeletons inside, another designed like a haunted house complete with ghosts and a moon projection, and simpler ones depicting bejeweled bats and sparkling ghosts.

These ranged in price from $14.95 to $39.95, and shoppers seemed to love the detailed designs.

I wasn't able to view the entire Halloween collection in store, but I was still thoroughly impressed.

I wasn
I personally think the 2023 Halloween collection is deserving of the hype.      Amanda Krause/Insider

As I shopped, I was approached by an employee who said: "Just so you know, this is only some of our Halloween stuff. We still have more to put out."

That surprised me, because I was already overwhelmed by the dozens of items available. I was also impressed.

The candles and lotions smelled delicious, the decor was well-detailed, and the variety of spooky aesthetics made it so that all shoppers could find something that matched their personal Halloween decor.

Certain high-demand items — like a $99.95 carriage-shaped candle stand and a $250 haunted-house style candle luminary — were sold out both at the store I visited and online. (Both are already listed on resale sites like eBay for prices upwards of $200 and $300, respectively.)

But I can't say I minded. There were so many other options available, and I was thrilled with my purchase: the crystal ball PocketBac holder and two candle stands, one shaped like a goblet and another shaped like a spider web.

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