Bath and Body Works Test Stores – Locations & Info

Wondering where the Bath and Body Works test stores are? I have the locations for you! If you’re making your way through one of these states, you might want to stop by and see if you can find any special test candles. You know, the juicy elusive ones you see all over social media.

Where are the Bath and Body Works test stores?

There are two major test regions that test entire 3-wick candle collections. There is a third minor region that tests single-wick candles and Wallflowers bulbs. There are other extraneous stores that have tested other concepts such as the Moxy line as well as a men’s store concept, but these are so new and without a long-standing track record, that they are not reported on the list below.
Test store locations are subject to change. It is encouraged to call a store ahead of time and ask for a specific current test candle before making the trip out there.
Atlanta, Georgia
- 3-wick candle test region
- Cumberland Mall: 1145 Cumberland Mall, Atlanta, GA 30339
- Perimeter Mall: 4400 Ashford Dunwoody Rd, Atlanta, GA 30346
- North Point Mall: 1000 North Point Cir, Alpharetta, GA 30022
- Town Center at Cobb: 400 Ernest W Barrett Pkwy NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144
- Avenue East Cobb: 4475 Roswell Rd, Marietta, GA 30062
- Highland Plaza: 3605 Sandy Plains Rd, Marietta, GA 30066
- Woodstock Square: 128 Woodstock Square Ave, Woodstock, GA 30189
Columbus, Ohio
- 3-wick candle test region
- The Mall at Tuttle Crossing: 5043 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Dublin, OH 43016
Nashville, Tennessee
- Single-wick and Wallflowers test region, NOT 3-wick
- Exact location unknown, but I know stores in this region frequently test single-wick and Wallflowers refills.

What is a Bath and Body Works test store?

Originating as far back as the late 2000’s, Bath & Body Works test stores are stores located in test market regions – usually determined by market demographics, a widely-used concept by many large brands.
Test stores release product collections ahead of a nationwide launch to test consumer sales and reactions to those products. I believe this process is called “read & react” internally. Test stores look just like any other regular store in the nation and have no signage stating that they are one. They just simply have a few tables in the stores displaying the new test candles.
In my experience, many sales associates are a) oblivious to the fact that they are a test store or b) are aware that they are a test store but have been instructed to keep it hush-hush so it’s usually not wise to ask straight-up if a store is a test store. Your best bet is to ask if a specific test candle you’re looking for is in stock.
There appears to be two scenarios with test launches at Bath & Body Works.
- In the first instance, they will release collections that are most likely going wide to all stores, a mere month ahead of the nationwide launch. The logic behind this strategy is not as clear to me as not only does one month seem like an awfully short time to even make changes to an upcoming launch, but most nationwide stores are already receiving said products to be held in the backroom at the same time they are being tested in test stores. However, if you live in the two test regions, you do have the advantage of shopping these collections about a month ahead of everyone else.
- In the second instance, they seem to create entire candle collections that are made specifically for the purpose of testing, usually in a minimalist, text-based packaging. I believe the reason behind the minimalist packaging is to establish a control for the test, in which cutesy graphics or photographs do not influence the sales of the product, and rather is tested more so for the fragrance itself. Often times in a test like this, you will see the top popular fragrances of the test collection come out nationwide in a future release with an updated label.
- The candles that release to test stores only and “fail” the test phase, meaning they never see the light of day to all stores, are referred to as “failed test scents” in the candle community. Some of the most elusive test candles include Chocolate Bacon Cupcake (fall 2012), Chestnut Glazed Croissant (fall 2014) and Prickly Pear & Sugarcane (spring 2016).
- These rare failed test candles can often fetch a pretty penny on reseller sites with candles like Chocolate Bacon Cupcake and Prickly Pear & Sugarcane being listed for over $150 at the time of writing this post!

Conclusion

Now you’re totally informed on Bath & Body Works test stores! If you’re passing by the area, it’s worth stopping by to see if they have any products that your regular local store doesn’t have. Enjoy the following photos and haul video from my own personal test store journeys. Happy shopping!