A Michigan woman thought she was treating herself to a cozy night at home, but what started as a relaxing evening quickly turned into a painful nightmare. What could have been a simple ritual of lighting a fragrant candle ended up leaving her with burns that no one expected from a scented wick.
Eris, a TikTok creator known as @erislenay_, shared her shocking experience in a video that has since gone viral, gathering over 120,000 views. In the clip, she reveals the aftermath: red, blistered skin across her face and the horrifying story of how a seemingly harmless candle became a danger.
It wasn’t until later that viewers learned the full cause. It was her Bath & Body Works “Gummy Candies” candle. The candle had ignited due to a plastic covering, leading to second-degree burns.
Michigan Woman Learns The Dangers of Candles The Hard Way
Eris explains that she had been lighting the candle as she normally would, unaware that the plastic wrapping could catch fire. “If you have a Bath & Body Works candle with plastic around it, please throw it away!” she warned in her video caption. The footage shows the scorched candle and her time in a hospital bed, underscoring the seriousness of what she describes as a preventable accident.
Commenters were quick to react, with many urging her to take legal action. Eris’ story isn’t an isolated case. Over the past few years, there have been numerous reports of scented candles from various brands igniting unexpectedly.
“They aren’t the same…I don’t buy them anymore,” one follower writes.
“Mine exploded in front of my face. I was about to blow it out,” another shares.
“I have that one… now I’m scared to burn it,” one more admits.
In one instance, a woman in Ohio reported that her decorative soy candle “spouted flames” when the wick bent and touched the glass container, causing minor burns on her hands. Another case in California involved a luxury candle from a boutique brand that cracked mid-burn, sending hot wax across a coffee table and starting a small fire.
Safety and Precautions Could Save You A Lot of Pain
Even cheaper, mass-market candles have caused injuries when debris like packaging labels or foil inserts caught fire. These incidents highlight that the risk isn’t limited to one company. Or improper storage, hidden materials, or manufacturing defects can make almost any candle hazardous if precautions aren’t taken.
To prevent tragedies like this, experts recommend removing any plastic or non-flammable wrapping before lighting candles, keeping them at least a few feet away from flammable objects, and never leaving a candle unattended. Even when a candle comes from a trusted brand, it’s important to inspect it for cracks, warping, or foreign materials in the wax that could ignite unexpectedly.
Eris’ Michigan incident is a warning that something as seemingly harmless as a scented candle can become dangerous in an instant. Whether it’s Bath & Body Works or any other brand, caution is key. Taking a few minutes to check your candles and removing any potentially hazardous coverings could prevent serious injury. Sometimes, the cozy comforts of home come with hidden risks, and it’s up to us to stay vigilant.
Dylan Cook 
Casey James 
Sofia Bassett 
