Bath & Body Works was founded in 1990 in New Albany, Ohio as the beauty line for Express, Inc. The company's first store opened in a Cambridge, Massachusetts mall in September 1990. In 1991, the Body Shop sued Bath & Body Works, resulting in Bath & Body Works rebranding. The brand created a mascot named Kate who serves as a founding figure, with the store layout being modeled as her country house. In 1997, a secondary brand known as Bath & Body Works at Home was launched.Two years later, the company launched the White Barn Candle Company, a division specializing in the sale of scented candles.
