Renita Francois, a former New York City Hall official, has filed a lawsuit against popular fragrance and candle brand Bath & Body Works, claiming that one of their candles exploded and caused serious burns to her face and arms.

According to the lawsuit, the incident took place at her home in Valley Stream, Long Island, on January 19, 2023, when Renita lit a three-wick “Sweater Weather” candle and leaned in to smell it.

The candle suddenly exploded in her face, leaving her with second-degree burns, according to her legal complaint. Speaking about the incident, Renita said she felt a “shockwave of fire and debris directly into her face.” The blast burned her arms and face, singed her eyebrows, and melted her eyelashes.

Her husband, McEvans Francois, who witnessed the moment, said he saw his wife’s “face catch fire, crackle, and blister as molten wax burned her skin.” He tried to help by rinsing her burns with cold water, but it was already too late.

The candle was left blackened, deformed, and full of holes, the lawsuit states.

The injuries left a lasting impact on Renita’s daily life. Known as a confident and outgoing community leader, she now finds it difficult to return to her former self.

“Now, she finds herself forced to navigate sympathy, unwanted stares, and intrusive questions about her injuries rather than the work she is there to champion… Now, she hesitates before stepping into social settings,” the complaint read.

Once described as “the life of the party… the woman who makes things happen,” Renita says the incident has deeply changed her.

Company accused of selling defective candles

In the lawsuit, Bath & Body Works is accused of selling defective products without proper testing or warnings. The complaint claims the company failed to make necessary product changes to prevent such accidents.

Renita is seeking compensation that includes punitive damages, reimbursement for legal costs, a product recall, and has also requested a jury trial.

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