US retail chain Bath & Body Works has issued an apology over the sale of candles with packaging appearing to resemble Ku Klux Klan hoods.

The soy wax candle 'Snowed In' featured a design with a paper snowflake.

However, commenters on social network Reddit argued it resembled the hoods worn by the American white supremacist organisation.

"The Klan Krismas Kandle?!? No thank you ma'am," one redditor said.

"It worries me that multiple people saw this and were like 'yup! That's what we're going with!'" another added.

"Merry Kkkristmas!!" a user joked.

Bath & Body Works has since issued an apology, calling the product's packaging an "unintentional" mistake.

"We apologise to anyone we've offended and are swiftly working to have this item removed and are evaluating our process going forward."

The candles have since been pulled from shelves and its website.