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                              GARDEN BOTANIKA, INC.
                             CALCULATION OF EARNINGS
                     PER COMMON AND COMMON EQUIVALENT SHARE
                                  (EXHIBIT 11)
                  (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                          QUARTER ENDED
                                                                                     -----------------------
                                                                                      MAY 3,          MAY 4,
                                                                                      1997            1996
                                                                                     ---------      --------
<S>                                                                                   <C>           <C>     
PRIMARY:
   Earnings -
       Net earnings (loss) applicable to common and common equivalent shares          $(3,225)      $(2,685)
                                                                                      =======       =======

   Shares -
       Weighted average common shares outstanding                                       7,069           269
       Weighted average preferred shares outstanding (1)                                    -         3,694
       Net effect of stock options, based on treasury stock method using average
         market price (2)                                                                   -             -

                                                                                      -------       -------
  Weighted average common and common equivalent shares                                  7,069         3,963
                                                                                      =======       =======

 Primary earnings (loss) per common and common equivalent share                       $ (0.46)      $ (0.68)
                                                                                      =======       =======
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FULLY DILUTED:
   Fully diluted earnings (loss) per share is not presented, as there were no
potentially dilutive securities.


NOTES:
   (1) In connection with its initial public offering of common stock completed
       on May 22, 1996, all of the Company's outstanding preferred stock
       automatically converted to common on a one-for-one basis. Therefore,
       losses per common and common equivalent share are based on the weighted
       average number of common and preferred shares outstanding.

   (2) In the calculation of weighted average common and common equivalent
       shares, nonqualified stock options and warrants to purchase common stock
       are considered common stock equivalents. Such options and warrants are
       converted using the treasury stock method, which assumes that the shares
       issuable upon exercise of the options or warrants were outstanding for
       the full period. In accordance with generally accepted accounting
       principles, no common stock equivalents are shown for the first quarter
       of either fiscal 1997 or 1996, as their effect would have been
       anti-dilutive.