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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>
                                                                                         FISCAL YEAR ENDED
                                                                                ------------------------------------
                                                                                JANUARY 31,  FEBRUARY 1, FEBRUARY 3,
                                                                                     1998        1997       1996
                                                                                   --------    -------    -------
<S>                                                                                <C>         <C>        <C>     
PRIMARY:
    Earnings -
       Net earnings (loss) applicable to common and common equivalent shares       $(15,580)   $(4,933)   $(1,664)
                                                                                   ========    =======    =======

    Shares -
       Weighted average common shares outstanding                                     7,069      6,146        265
       Weighted average preferred shares outstanding (1)                                 --         --      3,491
       Net effect of stock options, based on treasury stock method using average
          market price (2)                                                               --         --         --

                                                                                   --------    -------    -------
  Weighted average common and common equivalent shares                                7,069      6,146      3,756
                                                                                   ========    =======    =======

 Primary earnings (loss) per common and common equivalent share                    $  (2.20)   $ (0.80)   $ (0.44)
                                                                                   ========    =======    =======
</TABLE>


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 as their effect would
        have been anti-dilutive for each period presented.


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