Are your soy candles made only with soy bean wax? TOP
Yes. All of our container candles are made using 100% soybean wax. We do not add preservatives or paraffin/beeswax. Guaranteed. Our soy wax is laboratory tested by third party accredited laboratories for its purity.
The only time we mix the natural waxes (soy and palm wax) is when we make pillar candles because palm wax (ours is sourced from sustainable palm tree crops) is naturally harder when set which results in the pillar candle not completely melting into an oil, as soy wax does. The benefits in using palm wax to harden pillars is the same as for soy - both are natural and both are healthy alternatives to petroleum based paraffin wax. Paraffin wax has been shown by scientific studies, including the US Environmental Protection Agency (equivalent to Australian EPA) to be toxic and harmful to people, animals and the environment.
Because we use 100% pure soy bean wax without appearance enhancing additives, such as paraffin or polymers such as Vybar, you may find variations from time to time in the finish or appearance of your Green Scents soy candle.
We strive for perfection and our candles are aesthetically appealing however, each batch of wax will be different as it will have been made from different soy bean crops, thereby creating variations in the appearance of the candle (eg some candles will be mottled, whilst others will be smooth). We think that this makes each soy candle unique and is a testament to nature's artistic creativity! We use premium soy bean wax and laboratory calibrated, high quality fragrances which means we pay more for our ingredients. But we also believe that fine ingredients make a superior soy candle and ultimately, will ensure your satisfaction.
There is never any compromise in the burning quality or scent throw between soy bean wax batches as our manufacturer ensures that it is these qualities that take precedence over flawless appearances, as well as the maintaining environmental preservation. Our soy wax does not leave the processing plant unless it has passed the Certificate of Analysis by a state of the art, experienced third party accredited laboratory testifying to its purity and quality.
As a candle lover with an environmental conscience and desire for better health, you can rest in the knowledge that you are indulging in an healthy and environmentally friendly alternative to toxic paraffin candles, and enjoy the natural glow of Green Scents Soy Candles!
Do you make custom soy candles? TOP
Yes, we can make custom candles if there is a fragrance you would like that is in our range but that is not offered in the container of your choice or in the pillar/votive candle styles.
As a general rule, we prefer not to hand pour our candles as we receive orders for a very good reason - soy wax needs time to 'cure' - see below for reasons. Candlemaking is an art, but it is also a science. We test our candles for burn performance, which takes time, but it is time well spent when it will ensure customer satisfaction. It is through our experience as well as recommendations by our soy wax manufacturer, that the longer soy candles cure, the better the performance.
We are aware that there are candlemakers who advertise that they custom make every single candle on order. From our experience, this does not result in the best candle performance. Some claim that their candles are 'fresher' but a 'fresh' soy candle is not necessarily a better one. Experienced candlemakers know that candles (and soy candles in particular) require time to 'cure'. This gives the wax time to absorb the maximum amount of fragrance that the wax can hold as well as resulting in a better burn. In fact, we have found that longer 'cure' times result in a better burn and fragrance throw. We will not sell our candles unless they have cured for the minimum time required. Candlemaking is as much a science as it is an art.
Also, some soy waxes used on the market have a short expiration date and so candles made using this wax must be custom made on order. We use premium soy wax which we think is the best on the market, as well as premium fragrances and essential oils. It costs us more but the finished product is superior and it has a longer shelf life (without preservatives) than other cheaper soy waxes. Our soy wax manufacturer has stated that due to the stability of our soy wax, there is no experienced shelf life. But we have found that our soy candles are irresistable and are burned much sooner than that!
We store all our soy candles at the correct temperature and away from light, completely sealed.
You also do not have to wait to recieve your soy candle because it has already been made and 'cured', provided it is in stock.
Why is the top of my soy candle 'sweating'? TOP
This is not a defect but rather the result of the soy candle being moved from one temperature to another. Soy wax is sensitive to extreme temperature variations. The natural oil can separate from the soy wax but it does not affect the quality of the candle, the way it burns or the scent throw. The oil will usually disappear once the room temperature is normalised or after it has been lit.
If you wish to use the soy candle, simply wipe the excess oil off with tissue or paper towel and enjoy the aroma!
Why do some soy candles have a different appearance? TOP
Each Green Scents soy candle is carefully hand crafted and hand made using high quality materials. Because each soy candle is hand crafted, there will be small differences in the appearance simply due to this fact - each candle is unique and human labour intensive ( that is, Australian labour goes into their creation). This means that our soy candles are not mass produced nor are they made from the exploitation of underpaid labour.
Another reason the appearance may differ between soy candles is because each batch of soy wax will be different because it is made from different soy bean crops - it is made from natural, vegetable wax and not synthetic or artificially manufactured. Green Scents soy candles are made from nature without destroying it.
It is not a defect when the appearance of your soy candle looks mottled (like snow flakes on the top of the candle or the sides of glass containers) or frosted or not as smooth as paraffin candles. This variation in appearance doesn't always happen but when it does, it does not mean that the candle is of lower quality nor will it affect the way that the candle burns. This is just due again to the differences between soy wax batches. It is just nature being creative, giving us a unique artistic candle!
Be wary : there are soy candles on the market that are in fact soy blended candles. This may appear on the label or it may be omitted altogether. This means that you are not getting a pure soy candle and it could be mixed with any number of synthetic additives such as Vybar (a paraffin based polymer used to produce "flawless" or "smooth" candles) or paraffin wax (which is what you wish to avoid through buying soy candles).
Green Scents does not use any of these additives - we use pure soy wax made from 100% natural soy beans. Guaranteed. You will get what you ordered and paid for, and that is a pure soy wax candle.
Do you use natural, lead free wicks? TOP
Yes. All of our candles use lead free, 100% cotton wicks. They are absolutely no traces of lead in our wicks.
The Australian Government has banned the use of wicks with what is considered to be unsafe concentrations of lead (greater than 0.06% lead by weight), which was often found in candles made in China or Taiwan. (representing the bulk of candles on the Australian market).
So, we have taken the issue of 'safe' and 'unsafe' concentrations of lead out of the equation (and out of our candles) by only using 100% cotton wicks.
Using cotton wicks means that we recommend trimming of the wicks according to our instructions after a burn and after the candle has completely cooled down. This will prevent non-toxic smoking of the wick.
Do you offer refunds or exchanges? TOP
We highly value you as a customer and are confident that you will love our soy and natural wax candles, so much so, that we provide a satisfaction guarantee for all Green Scents candles.
If you are not happy with your soy candle in any way, or if it is clearly defective, we will offer you a refund within 7 days of sales receipt date provided that it is returned:
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in original saleable condition, with all tags/labels and packaging intact and
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it has not been lit. Once you light our candle, it is yours to keep and cannot be returned unless it is defective.
We will not provide refunds on custom made candles unless it is defective, has been mis-used or not used according to our instructions or has been damaged during transit.
Custom made candles are made according to your preferences, and as such, we cannot sell them within our existing product lines. If you are considering a custom made candle and are not sure about the fragrance, we suggest that you purchase our samples either individually or in a pack.
We will provide product exchanges (except custom candles), with any difference in price as well as shipping costs payable by you. However, the item that you are exchanging must meet the criteria for refunds above.
What is your policy with respect to damaged/defective candles? TOP
Although we do our best to ensure that our soy candle(s) arrive undamaged, it does sometimes happen during transit. Just the same, we aim for perfection when making our candles, but on the rare occasion, you might have a defective candle which may only be obvious once it is lit. Some defects are not apparent on the appearance of the candle alone. If this does happen to you, please contact us either by email or telephone within 3 working days of receiving your order.
The action we will take will depend on the circumstances, but typically, we will ask that you send the damaged product back to us with your receipt and explanation as to what happened.
In cases of genuine damage (we do not like to say that, and so far thankfully, our customers have been honest), or where the candle is defective, we will pay for the shipping charge you incurred for returning the damaged/defective candle and offer you a refund or exchange. Particularly with damaged candles, we need to have proof to show our chosen postage company that we have tried our best to prevent breakage - so bubble wrap and the original packaging needs to also be returned to us.
We will not return candles that have been damaged through consistent exposure to high temperatures, heat or that have reacted to sun exposure. Please follow our instructions for proper storage and care of our soy candles.
Are your soy candles animal friendly? TOP
Yes. Our candles do not contain animal by-products (including no beeswax) nor are they made from materials that are tested on animals. We love all creatures, great and small!
Which soy candles are best for dining? TOP
We recommend that only Unscented soy candles be used for dining. You do not want the scent from scented candles to mix with the natural aroma of food.
