lacandeladivite web store FAQ section

Since some prefer softer, more subtle scents not all my fragrances are considered "chase you from the house" strong, though the majority are very strong. If you have a question regarding the strength of a particular scent, please feel free to inquire directly. However, from time to time a scent that is usually very strong by nature may barely throw, if at all. This is a frustrating phenomenon candlemakers deal with and oftentimes "the nature of the beast". Barometric pressure or high humidity and fluctuating temperatures during production can all affect a candle or ScentiMelt's performance. Any number of uncharacteristic results may develop, including poor or nonexistent scent throw, both cold and hot, in a normally strong scent. If this occurs, please return for inspection and subsequent exchange or replacement if deemed appropriate. Please keep in mind, everyone's nose is different and what may be very light to one person, could be quite strong to another. Once it's determined whether the scent is performing as stated the appropriate measures will be taken accordingly.

This may result from an insufficient burn time during the initial burn. Paraffin candles require approximately one hour per inch to produce a complete melt pool. Generally, however, with double wicked soy candles this time is greatly reduced, but will vary depending on fragrances and wicks. Do not light if you are unable to burn for the proper duration, otherwise, your candle will experience a tunneling effect, since all candles, whether paraffin or natural have a "memory". It's also possible wicks may be defective or incorrect wick sizes were inadvertently used. If a complete melt pool is not achieved despite sufficient burn time, return the candle for inspection to determine if improper size or defective wicks were the cause.

Due to the soft nature of natural wax, if a complete melt pool is not created during the initial burn, subsequent burns of longer duration may result in softening and melting of previously unmelted wax along the sides, thereby submerging the wicks. Also, an air pocket may be present surrounding the wick. If this occurs, a hair dryer set on high will liquify the wax. Once enough wax is melted to expose the wick(s) 1/8-1/4", simply pour off the melted wax and discard or save to use in a wax melter. Once the wax has re-hardened you can relight the candle. Also, fragrance oils that are very dense in nature or "heavy", can bind the wicks resulting in a low flame and wick height. Some scents are so heavy it's virtually impossible to find the right wick or combination of wicks to produce a standard flame height, however, most often it will still achieve an adequate throw. If you find the throw is not sufficient, please follow procedures for returning the product under the "Terms and Conditions" section.

The sooting referred to is generally a result of burning paraffin candles which is a petroleum by-product, therefore producing what's referred to as Petro-carbon soot....petro for petroleum. This soot is compared to second-hand cigarette smoke by the American Lung Association and contains eleven toxins, two of which are considered carcinogenic. It's nearly impossible to clean off walls, furniture and draperies so imagine it's effect on the lungs from repeated exposure. However, wherever a flame is present so is carbon. At times there may be a carbon residue on the glass simply due to the presence of a flame, or from certain fragrance ingredients, though not necessarily found in all scents. However, if you wipe it with a towel you will discover it easily wipes clean, unlike the sooting from paraffin. Also, excessive sooting from a natural wax candle could be due to improper wick lengths, so be sure to keep your wicks trimmed to the proper height of 1/4" maximum.

Since I'm now setting up at Fairs and Festivals there will be several products available for immediate delivery, however, not all scents are poured for each event. If you order a scent or product not currently in inventory it may require that supplies be ordered to fill your order, of which there are varying delivery times. Also, all orders will be poured on a first come, first serve basis. However, if you require your order be expedited for any reason, we can certainly accommodate your needs. A $5.00 rush fee per item will be added on to do so. When checking out, just state your order needs to be expedited and your total will be adjusted accordingly to reflect the added rush fee.

Since tealights are encased in durable plastic cups and the Scenti-Melts are going to be melted anyway, I opted to send them in the padded envelopes to save the consumer shipping charges by lowering the weight. Larger quantities will certainly be shipped in boxes. However, if you prefer a small order also be box shipped, please so indicate during ordering.

In order for my business to return from hiatus during this difficult economic recession I found it necessary to cut my number of suppliers to reduce my shipping and small quantity expenses and buy from fewer suppliers in larger quantities. However, the scents I now offer are the result of much testing, working with fewer suppliers. Please rest assured that the resulting scent selection I now offer is guaranteed to satisfy everyone's tastes and maintains my high quality standards. However, if you have a favorite scent from my previous selection you cannot find, nor live without, you can place a special order for that scent with a minimum purchase of $75.00 in products of your choice. Please allow a minimum of two weeks delivery on all special order items.

Unfortunately, no. Not all products currently listed on that site are available. That site is managed by a third party and I'm unable to control the contents nor make changes or upgrades. Eventually that site will be changed to wholesale only. Upon my company's return, I decided to make this site available so I can manage and monitor it myself as needed at my own convenience and not be dependent on someone else. This way, I can be more hands on to make any changes or additions as necessary.

Since regulation standards are nonexistent in the candle industry, as little as 25% natural wax can be used to label a candle "soy" or "natural". When you see the term "soy wax blend" on a "soy" candle, most likely it's mixed with paraffin. I'm personally a stickler for purity so impose my standards on my candles and refuse to use a paraffin blend to increase scent throw or give a better appearance. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with doing so. I personally choose not to. Rather, I choose to do a lot of stringent testing to achieve the strongest candle possible so I can use only the finest all natural wax, rather than soy/paraffin blends with added chemical performance enhancers.

Rather than cut corners to increase profit margins, use less that the highest quality ingredients, or partially scent the top half of the candles or around the wicks, resulting in inconsistent scent strength, I insist on generously infusing my products from top to bottom with the highest percentage of premium quality fragrance oils the wax will safely absorb. I'm told my scents are some of the most wonderful aromas on the market. This practice ensures not only a strong cold throw from the jar, but consistent scent strength from the first lighting to the very last. This assures maximum value for your dollar. Clearly it would take two or three partially scented candles to equal one of mine. You can draw your own conclusion, but mathematics indicate paying for one product rather than two or three to achieve the same results is more cost effective. Once again..........YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!

I choose not to color any of my products to allow them to remain as natural as possible, to blend with all decors and let the stunning simplicity and beauty of each candle shine through. The less chemicals used, the better for your home environment and our planet.

Yes!!! Again, it's the purity issue. I insist on only using natural cotton or paper core wicks, coupled with stringent, time consuming testing to achieve the strongest, best smelling candle, rather than using zinc metal core wicks, claiming their carbon "mushroom" enhances scent strength. Besides, although it's the lesser of the evils, tests have indicated that zinc core wicks can still contain trace amounts of lead. I'm proud to take "going green" to the fullest extent possible......not simply the bare necessities to achieve "natural" status.

AromaSoy by Grazia is my parent company name and will always be so. However, since I created a new website that I can personally monitor, my url is under a different name so as not to confuse it with my former website. The new operating name was also created to reestablish retail sales, since my previous AromaSoy by Grazia website will eventually be revised to accommodate wholesale orders only. Since I made several changes to my previous lines, as well as introduce a new whimsical line for fairs and festivals called S'Oy Vey! I'm therefore now operating under the name....... "La Candela di Vite" (translated "Candles of the Vine") which embodies the fact all my products are made from all natural, earth born soy/botanical wax, and environmentally friendly. As time goes on, I also plan on adding new, exciting lines I know you'll love as well.

NO, mine are NOT mean to use on the skin!! Personally, I cringe when I see or hear soy candles are being promoted to be used as lotions. I know I won't be popular for saying this, but from what I know about the chemicals used in candle scents it's my opinion that practice can be harmful. Let me explain.......... Not all fragrances used in soy candles may be bath and body safe, so you especially would not want to do this unless you knew for sure the fragrances used are skin safe. With that being said, even those that are, the recommended safe amount of chemical fragrance to use for bath and body products is between 1/2 - 3%. However, soy candles usually require a minimum of 6 percent, but generally more than that is used. Mine contain almost double that amount to achieve the strongest aroma when burning which, after all, is what my customers expect from my products and why I make candles in the first place. Chemical fragrance that may be considered safe at a lower level for body use may cause considerable discomfort and possibly harmful side effects at a considerably higher amount, since you're now adding significantly more chemicals to your skin. Even if the fragrance is an essential oil, caution must also be used as they too can cause considerable skin irritation despite being natural and be unsafe since they are highly concentrated. Considering the cost of soy candles, it's my suggestion they be used as intended and stick with a soy lotion that contains fragrance in the safe amount and intended for body use! If a soy candle has a reduced fragrance load to make it safe for body use, then the scent performance when burning will be greatly reduced. Therefore, ask yourself why you're buying the candle in the first place. If it's for the scent as a candle, stick with those manufactured to be used only as a candle for the strongest scent performance possible. I hope you reconsider before using soy candle wax on your skin. However, if your curiosity gets the best of you and you're still inclined to try it, at the very least, be sure to test a small area first before buying, to make sure you don't experience any adverse reactions.

Wow, where do I begin? In MY opinion yes. However, opinions vary. I'm very passionate about this topic. I almost didn't start my candle business until I learned there was a safe, natural alternative to paraffin. First I'll address paraffin. Through much research I've learned that paraffin is a petroleum by-product of gasoline. Personally, I wouldn't want the fumes to penetrate my home from an open can of gasoline since it's been determined that paraffin has eleven toxins, two of which are classified carcinogenic. I'm only stating information I unearthed from those in the know. The nasty black sooting from a paraffin candle that is nearly impossible to wash off walls, furniture, drapery, etc., is called petro-carbon soot. Petro for petroleum. It's been determined by the American Lung Association to be compared to second hand cigarette smoke. Those with respiratory issues, as well as children and the elderly are more susceptible to the effects. This information has also been confirmed by those that perform clean up for the EPA. Now on to the benefits of soy or natural wax "green" candles. Soy is an edible product, renewable and environmentally friendly that boosts the farming community. The sooting that may appear is not toxic, nor a cleaning issue in the same way petro-carbon soot is. For further info see my answer about sooting in a natural wax candle. Soy is a denser wax that burns cooler, therefore burns 30-50% longer, depending on your burning habits and whether it's a single or double wick candle. Soy candles can hold more fragrance than paraffin, allowing for a stronger throw (the term used for scent distribution). With the environmental and financial benefits to soy, it stands to reason why soy is the preferred candle of choice for most people that love strong, healthy candles and why even the big brand names have recently jumped on the soy bandwagon.

Good question! I guess it all boils down to what you're looking for in a candle, since..............YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!! To be fair, it's necessary to compare apples with apples as they say. One cannot compare the quality of a discount store "soy" candle (often a soy/paraffin blend) with a hand-poured, natural wax candle from a privately owned company. If a strong scent and a 100% natural wax candle that is scented from top to bottom (not just the top half or around the wick) is what's important to you, you're more likely to find this with soy candles that are hand-poured by privately owned candle companies, as previously mentioned, such as myself. Unfortunately, I heard time and time again and read in countless consumer reviews that the quality and performance of the larger, well known commercial candle companies found in home furnishing, gift and specialty stores just don't stack up with the smaller, individually owned companies. Therefore, the consumer that's a true candle lover is willing to pay more with shipping. I even have a customer from Australia who is willing to to so, for that very reason. However, in many cases, when you compare the pricing, even with the added shipping the price still remains very competitive with boutique quality store brands and even less in some instances. Since soy is a more costly wax, when it's mixed with paraffin that will reduce the cost, but can compromise your demands if you prefer all natural wax. However, if neither that, nor scent strength is an issue for you, the discount store brands may fit your needs. You'll have to compare and decide that for yourself. I guess it all depends on what's important to you....... price, quality or performance. In this economy, the initial lower price may be appealing. However, if it's a partially scented candle, or one with a lower percentage of fragrance, and you need to burn two or three to achieve the same results from one of mine, then simple mathematics indicates which of the two is more cost effective in the long run. Also, with smaller online companies such as myself, you receive personal customer service to answer your questions and concerns along with making special scent requests. Try achieving that from he larger store brands. Oftentimes it's the personal customer service in addition to the higher quality available from privately owned candle companies that the consumer values. So, bottom line..........only you can determine what's most important to you.

Just to give you a price comparison, here's a list of a few of the more commonly known commercial soy candles available in stores as well as online. The following prices were obtained online (shipping would have to be added also, since purchased online) and may vary somewhat higher or lower in stores, depending on the retailer........................................ Yankee Beanswax Soy Candles: 9 oz. ~ $19.99 or $2.22 per ounce. 18 oz. ~ $24.99 or $1.39 per ounce. Beanpod Soy Candles: 9 oz. ~ $13.50 or $1.50 per ounce. 16 oz. ~ $16.99 or $1.06 per ounce. Swan Creek Soy Candles: 6 oz. ~ $9.00 or $1.50 per ounce. 12 oz. ~ $13.00 or $1.08 per ounce. Bridgewater Soy/Paraffin Blend Candles: 8 oz. ~ $12.99 or $1.62 per ounce. 17.6 oz. ~ $19.99 or $1.14 per ounce. My AromaSoy by Grazia and S'Oy Vey! candle lines: 7 oz. ~ $9.50 or $1.36 per ounce. 15 oz. ~ $15.00 or $1.00 per ounce. When purchased in pairs the pricing drops to: 7 oz. ~ $1.21 per ounce. 15 oz. ~ $.93 per ounce.

Understandably, I realize that in this economy shipping charges are a huge concern for everyone buying online. Buying supplies that are very heavy, I'm very aware how shipping can make or break a sale. I promise to pack your order to be as cost efficient as possible for everyone concerned by utilizing USPS's flat rate boxes and envelopes where practical and feasible. Shipping/handling charges are based on weight estimates by USPS Priority on this new site (Again, free site, some disadvantages), however, if actual charges are less for items that aren't practical to ship in flat rate boxes, you will be refunded the overage to your method of payment, whether it be a Paypal account or credit card. Smaller orders of Clamshell Six Pax or Tealights will be shipped out in padded envelopes via first class mail to save on shipping, up to 13 oz.. However, if you prefer they also be boxed and sent Priority, please state such in the "note" box when checking out. PLEASE....... DON'T BE PUT OFF (I know I would be) when you see GINORMOUS shipping charges on your orders!!! Just to give you an idea of what can be shipped for a flat rate of $13.95 that includes shipping/handling, here's a list of items and quantities: 1). 6 Large Balmoral Candles packed with cardboard dividers. 2). 10 Small Balmoral Candles packed with cardboard dividers. 3). 4 Large, 4 Small Balmoral Candles and 6 Clamshells. 4). 40 Clamshell Six Pax. 5). 30 Votives. Understand too, different combinations can be made to accommodate an order with a variety of products, not indicated above, so it can still be shipped out flat rate. For orders larger than can fit flat rate, exceeding 12 lbs., will be shipped out UPS to get the best rate for larger, heavier shipments. Basically what I hope I'm relaying is that DESPITE WHAT THE SHIPPING/HANDLING CHARGES SHOW ON YOUR ORDER, to make shipping as painless as possible, rest assured I will attempt to pack and ship them out in the most cost efficient manner to save you as much as possible and refund any excessive overages as determined. If you have any questions on the above, always feel free to contact me! :)

Since the credit card processing is done through Paypal, if you're not aware of that it may be confusing. When checking out choose Paypal as your method of payment. As you're taken through the checkout process you'll reach the Paypal page to finalize payment. In the lower left corner of the page the question is asked..."Don't have a paypal account?" by various credit card icons. To pay with a credit card click on the "continue" button located just below the cc icons which will take you to the cc form. Rest assurred this is a secure method for credit card payment.