Frequently Asked Questions

How strong are your fragrances?

Our fragrances are intentionally designed at different scent strengths to suit different homes, moods, and preferences — not every scent is meant to perform the same way.

We currently categorize our scents as:

  • Balanced – Noticeable but never overpowering; ideal for everyday living spaces

  • Medium – A more present scent experience that holds its own in larger or open rooms

  • Bold – Designed to make an impact in expansive spaces or for those who love a stronger fragrance presence

Strength is a design choice, not a quality difference.

How do I know which scent is right for me?

The easiest way to choose a scent is to start with something familiar — a favorite hotel, destination, or scent family you already love.

If you enjoy:

  • Clean, spa-like spaces → start with fresh or herbal blends

  • Warm, cozy environments → look for soft woods, tea, or amber notes

  • Bright, uplifting rooms → citrus-forward or green fragrances tend to shine

If you’re unsure, many customers begin with one familiar scent and then explore from there once they understand how fragrance performs in their home.

Why might a scent smell different in my home than in someone else’s?

Fragrance doesn’t exist in a vacuum — it interacts with the environment it’s used in.

Things like:

  • room size and ceiling height

  • air circulation and HVAC use

  • open or closed floor plans

  • frequency and duration of diffusion

  • existing household scents from cooking, pets, or everyday living

…all influence how a fragrance is experienced.

For example, a clean, fresh scent will always read differently in a quiet living room than in a busy kitchen, a pet-friendly home, or a space where rich aromas are already present.

Our fragrances are designed to enhance a space, not overpower it or mask everything else happening in a home. In some environments, a lighter scent will feel subtle and refined; in others, a bolder fragrance may be the better choice.

This doesn’t mean the fragrance is weaker or inconsistent — it means your home is doing what homes do: living.

How long do your fragrances last?

Our fragrance oils are highly concentrated and designed for long-term use.

How long they last depends on:

  • how often you diffuse

  • the size of your space

  • your preferred scent strength

Many customers enjoy the same oil for weeks or months with regular use. Rather than creating a constant “cloud,” our fragrances are meant to create a consistent, livable ambiance that becomes part of your home.

Are these the exact fragrances used in the resorts or hotels?

Some of our fragrances are closely inspired by well-known resort and hotel scent profiles, while others are our own interpretations designed to evoke the same feeling or atmosphere.

Over time, resorts may change or update their fragrances. When that happens, we may continue offering a beloved scent as a nostalgic or inspired version, while also introducing a new fragrance that reflects the current scent used.

We always aim to be transparent — our goal is to recreate the experience, not just the formula.

What’s the best product to start with?

If you’re new to Columbia Fragrance, we generally recommend starting with:

  • Home fragrance oils for consistent, long-lasting scent throughout your space

  • Ultrasonic diffusers for even, adjustable diffusion

  • Fragrance sprays for quick refreshes, gifting, or travel

Oils are the foundation of most repeat customers’ routines and offer the most control over scent strength.

Can I sample scents before committing?

We understand wanting to feel confident before choosing a fragrance.

Rather than offering unlimited sampling, we provide curated sampling options designed to help you explore without overwhelm. These are intentionally limited and thoughtfully selected to ensure quality, consistency, and a great first experience.

Sampling is meant to guide your decision — not replace full-size use.

Are your candles made of paraffin or soy?

Our candles are a custom blend of paraffin and soy waxes. Paraffin is used to hold the strong colors you see and scents you smell. Soy is used to create a product more eco-friendly to our environment. Together, a quality product is created and tested to be the best possible for you and your home.

When will I receive my order?

We are experiencing higher than usual sales volumes right now, especially of our Disney scents. What most people do not realize is that we are a two person company, and most products are hand poured at the time of order. We do our best to get orders out as quickly as possible, and will move up priority and gift orders when notified.

When you place an order, please review your shopping cart with our current production time estimate. This will show the estimate of when you can receive your order. Did you forget to check the status when you placed an order? Simply go to the shopping cart today to see an estimate of our current turnaround time. This should give you an idea of when you can receive your order.

Why is shipping so expensive? 

Cost for shipping is determined by the USPS. Factors for shipping cost include weight of the order (unfortunately, candles are very heavy) and distance between our facility and the shipping address. Most orders arrive between two to three days between when they are shipped from our offices and when they are received.

Yikes, this is a gift! Can I get my order sooner?

If this is a gift, please contact us as soon as possible. Please include your order number. We will do our best to accommodate your request.

I've received my order but my candle has white spots on it. Is it defective?

No. White spots, otherwise known as "frosting", occur naturally with soy based waxes. As the seasons turn, our candles can develop more frosting than in warmer months. Your candle is not defective, and this frosting will have absolutely no impact on how your candle burns. This is simply part of the unique qualities of purchasing a hand made product. 

What is the difference between the diffuser oil and the home fragrance oil?

Our diffuser oils are intended to be used with rattan reeds to pull the fragrance through the vase then allow it to evaporate. Home fragrance oils have more utility and can be used in fragrance warmers, to freshen potpourri, or in electric oil diffusers. More information on how to use our reed diffuser oils is available on our blog post, and we've written another post for recommendations on how to use home fragrance oils. 

I'm sorry. Can you help me with a return or an exchange?

At The Columbia Fragrance Co., your satisfaction is our top priority. We want you to be thrilled with every purchase. Here’s how our Happiness Guarantee works:

  1. Satisfaction Guarantee: If you're not completely satisfied with the scent you purchased, we will provide a one-time replacement at no additional cost to you. We want you to love your fragrance!

  2. Returns: If you wish to return your product, we accept returns on unused products only. Once we receive the returned item, we will issue a refund minus the cost of return shipping.

  3. Exchanges: Prefer to exchange your item for another product? You can do so within 30 days. The customer is responsible for return shipping costs.

  4. How to Request: To request a replacement, return, or exchange, simply visit the order section in your account and follow the prompts. For personalized assistance, email us at happinesshotline@columbiafragrance.com.

  5. Exclusions: Please note that some products, such as samples and the Jump to the Front of the Line rush processing option, are not eligible for refunds, as indicated on their product listings.

What if my order has been lost?

The Columbia Fragrance Co. offers order protection insurance through Navidium. In the unlikely even your order is damaged, lost or stolen, we will replace your order at no cost to you. Please contact us within 7 days of your parcel being delivered or reported stolen to qualify for insurance protection. For correspondences received after day seven, we will replace the order at 50% off the original purchase price. 

If you item has been stuck in transit for more than 7 days, we will file a Missing Mail request to the USPS on your behalf. If the item has not been found or the Missing Mail request been resolved, we will replace orders with Navidium insurance protection free of charge. 

If you choose not to purchase our insurance and your order is lost or stolen, we will replace your order at 50% off the original purchase price. 

If you order has been damaged in transit, we request a photo of the damaged item so we can assess how to prevent similar accidents in the future. We will replace the product as soon as possible. 

Items made by other vendors (such as the diffusers and warmers we sell) may require resolutions as outlined by our partners. Please contact us so we may initiate a claim on your behalf.

We’re here to ensure your fragrance experience is as delightful as possible. Thank you for choosing The Columbia Fragrance Co.!