General Questions
Where your candles are made?
Our beautiful candles are made in Bay Area, California. The candles are hand-poured in small batches with positive vibes and packaged with love!
What are the candles made of?
Studio Vikara is a brand who believes in eco-friendly and sustainable business practices. Our candles are vegan, cruelty-free, paraffin-free and made of 100% soy wax from all American grown soy beans, no additives, no stabilizers.
Fragrance oils are sourced from an established candle supply company. They claim that fragrance oils are phthalate-free and are manufactured without organ toxins, acute toxins, CMRs, phthalates, and ingredients on the California Prop 65 list. They are developed for performance in soy wax and adhere to RIFM and IFRA standards for safety and purity, and contain natural and man-made materials.
Although safe in small quantities, some of the ingredients are part of CMR (carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxins) list. Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM), the international scientific authority for the safe use of fragrance materials does research on these suspected CMR ingredients.
Our candles provide clean burn and we stand by them! Studio Vikara is also committed to transparency. Here are the candles in our collection that contain very minute quantity of suspected CMR ingredients:
1. Unstoppable: It contains Gamma-Terpinene - CAS: 99-85-4, A naturally occurring component of tea tree essential oil.
2. Bloom of Serenity: It contains - Isobornyl cyclohexanol - CAS: 3407-42-9, A synthetic ingredient used to mimic sandalwood and vetiver in fragrances.
3. Rooted: It contains less than 1% of - Phenol, 2-Methoxy-, Reaction Products With 2,2- Dimethyl-3-Methylenebicyclo[2.2.1]Heptane, Hydrogenated - CAS: 70955-71-4, The full chemical name used for this ingredient describes the specific chemical reaction involved in creating this compound. This is a lab created ingredient.
Hope this helps you. If you have more questions, then please reach out to us at contact.studiovikara@gmail.com
How are fragrance oils different from essential oils?
Fragrance oils are made of both natural and man-made ingredients. Essential oils are purely naturally derived, hence make them unsafe for use in candles.
Although natural, some essential oils can release substances known as CMR (Carcinogenic, Mutagenic or Reprotoxic) when heated to a high temperature, as is the case in a candle.
Using essential oils in candles can increase the risk of accidents, including a risk of ignition if they are incorrectly dosed or if the combustion temperature becomes too high.
A scented candle should be a safe pleasure, and essential oils can introduce a risk factor and makes them unsuitable for candles.
How much is the shipping cost?
Shipping cost is calculated at the checkout based on the product's weight in the cart and your shipping address. Our warehouse is in California and all candles are made here and shipped from here. As an estimate, USPS 5-8 days ground shipping can take anywhere from $9-$19.
For residents of Bay Area, please contact us if you can pick-up your order and save on shipping cost.
How long it takes to process the order?
Once an order is placed, it may take up to 1-5 business days to be processed. After it has been process, you will receive a notification (email or SMS). Some orders might take longer processing time depending on the number of items.
I accidently gave the wrong shipping address, how can I fix this?
Ooopsie! If your order has not already been shipped, we can fix that for you! Please send us a message here or email us as soon as possible at contact.studiovikara@gmail.com with your order number and the correct shipping address. If the order has shipped, unfortunately we are unable to stop the delivery to an incorrect or undeliverable addresses provided by the customer.
If the package is returned to us, we can issue a refund or re-process it with correct address for an additional shipping rate.
Do you accept returns?
Oh no! We love our candles and hoped you loved them too!
We offer returns of unused products within 14 days of the confirmed delivery of your package. To be eligible, the products must be in the same condition as received, unused, in its original packaging and the free gits included in your order must also be returned in the same condition as received. The materials required and the shipping cost are at the customer charge.
To be eligible for a return, your request must first be accepted. We do not accept any returns that were not prior accepted.
To make your return request, please send an email at contact.studiovikara@gmail.com
Once we receive and confirm that your order is eligible for return, you will be automatically refunded in the same payment method you previously choose at the checkout and an email confirmation will be sent.
How long does a refund takes?
Once the refund has been processed on our end, a credit card refund can take several days to process since it has to go through the credit card networks. Depending on your credit card issuer and the merchant, the refund process generally ranges between 5 to 16 business days.
Wooden Wick Questions
Why should I buy a wooden wick candle?
Wooden wicks offer a calming crackle to mimic a gentle fireplace. They also deliver a more potent scent without being overpowering.
How do I light the wooden wick?
Can be a little more tricky on the first burn as the wick has never been lit before but the best technique is to tilt it on the angle and let the flame draw across the length of the wick.
When lighting for the first time, burn the candle until wax melt across the entire surface. This will prevent tunnelling and create an even burn for the duration of the candle's life.
Why does the candle top looks "rough", "frosted" or "cracked" after first burn?
When the top of the wax has a crystalline, white-ish color coating, we refer to this as "frosting" or "blooming". Frosting is a natural characteristic of soy and it is one way that a customer can tell if their candle is really made with pure, all-natural soy wax.
Frosting does not affect the scent throw or the burning properties of the candle – it is just a particular crystal growth that can form on the top and sides of the candle.
To minimize frosting, try to keep your candle out of direct sunlight and fluorescent lighting. Changes in temperature when the candle is being cooled can also cause frosting. While these tips may help, it is almost impossible to completely control frosting – it is just one of the beautiful and natural features of this wonderful wax. Embrace it!
Does a candle loose it's scent overtime?
Over time, the scent of an unlit candle can gradually diminish as fragrance oil molecules slowly evaporate from the wax into the air. This process is subtle and often goes unnoticed for the first year. If you're not ready to burn your candle just yet, there are steps you can take to preserve its fragrance:
Store your candles away from direct sunlight and harsh artificial light, particularly near windows.
Always ensure the lid is securely placed on top or use a dust cover to maintain the scent.
Keep your candle in a cool, dark place, avoiding areas with high humidity, moisture, or drastic temperature changes.
By following these simple guidelines, you can help prolong the life of your candle, although it's generally recommended to burn it within a year of purchasing for the best experience.
I accidentally cut my wood wick too short and now it won’t light, what do I do?
Don’t worry, you are not the only one! If your candle lights for a short period of time, simply use a napkin to soak up the melted wax and it’ll go back to normal. If your candle is not lighting at all, scrape off some of the wax around the wood and try lighting it again. The wax is the fuel to the wick, and there is just too much fuel for the candle to catch. Soaking up the wax or taking some out, makes space for the wick to breath.
Why do I need to trim the wick?
Leaving the wick too long results in a larger flame, which melts more wax and provides the candle with more fuel. However, this excess fuel can cause incomplete combustion, leading to increased soot buildup and causing the candle container to become black and dirty. Additionally, your candle will burn faster than the estimated burn time, which is based on properly trimmed wicks.
My candle is tunneling, how can I fix it?
You can easily fix tunneling by covering the top of your candle with a piece of tinfoil and cutting a small opening about 1″ wide (or just enough to keep the tinfoil above the candle). Light the candle carefully and let it burn for a few hours. After it’s done, you should notice that the tunneling is less than before. Since candles have "wax memory," it’s super important to let your candle burn all the way across the surface the first time you light it. This helps prevent tunneling and ensures a nice, even burn throughout the life of your candle.