Wax Melt FAQ

How many jelly cubes do I get and how long do they last?

Our regular size has an estimated scent time of 96 hours and comes with 2.5 oz of wax and 6 jelly cubes. Our jumbo size has an estimated scent time of 192 hours and comes with 5 oz of wax and 12 jelly cubes.

How strong are the scents?

Our wax melts are made of gel wax, which has a higher melting point and therefore burns over twice as long as other common waxes. Gel wax also allows for a higher fragrance load. The higher melting point of gel wax coupled with the higher fragrance load means you can enjoy the scent throw much longer. But keep in mind that perception of fragrance is very personal.

There are many things that can affect your sense of smell, like a cold or allergies, the size of the room, and the length of burn time. Usually, your first sniff of a fragrance will give you the strongest impression – this is normal! The brain and scent memory (which is based on our (often blurry) memory of a fragrance) also have roles in the detection of the strength of smells. In our fragrance testing and evaluation, we are faced with perception challenges every day. Even naming a fragrance can be tricky. The same fragrance under two different names can be perceived differently. So, when one customer says a particular scent is too strong, and another customer describes that same scent as weak - they are both right! 

What are the ingredients in your gel wax melts?

Our gel wax melts are made from gel wax, liquid dye, and fragrance. Gel wax is a translucent wax with the consistency of jelly. It is created using a combination of mineral oil and polymer resin, this gives the wax a slow melt rate and a long burn time. In addition to gel wax, our wax melts are produced with liquid candle dyes that are formulated without phthalates and exclude a wide range of ingredients known to be harmful to human health (carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxins, organ toxins, and acute toxins). They’re also vegan friendly. Our fragrance oils are phthalate, paraben, and cruelty free and approved by the IFRA to safely use in your home. 

What wax warmers are compatible with gel wax melts?

Choosing the correct wax warmer set up is important and we want it to work for you, your family, and your home. Due to its high melting point, gel wax is better suited to the high power settings on an electric wax burner; nevertheless, the smell may be richer in a tealight warmer as they heat up to a higher temperature, releasing more fragrance. If you choose a traditional tealight warmer, here are a few tips to get the best out of our wax melts.

  • Use a quality tealight (preferably a soy wax tealight - the quality of the tealight makes a big difference).
  • Use 4 hour tealights (your wax warmer will be getting very hot with each use and will need a break to cool off for a little while so it can continue to do its job efficiently). Shop quality 4 hour tealights here.
  • Never leave any wax melts unattended and always abide by the safety instructions on your wax warmer and our gel wax melts.

Are your wax melts safe to use around cats and dogs?

Yes, wax melts are safe to use around dogs and cats, but any fragrance product should be used in moderation since they could contain a small number of allergens to which you or your pet may be allergic. Quality of the fragrance oil plays a huge role in how safe a wax melt is for our furry friends. The fragrance oils in our wax melts are the highest quality, phthalate, paraben, and cruelty free, and approved by the IFRA to safely use in your home. 

What is the shelf life?

In general, a gel wax melt has a shelf life of around two years, but this can be higher or lower depending on how you store them. Our wax melts should be stored in a cool, dark place, away from sunlight, and in the original packaging. This stops the product from sweating and the fragrance releasing itself from the wax. 

Candle FAQ

What are the ingredients in your gel candles?

Our candle gel is the Penreco Versagel™ brand. These gels are specially formulated for candle making and offer flash points of 450°F and a (typical) sustained burn (Fire Point) of 500°F. 

Zinc cored wicks are used in our candles because they stand straight in hot gel during production and burning. Wick length and placement are calculated carefully for each candle.

Our fragrances are high-quality and meet all health and safety standards as set by the International Fragrance Association (IFRA). Our candle scents have been tested and are compatible with gel candles when used according to Penreco’s guidelines. Our candles are designed to enhance, but not overpower, your space with aroma.

What containers are used in your gel candles?

We choose heat-resistant containers manufactured for candles such as high-temperature resistant glass jars with bamboo lids, long-lasting, sealed ceramic containers, and mercury glass votives. All our containers are nonporous, smooth, and thick enough to avoid cracking.

What are the embeds inside of the candle made of?

Only non-combustible, non-flammable materials are used as decorative embeds in our candles. Items such as glass and ceramic figures, sea glass, marbles, rocks or shells, are used as embeds in our candles. Sand is often used in the bottom of our seascape and landscape candles and a “flame stopper” is added to the wick to extinguish the flame before touching the sand. (This is a small metal tube that fits over the wick and slides down to the point where we want the flame to stop, and then it is crimped with pliers).

Payment, Shipping, & Returns

What payment methods do you accept?

We accept all major credit cards & debit cards, including Apple Pay, Google Pay, Shop Pay, & Paypal.

When will I receive my order?

Orders are shipped from our Cincinnati, Ohio warehouse within 1-3 business days after being placed. Shipping times may vary, depending on the shipping method selected at checkout. For orders placed in the United States:

  • Ground Advantage: 2-5 business days
  • Priority Mail: 1-3 business days
  • Priority Mail Express: 1-2 business days

For international orders:

  • First Class Package International: 12-21 business days
  • Priority Mail International: 6-10 business days
  • Priority Mail Express International: 3-5 business days

Do you ship internationally?

We currently ship internationally from the United States to most countries. The shipping costs and delivery times are estimated at checkout.

International shipping costs are nonrefundable. If your package is lost or damaged in transit, the shipping cost will not be included in your refund.

Where do you ship from?

We ship from our Cincinnati, Ohio warehouse based in the United States.

How much does shipping cost?

Shipping costs depend on how much you order and where your order is being sent to. The shipping costs are calculated once the items are added to your cart, and the address is inputted at checkout.

My package was marked "delivered" but it is not here, what do I do?

If your tracking information is marked "Delivered" and you still have not received your item, we recommend waiting 72 hours as some shipments are marked "Delivered" ahead of time.

We recommend checking your mailbox, porch, and garage for your package. We also recommend checking with your neighbors, as sometimes packages can be misplaced at nearby addresses. If you still have not received your package after the 72 hour period, please contact your local post office with your tracking information. If the item gets lost in transit, a missing mail claim should be filed with the carrier. At this time, we do not offer replacements or refunds for packages that are marked "delivered".

File a claim here

Reach out to your local post office here

What should I do if my package was returned to sender?

The most common reason why packages get returned to sender is an invalid address. If this happens, please email us at illuminatedbymia@gmail.com, and we will issue you a refund. Please be aware that the refund will not include the shipping cost. The customer is responsible for inputting the correct address at checkout, and reviewing the address before purchasing.

If you would like us to reship the order with a corrected address, you are responsible for paying the reshipment invoice within 120 days. After 120 days, returned packages will be discarded and the refund window is closed. 

What should I do if my package or items were damaged in transit?

Please email us at illuminatedbymia@gmail.com with photos within 10 days of receiving your order, and we will send you a replacement (if available) free of charge or issue a full refund.

Damaged item claims must be reported within 10 days of receiving the order.

What is your return policy?

Returns are accepted within 30 days of delivery. The return process must be initiated by the customer, and the product must be unopened and untouched. We also require a receipt or proof of purchase.

Please be aware that the refund will not include the shipping cost. Any shipping fees on the original order are final and will not be refunded. It may take between 5-10 business days to receive your refund, due to shipping processing times and your bank to process the transaction.

Please contact us via email at illuminatedbymia@gmail.com with the following information to start the return process:

  • Order number
  • Name of product(s) you would like to return
  • Reason for return
  • Photo(s) of the product

Tracking & Managing Orders

How can I track my order?

Upon shipment, a shipping confirmation email will be sent to your email provided at checkout with your tracking number(s). If you do not receive this email, please check your spam and junk folders.

Please allow 1-3 business for the tracking number of your order to get scanned and update.

If you did not receive the shipping confirmation email, please email us at illuminatedbymia@gmail.com with your full name, order number, and address used for the order.

Can I cancel my order?

We can only guarantee order cancellations within 1 hour of placing the order. Please contact us as soon as possible at illuminatedbymia@gmail.com if you need to cancel your order. We can offer a full refund only if your order has not been shipped yet.

How do I change my address for my order?

The shipping address inputed at checkout must be a valid address. The customer is responsible to input the correct address, and review it before purchasing. At this time, we are unable to change the address after the order has been shipped.