FAQ
MY ORDER SAYS IT WAS SHIPPED BUT USPS HAS NO TRACKING?
If you have received an email notification that your order has shipped, but USPS has yet to scan it in, this means we are still preparing your order. The shipping platform we use will email you when we print your shipping label as we print these in bulk when fulfilling orders. As a small business, we package everything by hand to ensure quality and safety of your items. Please give us time to do so before tracking is available, which is usually about 1-3 days after you receive your shipping notification (sometimes a bit longer during peak seasons). Sit tight, my darlings. We have not forgotten about you and it will be worth the wait!
WHERE IS MY ORDER? TRACKING IS NOT UPDATING.
Does your order's tracking state it's been delivered and it has not? Has the post office stopped scanning your order? In most cases, your package is still in transit and it will be delivered to you. It is fairly common for the postal service to scan packages early without delivering them yet. In this case packages will usually show up within a couple of days. You may need to contact your local post and give them your tracking number. For international orders, sometimes the postal service will hold onto packages until duty fees are paid and in the US sometimes they will hold a package for pickup but fail to leave a notice. We are not responsible for duty fees, and we will not alter our customs forms to avoid them.
I RECEIVED THE WRONG PRODUCTS AND/OR SOMETHING WAS MISSING FROM MY ORDER. HELP!
Since we are only human, mistakes do happen! Fear not! Send us an email with a photo of the item(s) you received and we will send out the correct item or replace the missing items. Please, be nice.
ARE YOUR PERFUMES CRUELTY FREE AND VEGAN?
Yes & ethically sourced. We purchase directly from manufacturers in the USA.
ARE YOUR PERFUMES ALL NATURAL?
Because we use synthetic fragrance oils in our formulations, we cannot make that claim. This does not mean they are toxic or unsafe. Now let's talk a bit about the difference between essential (natural) vs. fragrance oils (synthetic) to explain any common misconceptions.
• Essential Oils are extracted from herbs, flowers, and plants, most often through steam distillation. That involves heating the components until a gas is released, then condensing the gas back into a liquid. It’s a gentle process that ensures the sensitive compounds don’t break down.
• Fragrance oils are manmade and created with a mix of aroma chemicals and natural ingredients like essential oils, extracts, and resins. Just one fragrance oil can be made up of 40-80 materials. People usually think that because it is made in a lab that it must be harmful and this is certainly not true. Both, yes I said both, can be potentially dangerous if used incorrectly. It comes down to where the fragrance oils come from and the standards and practices that are used in each lab to ensure there are no harmful chemicals.
• Why do we use synthetic fragrance oils in our perfumes? Because we want to make more unusual and complex fragrances! Not everything in nature produces an essential oil – for example you won’t find pear or vanilla. That means there are fewer options to choose from. Using both essential and fragrance oils makes the options endless. If you make an effort to avoid synthetic cosmetics for personal reasons, that's great! There are plenty of fantastic "all natural" perfumeries out there.
WHY DOES MY PERFUME SMELL DIFFERENT ON ME THAN IT DOES ON SOMEONE ELSE?
Handmade perfumes are so very unique! They will mix with your own body chemistry in a special way, making it a scent just for you.
HOW LONG DOES HANDMADE PERFUME LAST WHEN WEARING?
Honestly every person is different- it depends on your body chemistry. So this is a bit difficult to answer. Usually, it's about 2-4 hours.
DO PERFUMES EXPIRE?
Sort of.
This often depends on a few variables including the way it is stored. To prolong the shelf life, store our products in a cool (nothing over 70 degrees F), dry place away from sunlight. With that being said, spray perfumes can last for many years however their scent may shift or lose potency. Usually you can expect at least 1 year but it may be suitable for use for quite a bit longer. For safety reasons, if you notice that the product scent turns rancid, do not use it. You will likely know when it is time to say goodbye to your beloved fragrance even if you have not used the entire bottle.
ALL MY PERFUMES SMELL THE SAME? WHY?
Every once in a while someone will leave us a scathing review claiming that all our perfumes smell the same. Do you really think we'd create an entire line of identical fragrances? C'mon now. There's actually a more scientific reason for this phenomenon. It has to do with your olfactory senses. While I am no scientist, I know it means that you've been huffing for a little too long and your nose needs a break. Smell some coffee. Try again later. Please stop yelling at me, Karen.
CAN YOU MAKE ME A CUSTOM PERFUME?
Once upon a time we offered this service. Once upon a time. We are no longer able to do this because the task is simply too arduous and time-consuming. While it is a pleasure to create custom fragrances we really cannot keep up with its demands.
CAN YOU REPLICATE MY FAVORITE PERFUME MADE BY ANOTHER BRAND?
We do not replicate commercial fragrances. We do not do private label work. We have tried in the past and it's not fulfilling. I love you all but no, just no.
Last but not least.......
CAN YOU RECOMMEND A PERFUME FOR ME?
We have a quiz just for that! Go here.
ARE YOUR SKINCARE PRODUCTS VEGAN?
Many are 100% vegan. We do use beeswax in a few and that is something you can determine to be vegan or not based on your opinions on the subject. Others- like our soaps- contain glycerin making them not so vegan friendly. Should you need a complete ingredients list for a specific product please ask! We use vegan ingredients whenever possible.
WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF YOUR SKINCARE PRODUCTS?
I would say about 6 months on average. As it continues to make contact with air and moisture it will begin to degrade. Again, store these as you would your perfumes. In a cool, dry place away from sunlight and high temperatures.
• Avoid eye area and do not consume any of our products. Even if they smell delicious they are for external use only, my darlings.
• Test a small amount on your skin to make sure you are not allergic to any of our ingredients.
• Consult your physician if you want to use our products while pregnant or nursing.
• We use both synthetic and natural oils and they can react adversely in some humans. Are you one of the lucky ones?
• If you experience a reaction to any of our products discontinue use. Don't keep using it! Duh.
***** OUR PRODUCTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO DIAGNOSE, TREAT, CURE, OR PREVENT ANY DISEASE *****
ALLERGIES:
• Some Parlor co products contain nut allergens such as Shea, Coconut & Sweet Almond oils.
• Some products contain other plant oils that may cause an adverse reaction if you have such an allergy. An allergic reaction may result in a rash on the skin that fades after a day or so.
I CANNOT FIND A PRODUCT I WANT TO BUY AGAIN
If you're searching our website and you cannot find your long lost perfume this may mean one of two things. Sometimes it's just out of stock due to a supply issue. Most of the time it's been discontinued. This is usually the case with our perfumes as we often eliminate less popular scents and introduce new scents. In terms of our jewelry and other curiosities, if you cannot find it in our shop it is probably backordered and will be restocked within a few weeks. Feel free to send us a message to ask.
HOW ARE PARLOR CO PERFUMES MADE?
All of our fragrances are blended in our studio in very small batches. We use a combination of both synthetic and natural oils mixed with perfumers alcohol. What is perfumers alcohol? Perfumers Alcohol is a special formulation which contains:
- Ethanol (denatured) –Alcohol which is the main carrier for the fragrance oils. This evaporates quickly as it is warmed by skin temperature releasing the fragrances evenly over the surface.
- Isopropyl myristate – used in preparations where good absorption is desired.
- Monopropylene glycol – a co-solvent which allows the fragrance oils to be solubilised in the alcohol carrier. This helps to control the evaporation of the alcohol so that it does not flash off too quickly
HOW MANY PEOPLE WORK FOR THE PARLOR CO?
With so many products and being in business for over a decade, many of you assume we're a fairly large operation- this always makes us giggle. In all honesty, this is pretty much a one woman show. A few years back, my partner began to assist in the mixing process and with shipping orders. They also managed our old brick & mortar store. Today, I am is doing this 100% myself. It's a longer story than I care to share publicly but it starts with the D word.
If we're lucky, occasionally a friend or family member will assist with shipping or a simple task. Why don't we hire employees or outsource more of the labor process? The simple answer is that I am is an introvert and a bit of a control freak. The more complex explanation is that taking on employees is costly and a liability. I believe that staying small is the best way to ensure quality control as well as to keep things uncomplicated. Less is more.
DO YOU HAVE A PHYSICAL STORE THAT I CAN VISIT?
We do not. We have had 2 brick & mortar stores and 1 showroom in the past. For those that may remember, this was back in California. It was a bucket list goal and I'm so glad to have done it, but geez that was a lot of work. And as it turns out, it costs an arm and a leg to keep up too. Today, we only sell our products online and wholesale to other brick & mortar businesses. That seems to be the sweet spot. I won't lie, every time I see a vacant storefront I start daydreaming about opening another store. I love the process of designing a space but then I have to actually be there everyday and talk to people face-to-face. This reminds me of what a recluse I am to the core. Can any of you relate? If you know me, you know that I'm one funny but awkward lady.
SO, WHO IS ANNA?
Hey, that's me! I have been a self taught perfumer for over a decade. I'm a mother, a friend, a daughter. I am originally from southern California and made the move across the country to Maine in 2020. I love New England. I am Parlor Co's customer service liaison. I am the graphic designer. I am the shipper and handler. I am the social media manager, creative director, and product developer. Why am I sharing this? Well, to put it into perspective. Not so much to brag but to convey that this company truly is a labor of love and a very personal entity. When you reach out to me there is a real person on the other end. We are not a corporation. Pretty cool, huh? On a more personal note, I am deeply amused by the strange & unusual and drawn to anything that allows me to dream and create. I love the outdoors, documentaries and historic places of interest. Like other alt girls, I have more tattoos than my mother would like. A few years back, I shaved half of my head and had a septum piercing. I looked pretty cool there for a minute. I wear a lot of black but am I goth? While I love the aesthetic I am too boring for this. If you ever meet me in person (which is unlikely because I like to hide) you might be surprised to find out that I'm rather ordinary. I live in jeans, rarely wear makeup, and my nails are usually bitten- thanks to anxiety. I listen to all kinds of music both good and bad. I take my coffee sans sugar and I hate flying. Paris is my favorite city of all time and I have two kitties named Opal & Onyx and a Border Collie named Jack. I'd tell you more about my kids, but the internet is weird, so I won't. Because of my brand's identity, I often get asked if I possess paranormal or intuitive abilities. The answer is nope. Man, I wish I could be like that kid in The Sixth Sense but sadly I am not. As you can see I'm your neighborhood comedian.
I also realize I use the term "we" and that's because I'm talking to my imaginary friends while I work everyday, alone, in my dark little corner of the world. This also makes me feel like I am the proprietress of a small Victorian empire.
If you've read through this FAQ page I love you. Let's be friends.
