FAQs

The Compulsive Candle Co. was created to transform inner dark turmoil into forgiving, abundant light that nurtures instead of consumes.

Our mission is to create intentional, high-quality products that serve as reminders of hope, self-compassion, and personal growth. Each scent is thoughtfully chosen and designed to reflect themes of recovery, resilience, and emotional healing.

Everyday rituals — like lighting a candle — can become a grounding moment of reflection and restoration. A candle can mark a new beginning, a day of progress, a hard conversation survived, or simply a quiet moment of peace.

The Compulsive Candle Co. exists not just to sell, but to create meaningful products that align with a deeper purpose: reducing shame, encouraging courage, and honoring the ongoing journey of recovery.

Due to the nature of these products, we do not accept returns on used candles or wax melts. If the candle or wax melt is defective (doesn’t light, doesn’t have a scent, isn’t melting properly, etc.), please contact us with an explanation, pictures, and your order number within 30 days of your delivery to work out an exchange.

We do not offer returns based on scent preference, as fragrance perception varies from person to person. We are willing to exchange an unused candle or wax melt if you do not like the cold throw (scent before lighting/melting). Please contact us with an explanation and your order number within 30 days of your delivery to work out an exchange.

If your order arrives damaged, please contact us within 30 days of delivery with your order number and clear photos of the item and packaging to work out an exchange or return.

*Because fragrance is a personal and subjective experience, we encourage customers to review scent descriptions carefully or try the mini options before committing to a full-size product.

*Refunds of any kind will not be processed until the product being returned is in our possession. Thank you for understanding!

We are committed to your satisfaction and will always do our best to ensure you have a positive experience with The Compulsive Candle Co.!

In-stock items are typically processed and shipped within 1–3 business days. Once shipped, most domestic orders arrive within 3–7 business days, depending on your location and carrier timelines. Orders placed after 6pm CST will not be shipped out that same day. You’ll receive tracking information as soon as your order is on its way.

*Because our candles and wax melts are hand-poured in small batches and require a two-week curing period for peak fragrance performance, restock timing may occasionally extend processing. If an item needs to be freshly poured, please allow up to 2–3 weeks before shipment so your candle or wax melt has time to properly cure and perform as intended. If a fresh-pour is needed, we will let you know and ensure your candle arrives fully cured and ready to create the atmosphere it was designed for.

We believe quality is worth the wait, and will communicate clearly if extended processing times apply!

Once your order ships, you'll receive a confirmation email with a tracking number and a link to track your package. You can use that link at any time to see the latest shipping updates. If you haven't received your tracking information or you're having trouble locating your package, please contact us through our contact page and we'll be happy to help!

Unfortunately, not at this time. Due to the nature of these products, we have to perform international shipping tests and receive clearance to ship overseas before we can offer our products outside of the United States.

We hope to offer international shipping in the future!

Yes! We are committed to keeping your personal information private and promise to never sell any of your information. We hate when that happens to us, and we feel very strongly about maintaining integrity and showing respect for others. Your personal information will be guarded as if we are guarding our own!

Local pickup is not available at this time.

As The Compulsive Candle Co. continues to grow, we hope to expand into a brick and mortar store and offer a dedicated local pickup option in the future. Thank you for understanding and supporting a small, home-based business!

We are currently a home-based business in Woodridge, IL. Throughout the year, we vendor at local craft shows, farmers markets, indoor/outdoor events, holiday venues, and many more, to give people the opportunity to experience our products before purchasing.

The best way to view our products or staff in person is by joining our community so we can send you newsletters and invites to upcoming local events!

As our business grows, we hope to open a physical location for customers to experience our products on a more reliable and consistent basis.

Majority of our candles are made of a paraffin-dominant and soy wax blend. The paraffin ensures the candle will give off a strong scent throw*, and the soy allows the candle to burn longer while reducing the negative side effects of fully paraffin candles.

Some of the Limited-Edition 3oz Mini candles are made with a soy-dominant and paraffin wax blend. This blend performs better with certain fragrances than others.

We mainly use the paraffin-dominant blend because it outperforms the all-natural alternatives* in various ways, such as producing the strongest scent throws, reducing the appearance of muddy wax, and maintaining a long candle lifespan. Both wax blends were tested thoroughly to ensure optimal scent throws and longevity.

*Scent Throw is the scent a candle gives off when it is or is not burning.

*We will be testing all-natural wax blends in the future to offer customers a completely paraffin-free alternative!

Our wax melts are made with an all-natural soy, coconut, and sunflower wax blend. This blend has been proven to create a strong scent performance lasting 8-15 hours per cube. This wax also creates solid, easily breakable wax melts that maintain a solid texture when handling, but also break out of the clamshell easily with minimal mess.

Because this wax blend is all-natural, it can produce a reaction called frosting - a bubbling or crystallization on the surface of the wax after it’s been melted for several hours and then cooled. This is a completely natural reaction and does not impact the fragrance or longevity of the melts.

Common performance issues include tunneling, soot, mushrooming, muddy wax, muted scent throws, and over burning. Check out our Candle 101 page to learn more about common problems and how to solve them on your own!

Proper candle or wax melt care isn’t just for safety but to ensure a clean, long-lasting, and fragrant burn/melt cycle. All of this information can also be found on our Candle 101 page!

For Candles:

• Trim the wick(s) to 1/4 inch before each burn.
• Allow the wax to melt fully across the surface to the edges of the jar during the first burn (this helps prevent tunneling).
• Do not burn longer than 3-4 hours at a time. If the melt pool does not reach its full size before the 4 hours, that’s okay. Always stop burning at 4 hours.
• Keep away from drafts, fans, and anything flammable.
• Always keep candles in eyesight and away from the reach of children or pets.
• Do not leave candles burning unattended.
• Stop burning when about 1/4 inch of wax remains at the bottom of the jar.

For Wax Melts:

• Use 1-3 cubes at a time, depending on your warmer size.
• Only use in an approved wax warmer.
• Do not add water, oils, or other additives.
• Allow the wax to cool fully before removing or replacing the fragrance. Pro Tip - If you want to change the wax quickly, place the warmer or the warmer cup in the freezer to cool the wax quickly and remove it from the warmer easily.

Taking care of your candle or wax melt isn’t just about safety - it helps you get the most out of each intentional moment it was created for!

We use fragrance oils instead of essential oils to ensure strong scented products. Fragrance oils differ from essential oils, however fragrance oils contain essential oil blends to enhance performance.

After months of research, we chose fragrance oils that are known for their clean, high-quality, phthalate-free qualities that perform well across all wax types. Every fragrance oil was extensively tested in our home, where a cat and other humans live, so these fragrances are trusted and safe* for animals to be around!

Each fragrance was thoughtfully chosen to ensure beautiful and balanced cold and hot throws while supporting the atmosphere each candle/wax melt is meant to create.

*By safe, we mean it’s okay that the fragrance oils are smelled directly from the bottle they come in or after they’ve been blended with wax. Fragrance oils or any type of wax cured with fragrance oils are NOT safe to ingest.