Welcome to Melo Candle Lab ("Melo," "we," "us," or "our"), a small-batch, hand-poured candle and self-care company based in Chesterfield, Virginia. These Terms of Service ("Terms") apply to your use of www.melocandlelab.com, our Etsy shop, our social media pages, the Melo Candle Club subscription, our events and workshops, and any purchase you make from us (together, the "Services").
By visiting our site, placing an order, subscribing, or attending a Melo event, you agree to these Terms and to our Privacy Policy. If you don't agree, please don't use the Services.
UPDATED: September 1, 2026
Eligibility. You must be at least 18 years old, or the age of majority where you live, to place an order or subscribe. Guests under 18 may attend events only with a parent or guardian who agrees to these Terms on their behalf.
Etsy purchases. Orders placed through our Etsy shop are also subject to Etsy's own policies. If the two conflict for an Etsy order, Etsy's policies control.
2. Products, Pricing & Orders
Handmade by nature. Every Melo candle is hand-poured in small batches. Slight variations in color, wax texture, frosting, fragrance strength, and wick appearance are a normal part of handmade goods and are not defects. Product photos are for illustration; your item may look a little different.
Pricing. Prices are listed in U.S. dollars and may change at any time without notice. Applicable sales tax and shipping are added at checkout. If an item is listed at an incorrect price because of an error, we may cancel the order and refund you in full.
Order acceptance. Your order is an offer to buy. We accept it when we ship it or send a confirmation that it's being prepared. We may limit quantities or cancel any order, including for suspected fraud or resale, and will refund any amount charged.
Payment. You agree to provide accurate billing information and authorize us or our payment processor to charge your chosen payment method. We do not store full card numbers on our own systems.
Pre-orders & limited releases. Pre-order items (such as seasonal or collection launches) are made after your order is placed. Estimated ship dates are shown at checkout and are estimates, not guarantees. You may cancel a pre-order for a full refund any time before we notify you that it has shipped. Seasonal and limited-edition scents may sell out or be retired without notice.
3. Melo Candle Club Subscription
The Melo Candle Club is a monthly themed box featuring a Melo candle alongside curated items from women-owned and local makers. By subscribing, you agree to the following:
Plans & automatic renewal. The Club is offered in Basic ([price]/month) and Premium Luxe ([price]/month) tiers, with an optional prepaid annual plan. Your subscription renews automatically and your payment method will be charged at the then-current price on the [billing day] of each month (or each year for annual plans) until you cancel. The price, billing date, and renewal terms are shown clearly before you confirm checkout.
Cancellation. You can cancel anytime through your account at [link] or by emailing [email]. To avoid being charged for the next box, cancel before the [__ day] of the month. Cancellation stops future charges; boxes already billed will still ship. Annual plans may be cancelled for a prorated refund of unshipped months, minus any annual-plan discount received.
Skips & pauses. You may skip or pause up to [__] months per year by making the change before the billing cutoff.
Price changes. We'll email you at least [30] days before any price change takes effect, so you have time to cancel if you wish.
Box contents. Each box follows a monthly theme. Contents vary, and items from partner makers may be substituted with items of equal or greater value if supply changes. Because boxes are curated in advance, we can't customize contents for individual subscribers.
Failed payments. If a payment is declined, we'll notify you and may retry the charge. Your box ships once payment succeeds; we may cancel the subscription after [__] failed attempts.
4. Shipping, Returns & Refunds
Shipping. We currently ship within the United States. Processing times are listed on each product page; in-stock orders typically ship within [3–5] business days. Once your order leaves us, delivery timing is up to the carrier. Risk of loss passes to you when the carrier accepts the package. Please double-check your address — we aren't responsible for orders sent to an address you entered incorrectly.
Heat & weather. Candles can soften, sweat, or shift in transit during hot weather. This is cosmetic and doesn't affect burning. During summer months we may delay shipping to protect your order.
Damaged or incorrect items. If your order arrives broken, damaged, or wrong, email [email] within 7 days of delivery with your order number and a photo of the item and packaging. We'll send a replacement or issue a refund or store credit.
Returns. Because candles and self-care items are personal-use products, we can't accept returns of burned, used, or opened items. Unused, unopened items may be returned within [14] days of delivery for a refund minus original shipping; you pay return shipping. Sale items, custom orders, and event purchases are final sale.
Scent preference. Scent is personal, so we're unable to offer refunds because you didn't love a fragrance. We're always happy to help you choose next time.
Refund timing. Approved refunds go back to your original payment method within [5–10] business days after we approve them.
5. Candle Safety & Product Disclaimers
Candles involve an open flame. By purchasing, you agree to follow the safety instructions on our labels, including:
Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep it away from children, pets, drafts, and anything flammable.
Burn on a heat-resistant, level surface and trim the wick to about 1/4 inch before each use.
Burn no longer than 4 hours at a time, and stop when about 1/2 inch of wax remains.
Don't move a lit or still-hot candle, and never use water to put out the flame.
Fragrance & sensitivities. Our candles and wellness items contain fragrance oils and other ingredients that may affect people with allergies, asthma, or sensitivities, and some ingredients may not be safe for pets. Please review ingredients and consult a medical provider if you have concerns. Stop use if irritation occurs.
Wellness items. Teas, herbal blends, and self-care products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and their statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Partner-maker products. Some items, including those in Club boxes, are made by independent makers. We choose partners carefully, but each maker is responsible for their product's ingredients and labeling. Follow any instructions included with those items.
Your responsibility. Melo is not responsible for injury or damage caused by misuse, failure to follow safety instructions, or alteration of our products.
6. Events, Workshops & Giving Back
Candle-making experiences. Melo hosts and participates in candle-making workshops, pop-ups, and community events (such as Brew & Blend). Tickets are non-refundable within [48] hours of the event but may be transferred to another person. If we cancel or reschedule, you'll receive a full refund or a credit for a future event.
Participation & assumption of risk. Candle making involves hot wax, heated tools, and fragrance oils. By attending, you agree to follow instructor directions, understand that minor burns, spills, or stains can occur, and accept those risks. Please tell us about any allergies or sensitivities before the event. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
Photos at events. We may photograph events for Melo's website and social media. Let a team member know if you'd prefer not to be photographed.
Wholesale & consignment. Retail and wholesale partners are governed by a separate written wholesale or consignment agreement, which controls if it conflicts with these Terms.
Giving back. Melo pledges to donate a portion of its annual revenue to organizations supporting survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. Donation amounts and partner organizations are chosen at Melo's discretion, and purchases are not tax-deductible for customers.
7. Intellectual Property
The Melo Candle Lab name, logo, scent names, product designs, photos, labels, intention cards, and website content belong to Melo or its licensors and are protected by law. You may not copy, resell under our name, or use our branding without written permission. Partner makers retain ownership of their own brands and product designs.
Your content. If you tag @melo.candle.lab, leave a review, or send us photos, you give Melo a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to share that content on our site and social media with credit to you. You confirm you have the right to share it.
8. Acceptable Use
You agree not to misuse the Services, including by placing fraudulent orders, reselling subscription items as your own, interfering with the website, or posting unlawful or harassing content.
9. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability
The Services and products are provided "as is" and "as available," to the fullest extent permitted by law. Melo does not guarantee the website will be uninterrupted or error-free.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Melo's total liability for any claim related to a product or the Services is limited to the amount you paid for that product or service. Melo is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages. Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.
10. Indemnification
You agree to hold Melo harmless from claims arising from your misuse of our products or the Services or your violation of these Terms.
11. Governing Law & Disputes
These Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before filing any claim, please contact us so we can try to resolve it informally. Any dispute not resolved informally will be handled in the state or federal courts located in [Chesterfield County], Virginia, unless small claims court is available.
12. Changes to These Terms
We may update these Terms from time to time. The "Last updated" date above shows the latest version. For material changes affecting Club subscribers, we'll notify you by email before they take effect. Continuing to use the Services after changes means you accept the updated Terms.
13. Contact Us
Melo Candle Lab Chesterfield, Virginia Email: [email] Website: www.melocandlelab.com Instagram: @melo.candle.lab