FAQs

Our Materials

Stardust & Stems is a natural perfumery of the old-world tradition. Our perfumes are made of essential oils, absolutes, natural molecular isolates and tinctures we craft by hand using plants.

We use no artificial, synthetic fragrance or fragrance oils in any of our products- from our perfumes to our lip balms, tints and skincare concoctions. All our products are also paraben and phthalate free. Most of our products are vegan, except a handful of our perfumes, which contain butter CO2.

Our ingredients are only purchased from trusted suppliers that ethically source ingredients and provide detailed information about the origin of their products.

Perfume Appearance

Sediment is normal in natural perfumes. Synthetic fragrance oils are created to be clear or almost invisible in perfume carrier oils. Mainstream perfumes appear crystal clear because the scents were designed and created in a lab to be that way. Natural perfumes contain real resins and plants. The molecular weight of these ingredients is such that they don't always emulsify with perfect uniformity. Some of my perfumes contain handmade tinctures that I strain myself, purposely leaving small bits of the plant materials behind. Sediment is actually a good way to know the perfume is made from real ingredients! Give it a gentle shake and enjoy the ever-evolving infusion the essences imbue within the carrier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I request a specific sample with my order?

I cannot accommodate freebie sample requests. Freebie perfume samples are smaller than samples available for purchase. Every perfume I sell, even 3ml samples, are mixed at the time of purchase. However, I mix a large batch of freebie samples all at once based on interest and inventory. For this reason, I do not have every scent ready to go in sample form at any given time. Due to the time it takes to mix individual samples, I cannot accommodate freebie sample requests. I do include samples with every order, no matter how small, and I hope you like the sample you receive ♥️

Do you offer refunds?

As a one-woman operation I am unable to offer refunds. Aside from the cost of raw materials, my time is spread thin and is not something I can get back regardless of an item itself being returned. Particularly with perfumes, as scent can be quite personal, please purchase a sample or reach out to me if you are unsure about a scent. I cannot be responsible for individuals' unique perception of scent or ability to smell, except to say that the scent notes listed in every perfume description are the exact fragrances in the perfume.

What happens if my product arrives damaged?

I will replace damaged items if you reach out to me with photos and an explanation WITHIN 24 HOURS of the delivery date on tracking, beyond that I cannot be held responsible for damaged items. Many of the products I sell are heat sensitive. USPS facilities and delivery vehicles ARE heat controlled, and I always strive to pack orders with safety and care. During hotter months I even pack particularly heat sensitive items with an ice pack, despite the increase that adds to my shipping costs. Most heat damage actually occurs due to the item sitting out after it has been delivered. PLEASE do not leave items sitting on a hot porch or in a hot mailbox.

Can I purchase a sample of a custom perfume?

Quality custom perfumes aren't as simple as mixing a few drops of requested essences. It takes a minimum of two hours to formulate a perfume with a quality of scent that I would be comfortable selling, usually much longer. There also end up being various "drafts" that all use costly materials. For this reason, it's not within my budget to offer samples of a custom scent. If you purchase a custom scent at the full price, I will send you two or three samples variations to choose from for your full size bottle.

Why are some of your perfumes more expensive than others?

Perfume costs are based on the price of raw materials. Essential Oils such as Neroli, Jasmine Absolute, Rose Absolute and Sandalwood are costly; the price of perfumes containing these reflects the cost of the ingredients. There are less expensive synthetic versions of these, but I strive to use only real ingredients that are ethically sourced and of the highest quality.

Do you use synthetic fragrances or fragrance oils?

Stardust & Stems is a natural perfumery of the old-world tradition. We use no artificial, synthetic fragrance or fragrance oils. Our perfumes are made of essential oils, absolutes, natural isolates and handcrafted tinctures that use only real ingredients. Our ingredients are only purchased from trusted suppliers that ethically source ingredients and provide detailed information about the origin of their products.

Why is there sediment in my perfume?