See below for Frequently Asked Questions about Wit & West Perfumes including our natural perfumery ingredients, process, safety information and how to use our products, custom perfume creation services (bespoke and private-label), in-person events across the state of Colorado, wholesale and more.
WHAT DOES 100% NATURAL PERFUME MEAN AND WHAT NATURAL INGREDIENTS DO YOU USE?
Wit & West is an indie natural perfumery focused on the creation of natural perfumes and colognes (also known as botanical perfume) that are made with 100% natural botanicals and naturally derived ingredients (as defined by ISO9235 - Natural Aromatic Raw Materials Vocabulary). These ingredients include wildcrafted and organic essential oils, CO2 extracts, absolutes, natural isolates as well as custom handmade tinctures and enfleurage extraits carefully selected and sourced from raw materials including those from our very own garden. In short, our perfumes contain only natural ingredients extracted from whole botanicals and plant-based sources and not aromas that do not exist in nature. We do not use fragrance oils or any other ingredients that are not intended for safe use on skin /use in perfumery and we consult guidance and standards set for the safe use of fragrance ingredients as defined by the IFRA (International Fragrance Association). In addition to being 100% all-natural, our perfumes and colognes are vegan, cruelty-free and do not contain phthalates or parabens. To learn more, check out our blog post: What is Natural Perfume?
WHAT IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL?
An essential oil is a highly concentrated, fragrant, volatile (easily evaporated) organic compound originating from a single botanical source, e.g., orange essential oil. The word ‘essential’ reflects the ‘essence’ of the plant, and ‘oil’ indicates a liquid that is insoluble in water. Essential oils are extracted from botanical sources using several different methods of distillation or the process of separating components based on differences in evaporation rate of volatile constituents through temperature, pressure and subsequent condensation in a what is known as a still or distillation system. The essential oils contained in plants have a higher boiling point than water and are also insoluble in water which allows the essential oil to vaporize at a lower temperature than on its own. The different methods of distillation include water/steam distillation, cohobating (process of re-distillation), and molecular distillation (also called vacuum distillation). Some botanicals such as citrus, undergo a different process called cold pressed extraction.
WHAT IS A NATURAL ISOLATE?
Natural isolates are single odor molecules that are extracted from natural raw materials using distillation techniques. These materials exceed the ISO 9235 standard for Natural Aromatic Raw Materials. Examples of natural isolates include geraniol, a naturally occurring chemical constituent found in roses and geraniums, vanillin, a naturally occurring chemical constituent found in vanilla beans, and coumarin, a naturally occurring chemical constituent found in cloves, tonka bean and other natural sources.
WHAT IS AN ABSOLUTE OIL?
While the resulting oil that is produced from solvent extraction – the extraction method used to produce an absolute oil – is similar to an essential oil, it is technically not the same thing. One reason they are different is due to their extraction processes; absolutes are produced via solvent extraction, while essential oils are produced using methods such as distillation or expression. Solvent extraction is often used for botanicals such as jasmine and other delicate flowers because they cannot undergo steam distillation due to the heat. Absolute oils contain heavier, non-volatile molecules and are more viscous than an essential oil. Solvent extraction uses a solvent to dissolve aromatic molecules which separate them from their original botanical/plant source. From there, the resulting material must go through two additional phases to separate the solvent from the absolute oil. The first phase of the process produces what is known as ‘concrete’, which contains plant waxes that are solid at room temperature. The second phase of the process separates the waxes from the resulting product or the absolute oil.
WHAT IS A CO2 EXTRACT?
CO2 extracts are produced via a different method than a distilled essential oil and therefore it does not produce a true essential oil. In the CO2 extraction process the solvent is carbon dioxide or CO2 under pressure at ambient temperature. Under normal atmospheric conditions CO2 is a gas, but when highly compressed it becomes supercritical – neither a gas nor a liquid. CO2 extracts tend to smell more like the living plant than essential oils or absolutes.
WHAT IS AN ENFLEURAGE EXTRAIT?
An enfleurage extrait is the resulting material obtained via the traditional French method of extraction known as enfleurage. At a commercial level, enfleurage is a method that is seldom used due to the cost and labor involved in producing an enfleurage extrait. Cold enfleurage utilizes a glass tray with a thin layer of fat such as coconut oil that is spread on the tray and then a layer of fresh flowers on top which is then recharged daily until a desired scent is achieved. Once the desired result is achieved, the ‘fat’ (coconut oil saturated with fresh flowers) or enfleurage pomade can then be processed further for use in alcohol-based perfumes by washing the fat in 190-proof alcohol until the alcohol absorbs the scent from the fat. I talk about enfleurage in-depth on my blog post The Art of Enfleurage in Perfumery.
WHY DOESN’T WIT & WEST USE SYNTHETIC INGREDIENTS?
By connecting the sensory experience of perfume to its historical roots in the natural world, we are committed to creating authentic, handcrafted perfumes developed with 100% natural whole botanicals and naturally derived ingredients that are unique and never boring. We choose not to work with synthetic materials because we believe they fall short of our standard of drawing upon the richness and beauty that exists in the natural world. If compared to other prized sensory experiences such as wine, artisanal coffee or chocolate – the use of natural ingredients is celebrated and incorporated into the experience. We take this same artistic approach in our perfumes (e.g., natural perfumery as a genre of perfumery).
IS NATURAL BETTER THAN SYNTHETIC?
No, not necessarily. We choose to use natural ingredients as an artistic choice and appreciation for the medium, not because we think one is better than the other. The art of perfumery – just like any other artform – has different genres or styles. Just as in music or the visual arts, different tastes point people toward an affinity for different genres and the same is true in perfumery.
ARE NATURAL INGREDIENTS SAFER THAN SYNTHETIC INGREDIENTS?
No, not necessarily. Some (not all) botanical ingredients include naturally occurring molecules that are considered to be known allergens and therefore may be irritating to some individuals. The same can be said for some (not all) synthetic ingredients that include known allergens that may be irritating to some individuals. The best thing to do is to conduct an allergy patch test prior to using any perfume, regardless of whether it is natural or not.
WHAT DOES “CLEAN” PERFUME MEAN? IS WIT & WEST CONSIDERED “CLEAN”?
“Clean beauty” is a marketing term with no independent organization governing the standards that define “clean”. In addition, “clean” simply means that a company has decided to self-regulate their products by excluding some ingredients considered by the company to be harmful, but it does not mean that the ingredients they choose to include are natural. In fact, most “clean” products are comprised of synthetic materials with little to no natural ingredients. The enthusiasm for “clean” is leveraged by some companies through marketing messaging as a way to create the perception of being more eco-friendly, safe or natural - even when they are not. We choose not to use the term "clean" as it is not a standard that is regulated or defined by an independent organization or government entity. However, just as "clean" doesn't necessarily equate to natural nor safer, natural doesn't necessarily equate to safer and synthetic doesn't equate to more harmful. The short answer is that there is no short answer. Some individuals may find that certain ingredients (natural and/or synthetic) are irritating to their skin, while others may not. If you are concerned about the safety of ingredients in a perfume the best thing to do is conduct an allergy test to see if the perfume causes you an adverse reaction as different ingredients can impact individuals differently.
ARE NATURAL AND SUSTAINABLE THE SAME THING?
Natural ingredients, while beautifully layered and complex, can raise sourcing concerns from an ethical and sustainability standpoint (e.g., Bois de Rose, commonly known as rosewood, animal ingredients, some types of sandalwood and agarwood “oud”, etc.). We choose not to use animal ingredients in any of our products for ethical and sustainability reasons. For other non-animal natural ingredients where sustainability is a factor, we work with our suppliers to ensure there is origin traceability and information regarding the farming and cultivation process of the raw materials (e.g., the patchouli oil we use is harvested through a collaborative project to teach farmers in Indonesia how to cultivate patchouli seedlings in a more sustainable way), or, if the raw material is regulated that it is CITES compliant where applicable (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna), and documents are on hand (e.g., our vanilla CO2 and agarwood oil are both CITES compliant), or, in the case of threatened or vulnerable species/raw materials, we look for alternative sources from other supplier(s) and/or we use similar alternative natural/naturally derived ingredients (e.g., benzoin, a gum oleoresin that is extracted from the resinous tree in the Styracaceae family, is a natural ingredient that has similarities in aromatic profile to vanilla). If a raw material is in question from a sustainability standpoint and it cannot be verified or traced back to its origin, producer, grower, farming and cultivation process, we don’t use it at all.
BESIDES INGREDIENT SOURCING, WHAT OTHER SUSTAINABILITY EFFORTS DOES WIT & WEST FOCUS ON?
As a small-batch indie natural perfumery and as co-owners of Wit & West Perfumes, West and I are committed to focusing on sustainability through our raw materials sourcing, small-batch production and bottling/packaging, as well as through partnerships and annual giving to nonprofit organizations dedicated to environmental causes and protecting our planet. Beyond our ingredient sourcing process discussed in the previous section, here's some of the other sustainability efforts we focus on:
ARE ALL WIT & WEST PERFUMES CRUELTY-FREE?
Yes, all Wit & West products are cruelty-free (we are proud to be Leaping Bunny certified). At Wit & West, we test our products on ourselves, not our furry friends.
ARE ALL WIT & WEST PERFUMES VEGAN?
Yes, all Wit & West products are vegan. Please refer to the individual product description for additional ingredient details.
HOW DO I KNOW WHAT ALLERGENS ARE CONTAINED IN YOUR PERFUMES?
Under each product description, we list our botanical ingredients (e.g., rose absolute as the common name, and rosa damascena as the botanical name) as well as the fragrance allergens that are naturally occurring within those botanicals using the INCI (International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient) standardized name. Allergens include those that have been identified as potential allergens (i.e., they may be irritating to some individuals) by the EU Commission of the Cosmetics Regulation 2023/1545 and must be disclosed when the allergen contained within the finished product has a concentration of 0.001% or higher. While not all individuals may experience allergic reactions to a particular ingredient defined as a potential allergen, we include this information for transparency purposes and to allow you to make the best choice for yourself. If you are unsure of whether a particular ingredient may be irritating to your skin or not, we recommend conducting an allergy patch test before using our products (allergy patch test procedures are available through medical websites such as the American Academy of Dermatology's website, but it's always best to consult your physician if you have questions and/or if you experience an allergic reaction of any kind). For more information on the list of ingredients defined as potential allergens by the European Union, please see the EU Commission on Cosmetic Regulations.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS REGARDING INGREDIENTS?
Just ask! We are always happy to help answer any questions you may have regarding ingredients or our process. Feel free to email us at info@witandwest.com.
ARE WIT & WEST PRODUCTS ALLERGEN FREE? WHAT ARE THE PRODUCT USE INSTRUCTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS?
Natural perfumes contain ingredients such as citrus essential oils, floral absolutes, etc. that some individuals may find irritating to their skin. We strongly recommend purchasing samples first before committing to a full-size bottle (not only so that you can determine which scent you like best, but also so you can conduct an allergy patch-test prior to use). Additional considerations for use and safety are below:
I'M HAVING TROUBLE WITH A SAMPLE/BOTTLE SPRAYING PROPERLY, DO YOU HAVE ANY TIPS?
We do not “pre-spray” our samples or bottles prior to shipping them to you (think of any other cosmetic or personal care products with pumps or seals; they do not arrive pre-opened or pre-pumped, you must remove a seal or set the pump to “open” and then pump several times when using for the first time). We choose not to do this to ensure you not only have the freshest product possible, but also because if we did pre-spray the samples or our bottles, that would be like sending you a product that had already been used/opened. Because we don’t pre-spray our samples or bottles, this means that you’ll need to press the pumps several times to get it going.
Here's some tips on how to spray our samples/bottles properly:
If you have questions or need additional assistance, please reach out to us via email at info@witandwest.com
HOW LONG TO WIT & WEST PERFUMES LAST (WEAR TIME AND SHELF LIFE)?
Our perfumes and colognes, made with 100% natural botanical and naturally derived ingredients, typically have a shorter wear time than mainstream fragrances, which often rely on synthetic aroma molecules for extended longevity. Generally, our perfumes last 2-6 hours, depending on the specific scent and the individual wearing it. We recommend applying our perfumes liberally on your pulse-points and for added longevity, try spritzing in your hair. Because we use a three-stage filtered USDA organic grape alcohol as the base for our perfumes, our perfumes are naturally preserved to last several years if stored in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight. After using the perfume for a few years, you may notice a reduction in sillage, but because our perfumes use alcohol as the base, they will not go bad.
WHY ARE WIT & WEST PERFUMES COLORED?
Natural perfumes take on the color of their botanical ingredients – don’t worry, our perfumes are not artificially colored! Some raw materials such as jasmine sambac are a darker reddish-brown color, other ingredients such as osmanthus are slightly greenish-brown in color.
MY PERFUME APPEARS TO HAVE SEDIMENT IN THE BOTTLE AND/OR IS CLOUDY. IS THIS NORMAL?
We systematically filter each perfume prior to bottling so you shouldn’t see much sediment or cloudiness, but if you do it is because natural perfumes contain ingredients such as resins, essential oils, wood, leaves, etc. that may leave small traces behind in the perfume.
HOW SHOULD I STORE MY WIT & WEST PERFUME?
Keep your perfume bottle away from extreme temperatures and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight.
DO YOU HAVE ROLLERBALL OR OIL-BASED FRAGRANCES?
No, all Wit & West perfumes and colognes come in a spray bottle format and are meant to be spritzed. The base used in our fragrances is an organic alcohol base which lends itself to a better application and overall experience in a spray/atomizer bottle format whereas oil-based fragrances are meant to be applied directly to the skin and rollerball bottles are better suited for their application. We have 3 sizes of bottles to choose from; 1.5ml sample spray bottles, 15ml spray bottles (great for travel or spritzing on the go) and our 50ml spray bottles.
DO YOU SELL PERFUME SAMPLES?
Yes! Purchase one (or several) 1.5ml perfume samples so you can spritz before you commit to a larger bottle. Not sure what to sample? Purchase the Signature & Cologne Collection Sample Set and get all 13 of our perfumes (excludes limited-edition Reserve Collection perfumes) and colognes, plus, get a complimentary $20 digital gift card to use toward the purchase of a full-size bottle.
WHICH SAMPLE SET COMES WITH THE COMPLIMENTARY $20 GIFT CARD?
The only sample set that comes with the complimentary $20 digital gift card is the Signature & Cologne Collection Sample Set. The price of this sample set is $60 and includes 13 total samples. The complimentary $20 digital gift card does not come with any other sample sets.
I TRIED ADDING THE COMPLIMENTARY $20 GIFT CARD TO MY ORDER BUT IT IS NOT DEDUCTING THE $20 FROM MY TOTAL. WHAT COULD BE GOING ON?
First, make sure you add the Signature & Cologne Collection Sample Set to your order before adding the gift card. The complimentary $20 digital gift card is only applicable for orders that include the Signature & Cologne Collection Sample Set and in order for it to be complimentary, it cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts.
DO YOU OFFER FREE PERFUME SAMPLES?
Given that we are small business, please note that we cannot offer free samples. You can get a discount on your order if you sign-up for email or if you take our Scent Quiz. We offer a variety of options for samples including individual samples as well as part of one of our sample sets.
DO WIT & WEST GIFT CARDS EXPIRE?
No, Wit & West Gift Cards never expire.
CAN A GIFT CARD BE PURCHASED IN ANY AMOUNT?
No, gift cards can only be purchased in specific amounts starting at $15 and up to $850.
CAN A GIFT CARD BE USED MORE THAN ONCE?
Yes, if a gift card still has an available balance left on it you can use it until it is depleted.
CAN MORE THAN ONE GIFT CARD BE USED TOWARDS A PURCHASE?
Yes, you can use more than one gift card to make a purchase.
HOW DO I PURCHASE A GIFT CARD FOR SOMEONE ELSE?
If you would like a gift card to be sent directly to the gift recipient please indicate the recipient's email address during the check-out process.
WHAT IF I NEVER RECEIVED OR MISPLACED MY GIFT CARD?
Click the link in the original order confirmation email to "resend" the gift card.
WHAT IS YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW DID YOU LEARN PERFUMERY?
Both myself and my husband and co-founder of Wit & West have analytical and quantitative educational and professional backgrounds (we both love math). Previously, I worked in corporate marketing and finance leadership roles including leading the marketing analytics functions for both medium and large fortune 500 companies. My husband (West) has a background in chemistry and physics and works full-time as a rocket scientist (not a prerequisite for perfumery, but certainly a huge benefit). Before starting Wit & West Perfumes, I spent 2+ years studying on my own and under some of the world’s most well-known and highly regarded natural perfumers including Mandy Aftel of Aftelier Perfumes and Charna Ethier of Providence Perfume Co. As an avid believer that an artist can never stop learning and growing, I approach perfumery with a mindset that is always open to new techniques, technologies, styles, and ideas. Perfumery is something that requires many years of training, patience, and dedication to reach a level of proficiency. As such, I consider myself to be a life-long student of the art of perfumery and continue to receive ongoing mentorship and training with other natural perfumers as well as via continuing education through organizations such as the prestigious Grasse Institute of Perfumery (GIP).
DO YOU OFFER PERFUMERY WORKSHOPS OR CLASSES?
Currently, we do not offer any workshops or classes. However, it is something we may consider doing in the future. If you are interested in learning about perfumery, we do offer one-on-one mentorship on a case-by-case basis (fees determined upon assessment of your needs and goals). If you are interested, please email me at info@witandwest.com.
DO YOU HAVE A BRICK-AND-MORTAR STORE LOCATION?
Currently, we do not have our own brick-and-mortar location for Wit & West Perfumes. However, if you checkout our Stockist and Events page you can see where you might be able to find us in-person if you are in the Denver Metro/Colorado area.
DO YOU HAVE OPENINGS FOR JOBS OR INTERNSHIPS?
We love the enthusiasm and interest in working for Wit & West Perfumes! Currently, Wit & West Perfumes is a husband-and-wife run small business. At this time, it's just West and I doing everything from business/admin, marketing/social media, fragrance design/creation, compounding, bottling and order fulfillment. While we don't have any openings for positions at this time, we may in the future and if so, we will add a section on our website specifically dedicated to career/job opportunities.
DO YOU WORK WITH INFLUENCERS AND/OR OFFER FREE PRODUCT IN EXCHANGE FOR CONTENT CREATION?
The short answer is No. Each week, we receive a large volume of requests to partner/collaborate with content creators and social media influencers. While we greatly appreciate the interest and enthusiasm to collaborate, in general, we are unable to accept requests to do collaborations or "gifted collabs" with influencers (e.g., sending free product in exchange for a review and/or content creation on social media platforms). There are several reasons for this. First, we are a small family-owned business that is operated by just myself (Wit) and my husband (West), and as a result we have to be conscious of how we allocate our resources as well as our marketing budget. Second, we are a small-batch artisanal perfumery and as such, we have a limited stock of our products (in some cases, we have not only limited availability, but also limited seasonal availability of our perfumes due to the fact that we use in-house ingredients that are extracted from the flowers in our garden). Third, West and I are committed to creating unique, non-mainstream scents for those who don't want to smell like everyone else. Our focus is on the artistry of perfumery, and specifically, natural botanical perfumery, a genre that isn't mainstream and therefore not necessarily for everyone. Fourth, we feel that authentic feedback and reviews of our perfumes should come organically and from those who already know and love our brand and our vision for creating unique all-natural botanical perfumes and colognes. So, while we are unable to accept any new requests for "gifted collabs" from content creators/influencers, from time to time we may reach out to influencers, writers/bloggers or friends of ours who have already purchased Wit & West products from us and/or tried our products at one of our wholesale retailers or at an in-person event for things like giveaways, new product releases, etc.
DO YOU OFFER DISCOUNTS FOR INFLUENCERS?
If you are a beauty/fragrance influencer who is interested in trying us out, we have a couple of ways you can get a discount on samples (PLEASE NOTE: Given that we are small business, we cannot offer free samples at this time). You can get a discount on your order if you sign-up for email or if you take our Scent Quiz. If you would prefer not to sign-up for our email newsletter and/or if you are having trouble with a discount code working, please email us at info@witandwest.com and we will create a discount code for you. We offer a variety of options for samples including individual samples as well as part of one of our sample sets.
DO YOU HAVE AN AFFILIATE MARKETING PROGRAM?
If you are an influencer/blogger/writer who would like to apply to be an affiliate for Wit & West, you can sign-up through Share-A-Sale by going to our Wit & West Affiliate Marketing Program page.
DO YOU HAVE A PR AGENCY OR PRESS CONTACT?
Currently, all PR is handled in-house. If you have a questions and/or are interested in featuring Wit & West Perfumes in your publication or blog please email us at info@witandwest.com. PLEASE NOTE: As mentioned previously, we cannot offer free product in exchange for reviews or content creation at this time. We do offer a shared commission for sales generated through affiliate links. If you are interested in applying to be an affiliate, you can check out the Wit & West Affiliate Marketing Program through Share-A-Sale.
HOW DOES THE BESPOKE CUSTOM PERFUME PROCESS WORK?
For more information about Wit & West Bespoke visit our Bespoke Perfume Experience page (includes information regarding process, timing and pricing).
CAN I USED A DISCOUNT OR COUPON ON THE BESPOKE EXPERIENCE OR PRIVATE LABEL PERFUME?
No, discounts are not valid on the Bespoke Experience or Private Label Perfume.
DO YOU OFFER CUSTOM PERFUME CREATION FOR BRANDS?
Yes, we do offer custom perfume creation for brands. For more information, please visit our Private Label page.
WHERE CAN I FIND WIT & WEST IN-PERSON?
If you are interested in trying our products in-person, you can check out our Stockist and Events page to see where you can find us at in-person. We only do about 2-3 events per year across the state of Colorado (and sometimes beyond) so make sure to check the events page so you don't miss us!
DOES WIT & WEST HOST PRIVATE EVENTS?
At this time, we do not host private events. It is something we may consider in the future, and if we do, it will be listed on our website as an option for booking an event.
I OWN A BOUTIQUE AND WOULD LOVE FOR YOU TO DO A POP-UP EVENT AT MY BOUTIQUE, IS THIS A POSSIBILITY?
Thanks for thinking of Wit & West Perfumes for your next pop-up event! However, due to a number of other projects we are working on, we are only doing about 2-3 in-person events per year and can't commit to anything new at this time. If this changes, we will update our Events page with details so you can reach out to us with information regarding your next event.
IS WIT & WEST AVAILABLE AT RETAIL LOCATIONS?
Wit & West Perfumes is a Colorado-based small business/independent perfumery that is family run by myself (Wit) and my husband (West). At this time, we do not have a brick-and-mortar location. If you are interested in trying our products in-person, you can check out our Stockist and Events page to see where you can find us at in-person. Please note that while we try and keep our Stockist page up-to-date, it may not always reflect what a retailer currently has stocked so the best thing to do would be to call the retailer to confirm before visiting. Also, please be advised that most of our retailers only carry a selection of our perfumes and colognes and not our entire line (e.g., limited edition fragrances such as those from our Reserve Collection, are available exclusively through our website only).
I AM INTERESTED IN CARRYING WIT & WEST PERFUMES AT MY RETAIL SHOP. HOW CAN I WORK WITH YOU?
If you are an online or brick-and-mortar retailer who is interested in selling Wit & West Perfumes in your store, we have several options for purchasing our products wholesale including through Faire as well as direct. Visit our Wholesale page to learn more.
I SEE THAT YOU ARE ON FAIRE BUT DON'T OFFER SAMPLES FOR ME TO TRY YOUR PRODUCTS BEFORE MAKING A WHOLESALE PURCHASE, HOW CAN I SAMPLE FIRST?
Unfortunately, due to the way that the Faire platform works, we no longer offer samples for purchase on Faire as the intent is not for them to be resold in retail and only for stockists to try before committing to a wholesale purchase. If you would like to purchase samples prior to making a wholesale purchase, please email us at info@witandwest.com.
DO YOU WORK WITH STOCKISTS ON A CONSIGNMENT BASIS?
No, we do not work with stockists on a consignment basis. Due to the fact that we are a small-batch artisanal perfumery with limited product availability, we are not able to offer our products for retail purposes on a consignment basis (only wholesale purchase).
IS SHIPPING INCLUDED IN THE RETAIL PRICE?
Shipping starts at $5 and is applied at checkout. All orders placed in the continental USA are shipped via USPS standard ground. Shipping for orders placed in the USA are free for orders $60 and above as well as for any orders placed in the state of Colorado.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECEIVE MY PACKAGE?
All orders are processed within 1 to 2 business days (excluding weekends and holidays) after receiving your order confirmation email. You will receive another notification when your order has shipped. From time to time, we will have delays in our shipping timing due to vacation and/or other personal matters. If this is the case, it will be listed clearly at the top of our website when shipping will resume. We ship via USPS ground for all orders placed within the USA and DHL for international orders. USPS ground shipping varies depending on what part of the country you live in and also whether you are near a centralized USPS hub or not. In general, we have found that packages shipped via USPS ground take between 3-10 business days, but often closer to 5-7 days (longer if you live in AK, HI, PR). However, things such as weather and general USPS shipping delays happen from time to time so it can vary. Please refer to the tracking number on your order shipment email as that will redirect you to the USPS website for the most up-to-date information regarding your package (we do not have any other information other than what is on the USPS website). In general, USPS is very reliable and while a package might take longer than we'd like/expect it to, our experience with them has been positive and packages almost always make it to their final destination. In the unlikely event that it does not make it to you and/or if you feel like it has been lost in the mail, please email info@witandwest.com for assistance.
DO YOU SHIP OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES?
International shipping via DHL is currently on hold. We hope to resolve the shipping price issue with DHL and turn back on shipping to limited countries soon. You can also look at shipping forwarding options suchForward2Me that create a USA address for you to use and then they will ship directly to you. Please note that we are in no way affiliated or associated with Forward2Me or any other forwarding service so we cannot guarantee if they will ship to your country specifically nor can we tell you what the shipping fees or delivery timelines will be. In addition, because perfume that is alcohol based is considered a dangerous good you may want to inquire with any forwarding services as to whether they are able to ship dangerous goods or not. If you have questions, please reach out to us directly at info@witandwest.com.
Please note that per aviation regulations through organizations such as International Air Transport Association (IATA), alcohol-based perfume is considered a dangerous good/hazardous good which means that there are certain requirements that we must follow for international orders shipped via air. As such, international orders cannot be placed for 50ml sized bottles of perfume or cologne at this time. If you add a 50ml bottle to your order, we will contact you directly to advise of alternate options (e.g., multiple 15ml bottles instead). You may purchase 15ml sized bottles of perfume or cologne as well as 1.5ml samples (individual samples and/or multiple samples or one of our sample sets). You can purchase multiple 15ml bottles in a single order, however, if it is above the allowable quantity for a single parcel then we will contact you to let you know that your order will be delivered in multiple boxes.
DO YOU ACCEPT RETURNS?
All sales are final, and we do not accept returns or exchanges as perfumes (like most beauty and personal care products) cannot be reused or resold once opened. Wit & West Perfumes is a small artisanal perfumery owned by myself (Wit) and my husband (West) and all of our perfumes and colognes are made in small batches by us (we don’t outsource any of our process – all of our products are made by West and I, in-house in our studio in Littleton, CO) from 100% all-natural ingredients and while we feel they are very beautiful and unique, they are very different from mainstream fragrances that are made from primarily synthetic aroma chemicals. As such, we understand that the olfactory experience of wearing our perfumes and colognes might not be something that many people are familiar with, so we recommend against "blind buying" and instead, first purchasing samples to determine which scents appeal to you before committing to a full-size bottle. Samples are available as part of one of our sample sets or you can purchase samples individually (given we are small business, please note that we do not offer free samples. You can get a discount on your order if you sign-up for email or if you take our Scent Quiz). If you received an incorrect order or your perfume was received damaged, please contact us at info@witandwest.com for assistance (include your first/last name, order number and any detail regarding the damage to the perfume).
DO YOU HAVE PAY OVERTIME / BUY NOW, PAY LATER PAYMENT OPTIONS?
Yes! Wit & West offers Shop Pay Installments through Shopify (in partnership with Affirm). Shop Pay allows you to pay for products as well as the Bespoke Perfume Experience over time. Minimum of $50 per order required to pay overtime. Simply select Shop Pay Installments as your payment type when you checkout. Learn more about payments with Shop Pay.
