Frequently Asked Questions

Each Clare Makes candle size is designed for a different space and style of use. A medium candle suits smaller rooms such as bedrooms, bathrooms, or home offices and burns for around 40 hours.

A large candle is ideal for open-plan areas like living rooms or kitchens, filling a bigger space with scent for up to 50 hours.

Our extra-large candles are made for long burn times and large rooms, offering up to 60 hours of fragrance and a strong, even scent throw.

Many customers mix sizes throughout the home - a medium candle for intimate spaces and a larger one where more fragrance coverage is needed.

Medium candles are best when you want a soft, steady fragrance in a smaller area or a short-term burn that doesn’t overpower the room. They’re perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, studies, or bedside tables, and make a great option for people who like to change scents more often. If you’re gifting, a medium candle is also a thoughtful size. Becuase they are unboxed, they are still a luxurious yet affordable, and easy to wrap or pair with another product.

A large Clare Makes candle is perfect for open-plan spaces such as living rooms, dining areas, or kitchens where you want strong scent coverage. It’s a great in-between size, burning for up to 50 hours and filling the space with fragrance evenly. If you prefer longer burn sessions or want to enjoy one scent across a larger area, the large candle is the most practical and cost-effective choice. It also comes boxed so is perfect for gifting.

Each Clare Makes candle is boxed and packed by hand in protective materials to ensure it arrives safely. We use a combination of biofill that dissolves in water and eco-friendly bubble wrap made from 50% recycled plastic waste. Orders are shipped in sturdy, recyclable cartons, and we reuse as much supplier packaging as possible to reduce landfill. Every parcel is fully tracked within Australia and usually dispatched within two to three business days from our Newcastle studio.

Every Clare Makes candle is hand-poured in Newcastle using a soy wax blend, all-cotton wicks, and Australian Made fragrance oils inspired by native botanicals. Unlike mass-produced candles, ours are made in small batches for quality and consistency, with each scent designed to capture the essence of the Australian landscape.

Clare Makes runs a single VIP sale each year - usually during Black Friday, although timing can vary. The event is exclusive to email subscribers who receive early access and special offers. We recommend joining the mailing list to avoid missing out, and checking Instagram for the latest sale information. Because every candle is hand-poured in small batches, sales are infrequent and stock sells out quickly.

Seconds candles are also occasionally available at a discount. These candles have small cosmetic imperfections, such as a damaged label or a slightly off-centre wick. They’re added to the website as they’re found and tend to sell quickly.

An extra large Clare Makes candle is ideal for open-plan living areas, larger rooms, or homes where you want a bold, consistent fragrance. It contains 400g of wax and has a 60 hour burn time, making it perfect for people who enjoy lighting a candle every day. If you’re a repeat customer or already know which scent you love, the XL size offers great value and long-lasting fragrance.

Extra large candles have a stronger scent throw than medium or large sizes. They’re designed to fill spacious rooms with ease, but if you love a very strong fragrance, you can also use one in a smaller room for a more intense scent experience. The larger wax pool allows more fragrance oil to diffuse, so you’ll notice the scent more quickly and evenly throughout your space.

Each extra large Clare Makes candle burns for around 60 hours when cared for correctly. To get the best performance, trim the wick to 5 mm before each burn and allow the wax to melt evenly to the edges before extinguishing. This prevents tunnelling and ensures the fragrance remains strong from start to finish.

Every extra large candle is hand-poured in Newcastle using a soy wax blend, all-cotton wicks, and Australian-made fragrance oils inspired by native botanicals. The XL size gives you the longest burn time and strongest scent throw in the range - perfect for people who love a statement piece or want their home to smell beautiful every day.

Clare Makes candles aren’t available for individual personalisation. Each label is professionally designed and printed to maintain a consistent finish across the range. While we can’t add names or custom messages to single candles, we do offer co-branded options for larger wholesale or corporate orders. For gifting, many customers choose to add a handwritten note or pair the candle with one of our greeting cards for a personal touch.

Yes. Clare Makes offers tracked delivery Australia-wide, with both standard and express shipping options available at checkout. We use trusted Australian carriers like Sendle and Australia Post to ensure your order arrives safely and on time.

During the Christmas period, we recommend placing your order early to guarantee delivery before the holidays. Each year, our Christmas shipping cut-off dates are shared in advance, so you can plan your gifts with confidence. Express shipping is the best option for last-minute orders, while standard shipping remains a reliable and cost-effective choice for early shoppers.

All Clare Makes candles are hand-poured in Newcastle, carefully packed for travel, and dispatched with full tracking details. Whether you’re sending a festive gift or treating yourself, you can shop knowing your order will arrive quickly and beautifully presented anywhere in Australia.

The Clare Makes Christmas Collection 2025 celebrates the festive season the Australian way, with warm days, coastal air, and the scent of native botanicals in bloom. Each candle draws inspiration from summer memories, Australian landscapes, and the joy of meaningful gifting.

This year’s collection includes Native Noël, a bright, grounding blend of Christmas bush, clove leaf, fir needle, eucalyptus, jasmine, and patchouli that captures the colours and scents of an Australian summer. Sun Seeker is a salty, floral fragrance with peppermint, orange, coconut, musk, amber, and cedar leaf, inspired by long coastal afternoons and relaxed holiday gatherings. Gingerbread House is a sweet, nostalgic scent with notes of native mulberry, blending the warmth of tradition with a uniquely Australian twist.

Unlike traditional Christmas candles that lean toward snow and pine, the Clare Makes range celebrates our sun-drenched landscape: light, fresh, and distinctly Australian. Each candle is hand-poured in Newcastle using Australian-made fragrance oils and natural soy wax, designed to bring the spirit of an Australian summer Christmas into your home or gifting.

Our Christmas gift bundles are thoughtfully curated to bring together multiple best-selling fragrance items in one ready-to-gift package, making it simpler, more cost-effective, and beautifully presented. For example, the Christmas Indulgence Set includes a large candle, reed diffuser, limited-edition Christmas candle, body oil, tea light sampler, greeting card and clear gift bag. 

The Festive Favourites Set offers a medium candle, room spray, body oil, tea light sampler, greeting card and gift bag. 

Because everything is bundled, you get a better value compared to buying each item separately, plus you save time on gift-wrapping and presentation.

Yes! Both of our holiday bundles allow you to personalise the fragrance variants. For instance, in the Christmas Indulgence Set you can select your preferred large candle scent (Annie, Banjo or Matilda), your reed diffuser variant, and your limited-edition Christmas candle scent (Gingerbread House, Sun Seeker or Native Noël) at purchase. 

Similarly, the Festive Favourites Set lets you choose your room spray (Clyde: Kakadu Plum / Quong: Lemon Myrtle & Ginger / Ellis: Ghost Gum Breeze), your medium candle variant and your Christmas candle scent. 

This ensures the bundle suits the recipient’s taste or your own favourite scent combination.

Yes! These sets are limited seasonal releases and once sold out they won’t return for this year. 

Each bundle includes free shipping (for Australian orders) and is packaged to present beautifully: items are wrapped individually, arrive with a flat-packed clear PVC gift bag with white faux-leather handle, and include a greeting card (blank inside) for you to personalise. 

If you’re buying as a gift, the packaging is ready to go, which makes it ideal for corporate gifts, friends, family or yourself.

The Teacher Appreciation Candle Set is a thoughtful, Australian Made gift designed to show gratitude at the end of the school year. Each set includes a Clare Makes candle paired with a premium notepad for heartfelt messages or daily lists. The candles feature native botanical scents inspired by Australian landscapes, offering something unique and memorable for teachers who already have plenty of mugs and chocolates.

Yes! Each set includes a gift card where you can write a personal message to your child’s teacher or educator. The fragrance notes in the teacher set are citrusy and warm, making it an easy gift that will be loved by the recipient. All candles are hand-poured in Newcastle and packed carefully for gifting, making them easy to give directly or send by post.

Teacher gift orders are sent with tracked delivery Australia-wide. To make sure your candle set arrives before the end of term, it’s best to order early, ideally by late November for standard delivery or select express shipping for last-minute gifts. Each candle is ready to gift straight from the box, so you can focus on writing your thank-you card rather than wrapping.

The Milestone Candle & Seed Set is designed for celebrating life’s big moments: birthdays, new homes, graduations, or new beginnings. Each set includes a Clare Makes candle inspired by Australian botanicals and a packet of Eden Seeds to symbolise growth and renewal. It’s a thoughtful, lasting alternative to traditional flowers or gift cards, made to reflect connection and care through scent and nature.

Each set includes a packet of Eden Seeds, an Australian brand known for heritage, non-hybrid, and untreated seeds. The variety may differ slightly by season but always reflects the Clare Makes ethos of celebrating Australian flora and sustainable living. The seeds can be planted in a garden or pot, giving the recipient something to nurture long after the candle has burned.

This set is a limited release and will only be available while stocks last. Each batch is hand-poured in small quantities, and once sold out it won’t return in the same format. We recommend ordering early if you’d like to gift one for an upcoming birthday, milestone, or special occasion.

Yes! Clare Makes refills are designed so you can reuse your existing diffuser glassware. As long as your jar is clean and can safely hold the amount of oil you’re pouring in, you can refill it easily. If your jar is smaller, pour in only what fits and store the remaining oil in a cool, dry place for later use.

It’s always best to use fresh reeds with your refill oil. Over time, reeds can become saturated and less effective at dispersing fragrance. Each Clare Makes refill pouch conveniently includes a new set of reeds, so you’ll always get the best possible scent throw.

Our refill pouches are lightweight, easy to pour, and reduce the need for single-use glass or plastic packaging. They’re also safer to ship, take up less space, and can stand upright on their own. The pouch design makes it simple to refill your existing diffuser without waste, which is a practical, cost-effective, and environmentally conscious way to enjoy your favourite Clare Makes scent.

A candle is best when you want to create both scent and atmosphere. It delivers a strong burst of fragrance while it burns, filling the room with warmth and light. Candles are perfect for evenings, gatherings, or quiet moments of relaxation when you want to pause and unwind.

A reed diffuser provides a more subtle, consistent scent that lasts for months. It’s ideal for smaller spaces such as bedrooms, bathrooms, or hallways where you’d like a gentle background fragrance without needing to light or monitor anything. Diffusers work continuously, so your home always smells inviting.

A room spray is the quickest and most flexible way to scent a space. It’s designed for short-term fragrance (usually lasting an hour or two) and is perfect for refreshing a room before guests arrive or for eliminating unwanted smells. You can control the strength and placement of the scent by adjusting how and where you spray.

Each Clare Makes diffuser is hand-poured in Newcastle using high-quality Australian fragrance oils and natural ingredients. Choosing handmade means supporting small-batch craftsmanship, premium Australian-made ingredients, and thoughtful design - not mass production made offshore to maximise profit.Every diffuser is created with care, tested for long-lasting scent performance, and inspired by the Australian landscape.

It’s a difference you can see, smell, and feel in your home.

Room sprays are designed to scent a space quickly and easily. Hold the bottle upright and spritz two to three times into the air or onto soft furnishings such as curtains, cushions, or linen. Avoid spraying directly onto painted or polished surfaces. The fragrance will disperse within seconds, leaving the room refreshed and softly scented.

Pro tip: My bed sheets come in a bag made from the same fabric as the bedding itself. I use that bag for all my room spray tests. It lets me determine if the room spray is safe for that fabric and lets me compare how different fragrances linger over time.

You can use a Clare Makes room spray anywhere you want an instant lift: in the living room, bedroom, bathroom, or even your car. For best results, spray into the air or onto fabrics that hold scent well, such as curtains or bedding. A few sprays are enough to refresh a space before guests arrive or to neutralise lingering odours.

Always do a test spray before spraying your room spray directly onto fabric.

Each spritz scents a space for one to two hours, depending on room size and airflow. Because you can control how much you use, room sprays are ideal for layering fragrance or refreshing a room between burning candles or using diffusers. A 100ml bottle will give you months of fragrance with everyday use.

Unlike synthetic air fresheners that use heavy perfumes or propellants, Clare Makes room sprays are crafted with premium Australian fragrance oils and a water & alcohol base. They’re hand-poured in small batches and designed to evoke the scent of the Australian landscape- clean, fresh, and sophisticated - rather than simply masking odours.

Here at Clare Makes our room sprays are made with high-quality fragrance oils and a gentle base, but as with any scented product, it’s best to use them responsibly around pets. Spray into the air or onto fabrics, never directly onto animals or their bedding, and allow the mist to settle before letting pets back into the room. Used this way, our room sprays are a safe and enjoyable way to freshen your home while keeping it comfortable for every family member, furry ones included.

The Barrier Repair Oil is designed for daytime use. It’s lightweight, absorbs quickly, and gives your skin a natural, healthy glow, perfect for wearing under clothing or before heading out.

The Moisturising Oil is slightly thicker and better suited for evening use when your skin can fully absorb the nutrients overnight. Both formulas are nourishing, non-greasy, and made with high-quality ingredients to leave skin soft and smooth.

We’re not sure yet! They're new category for us, so it depends on how they sell. The body oils are currently part of a trial release, and if they become a favourite among customers, they’ll stay in the range permanently.

Yes. All Clare Makes body oils are proudly certified Australian Made. They’re bottled here in Newcastle using locally sourced ingredients wherever possible, reflecting our ongoing commitment to Australian craftsmanship and quality.

Each body oil comes in a glass bottle with a dropper applicator for easy, mess-free use. The dropper lets you control how much product you apply, so a little goes a long way. The glass packaging is fully recyclable and designed to look beautiful on your bathroom shelf or bedside table.

We don’t recommend using Clare Makes body oils on the face, as they’re a little too rich and not formulated for delicate facial skin. However, they double as an excellent cuticle oil. Many customers (and I personally) keep one on the bedside table for that reason. You can also apply a few drops to dry areas like elbows, knees, or hands for extra hydration.

Each 200ml Clare Makes refill can last up to six months, depending on the environment. Warmer rooms or dry climates may cause faster evaporation, while cooler, air-conditioned spaces help the fragrance last longer. Turning the reeds every few days will refresh the scent and maintain a consistent fragrance level.

To extend the life of your diffuser, start with one reed stick and see how much scent it releases. Add more if you prefer a stronger fragrance, but in most cases, you won’t need all five. The fewer reeds you use, the slower the oil will evaporate and the longer your diffuser will last.