Frequently Asked Questions

A brand new, unread book, wrapped so the cover and title stay hidden until you're ready to unwrap it. Instead of a title, you'll get clues: genre, rating, page count, setting, and a handful of story hints. It's a fun way to discover your next read without judging a book by its cover!

Every book, new or second hand, is hand-picked with reader ratings, genre variety, and clue potential in mind. I also mix things up across drops so regular customers won't end up with something too similar to their last blind date book.

Yes, genre is chosen at checkout, so you'll always get a book in the genre you select for either range. Beyond that, though, the specific title stays a surprise. That's all part of the fun!

Here's my promise: if you unwrap a book already on your shelf, send me a photo of the two books side by side, and I'll send you a $15 store credit, no fuss. And honestly? It's rare. I source from my own collection, publishers, and vintage sellers, so the pool is huge and constantly being updated.

Where possible, yes, for both new and second hand books. I do my best to flag relevant trigger warnings on each card, but I can't guarantee every single one is captured. If you have specific concerns, feel free to message before ordering.

All pre-loved books are checked before they're wrapped and made available for sale. Expect gentle, honest signs of a previous life, like a slightly worn cover or a soft crease here and there, but nothing that affects the reading experience. Books with heavy damage don't make the cut. Most copies come clean of writing or stamps, though occasionally you might spot a small inscription; it's part of what makes second hand books charming, and I'm not able to specifically select against this.

Definitely! Each one, new or second hand, makes a unique, personalised book gift, and it comes with a greeting card included, so it's ready to give as-is. A great pick for birthdays, book lovers, or "just because."

Brand new books are returned case by case; if something arrives damaged or faulty, reach out and I'll sort it out. Second hand books are sold "as is" in terms of light wear, so returns aren't accepted for cosmetic issues, though a misdescribed or damaged-in-transit book will always be made right. For either range, if you're worried about receiving a book you already own, store credit is available as per the listing policy.

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.

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.

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.