Privacy Policy

Effective Date: September 8, 2025

Scent Shop, including all its affiliated brands such as Skeeter Screen and any other subsidiaries or product lines under its umbrella (collectively referred to as “Scent Shop,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), is committed to safeguarding the privacy and security of your personal information. This Privacy Policy provides a comprehensive overview of our practices concerning the collection, use, disclosure, storage, and protection of personal information obtained through our website, online store, mobile applications, physical retail locations, customer service interactions, marketing campaigns, and any other services we provide (collectively, the “Services”). By accessing or using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and consent to the practices described in this Policy.

We are a family-owned business, founded in 1970, headquartered at 2614 National Place, Garland, Texas 75041, United States. This Policy applies to all individuals who interact with our Services, irrespective of their location, and is designed to comply with applicable data protection laws, including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA), the Colorado Privacy Act (CPA), the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for European Union residents, and other relevant federal and state regulations in the United States. We adhere to principles of data minimization, ensuring we collect only what is necessary for the purposes outlined herein.

1. Information We Collect

To deliver our Services effectively, we collect various categories of information. We categorize this as follows:

  • Personal Identifiers: Name, email address, postal address, phone number, username, password, and date of birth (if provided for age verification or personalized offers).
  • Payment and Financial Information: Credit card details, billing address, and transaction history, processed securely through third-party payment gateways (e.g., we do not store full credit card numbers).
  • Commercial Information: Purchase history, including details of products such as candles (e.g., Raspberry Green Tea, Lemongrass Tea, or Peach Mango Tea from our Tea Time sets), room mists (e.g., Lemongrass Room Mist), or mosquito deterrents (e.g., Skeeter Screen DEET-free products).
  • Internet or Network Activity: Browsing history, search queries, IP address, device type, browser type, operating system, unique device identifiers, pages viewed, time and date of visits, referral sources, and interactions with our content (e.g., adding items to a shopping cart).
  • Geolocation Data: Approximate location derived from your IP address or provided during checkout for shipping optimization, tax calculation, or location-based promotions.
  • Sensory Data: If you upload images or provide feedback involving scents or products, we may collect related metadata.
  • Inferences Drawn from Other Data: Profiles reflecting preferences, such as fragrance interests based on past purchases (e.g., floral scents for Skeeter Screen users).
  • Gift Recipient Information: Names, addresses, and contact details for gift fulfillment, which are not used for marketing unless separately consented to.
  • Communications and Feedback: Responses to surveys, contests, sweepstakes, emails, or customer service inquiries (e.g., via customerservice@scentshop.com).
  • Sensitive Personal Information: We do not actively collect sensitive data such as racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs, health information, or genetic data. However, if voluntarily disclosed (e.g., fragrance allergies in a support query), it is used solely for that purpose and handled with heightened security.
  • Aggregated or De-Identified Data: Non-personal data compiled for statistical analysis, which cannot be used to identify individuals.

We collect this information directly from you (e.g., during registration, purchases, or opt-ins), automatically via technologies like cookies, or from third-party sources as detailed below. You may visit our site anonymously, but certain features (e.g., personalized recommendations) require data collection.

2. How We Collect Information

We employ multiple methods to gather information, ensuring transparency and necessity:

  • Direct Interactions: When you register an account, place an order, enter contests or promotions, respond to surveys, subscribe to newsletters, or contact customer service.
  • Automated Technologies: Our Services use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar tracking tools to enhance functionality. For example:
    • Cookies: Essential cookies for site navigation and shopping cart persistence; performance cookies for analytics; functional cookies for remembering preferences; targeting cookies for personalized ads.
    • You can manage these via browser settings or our cookie consent banner. Disabling cookies may limit site features, but orders can still be placed via phone.
  • Third-Party Sources: From partners like payment processors (e.g., Stripe), shipping carriers (e.g., USPS, UPS), analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics), advertising networks, or social media platforms (if you engage with our content).
  • Public and Inferred Sources: Limited data from public databases for fraud prevention or from interactions to infer preferences.

We do not use automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal effects without human oversight.

3. How We Use Your Information

Your information is processed for specific, legitimate purposes, including:

  • Service Delivery and Fulfillment: Processing orders, shipping products, handling returns, providing customer support, and personalizing experiences (e.g., recommending complementary items like Lemongrass Room Mist with Tea Time candles).
  • Marketing and Communications: Sending promotional emails, newsletters, or targeted ads about new products, sales, or events, only with your opt-in consent. We may use inferences to tailor content.
  • Improvement and Analytics: Analyzing usage to refine our Services, develop new fragrances, or optimize site performance using aggregated data.
  • Administrative Purposes: Managing accounts, preventing fraud, verifying identities, and maintaining records for tax or auditing.
  • Legal Compliance and Protection: Responding to legal requests, enforcing terms, protecting rights, or investigating security incidents.
  • Research and Development: Internal studies on consumer trends (e.g., popularity of DEET-free mosquito products), using de-identified data.

We limit processing to what is necessary and do not use your data for incompatible purposes without notice and consent.

4. Sharing and Disclosure of Information

We share information only when necessary and under strict controls:

  • Service Providers: With vendors for payment processing, hosting, analytics, marketing, or logistics, bound by contracts to protect data and use it only for our purposes.
  • Affiliated Entities: Within Scent Shop brands (e.g., Skeeter Screen) for seamless operations.
  • Business Transactions: In mergers, acquisitions, or asset sales, with notice to you.
  • Legal Obligations: To authorities for compliance, subpoenas, or safety reasons.
  • With Consent: For any other sharing, such as with partners for joint promotions.

We do not sell, rent, or trade personal information. Non-personal aggregated data may be shared for industry benchmarks. Under CCPA/CPRA, we confirm no “sale” of data occurs.

5. Data Security Measures

We maintain robust security protocols to protect against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction:

  • Technical Safeguards: Encryption (e.g., SSL/TLS for transmissions), firewalls, access controls, and regular vulnerability scans.
  • Administrative Safeguards: Employee training, confidentiality agreements, and limited access on a need-to-know basis.
  • Physical Safeguards: Secure facilities for any physical records.
  • Breach Response: In case of a breach, we will notify affected individuals and authorities as required (e.g., within 72 hours under GDPR).

While we strive for security, no method is infallible.

6. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

You have extensive rights, which we facilitate without discrimination:

  • Access: Request details of your data.
  • Correction: Update inaccuracies.
  • Deletion: Remove data, subject to legal retention.
  • Opt-Out of Sale/Sharing: Not applicable, as we do not sell data, but you may opt out of targeted advertising.
  • Limit Use of Sensitive Data: Restrict processing if applicable.
  • Portability: Receive data in a structured format (GDPR-specific).
  • Objection/Withdrawal: Object to processing or withdraw consent.
  • Automated Decisions: Request human review if applicable.

For CCPA/CPRA residents: Submit requests via email or a dedicated portal (coming soon). We verify identity and respond within 45 days (extendable). EU residents may contact our Data Protection Officer at customerservice@scentshop.com. Opt out of marketing via email links or account settings.

7. Children’s Privacy

Our Services are not intended for children under 13 (or 16 under GDPR). We do not knowingly collect their data. If discovered, we delete it promptly. Parents should contact us with concerns.

8. International Data Transfers

Data is processed in the U.S. For non-U.S. users, transfers use safeguards like Standard Contractual Clauses or consent. We ensure equivalent protection levels.

9. Data Retention

We retain data only as needed: e.g., transaction records for 7 years (legal requirements), marketing data until opt-out. Thereafter, data is deleted or anonymized.

10. Third-Party Links and Services

Our site may link to third parties with independent policies. We are not liable for their practices but encourage review.

11. Changes to This Policy

Updates will be posted here with the new effective date. Material changes trigger email notices. Continued use implies acceptance.

12. Contact Information

For inquiries, rights exercises, or complaints:

Scent Shop
2614 National Place
Garland, Texas 75041

Email: customerservice@scentshop.com

We respond promptly and value your privacy concerns. For unresolved issues, you may contact relevant authorities (e.g., your state attorney general or the ICO for GDPR).