Privacy & Cookie Policy

Last updated: October 2025

Scented Serenade (“we”, “our”, “us”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This notice explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data when you visit our website or interact with us online.

1. Who We Are

Scented Serenade is a UK-based e-commerce business specialising in natural, handcrafted candles and home fragrances. If you have any questions about this policy or your data rights, please contact us at: privacy@scentedserenade.co.uk. Our full business address is listed in our Terms & Conditions.

2. What Personal Data We Collect

• Information you provide when creating an account or placing an order (name, billing/shipping address, email, phone).
• Payment details processed securely by our payment providers (we do not store full card information).
• Communications sent to us (emails, form submissions, reviews, or social messages).
• Technical data such as IP address, browser type, device information, and cookies for site analytics and security.

3. How We Use Your Information

• To process and deliver your orders.
• To provide customer support and respond to enquiries.
• To send order confirmations, updates, or account notifications.
• To send marketing emails where you have opted in — you may unsubscribe at any time.
• To improve our website, services, and customer experience.
• To comply with legal obligations (tax, accounting, and consumer-protection law).

4. Legal Basis for Processing

We rely on the following lawful bases under the UK GDPR:

• Contract: to fulfil orders and provide requested services.
• Consent: for optional marketing communications.
• Legal obligation: to meet accounting or regulatory requirements.
• Legitimate interest: to improve our business and prevent fraud.

5. How Long We Keep Your Data

We retain personal data only as long as necessary for the purposes above, typically: orders – 6 years for tax records; marketing data – until you withdraw consent.

6. How We Share Your Data

We never sell your personal information. We may share it with trusted service providers who help us operate our business, including:

• Payment gateways (e.g. PayPal, Stripe).
• Delivery couriers and fulfilment partners.
• Website hosting, analytics, and IT-security providers.

All third parties are required to keep your data secure and use it only for agreed purposes.

7. International Transfers

If any service providers are located outside the UK or EEA, we ensure adequate protection such as UK Government-approved data-transfer agreements.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Request correction or deletion of inaccurate or unnecessary data.
• Withdraw consent for marketing at any time.
• Request a copy of your data (“data portability”).
• Lodge a complaint with the ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office).

To exercise any of these rights, please email privacy@scentedserenade.co.uk.

9. Cookies

Our website uses cookies to function properly and to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files placed on your device that help us remember your preferences and analyse site traffic.

Types of cookies we use:

• Essential cookies – required for basic site functionality (shopping cart, checkout).
• Analytics cookies – to measure site performance (e.g. Google Analytics).
• Marketing cookies – only if you consent, used for remarketing or social-media integration.

When you first visit our site you will see a cookie-consent banner. You can accept or adjust cookie preferences at any time by clearing or managing cookies in your browser settings.

10. Data Security

We use SSL encryption, secure hosting, and access-controlled systems to keep your information safe. Staff are trained in data-protection practices.

11. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy & Cookie Policy occasionally to reflect changes in law or our operations. Please review this page periodically for the latest version.

12. Contact Us

If you have questions about this policy or how we handle your data, please email privacy@scentedserenade.co.uk.