Frequently Asked Questions

Sohum is an Australian luxury home-fragrance and perfume house established in 2003. We design and manufacture eco wax candles, reed diffusers, rollerball perfumettes, eau de parfum and an alcohol-free fragrance range — all created in-house in Melbourne, Australia.

Every Sohum product is developed, designed and manufactured in-house at our own facility in Melbourne, Australia.

Sohum was founded in Melbourne in 2003 and has been creating fragrance products for over two decades. During that time, we’ve grown from a small Australian fragrance company into a trusted name in home fragrance and personal scent, with a range that includes candles, reed diffusers, perfumes, rollerballs and room sprays.

Our longevity is the result of a simple philosophy: create original fragrances, use quality ingredients, and never compromise on craftsmanship. Many of the fragrances we developed in our early years remain customer favourites today — a testament to the care, creativity and consistency that goes into every Sohum product.

More than 20 years on, we continue to formulate, refine and create fragrances in Melbourne, drawing on decades of industry experience while remaining dedicated to the art of fragrance.

Sohum (derived from “So‑Hum”) is a mantra from the ancient Vedic texts, said to bring great blessings when spoken. It is made up of two sounds, “So” and “Hum”, which mirror the passage of breath in and out of the nostrils. The ancient sages believed that if you listen carefully you can hear the breath itself — “So” on the inhalation, “Hum” on the exhalation. The mantra is said to express the powerful life energy of the breath.

Every Sohum fragrance is developed in collaboration with world-leading perfumers. These long-standing relationships are highly collaborative and allow us to create fragrances that are uniquely Sohum, rather than simply following trends.

We work closely with our perfumers to refine every detail, balancing creativity with technical expertise, and we use gold-standard fragrance ingredients. The result is a genuine luxury standard — complex, true-to-description scents.

Over more than two decades, this approach has helped define a distinctive Sohum fragrance signature: creative, expressive and recognisably different from mass-produced scents. Many of our most-loved fragrances have remained favourites for years, reflecting both the quality of their composition and the enduring stories and relationships behind their creation.

No. Sohum does not test on animals.

Sohum eco wax candles are hand-poured in Melbourne from a proprietary blend of soy, coconut and other vegetable waxes, with pure cotton, lead-free wicks. They are vegan, non-toxic and contain no harmful chemicals.

Our large 420g candle burns for up to 80 hours, and the small 100g candle for up to 15 hours. Each candle comes with a lid to keep it pristine between burns.

Sohum candles are available in two sizes: 420g (large) and 100g (small). The large size is ideal for living spaces; the small is perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, gifting or trying a new fragrance.

Yes. Sohum candles are blended to carry full, vivid fragrance from the very first burn right down to the last — top to bottom — not just when first lit. For larger or open-plan rooms, our 420g candle gives the strongest throw, and pairing a candle with the matching reed diffuser boosts the fragrance further.

Our Signature White range is light, bright and fresh — true-to-fragrance scents that suit any season. The Signature Black range is poured in black wax and holds warmer, richer, more complex fragrances. Both are unisex; the Black range simply leans a little deeper and more enveloping.

• Always trim the wick to about 5mm (½ cm) before every burn — this keeps the flame calm and prevents smoking or sooting.
• Never burn for more than 2–3 hours at a time; a very deep wax pool can make the wick unstable.
• On the first burn, allow the wax to melt across the full surface to prevent tunnelling.
• Keep the candle away from draughts and overhead fans.
• Never leave a burning candle unattended, and keep out of reach of children and pets.
• Use the included lid to protect the candle from debris between burns.

Tunnelling usually happens when a candle is put out before the wax has melted all the way to the edges. To avoid it, let the top layer form a full, even melt pool on each burn (this can take a couple of hours on the large size). Keeping the wick trimmed to 5mm also helps the candle burn cleanly and evenly.

Our candles are non-toxic, vegan and pet-friendly. As with any open flame, please keep burning candles out of reach of children and pets, away from anything flammable, and never leave them unattended.

A Sohum reed diffuser lasts up to 6 months after opening. We use natural fibre reeds that hold moisture longer than standard rattan, so fragrance continues to release slowly long after the visible liquid has gone down.

No. Unlike rattan reeds, Sohum’s natural fibre reeds do not need flipping. If you’d like to refresh or intensify the scent occasionally you can turn them, but it isn’t required.

Yes, completely normal. When you first insert the reeds there is an initial “big drink” as the fibres saturate and the liquid level drops. Once saturated, the reeds draw very slowly and the remaining liquid lasts a long time.

• Use fewer reeds for a softer scent and a longer-lasting diffuser; add more reeds for a stronger throw.
• Keep the diffuser out of direct sunlight and off sunny window sills, as heat causes the liquid to evaporate faster.
• Position it away from overhead fans, air-conditioning and draughts, which speed up the drying of the reeds and shorten how long the diffuser lasts.

Absolutely — it’s one of our favourite tips. Pairing a reed diffuser with the matching candle gives a continuous base of fragrance plus an extra boost when the candle is lit.

Our Rollerball Perfumettes are Sohum’s most iconic product — a 15ml eau de toilette in a glass vessel with a smooth metal rollerball applicator. They’re long-lasting, leak-proof, beautifully affordable and made for travel and on-the-go fragrance.

Newstalgia is a 30ml concentrated eau de parfum range — a time capsule of Sohum’s most-loved scents from the past 20 years, each built around a single signature fragrance note. Every fragrance can be worn on its own or layered with others to create your own signature.

Yes — the Newstalgia collection features ready-to-wear fragrances, but is specifically designed to be layered. Try a floral over a woody or vanilla base to build a scent that’s uniquely yours. We encourage you to experiment.

Yes. Our Extracts range is a water-based, alcohol-free eau de parfum. It’s made without alcohol, silicones, PEGs, GMOs, sulphates, mineral oils or synthetic preservatives, and is gentle enough to be used on both hair and body. It’s a wonderful option if you have sensitive skin, find alcohol-based perfume drying or irritating, are pregnant, or prefer an alcohol-free fragrance for personal or religious reasons.

It does. Despite being alcohol-free, our water-based Extracts eau de parfum is long-lasting — the fragrance sits close to the skin and wears beautifully through the day, without the sharp “flash” and quick fade that alcohol can cause.

All Sohum fragrances are unisex and made to be enjoyed by everyone. Our Signature Black collection simply leans a little warmer and more complex, while the White collection is lighter and fresher — but every scent is designed to suit any wearer.

Yes — our fragrances are blended to be true to their listed notes and descriptions. Because scent is personal, we list the full top-to-base notes for every fragrance so you know exactly what to expect. If you’d like help choosing, get in touch and we’ll guide you to the right scent.

Alongside the alcohol-free eau de parfum, the Extracts range includes a spray-applicator Body Oil (in five scents) and a matching Body Butter — an all-natural, oil-based formulation that absorbs beautifully and delivers deep, lasting moisture.

Yes. Our candles are vegan (no animal products), non-toxic and made without harmful chemicals, using a soy, coconut and vegetable wax blend with pure cotton, lead-free wicks.

Our Extracts eau de parfum is water-based and made without alcohol, silicones, PEGs, GMOs, sulphates, mineral oils or synthetic preservatives — which is why it’s gentle enough for both hair and body.

Many customers with sensitive skin choose our alcohol-free Extracts eau de parfum, as it omits alcohol and many common irritants. As fragrance sensitivities are individual, we always recommend patch-testing any new product and reviewing the listed ingredients. If you have a specific concern, please contact our Customer Care team at customercare@sohumcosmetics.com and we’ll help you choose.

Sensitivities can change during pregnancy, so if you have any concerns we recommend checking with your healthcare provider and patch-testing first.

At Sohum, we believe thoughtful product design extends beyond fragrance. Wherever possible, we choose materials and manufacturing processes that allow our products to be enjoyed while minimising unnecessary waste.

Many of our fragrance products are housed in recyclable glass vessels, and all of our product packaging is made from recyclable materials. We also work with printing partners who use responsibly sourced paper and renewable forestry resources, helping ensure the materials used throughout our packaging come from well-managed and sustainable sources.

As a Melbourne-based fragrance company, we continually look for opportunities to make better choices across our products, packaging and production processes. While sustainability is an ongoing journey rather than a destination, we remain committed to creating beautifully crafted fragrance products with consideration for their environmental impact.

Yes, and we’d encourage it. Once your candle has finished, remove any remaining wax, wash the glass in warm soapy water, and reuse it as a small vessel, plant pot, brush holder or trinket dish. Our diffusers make gorgeous bud vases.

Orders are dispatched the same or next business day. Sohum uses a range of trusted carriers, and delivery time after dispatch depends on your location within Australia.

Yes. Once your order is dispatched you’ll receive tracking details. If you haven’t received them yet, your order is most likely still with our dispatch team — just reach out and we’ll personally follow up and expedite it for you.

Yes, we ship across Australia. If you have a question about delivery to your area or an international enquiry, please contact Customer Care at customercare@sohumcosmetics.com and we’ll be happy to help.

We’re sorry for any wait. Please email customercare@sohumcosmetics.com with your order number and we’ll look into it straight away, follow up with our dispatch team personally, and make sure it’s expedited.

Yes — you’re warmly welcome to visit us in store in Melbourne. See the Contact & In-Store section below for our location.

If something isn’t right, we’re here to help. To start a return, email our team at customercare@sohumcosmetics.com. We will assist you with providing you the appropriate return to address, and assist with providing you with a consignment note for pick up. If you purchased in store, you’re welcome to return directly to the store. We aim to make returns feel easy and supported.

Simply email customercare@sohumcosmetics.com with your order details and what you’d like to do. We’ll send you a returns form and a consignment note so you don’t have to arrange postage yourself, and we’ll guide you through the rest.

We’re so sorry — please email customercare@sohumcosmetics.com with your order number and a photo of the issue. We’ll arrange a replacement or refund and make it right as quickly as possible.

Occasionally a popular item sells through and goes into replenishment. If that affects your order, we’ll let you know, give you an expected back-in-stock date, and offer to either hold and expedite your order or refund that item — whichever you prefer.

Scent is personal, and we want you to be happy. Please get in touch with our Customer Care team and we’ll do our best to help — whether that’s guidance toward a scent you’ll love or advising on a return.

You can shop the full Sohum range online at www.sohum.com.au. Add your items to the cart and check out securely — or visit us in store in Melbourne.

All current fragrances and collections are featured on our site. If a scent isn’t there it may have been discontinued, or updated within a newer collection — which sometimes happens with our most popular past fragrances. Either way, get in touch and we’ll help you find the same fragrance or its closest match. Email customercare@sohumcosmetics.com or call 1300 145 455.

Every fragrance lists its full notes and a short scent description so you can picture it. If you tend to love fresh, bright scents, start with our Signature White range; if you prefer warm, deep and complex, explore Signature Black. Still unsure? Email us — we’ll happily recommend something based on scents you already love.

Our 15ml Rollerball Perfumettes and small 100g candles are an affordable way to try a scent before committing to a full size. If you’d like a recommendation, contact our team and we’ll point you to the best option.

Beautifully so. Our candles, diffusers and perfumettes are presented to gift standard and suit birthdays, thank-yous, weddings, corporate gifts and Christmas. The 100g candle and 15ml Perfumette are lovely smaller gifts, while a 420g candle or a candle-and-diffuser pairing makes a generous one.

Yes — just enter the recipient’s address at checkout. If you’d like to include a message or have a special request, email customercare@sohumcosmetics.com and we’ll do our best to help.

We do. For larger gifting orders or corporate enquiries, contact us at sales@sohumcosmetics.com and our team will help tailor something to suit.

Yes — we welcome new stockists across Australia. To get started, email our wholesale team at sales@sohumcosmetics.com and we’ll guide you through opening an account and choosing a range for your store.

Sohum’s wholesale range is available through our B2B portal on Faire, where you can browse, order and reorder at any time. New stockists can take advantage of introductory terms — please contact sales@sohumcosmetics.com for current details and to be set up.

Our Rollerball Perfumettes are a perennial bestseller and come with the option of a compact counter display unit — a small footprint that’s perfect for a shop counter. For home fragrance, we generally suggest choosing one cohesive range (Signature White or Signature Black) so you have a clear story to share with your customers. Our team will happily help you build the right selection.

You can reach our Customer Care team by email at customercare@sohumcosmetics.com or by phone on 1300 145 455. For wholesale enquiries, email sales@sohumcosmetics.com. You can also find us on Instagram at @sohumofficial.

We aim to respond to every enquiry the same day, or within 24 hours. Enquiries received on weekends or public holidays are answered the next business day.

Yes — we’d love to welcome you. Visit our Melbourne store in the Royal Arcade precinct: Shop 24, 335 Bourke Street, Melbourne VIC 3000. Our head office and manufacturing facility is in Rowville, Melbourne; visits are by appointment only.