Do You Have To Buy Scentsy Through A Consultant?

What is Scentsy?

Scentsy is a direct sales company that specializes in scented, wickless candles and wax warmers. The company was founded in 2004 by Orville and Heidi Thompson in Meridian, Idaho. Scentsy products are designed to be safe, using low-heat technology that doesn’t require a traditional flame. The warmers heat scented wax bars to release fragrance into the air.

The Scentsy catalog features a wide variety of scents across different fragrance categories like floral, fresh, fruity, bakery, spicy and more. In addition to warmers and scents, Scentsy also sells diffusers, room sprays, essential oils, laundry care, pillow mists and other home fragrance products. Over the years, Scentsy has also partnered with brands like Disney, Warner Brothers, and Betty Boop to offer themed collections.

Scentsy expanded internationally in 2010 and today ships products to the U.S., Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, and over 10 countries. The company has grown into one of the largest players in the home fragrance direct sales industry.

The Scentsy Business Model

Scentsy is a multi-level marketing company that sells wax warmers, scented wax bars, oils, and other fragrance-related products. The company recruits independent consultants who host Scentsy parties and sell products directly to consumers.

To become a Scentsy consultant, you first have to buy a starter kit that allows you to host parties and gives you products to use for demonstrations. Consultants earn commissions on their personal sales and the sales of any consultants they recruit. This multi-level structure allows consultants to earn money both directly from their own sales efforts and from the efforts of their “downline” recruits.

The commission structure for Scentsy consultants works on a staggered percentage basis. Consultants earn a base rate of 20% commission on their personal retail sales. As consultants build their team and increase total group sales volume, they become eligible for higher commission rates up to 27%. There are also smaller bonuses and incentives for things like signing up new recruits.

The Scentsy business model relies heavily on consultants hosting in-home Scentsy parties and leveraging social connections to make sales. Consultants are encouraged to build teams under them to take advantage of multi-level earning potential. By recruiting others to sell, consultants can expand their reach and make passive income from their team’s efforts.

Why Use a Consultant?

There are some potential advantages and disadvantages to consider when deciding whether to purchase Scentsy products through a consultant or a retail store.

Pros of Using a Consultant

Buying from a Scentsy consultant allows you to:

• Get personalized service and product recommendations from someone familiar with the brand
• Support small/local businesses and individual Scentsy sellers
• Take advantage of specials, host rewards, and other incentives consultants offer
• Try products before buying with in-home Scentsy parties
• Establish a relationship and interact directly with the seller

Cons of Using a Consultant

Potential downsides of purchasing through a consultant include:

• Higher prices than retail stores
• Pressure to host or attend parties or make minimum purchases
• Limited selection compared to other sellers
• Inconvenience of having to contact and order from a specific seller

Using a consultant provides personal service but may cost more, while retail can offer lower prices but less individual attention.

Scentsy is a popular brand name for scented wax products like wax warmers, scented wax bars, and related scented home products. Scentsy’s business model is built around direct sales through independent consultants. This means that the most well-known way to buy Scentsy is through a Scentsy consultant. However, for those who want Scentsy products without a consultant, there are options for buying directly from Scentsy or through third-party retailers. Here is an overview of the options for buying Scentsy without a consultant.

Buying Scentsy Products Without a Consultant

While Scentsy consultants are the main sales channel, there are several ways to purchase Scentsy products without going through a consultant:

• Directly from the Scentsy website
• Third party online retailers like Amazon
• Brick and mortar stores that carry Scentsy
• Scentsy outlets or Scentsy clearance sections in stores
• Scentsy buy/sell/trade groups

Each option has its pros and cons to consider in terms of price, selection, availability, and convenience. With some effort, those who want to purchase Scentsy without a consultant have several avenues to obtain Scentsy products at retail prices and without signing up as a consultant or joining a group.

Scentsy Website

The Scentsy website allows customers to purchase products directly without going through a consultant. You can browse and shop the full catalog of Scentsy products online and have them shipped directly to your home.

To buy on the Scentsy website, you first need to set up an account. This is free and only requires entering your email address and creating a password. Once your account is created, you can start shopping.

The Scentsy website makes the shopping experience easy. You can search for specific products, browse by category or collection, view seasonal items and best sellers, and manage everything in an online cart. They offer regular retail pricing on all products with no markups. You also get free shipping within the continental US on orders over $100.

Checking out is straightforward with Scentsy’s secure online payment processing. You can pay with all major credit cards as well as PayPal. Your order will be processed and shipped directly from Scentsy within a few business days.

The main benefits of buying directly from the Scentsy website include the convenience of online shopping, access to the full product catalog, regular retail pricing, free shipping offers, and quick fulfillment and delivery on your order.

Amazon and Other Online Retailers

While Scentsy products are primarily sold through independent consultants, some items can also be purchased through third party online retailers like Amazon, eBay, and others. However, the selection is usually limited compared to what a consultant offers.

On Amazon, you can find a small assortment of Scentsy products like warmers, scent packs, and wax bars. The selection tends to focus on older discontinued fragrances or starter kits. Prices may be marked up compared to buying directly from a consultant.

eBay often has a wider selection of Scentsy products available from independent sellers. Here you can find current fragrances and limited edition/retired scents. However, it’s important to verify the seller has authentic products and positive feedback before purchasing.

A few other online marketplaces like Mercari and Poshmark also have some Scentsy products for sale from individual sellers. But again, the selection is sporadic compared to a consultant’s inventory.

While Scentsy can occasionally be found on major online retailers, a consultant will offer a much wider range of products at MSRP pricing. They can also recommend the perfect scents based on your preferences.

Brick and Mortar Stores

Although Scentsy began as a direct sales company utilizing independent consultants, some Scentsy products are now available for purchase in select brick and mortar retail stores. This provides another avenue for purchasing Scentsy without a consultant.

Scentsy has partnerships with certain retail chains to carry a limited selection of their most popular wax warmers, fragrances, and accessories. Stores that may offer Scentsy include:

• Bed Bath & Beyond – Carries a small collection of Scentsy products like the Scentsy Mini Warmer and fragrance wax cubes.
• Target – Also sells a limited assortment of Scentsy warmers, fragrances, and wax cubes in stores and online.
• Meijer – Offers various Scentsy products including warmers and fragrances in stores across the Midwest.
• Selected Ace Hardware locations – Some independently owned Ace Hardware stores, like the chain in Texas, sell Scentsy products regionally.

The availability of Scentsy at these retail chains provides more convenient access to products without a consultant. However, the selection is minimal compared to what a consultant offers since they specialize in the brand. The retail options are best for picking up popular Scentsy basics.

Scentsy Outlet

The Scentsy Outlet sells previous collections, discontinued scents and warmers, and products with slight imperfections at a discounted price. The inventory selection rotates frequently as older collections get phased out for new seasonal launches. You can find huge discounts on Scentsy products in the Outlet section of the website, with items priced up to 75% off retail price.

The Outlet offers a more limited selection than the regular Scentsy catalog, but it’s a great place to find bargains if you’re not picky about specific scents or styles. These discounted items allow you to stock up on Scentsy products for much less. Keep checking back to see what hidden gems you can find. Sometimes popular or sought-after scents make a reappearance in the Outlet once they’ve been retired from the general catalog.

One downside of the Outlet is that inventory sells out quickly since quantities are limited. If you see something you like, snag it fast before it’s gone! The low prices and revolving selection make the Outlet a fun place to periodically browse for Scentsy deals.

Consignment Groups

Another way to buy Scentsy products without a consultant is through Scentsy consignment groups on Facebook. These are groups where current and former Scentsy consultants sell discounted, unsold inventory from their own stock. The products are often new or gently used at prices 20-50% off retail.

Some popular Scentsy consignment groups to check out include:

• Scentsy Buy Sell Trade
• Scentsy Yard Sale
• Scentsy Resell and Resale

The advantage of buying from these groups is you can often find retired/discontinued scents and products not available through regular Scentsy consultants. You can also sometimes negotiate lower prices or bundled deals on large orders. Just keep in mind the products are coming from individual sellers so quality, shipping times, and terms may vary.

The Bottom Line

In summary, there are several options available for buying Scentsy products without going through a consultant:

Buying directly from the Scentsy website allows you to shop the full product catalog and take advantage of promotions, but you miss out on the personalized service and recommendations of a consultant. The Scentsy website should have the largest product selection and newest items.

Purchasing from third-party retailers like Amazon provides more convenience and potential cost savings from discounted prices. However, selection may be more limited, especially for new or limited edition products. There’s also no consultant guidance.

Visiting brick-and-mortar stores that carry Scentsy can allow you to evaluate products in person before buying. But retail partner inventories vary, so you may not find what you want. Store prices could also exceed Scentsy website prices.

The Scentsy Outlet offers discounts on discontinued and seasonal products but has a frequently changing, limited inventory. Shipping costs can also make it less of a bargain.

Joining Scentsy consignment groups can provide good deals on secondhand products, but items are not guaranteed to be new or unused. It takes more effort to find what you want.

Overall, the Scentsy website likely provides the best direct retail experience for convenience, selection, and pricing. But working with a consultant allows personalized service and rewards unavailable elsewhere.