nternational Shipping for Handmade Candles — What You Need to Know

Yes, handmade candles can be shipped internationally — and stone candles are especially well suited for it. Unlike jar candles that can shatter or poured candles that can crack in temperature changes, stone candles are solid blocks of wax with no glass, no container, and no fragile components. They survive rough handling, temperature swings, and long transit times without damage. SHAKHOV ships stone candles from Kaş, Turkey, to buyers in over 30 countries. This guide covers how candles are packed, what shipping costs and delivery times look like, how customs and duties work, and what to expect when your order arrives. 

Can Stone Candles Survive International Shipping?

Stone candles are one of the most shipping-friendly candle types you can buy. Here is why: No glass. Jar candles are the most commonly shipped candle type, and the most commonly broken. The glass container is the weak point — one drop, one impact, and the jar cracks or shatters. Stone candles have no container at all. They are solid wax-paraffin blend, and solid wax does not shatter. Compact shape. The low, rounded form with no thin protruding elements (unlike taper candles) makes stone candles resistant to transit damage. There is simply nothing to break off or snap. Lacquer coating. Three layers of lacquer seal the candle's surface to prevent wax from leaking through. This is why the lacquer must not be mechanically damaged — scratches or chips can compromise the seal and allow wax to seep onto surfaces during burning. Handle with care to keep the coating intact. In years of international shipping, breakage rates for SHAKHOV stone candles have been near zero. The most common "damage" is cosmetic — a small scuff on the lacquer from an unusually rough transit — which does not affect the candle's performance. 

How SHAKHOV Packs Candles for Shipping

Every stone candle is packed carefully: Individual wrapping. Each candle is wrapped in soft paper. This prevents candles from touching each other and protects the lacquer finish. Dried herb bedding. The wrapped candles are nestled into a bed of dried Mediterranean herbs and grasses, which provides cushioning and creates the distinctive unboxing experience that customers love. Bamboo gift box (optional). Gift sets in a bamboo box are a separate option, indicated in the product listing. If the listing does not include a bamboo box, candles arrive in standard packaging. Outer shipping box. Everything is placed inside a cardboard shipping box with additional padding to prevent movement during transit. 

Shipping Costs and Delivery Times

Shipping costs and delivery times depend on the destination and the size of the order. Europe (EU countries, UK, Switzerland, Norway): Standard shipping typically takes 7-12 business days. Costs vary by country and package weight, generally ranging from $8-15 for a single candle to $15-25 for a gift set. North America (US, Canada): Delivery usually takes 10-16 business days via standard international post. Shipping costs range from $12-20 for small orders to $20-30 for larger sets. Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel): Delivery from Turkey is relatively fast — 5-10 business days. Shipping costs are comparable to European rates. Asia and Australia: Longer transit times — 14-21 business days is typical. Shipping costs are higher, generally $15-30 depending on weight. Express shipping is available for most destinations at higher cost, typically reducing delivery time to 3-7 business days. Exact shipping costs are calculated at checkout based on your location and order size. For large or custom orders, contact info@shakhov.shop for a shipping quote. 

Customs and Import Duties — What to Expect

This is the question most international buyers worry about. Here is how it works in practice: European Union: Parcels with a declared value under €150 may be subject to VAT on import. Small gift-marked parcels with low declared values often pass through customs without additional charges. The experience varies by country — some EU customs offices are stricter than others. United States: The US has a de minimis threshold of $800. This means parcels valued under $800 enter the country without any customs duties or taxes. Since most SHAKHOV orders fall well below this threshold, US customers almost never pay import fees. United Kingdom: Post-Brexit, the UK applies VAT on imports over £135. Smaller orders often clear without charges, but it depends on how the parcel is processed by customs. Canada: Canada has a de minimis of CAD $20 for taxes and CAD $150 for duties. Orders above these thresholds may incur charges. Australia: Goods under AUD $1,000 are generally exempt from customs duty, though GST may apply. General advice: Import rules change, and enforcement varies. SHAKHOV marks parcels accurately and honestly. Most small orders (1-3 candles or a single gift set) pass through customs in most countries without additional charges. Larger orders or higher-value shipments are more likely to attract customs attention. SHAKHOV is not responsible for import duties, taxes, or customs fees — these are the buyer's responsibility and vary by country. If you are unsure about your country's import rules, check with your local customs office before ordering. 

Sending Candles as Gifts — The "Gift" Option

Many customers order stone candles to be shipped directly to someone else as a gift. Here is how to do it: Ship to a different address. At checkout, enter the recipient's address as the shipping address. The package will be sent directly to them. Gift note. Contact info@shakhov.shop or message via WhatsApp/Telegram at +905310135921 to include a personal message card with the order. No price on the package. Gift shipments do not include any invoice or price information inside the package. The recipient sees only the bamboo box, the candles, and your message — not what you paid. Gift-ready packaging. SHAKHOV gift sets come in bamboo boxes with dried herb bedding. No additional gift wrapping is needed — the product packaging is the gift presentation. 

Tracking Your Order

Every SHAKHOV order ships with a tracking number. After your order is dispatched, you receive the tracking number via email or message. You can follow your package through the postal system from Kaş to your doorstep. Tracking accuracy varies by country. Turkish postal tracking is reliable within Turkey and through international transit hubs. Once the package enters the destination country's postal system, tracking updates depend on that country's postal service — some update in real time, others lag by a day or two. If your tracking shows no movement for more than 7 business days, contact info@shakhov.shop and we will investigate. 

Countries We Ship To

SHAKHOV ships to most countries worldwide. The most common destinations include: Europe: Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, Czech Republic, Portugal, Greece, Ireland, UK North America: United States, Canada Middle East: UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Israel Asia-Pacific: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, New Zealand Other: South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Turkey (domestic) If your country is not listed above, it does not mean we cannot ship there. Contact info@shakhov.shop to check availability and get a shipping quote. 

Paying for International Orders

SHAKHOV accepts multiple payment methods for international orders: Credit and debit cards — via Etsy checkout at shakhov.store or etsy.com/shop/SHAKHOV Cryptocurrency — Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT, Solana, and 300+ other coins. Pay by scanning a QR code — no bank transfers, no currency conversion fees. Contact us to arrange a crypto payment. PayPal — available through Etsy checkout Bank transfer — available for large or wholesale orders. Contact info@shakhov.shop for details. For crypto payments, the process is simple: choose your candles, contact us via WhatsApp/Telegram (+905310135921), receive a payment link, scan the QR code with your wallet, confirm. The whole process takes under a minute. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping

Can candles melt during shipping? Stone candles are made from a paraffin-palm wax blend that withstands temperatures up to 45°C (113°F). Standard shipping conditions, even in summer, rarely exceed this. In extreme heat destinations, we can add extra insulation to the package on request. What if my candle arrives damaged? Contact info@shakhov.shop with photos of the damage. We will arrange a replacement or refund. This happens very rarely due to our packaging, but we stand behind every order. Can I order from one country and ship to another? Yes. Many customers order from one country and ship directly to a recipient in another country. Just enter the recipient's address at checkout. Do you ship to PO boxes? Yes, if the destination country's postal service delivers to PO boxes. Can I combine multiple items in one shipment? Yes. Multiple candles and sets ship in one package, which often reduces the per-item shipping cost.  SHAKHOV — handmade stone candles from Kaş, Turkey. Worldwide shipping. Human to Human. shakhov.store