How did you come up with the name "The Green Pergola"?
Now that is an excellent question!  Simple.  The pergola in our backyard of our former home was our favorite place to relax and enjoy nature.  It was a meditative spot where we could unwind, talk and even come up with ideas for products.  Was it actually green?  Well, actually...no.  The word "green" in our business name refers to our use of earth-friendly ingredients and products.  Our own pergola was brown and surrounded by bird feeders and lavender plants with an inside shelf full of candles.

Do you really make the products yourself from scratch or do you buy bulk  products and just fragrance them?
Yes, our products are actually made from scratch.  We have spent many years perfecting this craft and both company owners are certified aromatherapists.    As for the candle wax -- no, we don't make that from scratch.  We can't even imagine how you'd go about that since we spend so much time perfecting our other products.

What's the difference in essential oils and perfume oils?
Essential oils are derived from steam distillation of natural plants, roots, barks, etc.  Perfume oils are man-made simply for the fragrance, but, some MAY contain real essential oils in the basic makeup.  Essential oils are what is used in aromatherapy treatments.  Perfume oils have no aromatherapy value.

Does your handmade soap contain lye?  I really don't want lye soap.
Guess what?  ALL soap is made with lye ... yes, even what you find in department stores and groceries.  Soap cannot be made without it.  Otherwise, all you have is oil.  Lye is the compound that causes the chemical reaction that turns oils into soap.  If measured properly, there is no lye left in the finished product.  In fact, ours are what is called "superfatted", meaning, we have purposely used 5% too-little lye so that the oils within are more emollient.  It is sort of like mixing concrete.  You need the water to mix the concrete ... otherwise, you've just got the dusty mix.  But, when the concrete has dried and cured, no water remains behind.

How are my products shipped to me?
Our carrier of choice is USPS Priority Mail. At times, we may opt to use UPS, depending on your location and the contents of the order.  Canadian orders are sent by USPS.

I only ordered three bars of soap.  Why is my shipping amount as high as $6.50?
We have worked hard to make shopping easy at the Green Pergola.  This time, you may have only ordered 3, lightweight bars of soap.  But, your next order (or even the one before it) may have been something much heavier such as jar candles, 8 bars of soap, etc. where the shipping may have been as high as $10.00 - $15.00 or even more IF we went by standard shipping practices and pricing. Depending on your location, shipping can be a bit "over-the-top" these days.  We've come up with a solution that lets you know exactly what you'll be paying according to what products you purchased and their dollar amount.  Incidentally, the majority of the time, you come out on top and we pick up the tab for the rest.  This way, you can shop for the products you want without worrying about shipping charges overloading your budget. (NOTE: special shipping only applies to retail orders.  wholesale customers pay exact shipping charges)

Okay then, how much IS shipping?

I don't like using a credit card online.  Is there a way to order by mail?
Absolutely.  You can use our printable ORDER FORM and mail in your payment.

I own a shop.  How do I go about putting your products in my store?
That question is easy.  Simply visit our wholesale page and find out all the details.

Is my credit card information secure online?
Absolutely.  We use SSL (Secure Socket Layer) encryption to ensure that the information is safe from anyone trying to intercept it.

How will the charge appear on my credit card?
the charge will appear on your credit card statement as:
The Green Pergola

Which credit cards do you accept?
At present, we accept Visa and Mastercard.

How will I know whether or not my order went through?
At the time you place your order, a thank you letter will be emailed to you with a confirmation number.  Simply put, if you received that email, so did we.

How fast is my order processed?
As many items may be made fresh, especially for you, please allow us a 2 day turn-around time before your order is shipped. Bulk essential oils may need a 3 day lead time on our end, depending on quantities on-hand at the time your order is placed.