Fragrances are a part of our life and one thing is for sure, almost every household will have some form of scented device, whether its a scented candle or scented diffuser.
Yankee Candles, we are all familiar with but maybe not so much Scentsy.
All the same, Scentsy offer a vast range of products that I’m sure will accommodate whatever your desire, but are the products any good and is there a business opportunity worth getting involved with?
Rest reassured I am in no way associated with Scentsy and therefore not here to pressure you into buying their products or to get you involved with the Scentsy business opportunity either.
I am here to give you the rundown on Scentsy and whether their products are what they say they are and whether there is a business that might be of interest to you.
So without further ado, let’s dive right in.
[Affiliate Disclosure: This Scentsy MLM Review may contain affiliate links which means I may earn a small commission if you purchase anything through one of the links. However, this will not affect what you pay!]
Scentsy MLM Review – Summary
Product: Scentsy
Founders: Kara Egan, Colette Gunnell
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, US
Founded: 2003
Website: www.scentsy.com
Product description: A multi-level-marketing, Party planning business selling scented products mainly for the home.
Cost to join: $99
Price of products: $6 – $90
Best For: Experienced network marketing individuals who love scented products. So one for the ladies here!
Recommended: Not for newbies coming into the make money online space.
Summary: Considering joining Scentsy as a business opportunity comes with several significant drawbacks.
The average consultant earns about $1,040 annually, with many making less, making substantial financial success challenging. Initial startup costs and ongoing expenses for hosting sales parties can outweigh earnings, leading to potential financial losses.
Consultants must meet a $200 sales quota in the first month to avoid account deactivation, adding considerable pressure.
Success often depends on recruiting others, which can be difficult and time-consuming. Areas with many consultants can become saturated, making it harder to find new customers.
Costs for hosting events and other sales activities are not reimbursed, which can add up over time.
Many consultants may end up spending more than they earn, leading to overall financial loss.
Earnings can be highly variable and unreliable, making it a risky source of stable income.
selling scented products such as scented wax bars, sprays, diffusers and home products like all-purpose cleaners, fabric conditioner and even products for your pets, all through a network of Scentsy independent consultants.
Scentsy was an original idea from Kara Egan and Colette Gunnell in 2003, which came about watching Oprah’s “Millionaire Mom’s” show.
The business hadn’t really taken off when an offer of money was too good to miss up because in 2004 they sold the company to the present owners, Orville and Heidi Thompson.
The current owners moved the headquarters to Meridian, Idaho and re-launched Scentsy as an MLM business model.
The previous owner Kara Egan obviously had a head for business because after the sale of the business she stayed on as an independent consultant and in 2012 it was announced that her team was well over 42,000 members.
Considering in 2018 there was an estimated 120,000 Scentsy consultants.
That alone is a massive chunk of members associated with Scentsy.
Now you can see how only the very top 1% make the real money.
Scentsy have even been mentioned in the Forbes magazine for debuting at #35 for America’s best midsize employers list
Check out this short promotional video.
Giving back to communities is always a great thing
Especially to someone who is less fortunate than yourself and therefore “The Scentsy Family Foundation” was born in around 2010.
A saying from the present owners, “Contribute more than you take”
They are partnered with over 36 charities and supported nearly 200 with donations heading north of $15 million.
Is Scentsy a Pyramid Scheme?
Scentsy is not considered a pyramid scheme.
It operates as a multi-level marketing (MLM) company, where consultants sell products directly to consumers and can also earn commissions by recruiting new consultants.
The primary focus is on selling tangible products, such as home fragrances and warmers, which differentiates it from a pyramid scheme, where the main emphasis is on recruiting people rather than selling actual products.
However, success in MLMs can heavily depend on the ability to recruit and build a downline, which is something to consider.
Scentsy Product Range
Normally with MLMs, the product prices are inflated somewhat which makes it extremely difficult for you to sell the products and make a living from.
Scentsy’s prices are compatible with other similar businesses selling similar products, so I take my hat off to them for keeping their prices down.
At Scentsy, the product range is pretty extensive to keep the consumer interested and besides for an MLM business pretty unique in the niche they choose.
Scentsy most popular product range
Scentsy Wax Bars are their flagship product and come in over 100 different fragrances.
Which will require you to purchase one of their warmers? Well, that’s not exactly true as these Wax Bars can go into any warmer!
They will cost you somewhere between $20 and $85 and a vast number to choose from.
The Scentsy product range can be found within the categories listed below…
Scent
Warmers and Wax
Diffusers and Oils
Fan Diffusers
Unplugged
Laundry and Clean
Body
Kids
Pets
Collections
Gift Guide
Specials
For a closer look at the extensive Scentsy products range with current prices…
You can check out the full range of products on the Scentsy official website by clicking the link here.
Scentsy Business Opportunity – What You Need To Know
I guess we are at the point of this review that you are most interested in, so let’s break it down a little and see whether you think there is a business opportunity worth taking on.
How to become a Scentsy Consultant
First off, you will have to find a sponsor, either one you know or Scentsy will designate one for you.
Then you will have to purchase a Scentsy starter kit at a cost of $99 which will come with a bunch of stuff to get you going.
Once enrolled you will receive your own Scentsy website which every consultant uses to connect with the customer and to promote their business.
You have access to your Scentsy website for the first 3 months then it will cost you $10/month thereafter.
Success to the Scentsy back office for ordering and tracking finances.
There are a few incentives to kick-start your business
One of those is to earn yourself the Scentsy Shooting Star Award.
Quite simply, sell 500 in Personal Retail Volume (PRV) which is approximately $500 in your first 15 days and become eligible for the “Scentsy Shooting Star Kit”
That’s over $300 Scentsy products for only $200 which will help when showcasing a home party or event.
How to Make Money With Scentsy
Like with all MLM type businesses there are 3 main ways to earn money from
Purchase the products yourself with discounts which are between 20 and 25 percentage.
Sell the products to your customers.
Recruit others into your team and make a commission on anything your team member sells.
You are only restricted by your own imagination with some other incentives below. It all depends on how much you want this business to grow!
Home parties.
Email marketing.
Email your catalogue and wait for the orders to come in.
Through social media like Facebook, Youtube, Instagram…
What about a Scentsy online party.
At events.
Host a fundraiser.
Rent a space at a fair.
A great way to market Scentsy would be to have your own dedicated website which would be separate to the Scentsy website, and write content related to the products and anything Scentsy related.
You would, of course, have to learn how to do this and if you are interested then I have something for you at the end of this Scentsy review.
THE ONE GOOD THING YOU WOULD HAVE GOING FOR YOU is the fact that many of the products are consumables and therefore once your customer is happy with the product then expect repeat orders, and if you are lucky they might even join your team.
Here you can check out the Scentsy Compensation Plan for yourself
As you can see by the image below there are 8 levels starting with the ESSENTIAL CONSULTANT all the way up to SUPERSTAR DIRECTOR.
To really make this work as a business would take a lot of hard work, just like it would any business venture.
Don’t expect overnight success because it just isn’t going to happen.
To get anywhere near the top level is going to take many years of hard work building a massive team, and to keep them requires guidance, training plus you’ll be attending all the Scentsy events, etc
Remember all this is at a cost to you, not Scentsy!
Why not check out this video for a more detailed explanation.
Are Scentsy consultants actually making money?
These statistics you are looking at above are typical of an MLM type business.
You are always going to find the Scentsy business owners with a select few who are usually earning all the money.
In fact, analysis completed by a well-known source claims that 99.45% of all independent Scentsy consultants weren’t able to earn a full-time income. Those figures are seriously disturbing!
What Others Say About Scentsy
There are plenty of reviews about with a mix of complaints so I have managed to dig out a few, but I would certainly research this area thoroughly before taking a stab at this business.
What We Like – Scentsy MLM Review
If you are seriously thinking about becoming a Scentsy Independent Consultant you might like to take these positive points on board.
Extensive range of products that won’t break the bank.
Discounts between 20 and 25 per cent.
Products come with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Compensation plan pretty straightforward.
All the products are manufactured in the USA and distributed throughout their network centres in Texas, Kentucky, Mexico, Netherland and Australia.
Available in many countries across the globe. Such as Canada, Mexico, Australia and a few countries in Europe.
What We Don’t Like – Scentsy MLM Review
You can’t just listen to all the positive points which is what you will get talking one-on-one with a Scentsy Independent Consultant, you have to weigh up everything before making that all-important decision.
Chemicals that they use are known to be dangerous.
The demand outstrips the supply which shows in the number of complaints.
Some of the products are known to burst into flames such as the Wax warmers.
Customer support not very good.
Over 99% do not make a full-time income. Alone that should seriously make you not consider this business. It’s more of a hobby!
Is Scentsy A SCAM?
Scentsy is not generally considered a scam.
It is a legitimate multi-level marketing (MLM) company that sells home fragrance products such as wax warmers and scented wax bars.
Consultants earn money through direct sales and by building a team.
While some people may find success and satisfaction with Scentsy, others may find it challenging to achieve significant income, as with many MLMs.
It’s important to thoroughly research and understand the business model, potential earnings, and commitment required before joining.
Overall the products appear to be good and the company appears to not come with a bunch of investigations and lawsuits.
Organizing and hosting parties is time-consuming and can be costly.
Joining under the right sponsor is essential as they have to be prepared to train and guide you, which is hard to come by.
I see many just operate this business for family and friends and are happy just purchasing the discounted products themselves.
So “Is Scentsy a SCAM”? Absolutely not!
What do you think?
Is Scentsy A Worthy Business To Get Involved With?
Well, I have given you more than enough information for you to make an educated decision as to whether Scentsy is a worthy business or not.
The product has to be great, and they do have some great products, but as we can see it’s not all about the product.
Coming into this type of business with no knowledge at all is not going to cut it because there are too many obstacles for you to overcome.
If Scentsy is not for you and you are looking to build an online business that you can pass down to your kids, then in my opinion, affiliate marketing as to be the way forward.
After wasting a few years with MLMs, I almost decided to call it a day trying to make a living online until I came across Wealthy Affiliate and been there ever since.
The best decision I made, but you don’t have to listen to me, just check it out for yourself.
Scentsy MLM Review – FAQs
How do I join Scentsy as a Consultant?
To join Scentsy as a Consultant, you can sign up through the website or contact an existing Consultant for sponsorship.
You’ll need to purchase a Starter Kit to begin your Scentsy business.
What are Scentsy Pods?
Scentsy Pods are small, plastic pods filled with fragrance beads.
They are designed to be used with Scentsy air purifiers, wall fan diffusers, and other Scentsy Go products for portable and flameless fragrance.
How do I clean Scentsy Warmers?
To clean Scentsy Warmers, let the wax cool and harden, then remove it.
You can also warm the wax slightly to make it easier to remove.
Wipe the warmer dish with a clean cloth.
Are Scentsy products safe for pets?
Scentsy products are generally safe for pets when used as directed. However, it’s best to keep warmers and diffusers out of reach of pets to prevent accidental spills or ingestion.
Can I return Scentsy products?
Scentsy offers a satisfaction guarantee and allows returns or exchanges for defective or damaged products.
Returns should be made within 30 days of purchase through your Scentsy Consultant.
How do I host a Scentsy party?
To host a Scentsy party, contact a Scentsy Consultant who will help you set up and organize the event.
Hosts can earn rewards based on the sales generated at their party.
What are Scentsy Brick Bars?
Scentsy Brick Bars are larger versions of the standard Scentsy Bars, offering more wax and lasting longer.
They are ideal for those who use a lot of wax or want to stock up on their favorite fragrances.
Does Scentsy offer any incentives for Consultants?
Scentsy offers various incentives for Consultants, including bonuses, commissions, and awards for achieving sales and recruiting goals.
There are also opportunities for travel and other exclusive rewards.
Scentsy Lawsuits And Legal Issues
Trademark Infringement Lawsuit:
In 2009, Scentsy filed a lawsuit against Mary Kay deDisse, a former consultant, for trademark infringement.
Scentsy claimed deDisse used their trademark without authorization on altered and repackaged products.
The court found that independent consultants did not have the authority to license the Scentsy mark to third parties, and ruled in favor of Scentsy.
Website Accessibility Lawsuit:
In July 2019, Leshawn Dawson filed a lawsuit against Scentsy, alleging that their website did not comply with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG 2.1), making it inaccessible to visually impaired users.
Dawson sought to have the website brought into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
This lawsuit highlighted the importance of digital accessibility for all users.
Trade Secrets Lawsuit:
Scentsy sued Performance Manufacturing Inc. (PMI) in January 2009, alleging that PMI had shared Scentsy’s proprietary manufacturing processes with competitors.
This lawsuit was part of Scentsy’s efforts to protect its intellectual property and maintain a competitive edge in the market.
These cases show that Scentsy has taken legal action to protect its trademarks, ensure accessibility, and safeguard its trade secrets.
However, these lawsuits are not directly related to accusations of Scentsy being a pyramid scheme or a scam. Instead, they reflect typical legal challenges faced by businesses operating at a large scale.
Feedback, Comments and Subscribe
OK, so what did you think?
Did I cover all the angles and give you enough information or did I miss something out?
I would love to hear from you if you are considering not just Scentsy but other MLM businesses? Maybe you are already a consultant and want to share your story.
Please leave feedback and remember this will help out others who are researching this company.
If you got value from this Scentsy review please leave your comment in the section below and share on social media.
Hey Guys and Gals, great to meet you and hope you enjoyed this post. We created this site to help people like you avoid the pitfalls of making money online and hopefully steer you onto the right path. ENJOY!
View all posts by Mick
15 thoughts on “Scentsy MLM Review – Illuminate Your Space: Discover the Joy of Scentsy”
Hi Mick,
Another fantastic review, very informative and to the point.
Well I can certainly see that Scentsy is a successful company in their own right, but as business proposition probably not something I’d be interested in.
From reading your reviews over the past few months I have become more aware that with the vast majority of MLM’s it’s mainly the top tier of consultants who make any money, whereas most others hardly even cover their starting costs.
However, the figure you have quoted of “99.45%” of consultants not making enough to earn a full-time income certainly set a few alarm bells ringing for me. As you say, this really is only a suitable business opportunity for experienced network marketers.
I also find it extremely worrying that some of the reviews mention products bursting into flames. Okay, granted we are dealing with flammable products, but still, this is not something you want to hear.
Thanks once again for a great review, but Scentsy doesn’t really tick many boxes for me.
Always glad for you to take time out Partha in your busy schedule.
I think and this goes with all MLMs is to not listen to your prospective sponsor, but to do your own research first, before you even think about purchasing a product, never mind taking a punt on the business opportunity.
That was my mistake when I first started and could have saved me a couple of years of heartache.
Great training, unless you are already an expert, should be your first port of call and picking up things on YouTube isn’t going to cut it because there is a lot of misinformation out there.
Scentsy is a popular brand amongst the ladies and there are some pretty good products but when you hear about some of the products bursting into flames, that’s where you have to draw the line.
We use the plugin ones ourselves (non Scentsy) and we leave them on all the time, even when we are out.
Where I live, Scentsy is still very popular, even though it has been around for quite a while. I still see vehicles that have a Scentsy sticker on their car advertising their consulting business. I saw one just the other day.
Even though it is popular where I live, I have never personally used their products. I am sensitive to scents and am careful about the candles I use. Plus, now reading the reviews and knowing that they can burst into flames, makes me even more hesitant to use them.
As far as joining them as a consultant, I don’t like how so many of them are barely making any money. I realize it takes a while to get established, but still. Your business should allow for a full-time income.
WOW Mick you did such a great job with showing the comparison, and even compensation plan for Scenty. I do have to agree with Partha anything bursting into flames should be alarming. I mean if you are making money on for a product that you believe in then I wouldn’t see it as a scam. I see it as a hustle which is what many of us are doing. I also like how you share your experience with the Wealthy Affiliate platform. I have been using the platform for almost 3 years and it has helped my business grow. With that being said thank you again for sharing 🙂 and best of luck.
I want to start off by saying that this review is a very genuine one. Right on spot and to the point, covering all aspects from start to bottom.
You do really help someone (especially a rookie) to decide if they would ever get involved or not with this company.
I like the fact that you present everything with pros and cons.
To be honest from what I have read in your honest review, Scentsy is not something that I would try getting involved in, as I do find the cons quite worrying and especially the problematic products and the insufficient customer support.
Thank you for this excellent review.
Looking forward to read more.
All the best,
Ioannis
Thanks for this valuable information on Scentsy MLM Review. I’m glad you covered everything in detail. After reading the customer complaints I would suggest not to get involved with Scentsy. It’s too dangerous for many reasons.
Great to know that there are still companies like Scentsy out there. Many scammers gave tainted the MLM industry and there are some really good brands there.
With that said, I have to say I’m not much of a ‘recruitment’ people and I know it’s important to build your team to really ace it with MLM.
I’ve tried my hands on some MLM companies before but I didn’t really make progress. Now, I’m sticking with affiliate marketing, which I feel is better suited for my style.
It seems a good idea to have an MLM opportunity for those who are crazy about scented candles & diffusers that we could use anywhere we want. However, after reading your review, it’s just like any other business in the world that you need to work hard to make it work.
Based on your sharing, less than 1% of Scentsy affiliates could make a good living by promoting the business, which concerns me a lot. Meaning you might spend more than what you can make back…
I will think the same way as you concluded in this article that it’s more like a hobby to me, but it may be an excellent opportunity for those who have a passion for Scented products.
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Hi Mick,
Another fantastic review, very informative and to the point.
Well I can certainly see that Scentsy is a successful company in their own right, but as business proposition probably not something I’d be interested in.
From reading your reviews over the past few months I have become more aware that with the vast majority of MLM’s it’s mainly the top tier of consultants who make any money, whereas most others hardly even cover their starting costs.
However, the figure you have quoted of “99.45%” of consultants not making enough to earn a full-time income certainly set a few alarm bells ringing for me. As you say, this really is only a suitable business opportunity for experienced network marketers.
I also find it extremely worrying that some of the reviews mention products bursting into flames. Okay, granted we are dealing with flammable products, but still, this is not something you want to hear.
Thanks once again for a great review, but Scentsy doesn’t really tick many boxes for me.
Partha
Always glad for you to take time out Partha in your busy schedule.
I think and this goes with all MLMs is to not listen to your prospective sponsor, but to do your own research first, before you even think about purchasing a product, never mind taking a punt on the business opportunity.
That was my mistake when I first started and could have saved me a couple of years of heartache.
Great training, unless you are already an expert, should be your first port of call and picking up things on YouTube isn’t going to cut it because there is a lot of misinformation out there.
Affiliate marketing is where it is today and you won’t find training anywhere online that competes with Wealthy Affiliate.
Hey Partha, thanks for stopping by.
Scentsy is a popular brand amongst the ladies and there are some pretty good products but when you hear about some of the products bursting into flames, that’s where you have to draw the line.
We use the plugin ones ourselves (non Scentsy) and we leave them on all the time, even when we are out.
Thank you for commenting.
Hi Mick,
Where I live, Scentsy is still very popular, even though it has been around for quite a while. I still see vehicles that have a Scentsy sticker on their car advertising their consulting business. I saw one just the other day.
Even though it is popular where I live, I have never personally used their products. I am sensitive to scents and am careful about the candles I use. Plus, now reading the reviews and knowing that they can burst into flames, makes me even more hesitant to use them.
As far as joining them as a consultant, I don’t like how so many of them are barely making any money. I realize it takes a while to get established, but still. Your business should allow for a full-time income.
-Amanda
Amanda, thank you for sharing your thoughts
WOW Mick you did such a great job with showing the comparison, and even compensation plan for Scenty. I do have to agree with Partha anything bursting into flames should be alarming. I mean if you are making money on for a product that you believe in then I wouldn’t see it as a scam. I see it as a hustle which is what many of us are doing. I also like how you share your experience with the Wealthy Affiliate platform. I have been using the platform for almost 3 years and it has helped my business grow. With that being said thank you again for sharing 🙂 and best of luck.
Thank you Viviana for taking time out and commenting.
Too many people are quick to judge MLMs in general as a pyramid scheme or a scam but whilst they tread a thin line most of them aren’t either.
In most cases, the products are pretty good but its always the business opportunity that they fall short on.
Glad to hear that you are having success with Wealthy Affiliate, a training platform that I only have positive things to say about.
Once again thank you for your support
Hello Mick,
I want to start off by saying that this review is a very genuine one. Right on spot and to the point, covering all aspects from start to bottom.
You do really help someone (especially a rookie) to decide if they would ever get involved or not with this company.
I like the fact that you present everything with pros and cons.
To be honest from what I have read in your honest review, Scentsy is not something that I would try getting involved in, as I do find the cons quite worrying and especially the problematic products and the insufficient customer support.
Thank you for this excellent review.
Looking forward to read more.
All the best,
Ioannis
Thank you loannis for those kind words and glad you enjoyed the review
Thanks for this valuable information on Scentsy MLM Review. I’m glad you covered everything in detail. After reading the customer complaints I would suggest not to get involved with Scentsy. It’s too dangerous for many reasons.
Alyse, all it takes is for one incident like the one I mentioned and any thoughts of purchasing their products are dead in the water.
Thank you for your comment.
Great to know that there are still companies like Scentsy out there. Many scammers gave tainted the MLM industry and there are some really good brands there.
With that said, I have to say I’m not much of a ‘recruitment’ people and I know it’s important to build your team to really ace it with MLM.
I’ve tried my hands on some MLM companies before but I didn’t really make progress. Now, I’m sticking with affiliate marketing, which I feel is better suited for my style.
Thanks for commenting
Hi Mick,
It seems a good idea to have an MLM opportunity for those who are crazy about scented candles & diffusers that we could use anywhere we want. However, after reading your review, it’s just like any other business in the world that you need to work hard to make it work.
Based on your sharing, less than 1% of Scentsy affiliates could make a good living by promoting the business, which concerns me a lot. Meaning you might spend more than what you can make back…
I will think the same way as you concluded in this article that it’s more like a hobby to me, but it may be an excellent opportunity for those who have a passion for Scented products.
Thanks for sharing,
Matt
Thank you, Matt, for stopping by and commenting