Terms & Conditions of Service & Shop

01.Acceptance of Terms & Contract Formation

By visiting, browsing, registering on, purchasing from, or booking consultations through the Healing Scar Oils website (healingscaroils.co.za), you enter into a legally binding contract with Healing Scar Oils and agree to be bound unconditionally by these Terms and Conditions (“Terms”).

These Terms incorporate by reference our Privacy Policy & POPIA Statutory Notice, our dilution guidelines, shipping policies, and consultation agreements. If you do not agree with any part of these Terms, you must immediately discontinue use of this website and refrain from placing orders or booking consultations.

In terms of Section 22 of the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (“ECTA”), an agreement concluded between Healing Scar Oils and a consumer by means of electronic communication is valid and enforceable upon electronic confirmation.

02.Use of Website & Educational Materials

All informational content, blog posts, botanical monographs, dilution guides, religious reflections, and historical heritage texts published on this website are provided strictly for educational, personal, and wellness guidance purposes.

• Permitted Use: You are granted a limited, revocable, non-exclusive license to access the site and download product guides solely for your personal, non-commercial use.
• Prohibited Conduct: You may not copy, reproduce, scrape, modify, reverse-engineer, distribute, or commercially exploit any website code, formulation names, database contents, product photography, or sacred artwork without prior written consent from Healing Scar Oils.
• Faith & Ministry Respect: Healing Scar Oils operates openly as a faith-inspired apothecary founded on Biblical principles (Luke 6:38, Psalm 147:3). Visitors and customers agree to engage with our ministry, prayer requests channel, and consultations with mutual courtesy and respect.

03.Product Formulations & Botanical Integrity

Healing Scar Oils handcrafts 82 distinct natural botanical formulations, including topical scar balms, pain relief blends (such as NixPain), organic herbal capsules, loose herbal teas, and wildcrafted resins:

• 100% Pure Botanical Purity: Formulations are free from artificial parabens, synthetic fragrances, petrochemical fillers, and toxic preservatives.
• Natural Harvest Variations: Because our formulations use genuine plant extracts, cold-pressed seed oils, and wildcrafted resins (e.g. Frankincense and Myrrh), slight natural variations in color, viscosity, aroma, and texture may occur between batches depending on seasonal rainfall, botanical harvest cycles, and terroir. Such variations do not constitute a defect.
• Amber Glass & Protective Packaging: Our essential oils and liquid extracts are bottled in UV-protective dark amber glass containers to preserve delicate volatile phytochemicals. Creams are packaged in food-grade, recyclable containers with secure tamper-evident seals.
• Storage Requirements: Products must be stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight, open flames, and ambient temperatures exceeding 25°C. Lids and droppers must be sealed tightly after each use to prevent oxidation and evaporation.

04.Online Shop Ordering & Pricing Accuracy

1. Product Display & Invitation to Treat: Products displayed on the online shop constitute an invitation to do business. An order placed by you constitutes an offer to purchase the selected goods. A binding contract of sale is only concluded when Healing Scar Oils receives verified payment settlement and issues an official Order Confirmation with an assigned reference number (e.g. HSO-ORD-XXXX).

2. Stock Availability: Although our store maintains real-time inventory management, stock levels may occasionally deplete. In the rare event that an item is out of stock following order placement, our logistics team will notify you within 1 (one) business day via WhatsApp or email to offer an immediate full refund or priority dispatch upon fresh apothecary compounding.

3. Pricing Accuracy & Rectification: While we exercise rigorous care to ensure that all catalog prices are accurate, occasional typographical or system errors may occur. In terms of South African consumer law, Healing Scar Oils is not bound to supply products at an incorrect, manifestly inadvertent price where the error is gross or obvious. In such circumstances, we will promptly notify you of the error and offer you the option to confirm the order at the correct price or cancel for an immediate 100% refund.

05.PayFast Payment Processing & Financial Security

1. Currency: All prices quoted on the Healing Scar Oils store are in South African Rand (ZAR). Where applicable under South African revenue laws, prices are inclusive of Value-Added Tax (VAT).

2. PayFast Gateway Integration: All online payments for merchandise, consultation bookings, and donations are processed securely via PayFast by Network (Payments Association of South Africa registered, PCI-DSS Level 1 certified).

3. Supported Payment Methods: PayFast enables instant and protected settlement via:

• Instant EFT: Verified direct settlement supporting all major South African commercial banks (Absa, FNB, Nedbank, Standard Bank, Capitec, Investec, TymeBank, African Bank).
• Credit & Debit Cards: Visa and MasterCard protected by 3D Secure mandatory multi-factor authentication (OTP).
• Capitec Pay: Rapid mobile API banking confirmation.

4. Zero Storage of Payment Cards: Healing Scar Oils never sees, transmits, or stores your banking login credentials, credit card numbers, or CVV codes on our servers. All transaction authentication takes place on PayFast's bank-grade encrypted payment portal.

06.Nationwide Courier Logistics, Delivery & Breakages

1. Door-to-Door Delivery: Healing Scar Oils provides nationwide door-to-door courier delivery to any physical residential or commercial address across all 9 provinces of South Africa. We do not deliver to PO Boxes.

2. Shipping Zones & Delivery Estimates:

3. Delivery Accuracy & Redirection Charges: The customer is strictly responsible for providing an accurate street address, contact recipient name, and active South African mobile phone number for courier SMS tracking. If a parcel is returned to our dispatch center due to incorrect address information or repeated failure to receive delivery, the customer will be liable for the re-dispatch courier fee.

4. Mandatory 48-Hour Transit Damage & Breakage Protocol: Our apothecary parcels are packaged with multi-layered shock-absorbing protection. However, if a parcel arrives visibly damaged or glass containers have broken during transit:

07.Cancellations, Returns, Refunds & Statutory Cooling-Off

Healing Scar Oils complies strictly with the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (“CPA”) and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act 25 of 2002 (“ECTA”):

1. Statutory 7-Day Cooling-Off Right (Section 44 ECTA): You are entitled to cancel an electronic purchase of unopened goods without reason or penalty within 7 (seven) calendar days of receiving delivery. In accordance with Section 44(2) of ECTA, the customer is responsible for the direct courier cost of safely returning the unopened goods to our Pretoria depot.

2. Six-Month Implied Warranty of Quality (Sections 55 & 56 CPA): All products carry an implied statutory warranty that they are reasonably suitable for their intended purpose, of good quality, and usable for their normal shelf-life. If a product exhibits a genuine manufacturing defect within 6 months of delivery (and has been stored strictly in accordance with our cool, dry storage instructions), Healing Scar Oils will replace the item or refund the purchase price in full.

3. Refund Processing: Approved refunds are credited back to the original method of payment (via PayFast or direct bank EFT) within 5 to 7 business days following receipt and inspection of returned unopened goods at our depot.

08.Clinical Aromatherapy Consultations & Wellness Bookings

Healing Scar Oils offers virtual 1-on-1 consultations with founder Tersia Herbst (Qualified Clinical Aromatherapist):

• Scope of Practice: Consultations provide individualized botanical wellness advice, essential oil guidance, dilution protocols, and holistic lifestyle recommendations. Consultations are complementary health support and do NOT constitute medical diagnosis, surgical advice, prescription medicine, or psychiatric treatment.
• Medical Supervision: Clients undergoing active medical treatments (such as cancer chemotherapy, radiotherapy, recent surgery, cardiovascular therapies, or high-risk pregnancies) must disclose all current prescription pharmaceuticals and obtain clearance from their treating medical doctor before introducing botanical oils.
• Rescheduling & Cancellation Policy: Consultations may be rescheduled or cancelled with at least 24 (twenty-four) hours' advance notice for a 100% refund or priority rescheduling. Cancellations made with less than 24 hours' notice or missed appointments (“no-shows”) forfeit the consultation fee due to reserved clinical scheduling.

09.Voluntary Ministry Donations & Care Packages

Healing Scar Oils welcomes voluntary faith-based contributions (“Bless the Ministry”) in accordance with Luke 6:38:

• Charitable Intent: Donations are deployed directly to formulate and deliver restorative scar care kits, NixPain balms, and burn relief packages to burn survivors, underprivileged families, and patients undergoing intensive medical rehabilitation who cannot afford natural restorative care.
• Unconditional Gift: Donations are made voluntarily as non-reciprocal contributions. They do not constitute an exchange for commercial equity, guaranteed prayers, or commercial deliverables.
• Non-Refundable: Due to immediate apothecary allocation and material procurement, donations are non-refundable once settled via PayFast.
• Tax Status: Healing Scar Oils is an apothecary business and faith ministry. Donations do not currently qualify for Section 18A tax-deductible certificates under the South African Income Tax Act.

10.Skin Patch-Testing & Safe Dilution Invariants

• How to Patch Test: Apply 1–2 drops of the diluted oil or pea-sized amount of cream to a clean patch of skin on the inside of your forearm. Leave undisturbed for 24 hours. If redness, burning, itching, or irritation develops, discontinue use immediately and flush gently with a neutral carrier oil (such as coconut or olive oil). Never attempt to flush essential oils with water.
• Never Ingest Undiluted Essential Oils: Pure essential oils must never be ingested or introduced into open eyes, ear canals, or mucous membranes.
• Infants & Children: Use only formulations specifically labeled for infants and children (such as Tiny Teethers or SOS PG for Children). Never use adult-strength formulations on infants under 3 months.
• Pregnancy & Lactation: Consult our qualified clinical aromatherapist or your obstetrician before using any essential oils during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Pet Safety Warning: Certain pure essential oils (including Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, and Citrus blends) are toxic to domestic pets, particularly felines and canines. Do not apply human botanical products to animals without professional veterinary approval.

11.Limitation of Liability & Customer Indemnity (CPA s49)

12.Governing Law, Dispute Resolution & Domicilium

1. Governing Law: These Terms and all transactions concluded through this website shall be governed by and interpreted exclusively in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

2. Informal Resolution & Ombudsman: In the event of any query, dispute, or complaint, you are encouraged to contact our operational team first at [email protected] or via WhatsApp at 082 782 9578. We commit to resolving customer concerns amicably within 5 (five) business days. If unresolved, consumers retain the statutory right to escalate disputes to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud (CGSO) (www.cgso.org.za | [email protected]).

3. Expedited Arbitration: Any commercial dispute arising between the parties that cannot be resolved amicably shall be submitted to confidential, binding arbitration administered by the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa (“AFSA”) in terms of its Expedited Commercial Rules, conducted in Pretoria or Johannesburg before a single arbitrator appointed by AFSA.

4. Domicilium Citandi et Executandi: Healing Scar Oils chooses as its legal address for all formal legal notices, court processes, and communications: