I want to explain why our prices have recently gone up. I know price increases aren’t fun, and nobody enjoys paying more—myself included. But this change has a clear reason and actually helps you in the end.
The US government is removing what's called the "de minimis" rule. This used to mean small parcels didn't pay import taxes. Now, every parcel we ship will attract not just a 10% tariff, but also an extra DHL customs fee. Rather than having you deal with surprise fees upon delivery (the old DAP method), we’ve switched to DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). That means we handle everything upfront, including customs clearance.
While we can absorb the tariff itself, we can't absorb the DHL handling fees and the customs enquiries without a price increase to hire more staff. They take care of customs paperwork and questions, ensuring your parcels arrive smoothly, without unexpected bills or holdups. In other words, Fraterworks staff will talk to customs on your behalf saving you annoyance and delays.
On top of this, since the start of 2025, all our major suppliers have raised their prices significantly. Some ingredients, like patchouli and vetiver, have increased by as much as 100%. DHL has also raised shipping costs three times by 5% each in the past two years, which, until now, we’ve absorbed without passing them on to you.
I can at least say that we are working through each product individually to try to bring the prices down where they will have the most impact on saving you money.
I appreciate your understanding—these changes aren’t ideal, but they mean less hassle and worry for you when ordering. Thanks for sticking with us through this adjustment.
— Jamie Frater, Creative Director and Founder
