Privacy Policy
We respect your privacy and are committed to protecting your personal information. This policy explains how we handle your data when you use TheScentSeeker.
Last updated: September 2025
Data Controller
The data controller responsible for your personal information is:
TheScentSeeker
Email: thescentseekerweb@gmail.com
You can contact us at the above email address for any questions regarding this privacy policy or your data rights.
What Information We Collect
When you use our fragrance recommendation service, we collect only the information necessary to provide you with personalized recommendations:
- Your responses to our fragrance questionnaire (preferences, occasions, style choices)
- Email address (only if you choose to subscribe to our newsletter)
- Basic website usage statistics through analytics
We do not collect personal identification information, financial details, or any sensitive personal data.
How We Use Your Information and Legal Basis
Under GDPR, we process your information based on the following legal grounds:
Questionnaire Responses
Purpose: Generating personalized fragrance recommendations
Legal Basis: Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR) - You voluntarily provide this information to receive recommendations
Email Addresses (Newsletter)
Purpose: Sending newsletter content and updates
Legal Basis: Consent (Article 6(1)(a) GDPR) - Only if you explicitly subscribe
Website Analytics
Purpose: Website performance analysis and user experience improvement
Legal Basis: Legitimate Interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR) - Improving our service quality
⚠️ International Data Transfer
Important: Your questionnaire responses are transferred to and processed by OpenAI (based in the United States) to generate recommendations. This constitutes a transfer of personal data outside the European Economic Area (EEA). OpenAI may process this data according to their own privacy policy and data protection measures. We have no control over OpenAI's data handling practices.
We never sell, trade, or share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes.
Data Retention and Storage
We retain your information for the following periods:
Questionnaire Responses
Retention Period: Not stored by us - processed immediately and discarded
Note: Data is sent to OpenAI for processing; we cannot control their retention practices
Email Addresses (Newsletter)
Retention Period: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Storage Location: EU-based servers where possible
Website Analytics
Retention Period: 26 months (anonymized data)
Purpose: Statistical analysis and service improvement
We use industry-standard security measures including encryption and secure transmission protocols to protect your data during processing and storage.
Third-Party Processing: All questionnaire data is immediately transmitted to OpenAI (USA) for recommendation generation. We cannot control or guarantee how OpenAI processes, stores, or retains this information. Please review OpenAI's privacy policy for their data practices.
Cookies and Analytics
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Remember your preferences during your visit
- Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
- Improve our website performance and user experience
We do not store personal data through cookies. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though this may affect website functionality.
Affiliate Links and Commissions
Affiliate Disclosure: TheScentSeeker contains affiliate links to fragrance retailers and brands. When you click on these links and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.
How Affiliate Links Work
- We partner with fragrance retailers and earn commissions on qualifying purchases
- The price you pay remains the same - there are no additional costs to you
- Commissions help us maintain and improve our free recommendation service
- We only recommend fragrances we genuinely believe match your preferences
Editorial Independence: Our fragrance recommendations are based solely on your questionnaire responses and our recommendation algorithm. Affiliate partnerships do not influence which fragrances we recommend to you. We maintain full editorial independence in our recommendation process.
Transparency: We believe in being completely transparent about our business model. The affiliate commissions we earn help us:
- Keep our recommendation service completely free for users
- Maintain and improve our website and recommendation technology
- Continue providing personalized fragrance recommendations
Your Choice: Using affiliate links is entirely optional. You can always search for the recommended fragrances independently if you prefer not to use our affiliate links.
Third-Party Links
Our website contains links to fragrance retailers and other external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party sites. We encourage you to read their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
Your Rights Under GDPR
Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), you have the following rights regarding your personal data:
✓ Right of Access
Request information about what personal data we process
✓ Right to Rectification
Correct inaccurate personal data (applicable to email addresses)
✓ Right to Erasure
Request deletion of your email from our newsletter list
✓ Right to Restrict Processing
Limit how we process your data in certain circumstances
✓ Right to Data Portability
Receive your data in a structured format (for newsletter data)
✓ Right to Object
Object to processing based on legitimate interest
✓ Right to Withdraw Consent
Withdraw consent at any time (doesn't affect past processing)
✓ Right to Lodge a Complaint
Contact your local data protection authority
How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at: thescentseekerweb@gmail.com
We will respond to your request within 30 days as required by GDPR.
Limitations
Questionnaire Data: Since questionnaire responses are not stored by us and are immediately processed through OpenAI, we cannot provide access to, rectify, or delete this data. For questionnaire data rights, you may need to contact OpenAI directly.
Updates to This Policy
We may update this privacy policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last modified" date. We encourage you to review this policy periodically.
Questions or Concerns?
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information, please contact us. We're committed to addressing your concerns and maintaining your trust.