Cookie Policy

Last Updated: January 27, 2026

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device (computer, phone, tablet) when you visit a website. They help websites remember your actions and preferences over time, so you don't have to re-enter information each visit.

Think of cookies like a receipt: When you return to a store, the receipt proves you were there before. Cookies do the same thing for websites.

Why We Use Cookies

We use cookies to:

✓ Make our site work (enable checkout, remember your cart)
✓ Improve your experience (save your preferences, remember your login)
✓ Understand how you use our site (which pages are popular, where you came from)
✓ Show you relevant ads (personalize marketing based on your interests)
✓ Prevent fraud (detect suspicious activity, secure transactions)

You're always in control. You can manage or disable cookies at any time (see "Managing Cookies" below).

Types of Cookies We Use

We categorize cookies based on their purpose and who sets them.

By Purpose

Category What They Do Can You Disable Them?
Strictly Necessary Enable core site functions (cart, checkout, login, security). Without these, the site won't work properly. ⚠️ No (required for site to function)
Functional Remember your preferences (language, currency, saved addresses). ✓ Yes (but you'll lose convenience features)
Analytics Track how you use our site so we can improve it (page views, bounce rate, traffic sources). ✓ Yes
Marketing Personalize ads and measure campaign performance. Track if you clicked an ad before visiting. ✓ Yes

By Origin

First-Party Cookies: Set by BALM Water directly (balmwater.com)
Third-Party Cookies: Set by external services we use (Google, Meta, Shopify)

Specific Cookies We Use

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These cookies are essential for the site to function. You cannot disable them.

Cookie Name Set By Purpose Duration
_shopify_s Shopify Maintains your shopping session (cart items, checkout progress) Session (closes when you leave)
_shopify_y Shopify Remembers you're logged into your account 1 year
cart Shopify Stores items in your cart 2 weeks
secure_customer_sig Shopify Securely identifies you when logged in 1 year
storefront_digest Shopify Verifies your identity during checkout 2 years
_tracking_consent BALM Water Records your cookie consent preferences 1 year

Functional Cookies

These cookies enhance your experience but aren't strictly required.

Cookie Name Set By Purpose Duration
localization Shopify Remembers your country/region for currency and language 1 year
_orig_referrer Shopify Remembers where you came from (e.g., Google, Instagram) 2 weeks
_landing_page Shopify Tracks the first page you visited 2 weeks
checkout_token Shopify Prevents duplicate orders and secures checkout 1 year

Analytics Cookies

These cookies help us understand how visitors use our site so we can improve it.

Cookie Name Set By Purpose Duration
_ga Google Analytics Distinguishes unique visitors (anonymized) 2 years
_ga_* Google Analytics Tracks page views and sessions 2 years
_gid Google Analytics Distinguishes unique visitors (short-term) 24 hours
_gat Google Analytics Limits request rate (prevents server overload) 1 minute

What we track:

  • Pages you visit
  • Time spent on site
  • Device type (mobile, desktop)
  • Traffic source (Google search, Instagram ad, etc.)
  • Geographic location (country/city level—not exact address)

What we DON'T track:

  • Your name, email, or personal identity
  • Sensitive information (passwords, payment details)
  • Cross-site browsing (what you do on other websites)

Marketing Cookies

These cookies allow us to show you relevant ads and measure campaign performance.

Cookie Name Set By Purpose Duration
_fbp Meta (Facebook) Pixel Tracks conversions from Facebook/Instagram ads 90 days
fr Meta (Facebook) Personalizes ads based on your activity 90 days
_gcl_au Google Ads Tracks conversions from Google Ads campaigns 90 days
IDE Google DoubleClick Serves targeted ads across Google network 1 year
test_cookie Google DoubleClick Tests if your browser accepts cookies 15 minutes

How marketing cookies work:

  1. You visit our site after clicking a Facebook ad
  2. The Meta Pixel cookie records this visit
  3. If you make a purchase, we know the ad worked
  4. We can show you similar products based on what you viewed

You can opt out of personalized ads (see "Managing Cookies" below).

Cookie Lifespan Summary

Session cookies: Deleted when you close your browser
Persistent cookies: Remain until expiration date or manual deletion

Duration Cookies
Session only _shopify_s, shopping cart (if not logged in)
< 24 hours _gid, test_cookie
2 weeks cart, _orig_referrer, _landing_page
90 days _fbp, fr, _gcl_au
1 year _shopify_y, secure_customer_sig, localization, IDE
2 years storefront_digest, _ga, _ga_*

Managing Cookies

Option 1: Use Our Cookie Banner

When you first visit balmwater.com, you'll see a banner asking for your cookie preferences. You can:

  • Accept All: Enable all cookies
  • Reject Non-Essential: Only strictly necessary cookies
  • Customize: Choose which categories to allow

Change your mind? Click the "Cookie Preferences" link in our footer anytime to update settings.

Option 2: Browser Settings

You can control cookies directly in your browser:

Google Chrome:

  1. Click the three dots (⋮) > Settings
  2. Privacy and security > Cookies and other site data
  3. Choose: Block third-party cookies / Block all cookies / Clear cookies

Mozilla Firefox:

  1. Click the three lines (≡) > Settings
  2. Privacy & Security > Cookies and Site Data
  3. Choose: Block cookies / Clear cookies

Safari:

  1. Preferences > Privacy
  2. Choose: Block all cookies / Prevent cross-site tracking

Microsoft Edge:

  1. Settings > Privacy, search, and services
  2. Cookies and site permissions > Manage and delete cookies

Mobile browsers: Settings > Safari/Chrome > Privacy > Block Cookies

⚠️ Warning: Blocking all cookies will break site functionality. You won't be able to:

  • Add items to cart
  • Complete checkout
  • Stay logged in
  • Save preferences

Recommended: Block only third-party cookies (analytics + marketing) but allow first-party cookies (site functionality).

Option 3: Third-Party Opt-Outs

Opt out of specific tracking services:

Google Analytics:
Install the browser add-on: tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout

Google Ads:
Manage ad settings: adssettings.google.com

Meta (Facebook/Instagram):
Ad preferences: facebook.com/ads/preferences

Industry-wide opt-outs:

Do Not Track (DNT) Signals

Some browsers offer "Do Not Track" (DNT) settings. Currently, there's no universal standard for how websites should respond to DNT signals.

We honor your cookie preferences set through our banner, but we don't automatically respond to browser DNT signals. To opt out of tracking, use the methods above.

Legal Compliance

This Cookie Policy complies with:

  • UK GDPR (Data Protection Act 2018)
  • EU ePrivacy Directive (Cookie Law)
  • PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations 2003)
  • CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act)

Your Rights Under GDPR

If you're in the EU/UK, you have the right to:

✓ Consent: We ask for your explicit consent before setting non-essential cookies
✓ Withdraw consent: Change your preferences anytime via our cookie banner
✓ Access: Request information about what cookies track you
✓ Deletion: Clear cookies manually or request we delete your data

To exercise these rights: Email support@balmwater.com

CCPA Notice (California Residents)

"Do we sell your personal information?" No. We don't sell data.

"Do we share data for targeted advertising?" Yes. Marketing cookies share browsing behavior with Meta and Google to personalize ads.

To opt out: Use our cookie banner to disable "Marketing" cookies, or visit:

Cookies vs. Other Tracking Technologies

We also use related technologies:

Web Beacons (Pixels): Tiny invisible images in emails that tell us if you opened our email. Used for:

  • Email campaign performance
  • Abandoned cart reminders
  • Order confirmation tracking

Local Storage: HTML5 storage that works like cookies but can hold more data. Used for:

  • Saving cart items offline
  • Remembering UI preferences

Session Storage: Temporary storage cleared when you close the tab. Used for:

  • Checkout flow state
  • Form auto-save

Fingerprinting: We do NOT use browser fingerprinting (tracking you without cookies by analyzing device characteristics). This practice is banned under GDPR.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy to reflect:

  • New cookies/technologies we implement
  • Changes to legal requirements
  • Updates to third-party services

When we make changes:

  • The "Last Updated" date at the top will change
  • You'll see a notice on your next visit
  • For major changes, we'll email you (if you have an account)

Your continued use of our site after changes constitutes acceptance.

Questions?

Need help with cookies or have privacy concerns?

📧 Email: support@balmwater.com
📞 Phone: [Your phone number]
📍 Address: [Your business address]

Response time: We respond to cookie/privacy inquiries within 48 hours.

Quick Reference Guide

"Can I use your site without cookies?"
Only with strictly necessary cookies enabled. You can disable analytics and marketing cookies without affecting core functionality.

"What happens if I delete all cookies?"
Your cart will empty, you'll be logged out, and preferences will reset. You'll need to accept cookies again on your next visit.

"Do cookies contain my credit card information?"
No. Payment data is handled by Shopify Payments/Stripe and never stored in cookies.

"Can cookies give my device a virus?"
No. Cookies are text files, not executable programs. They cannot install malware.

"Are cookies the same as cache?"
No. Cache stores website files (images, scripts) to load faster. Cookies store behavioral data.

"How do I clear cookies on mobile?"
iOS: Settings > Safari > Clear History and Website Data
Android: Chrome > Settings > Privacy > Clear Browsing Data > Cookies

© 2026 BALM Water. All rights reserved.