About Werther & Gray

Werther & Gray is a small artisan candle company located in Northern Delaware.

The name combines two literary characters: Werther from Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther, and Dorian Gray from Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray. These two literary works bookend the Romantic era, and like its namesake, Werther & Gray is rooted in the values of Romanticism, with styles and themes that emphasize aesthetic beauty, imagination and emotion.

Despite its small size, Werther & Gray has shipped candles all over the world and been stocked by numerous museums, cultural institutions, and high-end gift shops since opening for business in 2015.

An Artisan Company

Hello! I'm Charles, the owner of Werther & Gray. My background is in the fine arts world, as a painter/designer and museum worker. I have a deep love for art, literature, music, and history.

Like many other small candle companies, I started making candles as a hobby in my kitchen. I gifted lots of experiments to friends and family, then launched a business on Etsy in 2015. Werther & Gray grew steadily over the first couple years, and eventually I quit my job to dedicate all my time to candlemaking.

Over the years since, I have become a student of perfumery, with more and more of my products featuring my own complex custom scents.

Since all other aspects of the business are carried out by me as well (including product development, graphic design, manufacturing, order processing, web design, marketing, etc.), the Werther & Gray brand reflects the creative vision of a single artisan.

  • Love the quality, scents and vintage feel of these candles. They are packaged extremely well so they are not damaged in shipping and I appreciate that so much. The candles display beautifully!

    A DARKNESS LOVELY BOUTIQUE Galena, IL

  • Packaging and scents are classic and tasteful. Great addition to the Poe Museum's gift shop!

    THE POE MUSEUM Richmond, VA

  • These candles have been a wonderful addition to our shop and our customers love them. The scents are beautiful, but not overpowering, and the packaging is perfect.

    EMPORIUM 32 Salem, MA