Werther & Gray

Location: Claymont, Delaware
Where to buy: Werther & Gray; Werther & Gray Etsy

Werther & Gray’s brand name name is a combination of two literary characters from the Romantic era – Goethe's The Sorrows of Young Werther (1774) and Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). Werther and Gray lives up to its gothic inspirations, with unique scents that bring out my inner haunted Victorian doll. Werther & Gray’s describes their intended audience as “a group of history buffs, romantics, aesthetes, dreamers, hipsters, artists and old souls.”

As someone who tries to cosplay Penny Dreadful’s Vanessa Ives on a daily basis- IT ME.

As of the year of our Lordt 2021, there are several candle series to choose from. Luminaries highlights brilliant historical figures that glow throughout time, from Cleopatra to Frederick Douglass. You can also purchase some of the Luminaries and their corresponding books in the Book Bundles section of the website, which would make the perfect gift for that candle loving friend in your life (hint hint). I am DYING to get my hands on my gal Elizabeth Regina, but she appears sold out as do quite a few of these notables.

The Dark Series candles bring us down to the gritty underbelly of the past; macabre folk tales and times of turmoil. Be still my little gothic heart, but I would snatch up any and all of these. I limited myself to The Ghost Club (I love mint and citrus), Flying Dutchman (review here), and the Black Death (review to come!).

The Signature scent series is another that I would literally just grab off the shelves like a maniac and hold them like Bilbo when Gandalf asks him about handing over the The Ring. Every candle name evokes a strong desire for me to change into an elaborate costume and pose in front of my cats.

Aesthetic

In terms of sizes, the options are:

8 oz glass jar
8 oz glass tumbler
11 oz glass tumbler

I’ve purchased multiple candles from Werther & Gray as you might have noticed, all in the 8oz glass jars. They are very sturdy, clear glass, with a plastic black top. To me, the label of the candle plays a huge part in the aesthetic, so I’m happy with the glass jar as the label art is impeccable, but I cannot deny the vampiric elegance of the glass tumblers.

This website will (budget and time willing) contain a review of every Werther & Gray candle made. But dear reader, do you expect me to pass on spooky, historically based candles??

“Doubt thou the stars are fire; Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love spooky, historical candles,” - Shakespeare, probably.