07/14/2026
Hi y'all, my name is Skye Gray, and I'm the founder of Prickle Patch Candle Co., a small family-owned candle business located in the little town of Vernon, Texas.
I've been making candles for about two years now, but this business started because of something much bigger than candles.
My family and I loved burning candles in our home. But the candles we were buying contained paraffin wax, and our son started getting very sick whenever we burned them. After many questions and doctor's visits, he was diagnosed with asthma. That changed everything.
We decided to stop buying those candles and learn how to make our own paraffin-free candles so we could still enjoy the cozy feeling of a candle without worrying about our son's health.
Once we started making them, my mom and my mother-in-law both said, "Why don't y'all turn this into a business?" At first, we laughed, but then we realized... maybe we should.
The next challenge was finding the perfect name.
My grandpa used to call my daughter his little "Sticker Patch." That sweet memory stayed with me, and before long, it became Prickle Patch Candle Co. It's a name that reminds me of family, love, and the people who helped shape my life.
Not long after, my sister joined me, and we started making candles together. We were nine years apart in age, but working side by side brought us closer than ever before. We both lived with cerebral palsy, so we understood the challenges that come with having a disability. We leaned on each other through everything.
She was my lefty, and I was her righty.
Four months ago, my world changed when she unexpectedly passed away.
She was always coming over with new scent ideas, and if you knew her, you knew one thing for sure... everything had to smell like leather. Before she passed, she created two fragrances she never got the chance to pour herself.
Today, I'm honored to carry on her story through those candles.
Abby's Leather Sunrise and Abby's Desert Dollhouse aren't just fragrances—they're pieces of her heart. Every time I pour them, I think of her, and in a way, she's still creating right beside me.
Losing her has been one of the hardest things I've ever faced. But through that loss, my faith in God has grown stronger than I ever imagined.
Life is precious. Hug your family. Tell the people you love that you love them. Don't take tomorrow for granted. And most importantly, put your faith and trust in God with all your heart. He has carried us through our darkest days and continues to give us strength.
Thank you for supporting Prickle Patch Candle Co. Every candle we pour carries a piece of our family's story, and we're so grateful you're a part of it.
With love,
Skye Gray
Founder, Prickle Patch Candle Co.
