Written by Tyler Hollis
Kelly Kussman is the owner, designer, and vision behind Cayla Gray. She started her career in fragrance buying for a major department store where she engaged with both established and niche brands, falling in love with the distinctive nature of scents and their ability to make memories tangible.
After more than a decade in traditional retail, Kelly ultimately found that the surest road to success would involve following her own unique path. She eventually relocated to Phoenix, Arizona and began the journey to start a new business venture — and grow her family.
In 2017, she faced the tragic loss of her first baby who she planned to call Cayla Gray. After struggling with another ectopic pregnancy, Kelly wanted to create a legacy that not only honored the beauty and heartbreak of this bittersweet experience, but also fueled her personal passion for fragrance. From this desire, the Cayla Gray collection was born.
With Cayla Gray, Kelly has stepped away from traditional perfume practices and returned to an artisan mentality to curate a line of clean scents that are American-made, ethically-cultivated, and fairly-priced for self and home. This thoughtful spirit is imbued in the brand, keeping the business as transparent as possible by designing her products locally and collaborating with makers globally.
"I was sitting on the dock with my dad one night, looking across the water after sunset, and thought to myself, times like this are exactly why I started Cayla Gray. To capture this moment in fragrance and create an instant connection to that experience every time you revisit the scent.
I love fragrance, I love everything about it. They can truly elevate your lifestyle, evoking an emotion or memory that makes everything around you feel more beautiful. That’s the experience I want to share with people," - Kelly Kussman.
Learn more about all four of her enchanting fragrances at https://caylagray.com/.
