Rising Stars: Meet Jessica Gray

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Gray.

Hi Jessica, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
My name is Jessica Gray, and I have always been a creative with an entrepreneurial spirit. In 2020 I decided to put my love of candles into the world in the form of a small business. Essentials by JG was born in my apartment in Lubbock, TX, where I was living at the height of quarantine. 

I have always had a passion and love for candles, but always found myself suffering from headaches caused by candles from popular brands. This inspired me to research the ingredients in candles, and found myself down a rabbit hole looking to create a healthy product that was also high quality. The Essentials by JG tagline, “Curated essential home fragrance items that transport you to a certain place in time or space,” means so much to me. I love to travel, and I love to explore different cultures. I credit my cultural inquisitiveness to being a first-generation American. The initial Signature Collection was the result of marrying my love of fragrance with my love of travel. Throughout my career, I have lived in various states throughout the US which inspired the initial Signature Collection to represent some of my favorite places I’ve lived. 

I launched Essentials by JG on February 15, 2021 (2/15) – the area code of my birthplace, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with Scents, Dreams & Nightmares inspired by Philly and Je t’aime, inspired by the City of Love, Paris, France, which I visited during graduate school in 2013. Since living in Lubbock and launching Essentials by JG in 2021, the Signature Collection now features 9 scents. We also have a Seasonal Collection featuring both a fall and winter scent. My nose and heart continue to curate custom blends, and I hope to continue to expand the company to include more scents and product offerings. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has had its challenges, as does everything in life, but being able to identify this passion is one of the greatest things I’ve been able to experience the last few years! 

I have a very demanding career in sports and did a cross-country move in the summer of 2021, not quite 5 months after launching the company. While Essentials by JG is a labor of love and passion project, at times it does take a significant backseat to my career; however, being able to disconnect and create is a very important creative outlet and release for me, and I thoroughly enjoy cooking up some fragrance magic. 

Essentials by JG Headquarters has now moved a few times but we have been able to bring on some significant support and assistance in the areas of photography and social media management that have allowed me to focus primarily on the curation of scents and the administrative side of the business to maintain my passion and love while also getting the help I needed to juggle it all! 

I am inspired by the positive feedback and every order and experience that my small business gets to transform spaces. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I hope by reading my story, readers are inspired to lean into all their passions and interests and live a full and exciting life! We are multi-dimensional, and all of our layers are worth exploring. I am a first-generation American born and raised in Philly but have lived in New York, Washington, DC, Lubbock, TX, and now in Michigan. I want readers to know that they can have a full and exciting career and still find time to learn, explore, and be more! 

Had I not leaned into a passion and listened to the voices of those who know me best, I would not have been able to create an experience through a product that is good for you. Without the same support and encouragement, I would not have been able to step into being a content creator, which also has allowed me to tap into skills I haven’t used since undergraduate school. 

So, I want the readers to know whatever it is that you are ruminating on or afraid you won’t do well – just do it. You get to set the parameters, and you also get to start and stop whatever is or isn’t for you – so why not try? 

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I am a lifelong learner, and I love a variety of things (I’m such a Gemini in this way) – I listen to or watch a few podcasts regularly: The Best One Yet (TBOY), The Pivot, Freakonomics Radio, and Earn Your Leisure to name a few. As a content creator, I also love a good vlog! 

I absolutely love all things Shonda Rhimes – shows and books included! The Year of Yes is one of my favorite books ever and I’ve been watching Grey’s Anatomy faithfully since it first aired in 2005. 

I also try to alternate between a fiction and non-fiction book to keep things exciting! Career-wise, Women Leaders in Sports and the NCAA Leadership Development have been life-changing organizations/groups that helped me develop holistically as a woman and a professional working in sports in both the collegiate and professional spaces. 

I am a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated and aim to serve and have a positive impact on the lives of others in everything that I do! I also serve as an executive board member for the Detroit Chapter of Black Sports Professionals. 

Contact Info:

• Website: essentialsbyjg.com
• Instagram: @essentialsbyjg – business @journeywithjg – personal
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jessica-gray617
• Youtube: youtube.com/@journeywithjg

Image Credits
Isabella Rincon