On Aug. 1, the custom candle and scent-maker Sky Candle Co. opened at 1096 Great Plain Ave. in the former Your CBD Store location. Only 60 days after signing their lease, the husband team of Greg Dekermenjian and Albert Feldman brought their second brick-and-mortar shop to life.
The original store opened in Boston’s South End in December 2019, shortly before the pandemic that forced the two to pivot their business model. They moved to popup shops in Boston and New York. Dekermenjian said they noticed a large portion of their customer base hailed from the Needham, Dedham, Wellesley and Chestnut Hill area. He said they were searching for a second location in the area when the Needham storefront became available.
“This particular location opened up and we just fell in love with it,” he said. “The layout was perfect.”
The couple’s passion for scent-based products began as a hobby about a decade ago. “One of the main reasons we got into candle-making is because we discovered a lot of the mass-produced candles were toxic for you, for your environment,” said Dekermenjian. “We wanted to create a clean burning candle for ourselves, for our health.”
Sky Candle, named after their beloved French bulldog, features candles and candle accessories, diffusers, room sprays and home decor. “Everything is handmade by us, clean, eco-friendly, vegan, nontoxic products,” he said. “They’re safe for you, your pets and everybody in your household.” In honor of Sky — the pooch — a percentage of proceeds is donated to animal rescue.
The store’s pièce de résistance is the 13-foot island — or Candle Bar — designed for groups or individuals to create their own scents. Customers select a vessel and choose from 50 scent options, combining up to three.
“We’ll walk you through the process,” said Dekermenjian. “We’ll play around until we find that perfect scent combination, something custom that you love in a candle or diffuser.” He said people often come in groups, but individuals are welcome.
The experiential aspect is what he said sets Sky Candle apart from mass-produced candle stores. “All our scents are proprietary, they’re unique. Being able to create something completely custom-tailored to your own scent profile is what I think differentiates us as a business.”
Dekermenjian said the community has been very welcoming, and he and Feldman are excited for everyone to be back for the fall. They plan to have a grand opening announcement after Labor Day.
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