We recently connected with Chemeka Watson and have shared our conversation below.

Chemeka, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

2016 was a life-changing year for me. I was suffering with GI issues and chose not to take medications. I made a decision to try a holistic way. I fell in love with working out, changed my lifestyle to plant-based and got healthy. After spending a great deal of time in the gym, I encountered unappealing odors around me. This, along with my background as a Physician Assistant specializing in Infectious diseases for the last 13+ years, motivated me to create a product as a preventative measure.

After extensive research, I created an anti-odor cream with both antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. The cream was reviewed by a board-certified pharmacist, Dr. Steve Mok, who gave a stamp of approval. This gave birth to GenEsscents, a company with products providing essential scents for specific hygienic needs.

The following year, I began searching for a natural underarm deodorant that actually works. This was a challenge as either the deodorant wouldn’t hold through the day and strenuous activity or the deodorant had baking soda which caused great irritation to my armpits. Through extensive research, I learned how to make deodorant and created our top-seller Imperium Deodorant! Our deodorant works at every level of activity using only nature to fight nature!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My name is Chemeka Watson. By profession, I am a physician assistant specializing in infectious disease. I’ve been in medicine for over 15 years. I have seen so much over the years and noted the age of my patients were becoming younger and younger sickened with illnesses we use to only see in our elders. This was bothersome for me. I began to analyze what has changed. It was our environment, our foods, our products. We are exposed to more toxins and less nature!

This then hit home as I became a patient myself! Sickened with gastrointestinal illnesses and severely overweight! I sought out a natural cure for myself by changing my way of life. I began exercising and became plant-based. I learned how food can be healing! Along this journey, I needed healthier products. This was a challenge as even the products claiming to be natural would still have unnecessary ingredients or skin-irritating ingredients such as baking soda!

I got into the business of creating healthier alternatives to everyday hygienic products as I was tired of seeing all the unnecessary chemicals in the products we use and I needed products for myself!

I create an anti-odor cream made especially for application under skin folds and in the groin to eliminate odor in these regions. I also create a natural deodorant using only 8 ingredients! A deodorant without baking soda!! A deodorant that is gender inclusive and works at every level of activity! These products solve the problem of using a truly natural product that is not irritating and works for every gender, every age!!

Creating these products and helping others who were seeking health and quality is what makes me happy and keeps me desiring to keep GenEsscents going!! My clients are constantly sharing their health journeys of how GenEsscents has been the solution to their problems. This was my goal and this is the foundation of this brand!!

How’d you meet your business partner?

My business partner is Kelli White. Kelli and I met in undergrad back in 2003! We are going into our 20th year of pure friendship! Kelli’s kind soul, positivity, morals, values, ethics and loving nature is what attracted a friendship. She was a reflection of myself!

Over the years, Kelli and I grew up together in both our personal and professional lives. We have supported one another through all that life has presented. The loyalty we had for one another is what lead to creating the most beautiful business partnership!

Kelli is the backbone of GenEsscents! She keeps the company flowing with all of the behind the scenes and administrative duties required of our business. She has an infectious personality which radiates through our work.

We have always worked well together as we strengthen one another in the areas where the other may not be as strong. We vibe ✨️. Our friendship is forever 💛

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

GenEsscents was starter in 2017 during a time when I was very active at the gym/boot camp of which I was a member. The anti-odor cream was the first product created to help others in the camp stay fresh. GenEsscents became very popular at that time mostly among the camp. In 2019, I could no longer work out at the camp due to mounting injuries I sustained and other personal issues. A few months after not being around, it was almost like GenEsscents became a distant thought. I no longer had the clients I previously had despite our continued online presence.

There were months GenEsscents would only have one or two orders. We tried several methods of advertising but we just didn’t have the presence to find a significant place among the competitors.

A few other clients we attained along the journey began telling their stories and sharing GenEsscents via word of mouth. In May 2020, a large platform called We Buy Black asked for people to tell them if they knew someone of color who makes deodorant. A past client saw this request and recommended GenEsscents!!! The company reached out to us and asked to place an ad on their site for us! This was an opportunity of a lifetime and subsequently gave GenEsscents another leg to stand!!

Since that time, we have had continual clients, continual orders, continual growth! Clients who are loyal and dedicated to our brand as they believe in our brand and continues to spread the word of our very existence! Due to our growth, we were able to expand our brand to hire a fulfillment company called ECOM spaces to ensure our clients receive quality packaging of their products in a timely manner.

Despite the slow moments, the down periods and financial straints, we never gave up, we never gave in. We stayed strong and faithful in our purpose. We never compromised on our ingredients nor quality! GenEsscents is a survivor and we continue to aim for growth!!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.genesscents.com
• Instagram: @genesscents
• Twitter: @genesscents
• Youtube: GenEsscents

Image Credits
JolyeToi photography Exackleeright photography