Meet Us

Meet the Faces Behind Phanilla

Two different worlds, one shared dream, and something delightfully different.

We're Jared and Genis, the husband-and-wife duo behind Phanilla Perfumery & Café. And if you had told us a few years ago that we'd be creating fragrances, serving coffee, and building our very own little world of scent, we probably would have laughed. But sometimes the most unexpected paths lead to the most wonderful places.

Our story begins with two very different backgrounds.

Jared spent over 20 years working as an electrician, while Genis has spent her life in retail, beginning at just 16 years old. Her love for fragrance grew through her years in the beauty industry, working directly with Chanel and later with Shoppers Drug Mart's Beauty Boutique.

Of all the things she loved about her work, nothing compared to helping someone discover their signature scent. Every person who approached the fragrance counter brought a different personality, story, and idea of what they wanted to smell like. For Genis, finding that perfect match was never just about selling a bottle of perfume. It was about understanding the person wearing it. And she absolutely loved the challenge.

When Hudson's Bay announced its closures, Genis felt a genuine sadness knowing that Canadians were losing a familiar place to explore fragrance. But she also saw an opportunity.

There was an entire world of niche and independent perfumery waiting to be discovered. Beautiful fragrance houses, imaginative creators, unexpected scent combinations, and stories that deserved to be shared. The more she explored, the more she felt drawn to the idea of bringing that world to Medicine Hat.

Around that same time, Jared had been laid off from his electrical career. So Genis approached him with a slightly wild idea.

What if we opened a perfume store together?

Jared's response?

"Can I do coffee?"

Being a coffee enthusiast himself, Jared had always appreciated a really good cup of coffee. And suddenly, the idea became something bigger.

Why stop at perfume and coffee? Why not create a space for local artisans, makers, and beautifully curated treasures, too?

And just like that, Phanilla began to take shape.

What started as a dream quickly grew into a space where people could discover, explore, connect, and experience something a little different.

From Discovering Fragrance to Creating It

Our journey didn't stop at finding beautiful perfumes.

After attending a fragrance-making class together, we fell completely in love with the experience. There was something magical about learning how different ingredients could come together to create something entirely personal.

We knew we wanted to bring that same experience home to Medicine Hat.

So we started learning. And learning. And then learning some more.

From fragrance families and raw materials to essential oils, blending techniques, and the art of perfumery, we poured ourselves into understanding as much as we could.

Just four months after opening Phanilla, we introduced our very own fragrance-making classes.

And what an incredible adventure that has been.

With nearly every class selling out, we've had the privilege of watching people create fragrances inspired by their memories, personalities, loved ones, and stories. Seeing that creativity come to life has become one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.

The Next Chapter: Our Own Fragrance House

What began as a love for discovering fragrance has blossomed into a passion for creating it.

Today, we've developed 17 original fragrances under the Phanilla name, each one a little piece of our imagination, creativity, and love for this beautiful industry.

And we're only getting started.

We're working toward expanding our fragrance collection, developing our brand, and bringing our creations to a wider audience through future releases and wholesale opportunities.

There is so much more to come, and we can't wait to share this next chapter with you.

A Little Love From Us to You

At the heart of Phanilla, we're still just Jared and Genis. Two people who took a chance on an idea, combined our passions, and built something together.

We're incredibly grateful for every person who's walked through our doors, shared a coffee, discovered a new fragrance, created something beautiful, or simply stopped in to say hello.

Our hope has always been to create more than just a store. We want Phanilla to be a place that sparks curiosity, welcomes individuality, celebrates creativity, and leaves you with a little something to remember.

Thank you for being part of our story.