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From Synthetic Scents to Clean Fragrance: My 11-Year Journey
February 12th will always be a significant date in my wellness journey. It’s the day I walked out of my naturopath’s office with tears in my eyes—full of hope, empowered with knowledge, and committed to making serious changes in my life. And today, exactly 11 years later, I was officially approved as a Wyld Notes affiliate. The irony? Wyld Notes is a clean perfume company, and on this very day in 2014, I gave up synthetic fragrance for good. Full circle. Divine timing if you ask me!

The Early Days: A Love Affair with Perfume

Before I knew better, I loved fragrance. My all-time favorite scent was Angel by Thierry Mugler—that rich, warm, intoxicating scent that felt like a signature part of me. I had a full collection of perfumes, scented lotions, candles, and room sprays. If there was a Buy 3, Get 3 Free or semi-annual sale, you better believe I was there, stocking up (if you know, you know).

Fragrance was comforting, nostalgic, and, at the time, something I never imagined giving up. But life has a way of leading us where we need to go, even if it means unraveling habits we once clung to.

A Wake-Up Call: My Dad’s Cancer Diagnosis

In May 2012, my world shifted when my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. That moment was a catalyst for change. While I had already been working in the nutrition and wellness space, teaching veterinarians about preventative health and supplementation, my focus turned inward. How could I create a healthier environment for my dad?

The first things to go were candles and conventional cleaners—things that I learned could negatively impact respiratory health and contribute to conditions like allergies, asthma, and even cancer. I also started paying closer attention to the food I was eating, following the Dirty Dozen and Clean Fifteen to reduce pesticide exposure.

But I was still struggling with my own health—waking up with daily headaches, battling acne, bloating, constipation, anemia, hypoglycemia, fainting spells, adrenal fatigue and irregular cycles. I had TMJ, back pain, and sleep issues, and I was doing everything in my power to get pregnant.

Desperate for Answers

By the time February 12, 2014, rolled around, I was desperate for answers. I had self-diagnosed myself with Celiac disease and scheduled an appointment with a local naturopath, Dr. Michelle Menzel at Energetic Wellness in Edmond, Oklahoma. I had no idea that those three hours with her would change the course of my life, forever.

She listened—truly listened to my history (since inception)—to my struggles, validated my health concerns, and gave me an action plan. Instead of just focusing on getting pregnant, she encouraged me to focus on healing my body first so I could give my future baby the healthiest possible start.

Her recommendations were clear:
✅ Keep a food diary for two weeks
✅ Eliminate gluten immediately
✅ Give up coffee and processed sugar
✅ Take high-quality supplements (prenatal, probiotics, digestive enzymes, B complex)
✅ Use homeopathic remedies to support my body
✅ And—perhaps the hardest one at the time—ditch synthetic fragrance in all forms

She explained how fragrance disrupts hormones, contributes to respiratory issues, and contains toxic ingredients that can have serious long-term effects. She told me that my beloved perfume wasn’t just a harmless indulgence—it was impacting my health in ways I never realized.

That day, I walked out of her office and quit cold turkey—no more perfume, no more scented lotions, no more toxic body sprays... funny enough, 2 days later, my husband gifted me my favorite Angel perfume for Valentine's Day and it sat on my shelf for years until one day I finally threw it away. 



 The Transformation

The first few weeks were an adjustment. I missed my scents. I missed my coffee. And I definitely missed bread. But then, something amazing happened.

✨ My acne started clearing up
✨ My bloating went down
✨ My headaches weren’t as bad
✨ My cycles regulated
✨ My digestion improved
✨ I was finally feeling better

And then, just eight months later, we got the news we had been waiting for—I was pregnant!

I went on to have a beautiful, unmedicated childbirth and nursed my daughter for nearly 27 months. When I became pregnant with my second baby, I didn’t even realize it until I was 16 weeks along! I had two healthy pregnancies, two natural births, and collectively nursed both of my babies for 56 months.

Looking back, I know that the lifestyle changes I made—removing toxins, focusing on whole foods, supporting my body with proper nutrition—played a massive role in my fertility and overall health.

Coming Full Circle

Fast forward 11 years, and here I am—still deeply committed to this low-tox lifestyle, still educating others on the importance of what we put on and in our bodies. My daughter, who is now almost 10 years old, can read labels, understands the dangers of synthetic fragrance, and knows why we care so much about this.

And today, of all days, I was approved as a Wyld Notes affiliate—on the exact anniversary of when I gave up synthetic fragrance in 2014. How divine is that?
After over a decade without perfume, I finally get to experience clean luxury fragrance—without the hormone disruption, respiratory issues, or toxic ingredients. And I couldn’t be more excited to help others make the switch.

If you’ve been searching for a clean perfume alternative, I’d love for you to check out Wyld Notes. They’ve created something truly special, and I can’t wait for you to experience it alongside me!


Here’s to coming full circle, to divine timing, and to embracing a lifestyle that truly supports our health and well-being!

AFFILIATE DISCLAIMER:
I’m a proud affiliate for some of these tools and products that are suggested on this page and throughout my site. Meaning if you click on a product and make a purchase, I may make a small commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based on knowledge and experience and I recommend them because they are genuinely useful and helpful, not because of the small commission that I may receive.

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About Brandi

 
I’m Brandi... a designer, wellness advocate, and conscious caregiver.

But more than anything, I’m someone who understands what it feels like to hold a lot… to care deeply for others… and to realize somewhere along the way, you need support too. My work is rooted in real-life experiences that have shaped both how I live and how I serve.

Want to know more about my story?
Take a deeper look at the journey that shaped this work. Click Here.


Conscious Caregiving
After walking through my dad’s stage 4 cancer diagnosis, I experienced firsthand the emotional, physical, and mental weight that caregiving can carry. But I also experienced something else, what it looks like to approach care with intention, support the body in natural ways, and create space for presence in the middle of uncertainty.

Through that journey, my dad was able to beat his initial diagnosis in 2014, and we were given 12 more years with him before he passed in February 2026. That time shaped me in ways I’m still uncovering—and it’s what led me to create a space for caregivers who feel overwhelmed, stretched thin, or unsure where to begin.

I now share simple tools, gentle guidance, and real-life perspective to help you move from panic to peace—without losing yourself in the process.

Caregiving Support
Explore tools, resources, and community for your caregiving journey. 
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Holistic Health & Natural Living
During that same season, I was also navigating my own health challenges—walking through two and a half years of infertility.

After making intentional shifts—supporting my gut, balancing hormones, reducing toxins in our home, and working with a naturopath... I was able to conceive naturally, without medical intervention (praise God).

That experience changed everything for me.

It deepened my belief in supporting the body, simplified the way I approach wellness, and is why I love sharing natural living in a way that feels approachable, not overwhelming. 

Need a little direction first?
Book a 30-minute call and we’ll talk through where you are and what you need. Book a Wellness Chat


Website Design for Wellness Entrepreneurs
Alongside this, I help women—especially in the holistic health and wellness space—bring their ideas to life online.

Whether you're starting from scratch or refining what you’ve built, I design simple, aligned websites and systems that reflect who you are and support the way you want to serve.

At the heart of it all, my work is about clarity, simplicity, and creating something that truly supports your life—not overwhelms it.

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Bring your business, ideas, or offers to life with clarity and structure. 
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