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
✅ 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
✨ 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!
