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Why I Broke Up with Air Fresheners (and You Should Too)


Spoiler: They’re toxic. Literally.

Let’s just get this out of the way: I love a good-smelling home. Walking into a space that smells like “Coastal Rainforest Morning Dew” or “Vanilla Bean Magic” used to make me feel like I had my life together. But plot twist—turns out those lovely scents were basically chemical cocktails in disguise. 😬

Like most people, I didn’t question it. I thought I was being extra clean and put-together because my bathroom smelled like cucumber melon. (If you know, you know.)

But here’s the thing…

The Dirty Truth Behind That “Clean” Smell

Fragrance air fresheners-sprays, plug-ins, candles, those cute little gel thingies—are often filled with harmful chemicals. And I mean harmful in a “how is this even allowed in stores?” kind of way.

Let’s break down what you’re really spraying around your house:

  • Formaldehyde: Yes, the same chemical used to preserve dead things. A known carcinogen and major irritant.
  • Benzene: Another known carcinogen. Excellent.
  • Phthalates: They make the smell last longer but can disrupt your hormones and reproductive system. Cute.
  • Toluene: Linked to developmental issues. So no, not baby-friendly.
  • Xylene: Messes with your central nervous system. Think headaches, dizziness, and feeling foggy for no reason.

Like… why are we doing this to ourselves? All in the name of making our living room smell like a fake ocean breeze?

So What’s the Healthy, Still-Nice-Smelling Option?

Two words: Essential oils.

Making the switch to essential oils has been a game-changer in my health and wellness journey. Not only are they non-toxic, but they actually support your body rather than sabotage it. And no, they don’t make your house smell like a crunchy hippie commune unless you want them to (and hey, no shade if you do).

Here’s why I love them:

  • They’re natural and safe for kids and pets.
  • You can customize your own blends depending on the vibe or season.
  • Some oils (like lavender and eucalyptus) actually have therapeutic benefits.
  • They make you feel like a holistic goddess, and that’s a fact.

A Few Favorite Essential Oils I’m Obsessed With:

  • Lavender + Lemon: Relaxing and refreshing at the same time.
  • Peppermint + Eucalyptus: Think spa day but in your kitchen.
  • Orange + Clove: Cozy fall vibes without the toxic candle smoke.
  • Geranium + Cedarwood: Romantic and grounding.

Harbor Island, Bahamas

Going from avid travelers to pretty much non existent over the last 28 months was really hard for me personally. Having a demanding job I typically use my “one” big trip a year to completely unplug and decompress. I am very much so “Type A” with a splash of laid back, so these trips tend to pull the laid back out which everyone in my life probably appreciates. 🙂

We were finally at the point where Blake and I both realized we needed a trip. We both went through our top must haves. They included, laid back, take the kids, good food, and easy to travel to. I follow a few travel bloggers on instagram and kept seeing Harbor Island pop up.

I started doing some research on best places to stay and the rest is history. I am going to share some of the things we learned along the way and recommendations we have on this beautiful island.

Where we stayed:

I personally love to stay in a hotel, but with kids it’s a lot harder during an extended stay. Having a kitchen is a game changer. We started looking in March, and properties were getting taken so quickly with other people trying to get away. We had to make a really quick decision in order to get a place for our dates in August.

We ended up choosing an old historic home in Dunmore Town on Harbor Island called Yellowbird. We chose it for several reasons that included:

  • Pool: When going to the beach with young children, sometimes the ocean is too much so it’s great to have another option.
  • Great Outdoor space for hanging out after the kids go to bed with an outdoor bar.
  • Right in town, so you can walk to dinner/breakfast/lunch.
  • Recently Redone, and such cute furnishings!
  • Really close to the Government Dock, which is where the water taxi from the main island will drop you.

Runner Up Option: Pink Sand Resort Villas

  • Beautiful “Serena & Lily” type furnishings
  • Hotel Amenities, plus privacy of your own villa and pool
  • On the ocean

These were just our top two but there are so many more affordable options available that you can’t go wrong if you stay in town or on the beach. Everything on the entire island is so close since the island itself is only 4 miles long.

How we got there:

If you live in the Southeast your 3 best options are Charlotte, Atlanta, and Miami for direct flights to North Eleuthera Airport. It is the easiest way to get to the island and fastest. We flew from Charlotte and it was around two hours. I was a little overwhelmed initially with making sure we had all the right visas with covid, but overall it was incredibly easy.

  • The week before you go make sure you review travel requirements to the Bahamas Here
  • Download the Verifly App: SERIOUSLY do this, most people don’t and you can skip the long lines in the airport with attendants reviewing Visa’s because everything you need is stored in this app.
  • Once we landed at North Eleuthera we took a taxi from the airport to the dock (all of 5 minutes): TIP don’t let them charge you more than $10. Ask them before they take you how much.
  • Water Taxi: you will take this from the dock over to Harbor Island (5 Minutes, just across the bay): TIP this should be $5/PP: It’s a group taxi so you will need to wear your mask
  • Taking a Covid Test before you fly home is super easy:
    • If you stay in a hotel, they will do it for you there.
    • You can book a concierge nurse service to come to your house
    • They have several testing sites on the island, but we just went down by the government dock and got it done. Took 10 minutes, and we were good to go!

Booking a Golf Cart

You can’t go to Harbor Island and not book a golf cart. Everyone has one and it’s the only means of transportation. We booked with Major’s Golf Cart Rental because it was the most affordable option I found.

Tips:

  • Ask them to leave the cart at the dock with your name on it: It will be up off the Dock on the main road
  • They will come around and fill up your cart, so don’t worry about gas
  • Remember you can get anywhere on the island on the cart

Places to Eat:

Welcome to the foodie island. Seriously had some great meals here, and my best meals were at more of the local places.

Fave Breakfast Spots:

  • Arthur’s Bakery
  • COCOA Coffee House
  • Bahamas Coffee Roasters

Lunch Spots:

  • Back Road Gal Grill: The cook here used to be at Sip Sip before it closed its’ doors. The Lobster quesadilla isn’t listed, but is available here. We picked up lunch and took it to the beach to eat for a picnic.
    • Chicken Wings (Phenomenal)
    • Cheeseburger
  • Blue Bar Restaurant @ Pink Sands
  • Dunmore Deli: Another great option to grab a picnic lunch for the beach
  • Queen Conch: Right on the Water in town

*One thing to note Dunmore Hotel is obviously one that everyone wants to eat at, but they aren’t letting non hotel guests in right now due to Covid.

*Sip Sip is listed as a favorite spot for lunch, but unfortunately the owner decided to shut down and retire earlier this year.

Dinner Spots

  • Angela Starfish Restaurant: Super low key, can order and sit outside (Lunch or dinner option)
    • Ask for the dessert (they had keylime pie while we were there and it was so good)
    • We had their Fish, Conch, and Fries: The fish and conch were so fresh and the batter was delicious
  • The Boathouse:
    • We had the Seafood Boat, and I have to say for the price you get a fabulous selection and the Lobster was so good.
    • On the Water at the Harbor
  • Acquapazza:
    • Good food, but a little overpriced
    • Amazing View
  • Da Vine Wine Merchants & Sushi
    • SO Good, make reservations as is a smaller space
    • Loved the drinks and all the food was good!

I can’t say enough good things about the island and can’t wait to go back!

Capsule Wardrobe for Children

I am only on year two of shopping for a toddler, so I am by no means an expert, but there are a few things I have learned with each new season. If you are a new parent, you will quickly find out shopping for a toddler or child is definitely seasonal, and it’s usually a complete overhaul. This is completely different than shopping for an adult unless you are lucky enough to get a completely new wardrobe with every season.

There is a catch 22 with this situation because who wants to spend 1000’s of dollars on a new wardrobe, but I also want my kids to look cute. I have two kids now and unfortunately Chloe’s clothes are not always going to work for McNeal.

Introducing the capsule wardrobe, which I usually always use for trips, but it definitely applies here. Here is an example of what I am talking about:

1 Shirt, 4 outfits. I make sure that I keep everything in the same color palette so things can be interchangeable. I usually have either all white tops in the summer and black in the winter. If it’s a pattern it has to have all of the colors to work with everything.

Now for the fun part, where do I get all of these clothes and whats my strategy.

  • Old Navy is my go to for colored jeans
  • I am guilty of purchasing one nice pair of blue jeans from Nordstrom annually, I usually purchase one size up to ensure she will be in them all year.
  • Amazon’s children’s clothes are great (top in the above pic is from there) I do find that you have to search a bit more, but I’m particular on the style I’m looking for. If you find one item you like, you can search the similar items and it usually follows that style item.
  • Native shoes in spring summer and fall are a must (easy to clean and durable.
  • Dress shoe Amazon or Chu’s are my favorite
  • Sneakers-Converse in Fall & Winter
  • Boots we have purchased from H&M who also has great kids clothes at a good price.

All in all this encompasses the basic everyday wardrobe, but of course there are a few other places I monitor for sales or clothes we can’t miss out on.

Where do you get your children’s clothes? If anyone has tips on boy clothes I would love them!

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