A Miller Place mother who developed her own line of natural cleaning and skin care products has opened a pharmacy in Port Jefferson.
“When my children were young, they were very sensitive to commercial products,” Dawn McCarthy said, adding that her children, now 17 and 20, had eczema. After seeing products with parabens, phthalates, and formaldehyde, she began creating the natural products she sells today.
The new Celtic Apothecary sells handmade organic candles, cleaning and laundry supplies, and body products. The shop also specializes in creating natural remedies such as vapor rub with eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, peppermint, coconut oil, and beeswax. Items like handmade signs and wreaths made by local artisans also line the shelves, and his fourth-generation farm on Miller Place offers honey and herbal products.
The shop’s name and some of its products are reminiscent of Ireland, one of McCarthy’s favorite places. “Her husband’s family is from County Mayo and this has become our favorite place since our honeymoon,” she says. “All of our products hint at that visit through their names. Cliffs of Moher, Celtic Her Mist and Irish Her Tweed are our three signature scents and today But it’s the most popular.”
The pharmacy uses very few ingredients in its products. The laundry powder contains four ingredients: Castile soap, borax, washing soda, and baking soda. Laundry Booster is scent-enhancing and disinfectant and contains three things: essential oils, baking soda, and Epsom salt.
Mr. McCarthy has experience in the retail sector. For several years, she operated her own store called Santa’s Busy Helper at Smith Haven Mall during the holiday season, offering gift wrapping services, and operated Celtic Apothecary online during the rest of the year. did. During the pandemic, Ms. McCarthy moved her Celtic Apothecary to Etsy, and then she relocated her store to Walt Whitman’s Shops Devotion, Lake Smith’s Grove of Her Haven’s Moved to the mall.
Items such as candles, cleaning products, and body products for men and women range from $10 to $40.
Celtic Apothecary, 128 Main St., Port Jefferson, 631-403-4202; celticcandleworks.com
