We get it. The hunt for your signature scent is personal, and once you find it, it's hard to let go. But while traditional perfumes smell good, they're far from being good for you. Here are 5 reasons to go clean.

1. Clean ingredients

We’re committed to using the highest-quality ingredients and work with sustainable farms all over the world to get the best crops.

We proudly blend botanical-based and lab-made ingredients to ensure our products are always safe and hypoallergenic. 

2. Fragrance allergies are nothing to sneeze at.

The side effects of fragrance allergies are no joke: headaches, sneezing, watery eyes, runny or stuffy nose, itchy red skin, the list goes on. The shocker? Almost all fragrances—synthetic AND natural—are allergenic. It is estimated that 15% of all people have some sort of an allergic reaction toward traditional fragrances.

Our philosophy is to use natural ingredients as much as possible, and if the natural ingredient causes allergies, we replace it with a hypoallergenic and safe lab-made ingredient. Combining natural ingredients with safe science, the end product is something that you can wear with peace of mind, and the people around you will thank you, too.

3. More parabens, more problems.

Let’s talk parabens. The widely used preservatives are in tons of personal care and cosmetic products as a means of preventing bacterial growth (plus they’re super cost effective), but scientific studies have pointed out a link between parabens and breast cancer. That’s a big problem.

Parabens are off limits here. Instead, Skylar perfumes contain a base of organic sugar cane alcohol, which is a natural antibacterial (and another reason to love sugar).

4. Phthalates. If you can’t pronounce it, it shouldn’t be on your skin.

Fact: phthalates are in most scented products because they serve as cheap solvents and make fragrances last longer. The bad news: they’ve also been known to be hormone disrupters for over 70 years, with many studies linking phthalates to breast cancer and negative impacts on children’s development and men’s health. Phthalates are easily spread through the air and breathed in, and they're sometimes hidden from ingredient labels.

That’s just not good enough. We think everyone deserves better than that. Skylar scents contain no phtalates and never will. We’re like a breath of fresh air, literally.

5. We’re feel-good and cruelty-free.

When you think of things that smell good, we’re going to guess beavers, deer, and guinea pigs don’t spring to mind. But some perfumeries still use by-products from these and other animals to formulate their proprietary scents. And most global beauty companies then test their perfumes on animals to pass import restrictions so they can distribute in certain countries. It’s dated, it’s cruel, and it’s unnecessary.

So while it means you’ll never see Skylar for sale in certain countries, you can rest assured that we never use animal by-products and we never test on animals (unless you count our staff and our friends, which is debatable). With a vast trove of plant-based ingredients to select from, we’re happy to keep delivering fresh, light, and delicious scents to your door. You can even sample all of our scents without ever leaving your home. 

Have you wondered why the smell of homemade banana bread transports you back to your grandmother’s kitchen circa 1996? Or why the smell of coconut suntan lotion makes you instantly smile because your back on the beach during spring break with your best girlfriends?

As scent connoisseurs, the team at Skylar has been curious about the undeniable connection between scents and the emotions and memories they seem to conjure from thin air.

Is there a proven association between the two that would rationalize what we’ve all experienced at some point in our lives?

As it turns out, there absolutely is.

THE OLFACTORY SYSTEM, AKA THE “EMOTIONAL BRAIN”

On a very basic level, it works something like this: 

Scent has been proven to be more directly linked to memory than any of our other senses. It makes sense, then, that it has the capacity to forge strong bonds and intimate associations, both positive and otherwise. This tendency is found in even our most primitive ancestors and is associated with an ancient part of our biology related to survival instincts about what to eat, where to go, and who to trust. 

Your "emotional brain," or limbic system, is a harbor for all kinds of sensory information that it uses to influence your mood, memory, behavior, and emotions. When you smell anything, it makes a B-line for this "processing center," which sorts its relationship to existing associations with feelings and thoughts.

Functionally, that means that each time you smell a new scent, your mind subconsciously links that scent to a certain event, person, or circumstance. Every time you smell that scent afterward, your mind is hardwired to bring you back to that place, person, or experience.

HOW SCENT COMPELS US

So smell is, by nature, highly associative. That’s a big part of why we all prefer different scents for reasons that are unique and not easily defined.

Because smell is highly emotional, wearing certain scents can evoke a specific emotion in the people around you. Of course, what emotion it inspires is highly subjective.

It’s no wonder fragrance is such a subtle yet potent part of style. Much like the difference between wearing grey or bright red, or your hair in beachy waves versus a ballerina bun, each scent is creating connections and informing the perception of who you are and what you communicate to the people around you.

FIND WHAT SPEAKS TO YOU

The scents that speak to us feel almost instinctive — an amalgam of our unique biology and experiences. So while it’s tempting to spring for a world-famous fragrance, or the trendy one that's a supposedly an undeniable aphrodisiac, you’re probably better off listening to your heart (and nose) on this one.

After all, your scent is something others subliminally associate with you, so it should feel authentic. Just like any other part of your life, it should reflect you in a true sense. 

Plus, it’s kind of fun to know that whoever you attract is almost undoubtedly attracted to that part of you. They have an association, or some deep biological urge, that draws them to you. At least you know that the two of you have that in common!

We’ll leave you this parting thought: Selecting a scent new to the market almost guarantees that you’re breathing some fresh life into your routine. Not to mention, there’s zero chance your mate already associates that fragrance with a past life. Better yet, consider wearing it on a bucket list vacation, so you'll never forget the time you enjoyed together. We’d be lying if we said that wasn’t worth something. ;)

Amid all the pre-launch flurry of getting Skylar off the ground last month (mission accomplished!), our team to got to know each other pretty well. Okay, very well.

One thing that came up again and again: Our fearless leader, Cat Chen, is also an unabashed “no-makeup makeup” person.

What started as a side comment turned out to be just one thread of an entire philosophy about beauty, health and well, life.

“Nothing’s more beautiful than confidence and health. A light fragrance, or a dusting of powder, are just ways to complement the best parts of you.”

What follows is a sort of “transcript” of that conversation. A first glimpse into the woman who’s upending everything we thought we could expect from a fragrance brand.

Did you always have this entrepreneurial spirit, or was Skylar a surprise?
Honestly, I think it’s been a long time coming. My dad was a tech entrepreneur in Taiwan in the ‘80s. He had 12 siblings and grew up with almost nothing. His influence always made me feel that anything was possible for me. That really set the stage for me from an early age.

What is the first thing you remember wanting to be as a little girl?
When I was four, I wanted to be a waitress. I loved food even then, and liked the idea of learning other people’s tastes and preferences.  

How do you balance being an entrepreneur and mom?
I’ve learned how sensitive children are. The times I’ve gotten busy and wasn’t home for a week or two, it definitely affected her. So time together is key. I commit to cutting off around 6PM, and don’t look at work again until she’s asleep around 9PM.

Do you think being a mom has changed the way you approach work?
Definitely, for the better. I’m learning to let go of perfection. My time is limited, so I have to focus on the most important things. My relationship with Anne has taught me to be more empathetic, too. I try to remember that there may be something going on in someone’s life that I don’t know anything about.

What's your best beauty tip?
Never underestimate the art of subtlety. Fragrance is almost subliminal. It can go undetected by the conscious mind, yet it’s very powerful. It’s often about what’s not there.

Favorite self-care ritual?
Skincare. Lotion. Hydrating and moisturizing. Work that base!

You stand for clean scents, and clean living. What else?
Authenticity. Embracing what makes us unique, instead of hiding it. When I moved from Taipei to LA as a kid, I didn’t know English, or what band was cool, or what shoes to wear. I want to remind everyone that it’s not only ok to be different — it’s beautiful.

How is Skylar changing the scent scene?
We want to shift the conversation around fragrance by focusing first on what’s inside the bottle. After all, that’s what’s going on your skin. Hypoallergenic, cruelty-free, clean ingredients are the absolute top priority.

Scents should also be light and complementary. So many perfumes are heavy, sharp, and hard to layer. It’s hard to really make them your own.

Do you believe in a signature scent, or do you like to change it up?
I enjoy having a scent wardrobe. We’re all changing and evolving. How I feel today is not necessarily how I’ll feel tomorrow.

Speaking of core scents, do you have a favorite of the Skylar scent?
I love Arrow. It feels deep and sensual, yet feminine — not too girly. If I do want to lighten it, I’ll layer a spritz of Meadow to finish.

What do you hope Skylar can teach girls that you wish someone had told you?
Believe in yourself unconditionally. When you’re paid 80 cents on the dollar for the same work, when you’re systematically undervalued for your talents and efforts, there’s subliminal damage happening, whether we’re conscious of it or not. When you choose to trust your intuition over the existing framework, the sky really is the limit. And really, who could be better at that than women?