Skyler's Hypoallergenic Perfume Earned Me Endless Compliments
Those of us prone to sneezing, wheezing, or coughing fits might be surprised to learn that many allergy-inducing chemicals could be lurking in the very fragrances we spritz on daily. In fact, many of the chemicals found in our favorite beauty product's ingredient lists aren't even required to be disclosed—which makes it difficult to determine if we're wearing a scent that's causing us harm.
Fortunately, there's a way around that, due to the invention of hypoallergenic perfumes. Enter Skylar, the brainchild of Cat Chen, a former executive at The Honest Company. The clean, chic fragrance line was born out of Chen's own penchant for fragrances, after she discovered how difficult it was to find a perfume that does not contain harmful chemicals.
Keep scrolling to find out more about the hypoallergenic perfume by Skylar—and how it's changing the game in the world of fragrance.
What Is Hypoallergenic Perfume?
"Hypoallergenic" is a word used to describe things that have less fewer allergen-inducing ingredients, but it's often used loosely. Hypoallergenic perfumes could contain ingredients that are both natural and lab based—but they will be less likely to cause allergic reactions, in general.
There is no universal governing standard for what ingredients are classified as "known allergens," so it is near-impossible to be sure that a product won't cause an allergic reaction. Experts recommend doing a patch test on the inner elbow with any new product that will come in contact with your skin.
What Sets Skylar's Hypoallergenic Perfume Apart?
Chen started researching hypoallergenic fragrances when she became pregnant with her daughter, but things felt more personal when she found that her daughter was actually allergic to her perfumes. This sounds like a nightmare situation for any perfume-loving new mom, but instead of panicking, Chen solved her own problem and set out to create Skylar. All of the brand's fragrances are free of parabens, phthalates, glycol, animal products, artificial dyes, and other potentially allergenic ingredients found in many popular perfumes. They’re mostly natural but do contain a few lab-made ingredients that Chen claims are actually safer than using all-natural essential oils.
Then there's the packaging. Skylar's packaging is chic and worthy of the 'gram (Chen worked with an artist to create the watercolor design, the intention being that customers could use it to double as décor or to hold makeup brushes), but the true test is in the scent—and Skylar more than surpassed my expectations.
How Much is Skylar's Hypoallergenic Perfume?
Skylar's perfume comes in a range of scents , like Vanilla Sky and Peach Fields and runs $90 per bottle, or $30 for a rollerball. Not sure which scent is destined to be your new favorite? Skylar also offers a sampling service, where you can pay $25 to try vials of five scents.
What Does it Smell Like?
The brand offers multiple scents to satiate the main fragrance categories. Fall Cashmere is warm and spicy with cinnamon bark and spiced ginger; Pink Canyon is a juicy citrus with a hint of cedar; and Isle Escape is clean, fresh, and dewy with notes of bergamot and peony.
I gravitated toward the smoky-sweet amber fragrances, which smelled similar to some of my go-to nighttime scents (e.g., Gucci Guilty, $165 and Atelier Cologne Santal Carmin, $240), but I knew I found true love in Magic Bloom at first sniff. It immediately reminded me of my beloved Carnal Flower but with a lighter, sweeter edge. I sprayed it generously on my wrists and neck then walked back to my desk. Almost immediately, my at-the-time Byrdie co-workers Hallie and Lindsey flocked to me and demanded to know what scent I was wearing. "Is it too much?" I asked. "No, it's not—it's just really good," they affirmed.
The Final Takeaway
Needless to say, Skylar's scents have earned a permanent place in my perfume rotation. Are the scents the most creative perfumes I've ever smelled? No. Are they the longest-lasting? Not particularly. But the fact that I can confidently spritz with abandon, knowing full well I'm not inhaling harmful ingredients or, say, going to cause an allergy attack for the people within my near vicinity makes Skylar a standout contender in the indie perfume world. Plus, like my co-workers said: their scents just smell really good.