1. Yellowstone National Park : Escape busy crowds, unplug, and enjoy everything that awakens your inner explorer. Don’t worry ladies we don’t expect you to completely turn a getaway into a Lewis & Clark expedition, but we totally encourage adventure by taking a scenic float down the river or sit anticipate the geyser, Old Faithful, erupt multiple times a day. Trade the carpool lane for Yellowstone’s Sapphire Pool at Biscuit Basin and admire the bright blue water.. Don’t forget to pack binoculars to keep your eye out for bison, elk, coyotes, and all the rest of wild life the lush fields of Hayden Valley have to offer.
2. Denver, CO: Pack your hiking shoes, some heels, and your Skylar perfume in your carry-on bag and go on a quick adventure to Denver. This underrated city not only offers nature, but great food and nightlife. The best part is being able to pack it all in one day. Start the morning by taking a hike to the hot springs. Spritz on Willow, and head to a Rockie’s game and enjoy the field from The Rooftop at Coor’s field (Make sure to give yourself extra time like a true local to buy a $3 Coor’s before first pitch and get compliments on this “got to have” signature scent). After the game finishes, stroll around the city’s streets and pop into one of the local breweries. Enjoy a city panoramic view at dinner El Five. To top off the night open a bookcase and enter Williams & Graham, a prohibition-era speakeasy and turn back the hands of time.
3. Lake Tahoe: Nestled in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, Lake Tahoe is the perfect place to plan a getaway with girlfriends.  Without the snow, explore the popular ski resorts-turned summer hiking destinations. Take a car ride around the lake and don’t forget to pull off for a photo-opp. Make sure to wash your worries away and take a dip in water for a perfect mid-afternoon splash. To kick up adrenaline up a notch, soar high in the sky while going parasailing to get the true bird’s eye view of what Tahoe has to offer. If you’re looking for something calmer, take a moment to go back in history at the Donner Pass museum followed by a tasty treat in Truckee. It may have been much easier to strike gold here in the past, but after an adventure here with your friends you will see your memories are priceless.
4. Big Sky, MT: Being a true Skylar gal, we know the sky’s the limit. To remind you how big the world is, and how much it has to offer take a quick trip to Big Sky. Not only do we love clean scents at Skylar, we love fresh air and R&R. Pack a picnic, a blanket, and your favorite sunnies and head off the “treasure state.” Bring yourself back to childhood and lose yourself in the clouds. Ignore TLC’S advice and take a short one mile hike to go chasin’ waterfalls- Ousel Falls is perfect for a solo, group, or even family mid-day adventure. Laugh, smile, and remember that the hills are alive with the sound of music. Pick your favorite flowers of the day along a walk and create the perfect-picture flower crown to capture your pure bliss.
5. Martha’s Vineyard, MA- If you still want to enjoy the last days of summer with a beach retreat, don’t worry Skylar gal, we’ve got the perfect place for you. Take a quick ferry ride off the coast of Massachusetts and enjoy and island retreat. Escape the mainland and let the salt air rejuvenate you. Walk through a Japanese-style garden, Mytoi, hidden in an open pine forest. Take a tour of the various lighthouses via a beach cruiser and snap your most wanderlust photo- just don’t let that Skylar rollie fall out of your back pocket. Sneak off to catch some zzz’s under a shaded tree and listen to the shore break. As the day winds down, soak in the moment and enjoy a beach side stroll at sunset. Of course, don’t forget to feel like a true Martha’s Vineyard gal- treat yourself to a fresh waffle cone topped with delicious ice cream, because even when enjoying nature we can all still enjoy a sweet treat.

We can't wait to go on adventures with you.

Xo, 

Skylar

 Our team welcomed its newest member Capri - a citrus, zesty, sparking scent, to our fragrance collection on July 12th, 2018, with a beautiful launch party hosted by our CEO Cat Chen. Sparkling prosecco, giant balloon bubbles and heavenly cheese plates were just some of the incredible guests that made an appearance last Thursday. We wanted the event to feel as close to Capri as possible and invited our Skylar gals to come celebrate with us at a mediterranean inspired home. Lined with beautiful olive and lemon trees, surrounded by luscious grass and foliage and adorned with sparkling lights overhead, this venue brought back waves of that ultra-relaxed, just-out- of-the-water, no-work-tomorrow, sun-in-your-hair moment Capri was crafted to create.

Dreamt up by our own Skylar customer, Dallas Daws Welch, and voted on by our Skylar gals (with thousands of votes), this scent was truly created by and for real women, and we couldn’t have been happier celebrating its launch with our beautiful Skylar ladies. Check out some of our pictures from the event below!

 

Our master perfumer Sarah Horrowitz showing our Skylar gals Capri for the first time and explaining the process that went behind the making of Capri. 

A few "Capri" inspired drinks: Peach bellinis, Lemon drops and Sparkling prosecco, sponsored by our friends Infuse Spirits. 

A Capri sample is now available in our sample palette, be sure to check it out and tell us where Capri transports you! Layering Isle and Capri is a perfect pop and lift, while the floral accord in Meadow blends beautifully with Capri's bright notes of bergamot and Neroli creating a super feminine and gorgeous combination. 

 Xo, 

Skylar 

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?