Heritage
A house, in its own words
Cat Chen, a Taiwanese‑American entrepreneur, launched Skylar in April 2017 after her infant daughter reacted to conventional perfume ingredients. Determined to create a fragrance that would not trigger allergies, Chen assembled a team of chemists and began formulating a fragrance‑free base that could host a range of natural aroma notes without common irritants. Within six months the brand secured a placement at Sephora, a milestone that introduced the clean‑fragrance concept to a wider U.S. audience. Over the next few years Skylar expanded its catalogue, adding seasonal releases such as Capri Summer and Wild Oolong, and earned placement in boutique retailers that prioritize vegan and cruelty‑free standards. In 2022 the company introduced Papaya Paradise, a tropical blend that highlighted its growing confidence in bold, yet skin‑safe, compositions. The following year, Skylar announced a partnership with Starco Brands, a move that provided additional distribution capacity while preserving the brand’s independent ethos. Early 2023 marked another turning point when Leah Kateb, known for her work in lifestyle media, joined as Chief Creative Officer and “Refounder.” Kateb’s appointment signaled a renewed focus on storytelling and visual identity, while the core commitment to clean chemistry remained unchanged. Recent releases such as Night Boss (2025) and Sticky Mango (2025) illustrate how the brand continues to translate California’s diverse landscapes into scent, balancing playful fruit notes with the restraint required for hypoallergenic performance. Throughout its evolution, Skylar has maintained a transparent ingredient policy, publishing full ingredient lists on its website and subjecting each formula to third‑party dermatological testing. Skylar’s creative vision rests on three pillars: safety, inclusivity, and a sense of place. The brand believes that fragrance should be accessible to anyone, regardless of skin sensitivity, and therefore prioritises hypoallergenic ingredients that meet vegan and cruelty‑free standards. Sustainability informs sourcing decisions; plant extracts are obtained from farms that practice responsible agriculture, and the company favors suppliers who can certify low pesticide use. Rather than chasing fleeting trends, Skylar draws inspiration from California’s everyday moments – a sunrise over the Pacific, a late‑summer orchard, a breezy desert road – and translates those scenes into scent narratives that feel personal yet universal. The house treats each perfume as a chapter in a larger story, encouraging wearers to layer scents in ways that reflect their own moods. Transparency is a core value: every bottle includes a complete ingredient disclosure, and the brand routinely shares testing results with consumers who seek reassurance about skin compatibility. This approach positions Skylar less as a luxury label and more as a trusted companion for people who want fragrance without compromise.