Skylar Perfume Palette Review

I love different scents and how they can evoke memories and feelings. However, I'm sadly pretty sensitive to perfume- some give me instant headaches. Skylar is supposed to be a natural perfume brand, so I decided to give them a try as I'm usually ok with essential oils and I've tried another more natural fragrance company as well that I've had success with (they'll be featured in an upcoming review). Skylar states clearly that the are a clean, hypoallergenic, vegan and cruelty-free brand that is made in the USA. They also say that you can blend the perfumes in layers to create new scents.

I purchased this Skylar palette from Sephora for $27.00 CND. It includes their main line of perfumes that can be purchased in the full size (except the newest edition Salt Air). There are six perfumes in the palette. They also have a scent club that has a new roller ball perfume every month, but I've not tried that.

The packaging for this set was cute, with a nice sturdy box and decent sized little spray bottles for each of the scents. I love the watercolour spots beside each of the scent slots and how the back fully describes each scent. There was a lot of plastic in it though which I thought was a waste. The ingredients are listed clearly which I thought was great as many perfumes often just say fragrance which could be many ingredients.

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

First up is the fragrance Isle. Isle is described as having key notes of Bergamot, Cardamom, and Sandalwood, with the short description overall being Beachy, Dewy and Fresh. They go on to describe it as "With a subtle citrus and spiced sandalwood, this ocean-inspired oasis will have you feeling relaxed, refreshed, and ready to take on the day".

This perfume is my second favourite of the bunch, but I honestly don't smell any of the supposed key notes. No sandalwood, no citrus. I would say that it is dewy and fresh with a touch of beachy though. Upon first sniff I smell sweetness and fresh water. Over time this becomes more ocean-like (without any of that overwhelming fake ocean scent that is so prevalent in fake candles). As it develops I could smell a hint of salt added to the water, and then later more sweet and water. As it settles more I get the tiniest hint of possible spice.

I think there could have been a bit more to this to make it a tad more unique but I do like it. If the sandalwood had shown up I probably would have really loved this.

Sprite Rating: 7/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Second in the set is Coral. Coral is supposed to have key notes of Grapefruit, Apple Blossom, and Lily Petals. It's supposed to evoke Fruity, Floral, Flirty vibes. Skylar describes it as "With hints of grapefruit and a touch of apple blossom, this happiness booster will have you smiling all day long".

My take on this perfume is that it's alright. I did initially smell a fruitiness, but I didn't smell any grapefruit and the fruitiness disappeared into a typical 'perfume-y' floral/Jasmine scent. I didn't find this unique or different at all and I found it kind of one dimensional. I was probably the second most disappointed with this of the set as the description sounded great but I found it just didn't live up to my expectations. 

Sprite Rating: 3/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Arrow is next in the palette. Arrow's key notes are Midnight Jasmine, Vanilla Bean and Patchouli Haze. It is said to embody Spicy, Warm and Seductive feelings. It is described as "With warm notes of patchouli and jasmine, this confidence complement will have you feeling like you're ready to take on the world".

I'll be honest and say this is the last of the perfumes from the set that I tried. I don't generally like Jasmine or Patchouli so even though I love Vanilla Bean I wasn't particularly looking forward to trying this one. I will say I was pleasantly surprised by it. I still didn't really like it but I didn't hate it either. It started as slightly spicy, slightly sweet and somehow a touch grounded. I didn't smell the patchouli at all. The spiciness does fade a little to become more traditional jasmine-perfume-like but it is still there and over time seems to almost come back stronger. If you like more spicy and seductive perfumes this one might be worth a try. 

Sprite Rating: 6/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Meadow is fourth. Meadow is supposed to smell mainly of Orange Blossom, Ethereal Tuberose, and White Rose. This fragrance is supposed to be Floral, Chic and Beautiful. It's described as "With notes of baie rose, tuberose, and orange blossom, this floral fantasy will highlight your feminine, chic and coy side".

This perfume is my favourite of the bunch. It still has a sort of normal 'perfume' feel to it but it's the only one I didn't wash off soon after applying it and I am looking forward to wearing it again. I actually went back and smelt my wrist multiple times while on a walk. I found that it is sweet and fresh and floral and does give me a springtime meadow or french garden feel. Sometimes I get a hint of lily sometimes a hint of lilacs, all with a sweetened background. I can't quite pin it down. I really enjoy it though.

I don't smell orange blossom nor rose distinctly in this so if you are looking for that this isn't it. I did wish there was another layer to it however, just something a touch more. I'm debating on a larger size of this one as I do like the feminine feel it gives me.

Sprite Rating: 8/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Nearing the end we have Capri next. Capri is said to have key notes of Bergamot, Neroli (Orange Blossom) and Grapefruit. It is supposed to have a Citrus, Sparkling, and Sweet feel. Skylar describes it as "With notes of bergamot, neroli and sparking wine, this carefree indulgence will have you feeling all of the vacation vibes".

Capri was the one of the set that I was looking forward to the most. At first this one to me smells like melon and then it becomes melon-bergamot then mainly bergamot. So it really smelt very normal 'perfume-like' and not too unique. I was really hopeful to smell the Neroli or Grapefruit but neither was there for me. It didn't give me an instant headache, and it was alright but unfortunately that's about all I can say about it.

Sprite Rating: 4/10

Skylar brand photo from the Sephora Website

Last but not least is Willow. Willow is supposed to be Woodsy, Lush and Cool. The key notes in this one are Willow, Pine Resin and Heliotrope. The description is "With notes of cedar wood, pine and fir, this everyday serenity will put you at ease immediately, reflecting everything we love about the outdoors".

I was hesitant about Willow as I find fragrances with pine notes tend to be too sharp. Sadly I found that to be the case with this one too. At the very beginning I could smell a little cedarwood and something fresh and damp like ferns or wet moss. As it developed however all I could smell was the sharp pine. There was no heliotrope or floral at all for me. It also gave me a bit of a headache.

Sprite Rating: 4/10

I think the Skylar Perfume Palette was a great way to sample the majority of the line. It gave me a feel for the brand and let me find one that I liked. Overall though, I was kinda meh about most of them. I found many of the scents kind of typical 'perfume-like', some were even one-dimensional. More than one I ended up washing off shortly after applying. I was hoping for more nuances to them and less conventional generic 'perfume' scents. I do however really like Meadow, and Isle was nice as well. If I liked Jasmine at all then Arrow would have likely been a favourite.

I would recommend the palette if you have an interest in the line at all especially to try first or I would make sure to sample in store. As always scent is so subjective so although I may not have liked most of these, someone else certainly could- especially as Jasmine is not my thing and that is in more than one of these scents.

The travel roller balls for Skylar retail for $37.00 CND and $85.00 CND for the full size. The palette's are limited edition on Sephora and are $27.00 CND, but I believe they are not limited edition on the brand website.

Skylar is available through Sephora or through their own website Skylar. It's great they are being offered through Sephora as that makes them accessible for us Canadians. I believe if you get the palette through their brand website there is a coupon included for a reduction off of a full size bottle for afterwards. Something to note that I have heard is that if you purchase anything from Skylar through their own site, even the palette, they automatically sign you up for their monthly scent club and take automatic payment for that so that is something to be aware of beforehand.

Have you tried Skylar perfume? If so which scent were you drawn towards? Have you tried any other 'clean' or 'natural' perfume companies? Let me know!

Haus of Gloi Perfume Oil in Depravity

This is the other little Haus of Gloi item I received when I won the Product Pixie blog prize package. I still can’t believe how generous she was! Anyways, this is an itty bitty little perfume vial (5 ml) of Haus of Gloi’s Depravity scent. When I first looked at this I went “wow it’s small!” Then I went, “and it’s a perfume. Might as well give it a sniff then pass it along to my sister.” (Which by the way is my usual reaction to perfume vials as stated in my last Haus of Gloi review (here) I’m highly allergic to most perfumes)

Let’s just say my sister didn’t get this one.

I instantly loved the scent. Depravity is exactly as rich and heady as you’d expect from a perfume whose label is exemplified by a Gypsy Woman belly dancing. When I first smell it I get a bouquet of berries that had been preserved in liquor of some sort with spices. That falls away fairly quickly once it hits my skin and I find turns to insense a little bit of smoke, and the spice note from before. Eventually (read hours) later the perfume completely settles leaving a still strong sweet berry slightly powdery scent that I really love.

Like someone else said in their review (though I can’t remember for the life of me who, if it’s you please contact me and I’ll give you credit) these perfume oils keep the scents close to your skin, so someone has to get close to smell them instead of wafting around the person that causes people to stop and hack up a lung coughing.

I and the other reviewer both like this. I don’t want to bother other people with a scent that may not be to their preference but I still want to be able to smell it. It’s a wonderful compromise. Plus you know someone was much too close (or I suppose has an excellent sense of smell) if they comment on it. Hehe.

The little vial Depravity came in has a wand to apply it with, and you only need about one or two drops to last you all day. I personally like to apply perfume to my inner elbows and on the pulse point of my neck but you can apply these anywhere on the skin. (Don’t apply them to your clothes! These are oils and are yellow in colour (natural) and can stain your fabrics!)

I did find the little vial fiddly to work with (especially as it was filled to the very top, which I guess is both a good and bad thing). I transferred as much as I could out of the little vial into a dropper (which works very well) and then dabbed the mostly empty vial on myself for a few days till I’d gotten almost all of it out. I don’t know what the full size versions of Haus of Gloi packaging is like to compare to but when I receive my autumn order with a couple full size bottles I’ll let you know in those scent reviews.

When the oil goes on your skin of course it does feel slightly oily. However these oils sink into the skin almost right away (if they don’t you’re using too much!). Definitely enough time to transfer the oil to different places on your skin but not so long that you’ll get it on things.

I think this is a good idea in all honesty. Considering how much the average perfume costs the amount of perfume we lose to spray through the air to hit us must be astronomical. Plus I can go back and sniff the inside of my elbow if I want to smell it stronger again (strange I know but it smells so nice!)

The perfume oils seem to wash away very easily too so if you want to change perfumes and have only placed the first one in one or two areas you can take it off with soap and water easily. I found this out by having some on my wrists then washing my hands later on and finding the scent had vanished.

The perfume oil hasn’t caused any skin irritations (like acne or a rash) that some perfumes can, even when applied to the neck. I do still get a very slight allergic reaction (itchy nose) when I apply Depravity to my neck as well as my inner elbows, but I’m fine if I leave it off my neck or take an allergy pill. That’s a super better reaction than a killer headache, itchiness in the back of the throat and trying to claw my nose and eyes off my face in torment that I get with almost all of mainline brand perfumes.

The perfume oils generally cost $2.50 USD for a glass sample vial (5ml), and $12.50 USD for a full size amber-glass perfume bottle (25ml). I know the next time I come into a little money I’m going to be placing an order for a full size Depravity. It smells so nice!

Overall, I don’t know what they’re doing at Haus of Gloi to come of with these wonderful things that they do but I want some of it.

Sprite Rating: 10/10- I love this perfume, nothing bad to say about it!

Would I buy it again? Yes! I'll be ordering a full size when I get a chance.

Also please note, like colours and tastes people can have very different opinions on what smells good to them. This is just how I’ve perceived this scent to be. Plus each persons unique body chemistry reacts slightly differently to each perfume formula, changing what you smell. This can sometimes be a good change or a bad change, but it’s rarely exactly the same from person to person, so please keep that in mind. Thanks!

Free Burberry Body Perfume Sample

Normally I ignore all things perfume (due to allergies to most perfumes). I also tend to ignore most designer brands due to them mostly being out of my price range, however this is too good to pass up!

If you Like Burberry Body fragrance on facebook you'll recieve a FREE 30ml perfume sample shipped to you. No shipping, no cost. However, there are only 40,000 samples available so get over to the facebook page quick! Heres the link---> Burberry Body.

It takes a second to load but it's really simple. Just put in your e-mail, name and address and click request sample and you'll get a little confirmation.

According to my research (google) Burberry Body smells like: Body Burberry is a luxury chypre - fruity composition that begins with notes of fresh green absinthe, peach and freesia. Roses and iris are in the heart, leaning on the base of sandalwood, cashmerean, musk, amber and vanilla.


Enjoy!

Haus Of Gloi Autumn 2011

All images in this post are from the Haus of Gloi website

Today, Haus of Gloi released their Autumn collection at 9:00 PST or 12:00 EST. Having heard such wonderful things about them, most especially their autumn collection I made my first order. I had heard of them off and on in the past but being highly wary of scents (most standard perfumes cause me bad headaches) I decided to pass.

However, I recently won Product Pixie's giveaway and in it she included not only a ton of other awesome prizes but 2 of them were Haus of Gloi and I fell in love. One was a sample of Depravity Perfume oil, a really awesome scent. It starts out berry and smoky and then over time become insense and clove to eventually die down to a sweet powdery smell. Plus no headaches! You can really tell there isn't any alcohol or cheap things in these!

I've really enjoyed it so far, especially at night time. The other was a sample tub of their bubbling scrub in Apocrathy. It's more of an herbal scent, which I like but don't like as much as Depravity. I haven't tried it yet in the shower but when I do I'll let you know. As a major plus the entire company is vegan, even their honey fragrances (they use a synthetic that smells like honey but isn't from animals).

So onto the Autumn release which is Haus of Gloi's most famous seasonal collection. The Sold Out items are the ones that are already sold out (despite this being only 2 hours after the autumn collection was released!)

There are six sections in the Autumn release: Perfume Oils, Candy Bowl, Bubbling Scrubs, Pumpkin Butter, Emulsifying Scrub, and Handmade Soap.

The Perfume Oils include-
3 different Sampler Packs (varying prices $12.50- $9.00)

Ceremony: Dusty beeswax candles, frankincense, myrrh, mastic, spikenard, pale honey, a pinch of tobacco, and faded musk. $17 USD

Hex: You've been bewitched! Brackish amber, aged vanilla bean and three dark fruits, veiled in darkness and otherworldly secrecy. $15 USD

Saft Ernte: A merry drink of harvest and glowing with warmth: Peach juice simmering with sweet spices, pumpkin, silken hazelnut cream, and made completely curious with a drop of orange blossom water. $15 USD

Samhain: Freshly turned earth, wet leaves, and a cool spectre ridden wind! $15 USD

Pumpkin Queen: Gentle hay pillows, pumpkin, ripe peaches dusted with clove and nutmeg, dried summer herbs, and lastly, a lovely crown of amber. $17 USD

Queen Mother (Sold Out): Last years Pumpkin Queen oil with 5 year aged patchouli, jasmine essence, and the blackest vetiver, co-distilled with honeysuckle blossom. $17 USD

Pumpkin Eater: Cream, glowing pumpkin, rich vanilla bean, and the tiniest touch of nutmeg butter.
$15 USD

Olde Cider Haus: Old oak, sweet drying hay fields, crushed apple pulp, and vanilla bean husks.
$15 USD

Ghost Puffs: Buttery popcorn and gooey marshmallow orbs presented on a wooden stick. $15 USD

Hedonic: Black fig, golden honey, saffron threads, and Indian agar musk. $17 USD

Red Roan: Fresh strawberry flecked porridge with maple syrup and adulterated with a splash of white cognac. $15 USD.

Bubbling Scrubs cost $4.50 for small and $10 for large; include-

Pixie Sorcerer: They look cute but beware! Deceptive pomegranate candy floss, beneath a spiteful blend of coffee co2, vetiver and myrrh.

Pumpkin Queen: Same as Pumpkin Queen scent above
Saft Ernte: Same as Saft Ernte above
Samhain: Same as Samhain above

Pumpkin Butters (thick moisturizers) cost $4.50 for small and $10 for large; include the scents-

Ghost Puffs: Same as above
Olde Cider Haus: Same as above
Pixie Sorcerer: Same as above
Pumpkin Eater: Same as above
Samhain: Same as above
Pumpkin Queen: Same as above
Saft Ernte: Same as above

Emulsifying Scrubs (Sugar Exfoliants), cost $11; Include the scents-

Pixie Sorcerer: Same as above
Pumpkin Queen: Same as above
Saft Ernte: Same as above
Samhain: Same as above


Handmade Soaps cost $6.75; include the scents-

Olde Cider Haus- Same scent as Olde Cider Haus scent above

Pumpkin Queen- Same scent as Pumpkin Queen above (but isn't the soap awesome and totally something you'd associate with a pumpkin queen?)

Samhain- Same scent as Samhain above. (Also love the design and dried leaf bits for Samhain soap too!)

Candy Bowl (Perfume Oils) include (@ $12 USD each)-

Banana Taffy: Yellow taffy with a mildly artificial banana flavor.

Blood Orange Marshmallow (Sold Out): Rich blood orange and fluffy white marshmallows.

Candy Corn: Simple but irresistibly sweet and delicious candy corn.

Caramel Apple Pop (Sold Out): Sweet warm caramel and tart apple.

Coconut Bon Bon: White Chocolate with coconut flakes.

Lemon Drops: Bright Californian Lemon and pure cane sugar. Yum!

Licorice Chew: A warm caramel flavored with anise seed.

Peaches & Cream Gumball: Peaches and Cream. (I really should have ordered this, I love peaches!)

Pumpkin Cake Pops (Sold Out): Just that, lightly spiced pumpkin cake with frosting!

Salty Caramel: Caramel flecked with coarse sea salt. (I almost ordered this! Yum!)

Vanilla Taffy: Simple taffy, vanilla flavored!

And I bought (blowing my budget to smithereens):
- Full Size Saft Ernte Perfume Oil
- Perfume Oil Sampler Pack 1 (Includes Red Roan, Hex, Samhain, Pumpkin Queen, and Saft Ernte sample vials)
- Full Size Olde Cider Haus Perfume Oil
- Depravity Body Emulsion sample size (light moisturizer)
- Full Size White Raspberry Perfume Oil
- Sample size Imp Perfume Oil

Way more than I planned to spend but I'm so excited! I can't wait till I receive my order! (Full review then!) You can view the Haus of Gloi website here!