Clean Fragrance: A Review of the Skylar Dreamy Discovery Set

I spent several weeks testing and wearing every scent in the Dreamy Discovery Set from Skylar, a clean fragrance brand—and I have a lot of thoughts.

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Unless you catch me just after a shower (um, can you not?), chances are, I probably don’t smell like myself.

Instead, I probably smell like any number of the ever-rotating mini fragrance bottles I’ve accumulated over the past few months (why yes, Sephora, I would like to add a free sample with my purchase, thank you so much for asking), morphing from one scented version of myself to another depending on my mood.

So when the team at Skylar kindly gifted their Dreamy Discovery Set (also at Sephora), I knew just what to do: I popped the mini bottles out of their cute little box and placed them right in the repurposed Diptyque candle vessel on my dresser. And then I immediately put them back in the box, snapped a few photos, and vowed to write a review for you.

Note: I received this set as a PR product, but this post is not sponsored. This post contains commissionable links.

Well, here we are several months later. I don’t want to dally any longer, but before I jump into the review today, I should make a disclaimer: I’m not a fragrance expert. I’m a hobbyist with a decent nose and a curious nature. But you know what? Sometimes you want advice from an expert and sometimes you want a friend’s recommendation, and I think this is one of those times you want the latter.

With that covered, let’s nose our way into this review, friend:

ABOUT SKYLAR

When her infant daughter had an allergic reaction to a traditional fragrance she was wearing, Cat Chen was determined to find a solution. And so she went on to found Skylar with a mission to create fresh, California-inspired scents that are safe for sensitive skin. Each product is crafted with care in the U.S. to be hypoallergenic, vegan, and cruelty-free, and the line has grown to include perfumes, hair and body mists, and merch.

ABOUT THE DREAMY DISCOVERY SET FROM SKYLAR

The Dreamy Discovery Set is a set of five 1.5 ml vials from the brand’s fragrance lineup: Peach Fields, Lime Sands, Coconut Cove, Vanilla Sky, and Salt Air. It arrives beautifully packaged for gifting, and each is just the right size for about a week’s worth of light wear. The set is available for purchase on its own, but for the best value, consider purchasing this version that comes with a $90 gift card to purchase a full-size version of your favorite fragrance.

A REVIEW OF EACH FRAGRANCE IN THE DREAMY DISCOVERY SET

Before diving into my review of each scent in the Dreamy Discovery Set, let me share my fragrance testing process:

In the morning, I evenly apply the fragrance to my clean, dry wrists and neck, allowing it to settle and dry fully. I take an initial sniff, noting the scent’s profile and strength before getting dressed and starting my day.

After at least eight hours, I revisit the fragrance to observe how it has evolved and how detectable it remains. Only then do I check the product descriptions to compare my impressions with the brand’s official scent notes.

After wearing and testing each fragrance in the set multiple times, I’m finally ready to share my thoughts on each scent, how they’re designed to pair, and my honest impressions.

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Peach Fields

At first whiff, Peach Fields is light, fizzy, a little green, and a touch herbal. Going in for a second sniff yields a soft wooded base that helps ground it all. I’m impressed—Skylar has really managed to capture and bottle that slight astringent note you find in peaches.

This fragrance seems to fade in a matter of hours, and at the end of the day, there’s just the faintest hint detected on my wrist (and I have to get real close for that). I’m fine with that, because this fragrance doesn’t really feel like me, but you may want to toss this in your bag for a refresh on long days.

Official Description
Top Notes: Mandarin, Grapefruit, and White Peach
Middle Notes: Osmanthus, Muguet, and Vanilla
Base Notes: Cashmere Woods, Amber, Sandalwood, and Musk
Pairs with: Coconut Cove

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Vanilla Sky

Even if you’ve never tried Vanilla Sky before, I promise you have an idea of what it smells like. This scent reminds me of every Vanilla candle I’ve ever smelled but without the artificial notes. Instead, Skylar’s vanilla fragrance is toasty warm and woody with an undeniable, but not overpowering, sweetness.

Some vanilla fragrances I’ve used in the past make me immediately think of too-sugary cupcakes, but this one reminds me more of staying indoors on a winter’s day, drinking tea, and baking up something simple and delicious. It’s easily the longest-lasting of the bunch; even after a shower, I can still catch the ghost of the scent.

Official Description
Top Notes: Bergamot Zest, Sweet Orange, and Cappuccino
Middle Notes: Pure Vanilla, Jasmine Grandiflorum, and Cinnamon Bark
Base Notes: Caramelized Cedar, Sheer Amber, and Sandalwood
Pairs with: Coconut Cove and Salt Air

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Lime Sands

Tart but powdery, Lime Sands reminds me of sunscreen and vacation—and even though it’s only 9 a.m., I find myself craving a fruity cocktail and a lie-down on a beach chair. But there’s also a little depth here, something just a touch warm underneath, like cinnamon. Even though I’m 100% sure it’s not cinnamon, it reminds me of the spice’s warmth, and I spend the next eight hours wondering what the heck it is.

As the day wears on, this scent fades to more of a powdery-floral scent, though with more personality than that description implies. I think this is the kind of fragrance that would be perfect for an all-inclusive tropical vacation—fun and playful in the morning, but all dressed up in the evening.

Official Description
Top Notes: Lime, Sea Salt, and Verbena
Middle Notes: Lily of the Valley, Coconut Water, and Orange Flower
Base Notes: Driftwood and Vanilla, and Musk

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Salt Air

Salt Air reminds me of sun-dried laundry on the line, fresh and clean, though it isn’t a particularly soapy scent. The scent’s deep and woody notes are brightened by something I just can’t put my finger on—it’s intriguing, to say the least.

This fragrance wears lightly, so I find myself inclined to sniff my wrist throughout the day (albeit more than necessary for this post!). I think this is an incredibly wearable, three-season fragrance, but it has the least staying power of the bunch. If this one is the scent for you, maybe go ahead and keep a second bottle handy for when you run out.

Official Description
Top Notes: Italian Bergamot, Sea Salt, and Seaweed
Middle Notes: Cotton Blossom, Water Lily, and Cyclamen
Base Notes: Driftwood, Vanilla, and Musk
Pairs with: Vanilla Sky and Coconut Cove

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Coconut Cove

While I managed to ignore the notes presented by Skylar while testing each fragrance, I couldn’t realistically avoid the suggestions in the names. So I went into my first day of wearing Coconut Cove prepared to be a little disappointed because overtly summery scents aren’t really my jam. But I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this fragrance goes so much deeper than just “coconut,” although the essence is there, of course.

This scent is just as reminiscent of a spring picnic as it is an afternoon at the beach, with bold floral notes (gardenia?) and something savory underneath. It’s delightfully not sweet or cloying, and dare I say, it might be one of my favorites of the bunch.

Official Description
Top Notes: Bergamot, Cardamom, Hibiscus Nectar, and Twist of Lemon
Middle Notes: Coconut, Jasmine Petal, Gardenia, and Lush Greens
Base Notes: Ambrox, Coastal Woods, Heliotrope, and Vanilla Orchid
Pairs with: Peach Fields, Vanilla Sky, and Salt Air

LAYERING SKYLAR PERFUMES

Just as the way we use makeup has evolved, so have the “rules” around wearing perfume. I love how Skylar embraces this shift by encouraging scent layering instead of sticking to rigid guidelines. Adding a sense of playfulness to our routines is always a win in my book, and Skylar makes it easy with their dedicated Layering Lounge, offering inspiration to get started.

After experimenting with mixing and matching the fragrances in the set, I found that layering adds extra depth and a touch more staying power. While I won’t always layer these scents—there’s undeniable beauty in simplicity—it’s wonderful to have the option when I’m feeling creative.

MY THOUGHTS ON THESE SKYLAR PERFUMES (AND WOULD I BUY THE FULL SIZE?)

Of these scents, my favorite is Salt Air, followed closely by Coconut Cove. But before splurging on the full-size, I’m eager to dive in and try some of their other less fruit-forward scents. I headed to the brand’s helpful scent quiz for some guidance and landed on a few other scents that sound like they’ll be more my speed next time I’m shopping for fragrance. The results? Urban Rose, Midnight Moon, Indigo Valley, and Pink Canyon.

Luckily, two of these are available in a Rollerball for a smaller commitment. In fact, after years of conditioning to buy the largest size of a product for its value (thanks, Costco!), fragrance is one category I tend to buy in the smallest size possible. The fact that our scent preferences can change over time is the main reason, but the other? Small bottles—like Skylar’s rollerballs and these mini vials—are perfect for travel. Perhaps if you ever spot me out and about in the world, you’ll catch a whiff of one of these scents, too.

If you found this post helpful, please consider shopping through my links at Skylar, Sephora, or Nordstrom. Doing so doesn't increase your purchase price, but generates a small commission which allows me to continue to bring helpful reviews to you ad-free. Thank you so much for your support—it means the world to me!

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Questions for you

What types of fragrances are you drawn to the most?

Have you ever loved a fragrance at one point, but found yourself less smitten over time?

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One Comment on “A Review of the Perfume Discovery Set from Skylar”

Kristen | kristenwoolsey.com says:

December 13, 2024 at 8:14 am

I got the discovery set myself! At first sniff, Salt Air was just okay, but after wearing it all day I became obsessed! Bought the full bottle. It’s just so good!

A Review of the Perfume Discovery Set from Skylar