Being told how good you smell just may be one of the best compliments out there. While your outfits and accessories are one way to show off your personal style, a signature scent is another. Fragrance layering is a technique that combines different scents to create a one-of-a-kind fragrance. If you feel like you’re getting bored with your perfumes and want something unique and different, here are our best tips for how to layer fragrances.
How to Layer Fragrances
4 Fragrance Layering Basics
1. Start with clean, moisturized skin. It’s important to start with a clean slate before layering fragrances. You want to make sure any previous scents are washed off so they don’t disrupt your signature scent. Moisturized skin is also key. Perfumes won’t last as long on your skin if it’s dry, so make sure it’s nice and hydrated for longevity. Applying a good moisturizer will amplify and maintain the fragrance of your skin.
2. Understand how to layer scents properly. To do this you need to understand the different layers in individual fragrances. The top note is what you smell right away when you spray it and usually consists of light, fresh notes. The middle note is the heart of the fragrance and is typically warmer and softer. The bottom note is what develops last and stays with you the longest.
3. Know the lingo. Layering scents doesn’t necessarily mean spraying two (or more) perfumes on top of one another. You can apply a scented lotion after your shower and then apply a perfume, or you can spray one scent on your wrists and another on your neck. The best places to apply fragrance are pulse points, behind the ears, inside wrists, cleavage, and behind the knees.
4. Wear the most powerful scent as your base. Heavier scents should be sprayed first so they don’t overtake the lighter ones. You want all of the scents to be able to come to life, and this will ensure nothing is overpowered.
8 Tips to Create Your Signature Scent
1. Consider how you want your signature scent to make you feel. Do you want to feel fun and flirty? Sophisticated and worldly? Feminine and sultry? Knowing this will make a difference in the scents you start to play around with.
2. Familiarize yourself with fragrance families and notes. Fragrances are typically categorized into four families including floral (rose, jasmine, lily), woody (cedar, amber, sandalwood), oriental (vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg), and fresh (lemon, sage, mandarin). Getting acquainted with the different categories will make layering scents easier.
3. Start with your preferred note. If you love vanilla, for example, begin with a vanilla-based perfume then add layers with complimentary notes, such as sandalwood, jasmine, or mandarin. Using a fairly unfussy fragrance and layering it with something that has more complexity on top will usually give you a pleasing combination.
4. How to mix. Mixing scents from the same family is always a good place to start, however, if you complement fragrances from different families, you’ll be able to achieve a more complex, unique smell. It may take a little longer to find the perfect combination, but the result will be worth it.
5. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Creating your signature scent is a creative process and there are no hard and fast rules. Try different combinations and see what works best for you. The way layered scents work on the body has as much to do with the formula as with your skin’s chemistry. The same perfume can smell totally different depending on the person wearing it- so don’t necessarily go off scents you’ve smelled on someone else.
6. Find balance. Your goal is to create a perfectly balanced scent. Avoid overwhelming your fragrance by layering too many scents or overdoing it with strong fragrances. Less is often more when it comes to fragrance layering- you just have to find the right combination for you.
7. Do some test runs. Experiment with small quantities of each fragrance to avoid too overpowering a scent. One or two spritzes of each should be enough to see how they interact. Before you purchase any full sized perfumes, use a sampler or travel-size bottle to sit with and play around with scents. As you get more comfortable with the process, you can start adjusting the portions according to your preferences.
8. What to avoid. Avoid combining two scents that are too dark and rich as they can be overwhelming when used together. Blend a maximum of three scents when layering. Two scents is best if they both have some complexity, and three works if you choose single-note fragrances.
5 Perfume Combos We Love
1. YSL Libre EDP X Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush 62
YSL’s oriental fragrance has a blend of vanilla, cedar, mandarin, lavender, black currant and musk. Brazilian Crush 62 feels like a summer’s day with notes of vanilla, salted caramel, and sandalwood, as well as pistachio, almond, and jasmine. Mix them together for an intoxicating scent that’s warm and fresh.
2. By Rosie Jane: Angie x Philosophy Fresh Cream
Inspired by Los Angeles, the Angie perfume from By Rosie Jane is feminine and floral with notes of honeysuckle, jasmine and fig. Philosophy’s Fresh Cream has notes of vanilla, heliotrope, and tonka bean for a softly sweet fragrance that never overwhelms.
3. Valentino Born in Roma x Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush
Valentino’s Born in Roma balances sensuality and vibrance with notes like jasmine sambac, cashmeran, and vanilla bourbon. Good Girl Blush by Carolina Hererra is a fresh, floral explosion of femininity with key notes including mandarin ylang-ylang, and vanilla. These two scents perfectly compliment each other for a deliciously feminine fragrance.
4. Khamrah x Kayali Vanilla 28
Khamrah is a spicy fragrance with top notes including cinnamon, nutmeg, and bergamot. It’s luxurious and warm, however, if the cinnamon note is hitting a little too hard for you, try combining it with Kayali’s Vanilla 28. It offers a refined blend of creamy jasmine and rich Madagascar vanilla orchid with beautifully balanced oriental notes of musk, amber, and patchouli.
5. Chloe Roses de Chloe x Le Labo Santal 33
Roses de Chloe is an enchanted scent that’s airy and subtle with notes of bergamot, rose, and amber. Le Labo’s cult favourite Santal 33 is an intoxicating smokey scent that mixes notes like cardamom, iris and violet, with sandalwood and cedarwood that give it its spicy, leathery and musky aroma. Floral and woodsy scents play well together, and this combination is especially drool-worthy.
Ready to start layering your fragrances and find your signature scent? Try these tips and perfume combos!
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