How to layer perfume

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What layering is

Layering means wearing more than one scented product at once so they combine into a new impression. It can be two perfumes, or a perfume over a scented body lotion from the same line.

Start simple

Begin with a single-note or simple perfume, such as vanilla, musk, or a citrus, paired with something you already wear. Two complex perfumes together are much harder to balance.

Pairing ideas by family

• Fresh over woody. A citrus brightens a woody base.
• Floral with musk. A soft musk can round out a floral.
• Amber under floral. Vanilla or amber adds warmth beneath a flower.
• Same note, two ways. Two perfumes that share a note, like rose, often blend smoothly.

These are starting points, not rules. Your nose decides.

Order matters

Apply the heavier, longer-lasting scent first and the lighter one on top. Let the first one settle for a moment before adding the second.

Test before you go out

Try a combination at home, on one spot, and smell it over a few hours. Keep notes on what worked. Use less of each than you would alone.

Watch the total amount

Two perfumes mean twice the fragrance on your skin. Fragrances can cause skin irritation or allergic reactions in some people. Patch test a new fragrance on a small area of skin, and stop using it if irritation occurs. See a doctor or dermatologist if a reaction does not go away.