Perfume layering or fragrance combining is the name of a new fad in beauty industry. As the name implies, layering involves placing perfumes one on top of another to create signature compositions. It is for everyone to try. The only prerequisites are good taste, fine sense of smell and a desire to experiment.

Getting started

It is believed that no more than three scents can be layered together. If you want to see how layering works, it's better to start with mono-fragrances. Experts say that perfumes, containing only one note, are quite easy to combine. You can also layer scents with the same basic components – for example, those that have rose accords, green or vanilla notes.

Match/Mismatch

It is very important to consider which fragrance families complement each other, and which are to be handled with special care.

  • Citrusy smells go well with almost anything, creating nice combinations with amber and floral fragrances.
  • Vanilla is a perfect ingredient for practically all perfumes, adding depth and sensuality to the aromatic pyramid.
  • Floral fragrances match fruit and grassy compositions.
  • Woody perfumes, in their turn, reveal themselves best against the the backdrop of heavy spicy, oriental blends.
  • Marine scents, as it is commonly believed, can be mixed with wood, grass and citrus ones. However, the sea notes are quite difficult to elegantly fit inside any other composition, so it's better to play it on the safe side here.

How to mix

Layering is not just about mixing different scents in one bottle. Perfume is in turn applied to different parts of the body – for example, on the wrist, neck, hair, under the knees. Actually, you can apply different compositions not only to the body, but also to clothes. Of course, it is very important not to go overboard with it. It is recommended to keep a 2 to 3-hour interval between applications. Also, it is worth to remember the key rule of layering: the first layer should always be a heavy perfume, followed by a lighter one.

What else to try

Modern skin and hair care products very often have intense and pronounced scents. So, they can be mixed with perfume as well. It is said that gourmand notes of a body cream or a hair spray can be topped with an eau de toilette, making the latter reveal itself in a new way and helping the scent last longer.

Layering became so trendy that many perfume manufacturers started offering special sets for mixing. You can find those across the perfume range of Jo Malone, Prada, Demeter, Parfums. Still, even the usual fragrances of famous brands belonging to one line, in most cases, perfectly complement each other.

You can view the catalogue and choose fragrances for layering at mydutyfree.net website.