Layering Your Fragrances – The Top Tips to Keep in Mind

How many of you layer your fragrances?

We wouldn’t be surprised if this is an entirely new concept for you. A lot of people are happy to just give themselves a spritz with whatever their preferred fragrance is and be on their way.

But if you truly want to master your perfumes, you need to understand layering.

The concept behind layering is that you take several fragrances that complement each other and use them in tandem. The idea is to layer them in such a way as they don’t become overpowering. Instead, the various fragrances combine to create an overall scent that grabs attention.

Now, the question is…how do you do it?

How do you layer fragrances in such a way that you don’t simply feel like you’re bathing yourself in perfume?

In this article, we’re going to look at some of the top tips that will help you to get this right.

Tip #1 – Don’t Allow the Fragrances to Dry

Let’s say that you want to layer some fragrances on your wrist. The key here is that this is a swift process. You need to spray the first fragrance and then immediately follow it up with the second. After that, you push your wrists together to allow the two fragrances to combine and soak into your skin.

Do not allow the first fragrance to dry.

It’s tempting to let that first one soak in before you apply the second. But if you do that, the notes that you’re trying to combine get muddled up in your skin and you may not achieve the scent that you’re looking for.

Tip #2 – No Layering With Rollerballs

You should only ever layer fragrances that you can spray or pour. That means rollerballs are of the picture.

The problem with rollerballs is that they require direct contact with your skin. So, if you roll one over an area where you've already applied a fragrance, you’re going to find the first perfume gets stuck on the rollerball.

This removes some of the scent from your skin. And more importantly, it compromises the rollerballs fragrance so that you can’t use it again unless you want this specific combination.

Tip #3 – Keep Your Fragrances Light

The heavier and more complex the fragrance, the tougher it is to layer effectively. This actually makes a lot of sense, when you think about it. To create a complicated fragrance, a perfumer must already have a deep understanding of how different notes complement each other.

In other words, you don’t really need to layer these fragrances. It’s already been done for you.

When layering yourself, stick to lighter fragrances. Ideally, each will only have a single note, as this makes it easier for you to combine them.

Tip #4 – Test Before You Spray

Every combination that you try is essentially an experiment. You can’t be certain that you’ll like the results.

If you spray straight onto your skin and end up with something that you don’t like, you’re going to get stuck with that scent all day.

It’s best to grab a bit of paper and test your combination out first. Of course, the layered perfume won’t smell exactly as it will when you apply it to your skin. But this little test will give you a chance to notice any really big fragrance clashes before you apply them to yourself.

Tip #5 – Floral Notes Make for Great Anchors

We love floral fragrances because they go with almost anything. This also means they’re the ideal starting point for anybody who wants to experiment with layering.

Use a floral perfume as the anchor for your combination. This anchor should have a powerful note that will eventually be the dominant one in the combination that you create. As a result, this floral note will still shine through, even if the combo doesn’t work quite as well as you hoped it would.

Tip #6 – Get the Order Right

While you generally want to stay with light fragrances, especially when you first start layering, you will still find that some of the perfumes you use have stronger notes than others.

This is where order becomes important.

Always apply the perfume with the strongest note first. Then, work your way through the perfumes in order until you get to the one with the lightest note.

This will ensure that none of your perfumes overpower the others. Starting with something light and then adding something heavier will result in the first perfume getting completely overwhelmed. You won’t have a combination because the second perfume will be all that you can detect.

Tip #7 – Less is More

This is a good general rule for perfume, but it’s essential when it comes to layering.

You don’t want to use more than a single spray for any one layer. If you do, you’re going to end up with that “bathed in perfume” feeling that you’re trying to avoid.

Think about it like this. Let’s say that you have three scents that you’re trying to later. That means three sprays before you’re finished.

That’s more than enough for anyone, right?

Tip #8 – Oils and Creams Can Also Help (or Hinder)

Remember that it’s not just the perfumes that you apply that have their own fragrance. Your soaps, oils, creams, and moisturisers will likely have scents of their own. And if you’re not careful, these scents could end up clashing with the layers of perfume that you apply.

The good news is that they can also help with our layering. Oils and creams tend to have fresher notes that could complement the spicier notes in a perfume.

The key is that you don’t simply forget about the fact that perfume isn’t the only thing that carries a scent.

The Final Word

With these eight tips, you’re likely to get a better result when you start to experiment with layers.

Of course, there’s still going to be a certain amount of trial and error involved. But that’s really where the fun of layering lies.

Now, you just need to get your hands on some perfumes. And at Elite Perfumery, you’re certainly in the right place. Check out our huge range of perfumes and oils to find the fragrances that you’ll use in your layering.