I did an article on perfume layering back in 2007, and it includes lots of great ideas for viable fragrance combinations, especially in the comments. Then we did a layering poll in 2010. We've had a request for an update, so here it is.
Tell us what two (or more) fragrances you like to wear together, or what scented lotions (or other body products) you use to layer? Or, tell us anything you like about your layering practices.
Or ask a question about layering.
Note: image is I am in two minds about this shot [cropped & doubled] by 1Happysnapper (photography) at flickr; some rights reserved.
I like to carry solids of Lush’s Dirty (in summer) or Dear John (in winter) and add a layer to whatever I’m already wearing — it works with pretty much anything — if I’m feeling a little wiped out in the afternoon. They both pretty much recall men’s deodorant, but a bit pleasantly.
Nordstrom Rack had Caudalie Zeste de Vignes for $10 the other day (hello!) so I’ve been adding a little splash to whatever else I’m wearing if I need a pick-me-up on these cold dark mornings. It was definitely a hit with a healthy dosage of Prada Infusion d’Iris.
Oh, nice find on the Caudalie, congrats! I have to get over to Nordstrom Rack one of these days, haven’t been in ages.
Hi Robin and prrfumed companions!
I’m normally not a perfume layering kind of person but I create my own version of Prada Candy Man (which in fact I dream Prada will launch one day) by layering Prada Candy with SL Daim Blond.
Also last week there was a “recommend me a perfume” thread at Bois de Jasmin and I asked if someone knows a pergume similar to Guerlain Iris Ganache. One person told me to try layering Apres L’Ondee and Cuir Beluga – bingo! Smells very similar!
Have a good weekend, the last one in 2013. Any favourite scents of the year?
Today I’m wearing Guerlain Shalimar ode a la Vanille. Am going to post my list of Top 2013 on Monday
Wow, I have to try this sometime although I have the real thing 🙂
Can’t wait to read your Best of 2013, sweetie!
BTW, hajusuuri, congrats on the Grand Cuir!
Haju, you really should try layering them, even if you own a flask of Iris Ganache. And I recommend trying the Prada Candy combo as well
I’m thinking that if you add some I Love les Carrottes (sp?) to the mix it would smell even more like Iris Ganache. There’s a definite “rootiness” to Ganache that I think the Carrottes would add for you.
Happy New Year!
You might be right but the carrot vibe is not what I seek so I will leave the comvination as it is. But if I stumble upon I Love Les Carrotes I will give it a try.
I look forward to your Best of 2013! For some reason I have avoided iris scents, but I have several on my lengthening list. I have a vague memory of boiled carrots which I don’t like …
Thanks Holly. I hope you’ll like my list. If you need any iris recommendations that don’t smell like boiling carrots I’m happy to help
Sure, lucasai. Thanks, be my guest! I’m feeling out of the loop on the irises.
You can send me a message using contact form on the blog
Thanks. I appreciate it.
Lucasai, I apologize. Now I’m paying attention as you deserve. Do you mean on your blog? I’ll out myself (apparently unnecessarily) and share that I am incredibly lazy and ill-informed. I thank you.
OK, I will email you.
Can’t believe nobody said anything about “Prada Candy Man”! It made me laugh (bet it smells good, too).
I know. Kudos to lucasai!
Thanks! I really hope Prada will come with it one day.
I can already see the ad for Candy Man with Christina Aguilera’s “Candyman” in the background!
Ditto! A perfect background music for the ad!
The Tom Ford Collection privee scents are supposed to be good layerers. But I have never had any luck with them despite many a sales associate’s attempt at trying to make me buy this and that and wear together. Example: Tuscan Leather layered with Champaca Absolute. You ask why?! and which I resisted of course…
Recently I went to test the Tom Ford Oud Trio, and while I did not care for Tobacco Oud by itself, I had sprayed Oud Wood close to it on a card.
The two mixed nicely together and I tried them layered. I got a cleaner-oudier scent that makes Tobacco Oud more tolerable and amps up the nice medicinal oud note in the otherwise delicious Oud Wood.
Interesting! I would think the Oud Wood would be a good layering agent in general, if applied lightly.
I’ve never been one to layer fragrance, but I actually dreamed this combination a few weeks ago so decided to try it. It was SSS Incense Pure with Guerlain’s Angelique Noir (bottom layer). I loved it, but then I like vanilla better than Laurie does! 😉
I *love* the picture up top.
Happy New Year all.
Hmmmm, I have to experiment with SSS scents. Other than Forest Walk, Fig Tree and To Dream, I pretty much only have samples of the rest of Laurie’s creations and layering will make me stop hoarding them.
I’ve thought about Forest Walk and L’Heure Bleue. Haven’t tried it yet though.
I’ll have to try these. I’m hoping for violets…
I am a layering novice–and now you mention which fragrance is on bottom or top?! That’s a whole ‘nuther layer (bah-dum-ching) of complication if I need to consider fragrance order as well!
lol! I only thought of it because I knew I wanted a little more vanilla in the deep drydown – so it made sense that it needed to be next to my skin.
I like dabbing all kinds of things together. A favorite combination in cold weather is Les Nereides Imperial Opoponax w /Patchouli Antique, very rich and resin-y and warm. It’s nice to enhance certain aspects of a scent, too, like wearing Stella with a dab of amber oil. Patchouli Leaves, again dabbed, is a good grounder, so is no name patchouli oil. I mentioned recently wearing Passage d’Enfer with different things to bring an underpinning of incense that’s not overwhelming; Coty Wild Woods is an all purpose woodifier if a floral needs some heft, it’s great with lots of things, like TF Violet Blonde. Now, I like the bold, dark and brooding, so these ideas won’t work for everyone, but I have a lot of fun 🙂
I like your idea of layering Stella with amber oil. I sometimes layer SSS Ambre Noir with Stella for a similar effect – especially nice in colder weather to add some warmth to the Stella.
I LOVE TO MIX A ROSE WITH PATCHOULI. NOIR ESPICES IS NICE MIXED WITH A ROSE SCENT.
The original Fahrenheit begs to be layered every once in awhile. An orange scent works really well with it. Eau de Carter or ADP Arancia di Capri works quite well with Fahrenheit. Of course, one of the most underrated flankers in recent years was Aqua Fahrenheit…which added some citrus to Fahrenheit.
I can imagine a nice orange w/ Fahrenheit, although I’ve never done it.
I think Le Labo Vanille 44 is a great scent with which to layer. I’ve tried it with (and loved) Dior Mitzah, Arabian Oud Kalemat, Puredistance M and Le Labo Cuir 28. I also find Atelier Cologne Vanille Insensee to be wonderful as well if the thought of layering a City Exclusives makes you cringe.
Lucas’ comment above makes me think that Vanille 44 and Prada Candy will create a killer combo.
Although I have not tried this, I bet Bond No. 9 Silver Factory will probably get brighter with a spritz of Iris 39 mixed in.
When I use Lush Rose Jam Body as a shampoo, it leaves a scent trail that mixes in pretty nicely with whatever perfume I am wearing.
I’ll be doing more layering experiments in 2014!
Your layering experiments sound great!
When I wear Spicebomb, I always layer it with Pacifica Island Vanilla. It quiets and balances the tobacco.
The Honeymania and Sweet Lemon shower gels from The Body Shop combine very well.
Actually, I don’t layer the Spicebomb and Pacifica Island Vanilla. I put the vanilla on my neck and wrists and the Spicebomb on my chest. The two fragrances waft up to my nose and combine into something heavenly.
Ah, I never do it that way but should try.
I find the notion of layering very intimidating! I respect the depth of the art of many scents and trying to weave them together into something wonderful and not just a hot mess?! So maybe the trick is to use more simplistic scents as one or both of the layering agents? Lotions and other body products seem like they’d be more amenable.
Honestly, I’ve worked pretty hard to AVOID layering. I don’t want to smell my shampoo. I don’t want scented lotions or scented deodorants. If I can smell them, I’m distracted from my perfume. Maybe suggestions today will inspire me to be more openminded! 🙂
M.R, perhaps you could try it the way Kind Crow describes. A lot of the time I’m only happy with two or three perfumes on – sprayed in different places. Each keeps it’s integrity and you get to smell different ones at different moments:)
If you spray on different body parts, I would guess that the more dominant scent will be the one on your décolletage? Or do you balance that by putting a softer scent on your chest and one with more presence on your wrists, etc.? Or am I totally off base in worrying about relative sillages?
I tend to put the more intense scents towards my wrist area and the lighter ones forearm and most delicate upper arm! Personally I don’t consider this layering because the scents remain quite distinct to me. I like the way they harmonise but they don’t mix as they do when sprayed on the same spot.
I imagine that also avoids masking some of the nuances of each scent? Sounds like it could be nice with the right combination. 🙂
I so hear you, both on the sense of intimidation and on the preference for scent-free body products, to prevent contamination of my perfume 🙂 In fact I skipped the Rose Jam body gel, though it smelled remarkable, because I felt like anytime I used it, that would have to be my fragrance for the day. (Hm on further reflection, maybe that would have been okay!) But otherwise the only scented bath product I use is a Blackberry & Bay shower gel, on days when I have decided to wear that fragrance.
Yes, I think that is a type of layering I could get behind–body products with the same (or versions of a) scent to enhance the fragrance or make it last longer. The Jo Malones seem like a good choice for that since they’re so mild and transparent.
Totally–I’m enamored especially with the body cream for that reason. Gives it much more presence. (Unfortunately it costs an arm and a leg, still not accustomed to paying more than about $5 for body lotion!)
Yeah–funny how we can spend so much on fragrance and then balk at a luxury brand hand cream or something, huh? Maybe it’s good that we have limits! 🙂
I sure do need the limits! But I could stand to apply them more rationally. In this case for instance, I significantly prefer the body cream–but it still agonizes me to shell out for it, whereas I have no problem paying the same kind of money or more for the perfume that I don’t like as much! Crazy.
Yes, you are right! I will avoid a $30 body cream (Bliss body butter, I’m looking at you!), but then will happily consider buying a discounted mediocre bottle of perfume I find at Marshall’s. . .
I mix all of my Jo Malone fragrances as they are designed for that. The grapefruit mixed with any is simply delicious.
Oh yes–now you say it, I do recall that the JMs are designed for layering. And I SO wanted the tea scents to do it for me.
Yup I’m so with you on that one. I try to get scent free body products so they don’t interfere with perfume. A little scent free almond oil as a base helps the perfume last and develop more fully so I guess that is a form of layering. But also there are some products from Lush that are terrific for layering. Ro’s body conditioner scented skin layers beautifully with Parfum Sacre. Rose on Ro’s is so nice. Today I was trying some Karma scented lotion on my hands and found that it went really well with L’air de Rien of all things.
Hey Sajini!
I promised to send someone a sample of OJ Woman while they were in the States–any chance it was you? I kinda thought maybe it was. . . 🙂
Hi Marjorie Rose, It may have been, but since then I got a lovely partial bottle of OJ Woman in the last swap, so you’re off the hook. But that reminds me to mention it in the next Monday Mail perfume recommendation… : )
I really need to do more exploring at Lush. I’ve only been twice and both times I got a little overwhelmed and left, but it sounds like it’s worth persevering!
I still haven’t been into Lush at all. There’s one downtown, but I never seem to swing by when I’m in the neighborhood. I presume some of my hesitation is that I usually have Mr. Spicebomb with me, and I do try to limit how much time he has to wait around for me while I sniff stuff. . . 🙂
Ooh, you should make that your excuse though–my difficulty at Lush is getting swarmed by salespeople and shown more things than my little brain can absorb. If you have a non-perfume person in tow, maybe you could just say, ‘oh sorry I don’t have time for the whole salespitch I just want to smell a couple things and then I have to go, see look, there is a boy out there!’ 🙂
They opened one in the States (Houston, TX) at a Macy’s store in my location. I went there just for that purpose because I despise Macy’s. I wanted to take a whiff of this “Rose Jam” that I hear everyone talking so much about. I was bombarded by sales associates. They told me that Rose Jam is a seasonal fragrance, but they had several others that smelled similar to it. Needless to say, I told them it was okay and that I would be back at another time. But, if anyone has some suggestions of others scents they have that smell great, I am open to it.
Oh yeah. That happened to me the first time I went in looking for rose jam products. I was seduced into buying a large pot of Ro’s body conditioner for thirty something bucks. Not something I would normally get but I ended up really liking it. It helps to have a strategy when you go to Lush because the SA’s will totally sweet talk you into buying expensive stuff that you don’t have in the budget. My strategy is to pretend it’s a museum and I’m looking at petrified toads or something. Also to set a time limit and take deep breaths. This weekend I got out of the Harvard square Lush with only a 6.99 purchase of a fresh face mask (the seaweed one, totally worth every cent) and the SA threw in a very generous free sample of Karma lotion.
I definitely understand what you’re saying.
Personally, when I’m layering I don’t put one fragrance on top of another unless they’re both pretty straightforward and linear. And honestly, if I really like something, I leave it alone. If I feel a fragrance IS missing something, I’ll dab something with that particular note on an area I haven’t applied the original to. I test them out first by doing each on a wrist and sniffing together.
I would compare it to cooking, which I know you’re familiar with. Sometimes you can take a recipe and improve it, and sometimes you create a hot mess. I am certainly guilty of doing that, particularly with Indian food. I make something I really like, and decide I would like it EVEN MORE by adding more stuff. Then I have to dilute the more stuff by adding different stuff, and end up with a huge vat of something that isn’t as good as the original.
That being said, I enjoy my little experiments and it’s fun and often enlightening. I’ve certainly learned a profound respect for perfumers as the artists that they are!
I like the cooking analogy, except that I’m SOOOoooo much more comfortable with the relative aspects of individual ingredients than I am of the relative aspects of fragrances and their notes! And I wouldn’t dream of stirring together, say, a beautiful curry from an Indian restaurant with my favorite mole from a Mexican restaurant–which is more how I feel layering perfumes risks becoming!
I love your perspective, and I think it’s great that you’ve shared it. I’m one of those people who WOULD mix a mole and a curry. I don’t think either way is better, they’re just different. My way is not necessarily more innovative or interesting, and as I’ve mentioned it’s often a hot mess requiring a lot of manipulation.
I think that if you’re happy with what you are currently doing, that’s truly admirable.
Pause and deep breath.
If any of the rest of us can enhance your joy, so much the better.
Well, if you decide to mix a curry and a mole, do report back and let me know how it goes! 😀
For the most part layering is still beyond my level of perfume expertise, but on about hour eight of the L’Air du désert marocain I’d put on for Christmas Eve Mass (still there but quieted to a whisper), I sprayed some Marni over top and it was great–brought the L’Air du désert right back to life, and gave the Marni a lot more oomph. (Can’t say I would do it from the start though, the Tauer is too amazing on its own to mess with!)
Oh, this sounds great! I’m really interested in hearing how many people are announcing how they don’t know how to layer, then they give examples of layering that are exquisite.
I love layering SSS Tabac Aurea with Perfumerie Generale Indochine- DELISH!
Ramona
Hey, that sounds awesome.
2 of my absolute favorites! I’ve not tried a lot of layering (for the reasons Marjorie Rose has already noted), but that sounds wonderful.
Yum! I love those two, they both have such personality. You must have some pretty hefty sillage after that combo!
So true! I have to go lightly with the trigger finger and spritz the SSS TA somewhere around my belly button and the PG Indochine higher up on my torso. No open flames around me!
Fragrance on your belly button?! Do you live in warmer climate in which your midriff is commonly exposed? I fear any scent sprayed on *my* belly button would get lost under the layers of teeshirt, sweatshirt, coat and scarf. . . 🙂
Neophyte of the Rabbit Hole that I am, and will most likely remain compared to most of you, Gentle Readers, I still couldn’t help but have a few ideas as I’ve gone along about how things, “perfume-wise” lol, are going to shape up for me.
Layering, although without such a high-minded term, is one of those ideas which I’ve had almost from the beginning of my current affliction O.o with fragrance.
It started when I bought a friend a bottle of Organza Indecence and decided I liked it way too much to give away. But it was also the first clearly “woman’s” perfume I’d decided to wear. I hadn’t yet been freed of that perfume delusion by the Internet.
So I happily splashed on the Indecence and then spritzed my Kouros over that to “Man it up” a little; I was in love.
In case any, if you more sensitive noses than I are now gagging — I have no idea if you should be or not. I’ve not mentioned it before, but I don’t think I have a very sensitive or sophisticated sniffer.
I can’t taste or recognize by smell the various constituents of good cooking; while all wines don’t taste the same to me and I know one I like when I taste it, the system of (whatever they call it) in wines analogous to “notes” in perfumes leaves me at a total loss; black currants, indeed. Frankly, I fear for my ability to ever feel knowledgeable in nattering about the notes (I imagine) I smell in a perfume.
But happily, that also means that layering can proceed with little rational impediment on my part. I’ve read Robin’s previous posts on layering but still wonder:
1) When you layer, do you apply the first juice, let it dry and then apply the second OR do you simply apply them both one after the other and let the boyz and gurlz fight it out among themselves?
2) If anyone uses both methods from above, can you say what it is that determines your choice? Is there a pronounced difference in effect between the two methods? Can you describe what it is?
3) Another layering thought I’ve had, and see that others here have already commented on, is the idea of using a particular essential oil as a layer with a perfume. My simplistic idea was that if I really liked “muskiness”, for instance, that I could use a musk oil to emphasize or add a musk note to a perfume.
In essence, I suppose, making my own custom blended purfume right there on my body. My personal goal in this practice would be to “dirty up” juices that were a little too polite; make ’em scream a little or whisper naughty things… But then I wouldn’t be averse to taking a dark and sultry perfume and making something light and sparkling dance on top of it; after all, there is no dark and mysterious with light and innocence.
4) Slightly OT, but ultimately of layering interest to me, I’ve recently placed two orders at TPC for samples. The list of those samples is here:
for those who might care to have a look. I’d be happy to discuss with anyone interested any aspects of the list, testing procedures you recommend and/or layering ideas via email.
Happy New Year to All
Hmmm… My link to the google doc list seems not to have made it. I suppose I’ve violated some rules : (
Well, if you’d like to see the list you can email me at ddjackso at gmail dot com and I’ll send the link… or I guess then I could just send the list lol.
Be well eveyone.
David
I’m not going to ask for the list, but am excited to hear your impressions as you go through them all!
I’ll be excited to find out what I think too : )
No such rule but couldn’t say where your link went.
Hi, Robin. I thought I’d seen links on here before. I guess I formatted it incorrectly or something; it was there in that blank space when I clicked “Submit”
…but no worries either way. Worse things have happened in life 😛
Hey, worse things have happened to me already today!
I think over time you will find what is right for you. Ultimately, this is fun and like life, there is no perfection.
If you can’t discern particular notes, no problem. You can look up reviews of what you like and find out what’s listed and follow up. If you’d like to explore single notes, there are many options dependent upon where you live.
Sometimes this experience can be like The Emperor’s New Clothes, and you may feel like the child in the crowd. I don’t think you need to be sophisticated or knowledgeable. We are all here sharing, and we have different experiences. We are influenced by nostalgia, society, marketing and our own desire to influence others.
Yes; I’m really not as figgity about the process as I may seem. Part of that impression, if there is such, may be from my censoring what I say on here.
My thoughts about the whole process are rather more personal and complicated than what I feel I can say so I edit myself down to ideas who’s expression have lost most of their life for me.
In any event, what are you thinking about that is “dependent on where you live”? …some sort of class? I’m in New Orleans. I’d love to do something like that but from what I’ve seen locally, I don’t think the opportunity exists here just now.
Ah. The comment about where you live refers to what you have access to.
Hahah…. Hope spings eternal…. I read your comment as suggesting that you knew of some possibilities for learning “depending on where I lived”…
D.D. my wine tasting notes boil down to: Me Like or Me No Like. Once in a blue moon I spot some strawberry or something, but I sure don’t go on about it…
Yes; I’m afraid that Like/No Like may be my level of comment about perfumes : (
I might learn something today. I will let my soap and fragrance mingle because I really no choice.
The concept confuses me. I don’t like my food touch on my plate. Most of my friends have never met each other. Even a club sandwich overwhelms me. I will sit back and audit for the remainder of the weekend.
Signed, A Kook
Ah, JJ, we love you just the way you are -whether you ever layer (or combine food) or not. <3
I guess that makes you a purist;)
I had to laugh reading your food issues! I am exactly like that with my plate, also. Have been tempted to actually get those plates with raised dividers. Also don’t layer perfumes and prefer only lightly scented body products at best (unless they’re being worn as the perfume – Coco Chanel, Shalimar or Opium) so they don’t clash. Although I must confess my jumbled box of hundreds of sample vials emits the MOST gorgeous fragrance from the top shelf of my closet – sadly unreproducible.
Signed – a fellow kook
You are not alone! My brother and I came up with the idea for plates covered with little golf ball like dimples as kids, so that any sauces/liquids would not touch. I understand completely 😀
As for perfume, weirdly, when I began this journey, I wildly layered with abandon. Now, I’m more a purist, and rarely deliberately mix perfumes. I think most people in the perfume world go the other direction. Go figure. I enjoy reading everyone’s ideas. It’s like reading exotic recipes in the newspaper that I’ll never really make in my own kitchen. Fun to imagine. Be well.
*whispers*
Not sure if this is a good time to confess, but I don’t layer. Sometimes things end up mixing (like on a piece of clothing or a scarf, say) but I wouldn’t deliberately spray two different perfumes together. I’ve never felt the need to do that or found the idea appealing.
Ha! I’m beginning to perceive two distinct subcommunities within the larger perfumista crowd: those who layer and those who prefer not to. I suspect that my proclivities are likely to remain mostly in the nonlayering crowd. At least I’ll be in good company! 🙂
Maybe it’s good to think of layering with time and space in addition to fragrance? Like putting on premiere figuer cream before work, sort of everywhere, and then adding a spray of Bulgari Black on your chest to make it weird and butch as one leaves work…
(for a random example)
I’m so glad this is today’s topic as I have never purposefully layered but started thinking about it after a recent post on NST. Was in the health food section of my market a couple days ago and tried a sandalwood scented solid. It had great lasting power and smelled a little like incense. I’m wondering how it would layer with Balenciaga Paris – which I kind of like but it’s a little sweet. Thinking it could be good, or really bad!! Might have to venture out today and check it out.
Still thinking about this. Actually think that the sandalwood solid would go really well with Omnia Bvlgaria (the original). And to clarify, I like Balenciaga Paris in the spring, but it seems sweet for cold weather. Wondering if the sandalwood would winterize it a bit.
Hey, who makes the solid?
will let you know asap! 🙂
Thanks, but of course no rush! But would love to have a decent solid sandalwood. Now I can’t remember if I ever tried Pacifica’s.
The solid is from Maroma. I like it and at $10.00, ended up purchasing. The website is worth checking out.
http://maroma.com/
Wonderful, thank you so much!
Of course! For some reason, I can’t locate the solid perfume on the main website, but it is clearly listed on the US specific site.
https://maromausa.com/
A little off topic here, but I recently got E.L’s Azuree and am really enjoying it. I am also suddenly drawn to Bandit which for many years I have found intolerable. Strange! Does anyone have thoughts on these leather type chypres?
Also looking for opinions on Piguet’s Oud, and Casbah…
Not sure if this makes sense to you, Merlin, but Bandit is kind of like this for me. I have it in perfume concentration and it’s kind of like drinking scotch on the rocks: It mostly repels me but once in a great while I have to have it. It’s almost like a craving brought on by hormones or something.
Yes, I’m not sure what it says about me that I completely understand, lol!
I do find it intriguing that such a green scent can be so animalic.
Yes Bandit is very strange. It’s green, leathery and kind of rankly skunky and on herbal on me. It has such a nasty bite, but I really like it for its character. Azuree is probably like a “gateway” perfume to that kind of leather experience. As far as the other Piquets, the only one I’ve smelled is Fracas which I did not care for.
Fracas is too buttery for me, like luten’s JdP perhaps!
I’m not sure Azuree is lighter than Bandit, although I did like it straight away… Sometimes I think it may be more complex or dirty. Does Bandit have LOV? This might explain a soapy tinge i pick up in it…
Sorry not seeing LOV listed anywhere, must have been dreaming:)
A year or so back in the comments of a perfume blog (don’t remember which) I saw the strangest layering suggestion: O d’Lancome with D&G Light Blue. Since I had both perfumes I decided to try it and it is wonderful! What a surprise. It has now become one of my favorite warm weather combinations. So thank you to whoever originally posted this layering idea.
I like wearing O’de Lancolm, with Terre d’hermes and just a very little EL Private Collection, all sprayed in different areas, herby hot rock greenery.
I accidentally layered something recently that was heavenly- and I thought I made a mental note to remember it (but alas! it has been frittered away by my scattered brain). I can recommend layering Atelier Orange Sanguine and the Atelier Vanille Incensee- I picked up the combo sample set at sephora and they are very nice together and apart!
I wish I’d bought that set instead of the 30 ml Orange Sanguine I already have.
A good friend of mine has the old formulation of The Different Company Rose Poivre, which can be a bit intense. I brought her a partial bottle of Sa Majeste La Rose, and she was inspired to layer them. It smelled amazing on her!
Oh interesting, because I nearly never layer two things with the same main note.
I don’t normally layer–the whole thing seems very daunting. But I had this inspiration to mix Diptyque Volutes and Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine the other day. Those two seem like they might go well together. Sadly, before I could try it out, I came down with a cold. Blech.
That sounds yummy. Hope you can try it soon.
Get better soon! That does sound like a nice combo.
Wow, that sounds amazing – I have to try this! Thanks!
I love to layer Honre de Pres – Chaman’s Party with In Fiore’s Oud Amberi Attar (solid).
Another recent favorite is Providence Perfume Co.’s Fern body lotion with their Rose Bohème perfume.
I was just gifted with a small bottle of Hindu Honeysuckle from PPC for Christmas and it goes really well with nuxe prodigieux oil. I used the nuxe oil to remove makeup and it happened to go with the HH I was already wearing. Hindu Honeysuckle dries down very green and vetivery on my skin so the nuxe oil just kind of refreshed the sweet top notes and brought the whole thing back to life.
I like layering coco mademoiselle with coco noir.
The N°5 Body lotion also layers beautifully with Chance Eau Fraiche or Eau de Cologne.
Ah, betcha Chanel 5 body lotion would improve lots of other scents. Thanks.
I don’t really layer much actually but interesting to see what people do layer though!
Candy Man, hehehe:).
I would love to know if there is a spicy, milky chai tea scent. Love the way chai smells but I haven’t found one yet…. don’t like the discontinued Tea for Two…..
I am on a Ambre De Mervellies kick…. love the salt, and ambre and vanilla. Would not mind some spice with it…. any layering ideas?
Happy Holidays to everyone!
I like the milky note in Jacomo 08, which is a great chai scent. I just received a sample of Wild Ginger Chai by Soivohle, but I haven’t tried it yet. I don’t think that it has any milk in it, but I’m wondering if a milk scent from Dawn Spencer Hurwitz or Ava Luxe would be good for layering?
I like Jacomo #8 very much (and TfT, for that matter), but it isn’t “milky” to my nose, although I do get a soft, clean musk in the heart notes.
In search of a milky chai (after discussing this very issue with Robin a few days ago!), I found an old sample of DSH Ceylon. It is a lovely, clovey chai, although still not milky, worth a try. I haven’t tried her milk accord, but it seems like a natural one to try as a layer. (If you decide to seek it out, I can’t find Ceylon directly available from DSH anymore, but they have it at Hampton Court Luxuries online.)
FWIW, I *did* experiment with Kenzo Amour layered with Jacomo #8, in search of a more milky result, and while it wasn’t a bad combination, it wasn’t what I was looking for. If you find a good combination, Missy, do let me know!
Queen by Queen Latifah! That’s one I’ve been trying to remember for this question (and for you, if you’re the same person who asked this on Facebook.)
Robin,
Just dropping in to say that I really like this newest version of the banner.
Thank you so much! I think it’s my favorite too, so it will probably hang around for awhile. If anyone hates it, they better speak up now 🙂
I like to layer L’Occitane’s verbena with their rose or cherry scents. I also like MMM Untitled or Versace’s Verscense with Bvlgari’s Rose Essentialle. My all time favorite is Slumberhouse Norne sprayed below waist and Frederick Malle PoL or Amouage Memior above waist (with some overlap). Mostly when going to outside events or places I won’t be so overpowering :).
I sampled Khiel’s musk earlier but then later wanted something with more character and spritzed CdG Black over. At first it merely seemed to dilute Black’s spicy smokiness but now it’s settled into a delicious spice medley with a honey base:)
Actually, though im not a big fan of the Khiel’s I can see why it’s so popular for layering.
The only things I layer fairly regularly and intentionally are Ambre Russe and Loretta. When I got samples of each I couldn’t resist trying one on each arm and it has just stuck. I wear the Ambre Russe by itself (and have tried it with Vanilla Insensee which works) but Loretta always gets a dose of boozy amber.
New to this site, loved already a lot of articles here. 🙂
I layer my fragrance as much as I can. To me, layering is almost an obsessive compulsive behaviour. I can’t feel complete if I don’t layer.
I keep it classic by starting with the fragranced soap or showergel, then the lotion or cream and finish it with the actual fragrance. Yesterday I wore the lovely Coco by Chanel, only layered with the bath soap. As this scent is powerfull enough I didn’t need the matching lotion. I finished with 2 sprays of the EDP and got compliments all night. So layering is worth it, at least to me.
Mind you, I could never layer 2 different scents, another OCB of mine 😉 .
Welcome! We are opposites…if I buy a matching body product for something, I generally only use it either alone or with another fragrance 🙂
So I just read this today, and had nothing clever to say about layering; but then I ended up accidentally wearing both Bulgari Black and Samsara today.
Which was fantastic.
C’est tout!