It’s the little details that count when it comes to fragrances. So to help you elevate your fragrance game, we’re discussing the concept of layering perfumes, lotions, and other body products to make your own unique and personalized scent.
How to Choose Fragrances for Your Personalized Scent
Before you can layer fragrances, you need a collection of products to incorporate into your daily routine. We recommend choosing items from the same fragrance family to complement one another instead of clash. For example, a perfume that smells like roses will combine nicely with a jasmine-scented lotion since they’re both floral.
To create your personalized scent, round up these products to start:
- Body wash
- Body lotion
- Hand lotion
- Perfume
When you find a perfume you like, there may be matching body washes and lotions to go with it. This is a great starting point to develop and refine your custom scent. You can always add, subtract, or change any elements in your fragrance routine as you test them and find out what you like.
Fragrance shopping can be overwhelming, so we recommend shopping for them in person. The process will take some trial and error, but many department stores offer samples to guide your purchases.
You may also find it helpful to try out websites like ScentBird and ScentBox to test a variety of trial-size perfumes every month before buying full-size bottles.
Establishing Your Layering Technique
Once you have your products together, you’ll need to develop a layering technique. Here’s a sample routine you can tweak to your preferences:
- Shower using your scented body wash.
- Moisturize everywhere with scented lotion.
- Apply one or more perfume sprays to your clothes and body.
- Use a scented hand lotion that complements your signature fragrance.
Fragrance Layering Tips
You’ll learn a lot about fragrance layering as you go, but here are some of our best tips for layering your lotions and perfumes like a pro.
- The best places to apply perfume are inner elbows, inner wrists, back of knees, collarbone, and ends of hair.
- Start with the most potent scent first, then follow up with the lighter scents to ensure everything blends seamlessly.
- Don’t rub your wrists together after spraying perfume – it can alter and distort the natural scent of the fragrance.
- Carry around your scented hand lotion and reapply it throughout the day as it wears off.
- Spray perfume on your clothes to capture a stronger scent that lasts day to night.
Our Fragrance Picks:
Gucci Bloom Eau de Parfum ($155, shop here)
This floral tuberose and jasmine fragrance will make you smell like a beautiful garden of flowers.
Layer with: Gucci Gorgeous Gardenia Eau de Parfum ($155, shop here)
Chanel Chance Eau de Parfum Spray ($122, shop here)
Everyone needs a classic bright and sweet scent like this in their fragrance collection.
Layer with: Chanel La Crème Main ($55, shop here)
Laura Mercier Crème Brûlée Soufflé Body Crème ($72, shop here)
This soft and luxurious vanilla-scented cream will keep you moisturized all day.
Layer with: Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Honey Bath ($60, shop here)