Fragrance Layering with Bon Parfumeur
S/S 24
We layer our jewellery. We layer our knitwear. And now we’re learning how to layer our fragrance. And why.
Personalised Scent
Yep. For serious money, you could make a trip to Grasse in your private jet and commission a bespoke perfume from a named nose for your very own self. Or, and here we can help, you could learn the subtle art of layering multiple fragrances to create an exclusive, personalised scent. Our sniff workshop (a morning staff meeting refashioned as a fragrance testing laboratory) led us to think about what layering might elicit. And Bon Parfumeur, with their very favourable pricing and wonderfully clear olfactory notes, is the perfect place to start.
What is fragrance layering?
Fragrance layering, with historic origins in the Middle East, is a way of combining more than one scent on your skin to create unique aromas and more complex and intriguing fragrances. Given that individuality is key, the art of layering is very much not an exact science. Feel free to experiment with different combinations and don’t necessarily think there will be any single finished and final aroma. You can adjust the intensity of the fragrance by adding or subtracting layers depending on the occasion. It’s a little bit like dressing down for work and getting dolled up for the evening.
Beginner’s Guide to Multiple Fragrances?
It’s not just your perfume that carries a smell. Think about your moisturiser as the base layer and make sure this works with, rather than against, your layering plans. Or go fragrance free for a neutral base. As a general rule of thumb, heavier scents should be sprayed first so they don’t overpower their lighter counterparts.
How To Make a Layered Scent Last
One important factor is moisture. Dry skin won't hold on to an aroma as well as hydrated skin because the scent has nothing to adhere to. By introducing moisture back into the skin, first by ensuring the skin is prepped to combat natural dryness and then by adding a hydrating lotion while the skin is still damp, you can create the perfect canvas for scents to cling to. To properly layer, be sure to start with creamy consistencies as a base, followed by oils, and topped with alcohol-based fragrances last.
Our pick of the very best moisture-boosting bases:
Top Tips
Find a fairly unfussy fragrance that is built around a typical base note like vanilla or musk, then layer something with more complexity on top.
Try to combine two fragrances that have a common note — jasmine, for instance — and go from there. Or combine different types of floral scents to gain confidence before you start experimenting with citrus and other notes.
You don’t have to spray one on top of the other. If you prefer, use different pulse points for each.
Given the complexity of each fragrance, limit the layering of Bon Parfumeur to two different perfumes.
Have fun and experiment! But give the experiment 30 minutes to mature on your skin so that you have a true gauge of whether you like the result.
Top Tips
Find a fairly unfussy fragrance that is built around a typical base note like vanilla or musk, then layer something with more complexity on top.
Try to combine two fragrances that have a common note — jasmine, for instance — and go from there. Or combine different types of floral scents to gain confidence before you start experimenting with citrus and other notes.
You don’t have to spray one on top of the other. If you prefer, use different pulse points for each.
Given the complexity of each fragrance, limit the layering of Bon Parfumeur to two different perfumes.
Have fun and experiment! But give the experiment 30 minutes to mature on your skin so that you have a true gauge of whether you like the result.
10% Off Your Perfect Pair
Are you timeless and fresh? Yep, all day long. Are you solar powered? More of a gas boiler myself. Are you spicy? Erm excuse me. To get you in the Bon Parfumeur layering mood, we're offering a 10% discount on any two different fragrances to set you on your personalised way. Get inspired and discover their recommended pairings below.
*The discount will be auto-applied at checkout and cannot be combined with any other discount codes
THE TIMELESS AND FRESH DUO
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