There are two schools of thought about layering perfumes together: One that believes a singular composition should stand on its own and another that welcomes experimentation.
When I started Perfumehead, I wanted to create complex, long-lasting, and absolutely gorgeous scents. Layering was not part of the equation or top of mind.
But when the scents were released into the world, they took on a life of their own, and with that came experimentation. Clients started asking for suggested combinations, and we took it upon ourselves to do a little testing…
Turns out, countless pairings worked beautifully together.
I attribute the compatibility to the quality of our ingredients. We craft concentrated, complex scents using the finest ingredients from around the world, so there's a natural synergy when you layer them.
I knew we were really onto something when I started spraying the goes-with-everything musk Canadian Tuxedo underneath other scents, like the clean and crisp Alone Together or the seductive white floral Moon Flower, heady with jasmine and tuberose. The sum was greater than its parts.
So, to help guide you on your scent layering journey, we have a few tips:
START RICH. END LIGHT.
When layering two extrait de parfum scents on top of one another, start with the richer option directly on your skin and spray the lighter option on top. For example, Room No. is beautiful underneath; Somewhere, a languid, green, floral. If you do the reverse, some of the more ephemeral top notes can get lost. Start with the richer or heavier scent on the bottom and spray the lighter one on top.
ROLL IT FIRST. SPRAY IT SECOND.
To maximize the impact and longevity of your favorite scent, you can apply the perfume oil extract version first, then spray the extrait de parfum on top for the purest and most potent parfum experience. When you roll on LA LA Love perfume oil and then spray LA LA Love extrait de parfum, for example, you experience different facets of the scent. Some notes are more pronounced in the oil or the extrait, allowing you to appreciate the fragrance in both its pure and potent forms.
LOOK FOR COMMON NOTES.
When both scents feature ambers, musks, and woody notes, like Cosmic Cowboy and Room No., they tend to work beautifully together. Another example: Xanaboud is an oud but it also has rose, and Reine des Anges has Turkish and Moroccan roses. When you wear them together, the entire rose part begins to truly blossom, and you get a really interesting combination.
DON’T FORGET TO PLAY.
If you want to go avant-garde, you can play with placement: wear one scent on your wrists and spray another on your neck. I have a friend who wears one fragrance on his left side and another on his right side. Depending on what he wants people to smell, he’ll lean one way or the other when hugging them.
The combinations are truly endless, but one thing I always do before applying an oil or spraying an extrait de parfum is ensure my skin is moisturized to enhance longevity.
X Daniel
Shop the Story:
Canadian Tuxedo extrait de parfum + Alone Together extrait de parfum
Canadian Tuxedo extrait de parfum + Moon Flower extrait de parfum
Room No. extrait de parfum + Somewhere extrait de parfum
LA LA Love perfume oil extrait + LA LA Love extrait de parfum
Cosmic Cowboy perfume oil extrait + Cosmic Cowboy extrait de parfum
Cosmic Cowboy extrait de parfum + Room No. extrait de parfum
Xanaboud extrait de parfum + Reine des Anges extrait de parfum
