As we continue to sniff out customized options for our daily grooming routines, fragrance layering has grown in popularity as a means of crafting a signature scent using existing perfumes.
“It can be a bit controversial as a concept, because there’s a way of thinking about perfume that a bottle is a piece of art,” says David Bernstein, director of fragrance at Etiket, a retailer and spa that has outposts in Montreal and Toronto. “However, there’s also a prominent use of perfume where it becomes a highly personal, individualized form of self-expression.”
Bernstein touts a trio, including options by D.S. & Durga, Heeley Parfums and Borntostandout, that, when combined, “results in an addictive signature that balances freshness and indulgence with a modern glow and tons of easy sex appeal. Each could also be worn with one other in the group.” It layers a rosy floral, a citrus, and a “fragrance sweetener” that “turns any fragrance into a delicious, indulgent, trendy gourmand.”
(From left) Italian Citrus EDP by D.S. & Durga, $260, Rose Aria Extrait de parfum by Heeley Parfums, $330, Sugar Addict EDP by Borntostandout, $275, all at Etiket (etiket.ca).Brandon Titaro/The Globe and Mail
Irina Novak-Calki, co-owner of Vancouver’s Scentrique, suggests following your nose to find fragrances (in her case, flacons by Vilhelm Parfumerie, The House of Oud and Pierre Guillaume Paris) that are complementary but not overly so. A musk-based fragrance, used as a base layer, for example, “makes your fragrance last longer, and provides some extra freshness.” Paired or tripled up with gourmand scents (like something with almond) and fruitier notes result in a peppy but not cloying combination.
(From left) Mango Skin EDP by Vilhelm Parfumerie, $234, Almond Harmony by The House of Oud, $310, 4.1 Le Musc & La Peau by Pierre Guillaume Paris, $174, all at Scentrique (scentrique.com).Brandon Titaro/The Globe and Mail
Joel Dart, owner of Jacob & Sebastian in Toronto, suggests “thinking ‘dichotomy’” when it comes to fragrance layering, suggesting a duo by Riddle and Nemat International. “I find almost contradicting notes work best together. So, if someone’s thinking about a soft woodsy scent, they might layer it with a vanilla. Or maybe they layer a spicy, more Patchouli-based product with a floral.” He also highlights a “molecule” product by Escentric Molecules that “reacts with the wearer’s pH and body chemistry, becoming a unique signature scent that can be layered on the clothing and in the hair for a more dramatic effect. And it works with any other scent.”
(From left) Riddle Oil, $80, Molecule 01 by Escentric Molecules, $205, Amber by Nemat International, $66, all at Jacob & Sebastian (jacobandsebastian.com).Brandon Titaro/The Globe and Mail
For those trepidatious about fragrance layering, Novak-Calki points to using a fragranced lotion as a base with a lighter perfume sprayed over top. But, she says, stop at three. A nuanced mix can quickly become overpowering.