Fragrance is a beauty category unlike any other. Not only is scent closely tied to memory — revisiting your first will really take you back — but one perfume can smell completely differently on each of us, thanks to our own unique body chemistries. Translation: To say perfume is the most personal part of your daily routine is an understatement.Because of this, buying a new scent to welcome each season can feel more like homework than fun — especially since perfume can be incredibly pricey. (Consider it the bathing suit-shopping of the beauty world.) There is, however, an easy solution.
Instead of shopping for a new spring perfume, you can use that time and energy to layer fragrances you already own. It'll help you create a fresh scent in less time than you'd take on a trip to the mall. "Layering fragrances is an easy way to get a custom effect," Julia Zangrilli, perfumer and founder of NOVA fragrance studio in Brooklyn, tells us. "The scent is familiar, but not quite — no one else has the exact blend."
Yes, layering can be intimidating — the combinations are mind-boggling — but it doesn't have to be with Zangrilli's foolproof tips. While there's no right or wrong way to layer (if it smells good to you, go for it!), a few rules of thumb will make the process easier.
Ahead, you'll find seven simple ways to use what you already own to create a scent that you'll absolutely love to wear this spring — you might even discover your new signature scent.
Tip 1: Learn The Basics
Before you start pulling out your perfumes, let's get the nitty-gritty out of the way: how and where to apply them.
For the best results, Zangrilli suggests layering scents on the same area, like your wrist, and not waiting for the first to dry. Simply spray one, then spray another, and gently blend by pressing your wrists together.
Note that you should only apply rollerball fragrances to clean, dry skin, as opposed to over other scents. "You don't want to co-mingle fragrances on the applicator," Zangrilli says. "If you are using two products with rollerballs, apply them on different areas and rub the areas together immediately."
Beginners should focus on wearing two or three scents at once — at least until they get the hang of it — and always give your mixture a non-skin try first. "Regardless of any pointers, you have to test, because you never know," Zangrilli says. "Always test on a piece of paper before trying on your skin, so you aren't stuck scrubbing off mistakes."
Tom Ford Black Orchid Rollerball, $45, available at Sephora.
Tip 2: Focus On Simple Scents
Now comes the fun part. Pull out all of your perfumes and locate the ones that are best for layering. As you can probably imagine, less complicated perfumes are easier to mix. Look for subtle, minimalist fragrances, which likely advertise one or two notes in their titles, Zangrilli says.
That means anything that calls out a scent in the name — like rose, vanilla, or freesia — is a great mixing perfume, since it's likely far less complex.
Offerings from brands like Demeter or travel-size perfumes you might have bought on impulse at the cash register at a lifestyle store are also often rooted in a single note to be more universally appealing. These will not only blend well together, but they'll also easily accent more complicated scents.
Diptyque Ofrésia Eau de Toilette, $90, available at Diptyque Paris.
Tip 3: Anchor With A Floral Bouquet
Ready to go bigger? The perfume world calls a scent that is mostly comprised of flower notes a floral bouquet. Examples you might have at home include Flowerbomb, Florabotanica, and Amazing Grace. Floral-heavy perfumes are very common and provide the perfect foundation for mixing. Because what doesn't smell good with flowers?
"Some olfactive families are easier to mix than others: Woods and spices don't always play well with air, water, or sport," Zangrilli says. "[But] both can work with florals and citruses." All you have to do is locate a floral bouquet or citrusy scent in your fragrance collection and use it to anchor a second scent you like. Of course, don't forget to test.
Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb, $85, available at Macy's.
Tip 4: Keep It In The Same Family
Many of us have various versions of the same thing in our closet: three black leather jackets, five pairs of dark jeans, 17 striped tees (we're not judging). The same can go for perfume.
Locate the scents in your fragrance wardrobe that are rooted in the same notes and consider blending those. "If you want to amplify a single ingredient, jasmine for example, try combining multiple fragrances that feature it as a main note," Zangrilli says.
If you're not the best at sniffing out the notes — few of us are! — simply pop the fragrance name into a search engine to find the note breakdown in either an e-commerce site's description or a fragrance-review site like Fragrantica. Then, simply test them out together.
Chloé Chloé Eau de Parfum, $105, available at Ulta Beauty.
Tip 5: Pick Teams
Warm and spicy scents (basically anything with "noir" in the name or those advertised as alluring, sexy, or intimate) are a little trickier to layer than lighter blends, so put those aside for now.
Now, categorize the rest of your scents into two groups: Those rich in floral or citrus notes should comprise group A. Round up aquatic (anything beachy will go here), green, and powdery notes into group B.
"Play with mixing one from A and one from B, like a floral and aquatic, or maybe two from A or two from B," Zangrilli says. "You can layer more than two, but this is a good starting point."
Chanel Coco Noir, $98, available at Sephora.
Tip 6: Don't Forget Oils & Creams
Layering scents isn't exclusive to perfumes; you can strategically
apply scented body oils, lotions, and creams both together and under perfumes. When blending, heed this order from Zangrilli: creams or lotions first, oils second, and alcohol-based fragrances last.
The same rules of thumb apply for these as for perfumes. And these can be just as effective for creating new scents, so don't dismiss them as unimportant in your layering process. "Though perfumes and colognes are known to be more lasting than body products, as they typically have a higher percentage of fragrant materials, there are many body products that can outlast certain fragrances," Zangrilli says. "It all depends on the product."
Elizabeth and James Nirvana White Body Oil, $60, available at Sephora.
Tip 7: Buy With Blending In Mind
When the time does come to invest in a new perfume, consider buying with blending in mind. It can be beneficial to add singular scents to your wardrobe to fill in holes, or purchase a kit designed for mixing and matching.
Brands like The Blend by Fred Segal offer their simple scents individually, while others (like Nest or Clean) offer rollerball sets of scents that work well together.
Zangrilli collaborated with Opening Ceremony on two kits of her own, both of which take the guesswork out of creating a desirable mix: Glass and Tiki Surf, which contain fragrances that can be worn alone or layered together.
She also recommends adding a light musk to your library, which can add dimension to nearly every scent. (We like NOVA's new range.) You can also simply hit a perfume store that stocks some of your favorites to see how they play together. Tip: Lines like Jo Malone have entire ranges made for layering, which makes it super simple.
NOVA #NOVAPalettes for Opening Ceremony in Glass, $130, available at Hello NOVA.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
This Candle Is Like Having A Christmas Tree Without The Hassle
10 Things People Who Smell Good Always Do
15 Fragrances All The Cool Girls Are Wearing Right Now