Layering Frags

[rach2jlc]

I've been having some decent luck in the past two weeks playing around with layering some different fragrances, so I was curious to know other members layering "finds," whether planned, expected, or unexpected.

Bond no. 9 New Haarlem is a good one to layer and I've had a lot that work well with it. Monsieur Balmain (or anything with a sharp lemon or citrus note) changes the dynamic considerably, as does something very floral like Marc Jacobs Blush (with lots of Jasmine).

The surprise today was Knize Ten and Floris Seringa. Both are dry and powdery, but the Seringa is fresh, green, and crisp and mellows out the sometimes harsh dry, leatheriness of Knize. I've layered Knize with Coriolan de Guerlain in the past as well and it has also been quite nice.

Anybody have any other strange combinations that ended up working out?

[supermarky]

the "female fragrance" basenoters put the "male Fragrance" basenoters to shame in this department:

http://community.basenotes.net/showt...light=layering

(although, some of this is scary. and brings to mind the image of Barbara Stanwyck as Stella Dallas pausing in front of the mirror before heading out to hob nob with the haves to throw on yet another fox stole and just a few more bangles...with tragic results as she ends up embarrasing her boy george look-alike daughter just horribly!)

[Joel_Cairo]

everytime anyone even halfway mentions layering, I have to put a nod in for my very favorite combo: Dior Homme first, wait for the sharp iris burst to settle, then a couple sprays of Bulgari Black. These are both, independantly, among my all-time top frags, but I love this combo so much that i can no longer wear either alone. Incredible!

[tmp00]

I like CB I Hate Perfume Musk on its own, but I think it's great layered with smoky scents like Kolnisch Juchten or LeLabo Patchouli

[nsamadi]

CDG Kyoto + Gucci Envy

SL Muscs Koublai Khan + Dior Homme

[Russlan]

CDG Odeur 53. Goes with everything.

[fredricktoo]

I put down a nice layer of Gucci Pour Homme to go and pick up my girl. I overlayed that with Pino Syvestre and I was all set. At this point I'm looking for poachers in my forest. I fought the urge to spritz a bit of canoe up in the air and remember not to watch it come down. I'm waiting for the 4711 to get here. Then my girl and I will tango.

As usual the Aston Martin wouldn't start so I took the 21 speed bike all downhill to meet her parents and sold the bike to her brother for spare parts. Now I have the money to bid on some M7 Fresh on ebay from a BN'r and when I get it I plan to overlay it with M7.

[r2s]

I am new to layering and was wondering if any layer'erz out there have any hot tips?

[tvlampboy]

CologneJunkie and I are both addicted to a delicious layering of Happy for Men by Clinique over Gaultier². The sparkling citrus notes of happy help to cut some of the sweet vanilla cloud that hangs over Gaultier2, and the sweet vanilla of the Gaultier² takes off some of the sharp citric edges of Happy. The longevity of this layering is wonderful, and the sillage near perfect.

I sometimes layer less expensive vetiver fragrances with a little bit of pure patchouli oil, as the two earthy scents do so nicely on my skin.

I also like using Kretek by Ava Luxe for layering with dark, heavily woody or coniferous frags that go well with Kretek's heavy clove note.
An example: Atkinson's I Coloniali Aromatic Fragrance of Guajaco Wood, Gucci pour Homme etc.

I should add that I never layer terribly expensive or incredibly complex fragrances that should stand alone.
For example, Opium pour Homme EdP is, for me, an all day experience that I don't want ANYTHING to interrupt.
(Same with Chergui, Musc Ravageur and many others.)

[jrd4t]

My favorite Creed blend is Original Vetiver with a touch of Virgin Island Water on top. Yum

[Dane]

I've been testing out Clair de Musc and Mure et Musc Extreme...I found M&M Extreme to lack the musc that I love in the original...so I thought a simple combo with CdM would be nice.

I also think Eau de Merveilles has good potentional as a baselayer for something else...just haven't figure out what yet.

[jdnba]

kiehls musk with Dolce and Gabbana pour homme...the musk cuts some of the sharpness in the other

[Scentsibility]

I like Tam Dao layered with Blue Sugar (or most any vanilla for that matter). The sandalwood in Tam Dao goes so well with vanilla.

[Magnifiscent]

I don't layer very often fragrances unless it happens by chance or for staying at home experimenting.
Anyway the last weeke I happened to wear Opus 1870 in the morning: for who doesn't know this graceful roses and vetiver concoction, it has a very longlasting and pleasant vetiver basenote quite longlasting.
Anyway, after 8 hours , I sprayed on Balenciaga Ho Hang for testing it since I found a bottle for very cheap.
Well the result was very nice, reviving the vetiver base in opus, and giving to Ho Hang a more masculine and deep temper.

[r2s]

Cool, some true Apothecary's out there!!

So it sounds like a good idea to maybe pick a thicker oriental for the base and a lighter citrusy fragrance for the top notes? Not sure I have a good enough nose to create a masterpeice.... but the thought of wearing a fragrance completley unique to me would be superb!

[Dane]

Cool, some true Apothecary's out there!!

So it sounds like a good idea to maybe pick a thicker oriental for the base and a lighter citrusy fragrance for the top notes? Not sure I have a good enough nose to create a masterpeice.... but the thought of wearing a fragrance completley unique to me would be superb!

I think as long as they're both simple scents, then you won't have too much of a disaster....fragrances that are already complex will give you the biggest obstacle.

[r2s]

I think as long as they're both simple scents, then you won't have too much of a disaster....fragrances that are already complex will give you the biggest obstacle.

Sounds like solid advice (TVlampboy also said a similar thing) cheers guys. Any other combinations people are feelin at the moment?

[deck89]

Try layering YSL Jazz with Dlish Clean Men.. Smells superb.. I have had numerous compliments from strangers when im out at night!!

[CologneJunkie]

Indeed! The Happy + Gaultier2 layering is divine! I've found that Samhain by The Goth Rosary is a great frag for layering. I especially like layering that w/ Bvlgari Black. I've found that Perry Ellis 360 White is also a good frag for layering, due to it's simple vanilla/musk nature. I was goofing around the other day & sprayed a little Silver Mountain Water on top of the Perry Ellis, & it was great!!

[Mr. G]

After 8 years, I still don't tire of putting 5 sprays of Guerlain's 2000-Vetiver on top of 5 sprays of the 1980's-edition. It gives an earthy base with a fresh, aromatic sparkle on top - yumminess for 16 hours of pleasure. To me, a masculine Mitsouko!

[pluran]

....fragrances that are already complex will give you the biggest obstacle.

Not so.

Guerlain Mitsouko parfum and New York (Parfums de Nicola&#239 is one of the best combinations there is.

[Nicolas V]

There are two that I have found that work rather deliciously:
-Dior Homme layered over Quorum. The key is to apply Quorum first (2 sprays to chest) and then wait a bit. Then apply the Dior Homme. Like a pink cigarette, but masculine.

-Eau Sauvage over Bvlgari pour Homme. This one is simply fantastic. A citrus musk, perfect for warm weather. The two complement each other incredibly well. Quite honestly, one of my favorite fragrances.

[KiatBkk]

A*Men + Mugler Cologne

[Ged]

My favourite layers should appear below this post. BTW it would help to know your wardrobe so we could "construct" layers out of what you own. My general principal is to get a fragrance I really love but find a bit lacking, or a bit too much, on its own, and try to compensate for what is lacking, or try to smooth out what is too much.

Eg Dior Homme is a bit soft and girly for me, even though I love it, so I try to ramp up the macho vetiver base with Guerlain, Malle or Goutal Vetiver.

[r2s]

BTW it would help to know your wardrobe so we could "construct" layers out of what you own. My general principal is to get a fragrance I really love but find a bit lacking, or a bit too much, on its own, and try to compensate for what is lacking, or try to smooth out what is too much.

Well my wardrobe is rather lacking at present

I have:

Terre D'Herme
Obsession
Rive Gauch
L'Eau D'Issey
Platinum Egoiste
Cool Waters
Amour PH
Boss Soul
Contradiction

(with Gucci PH, Guerlain Vetiver, and Bois Du Portugal on order)

[Buzzlepuff]

I have found success layering YSL Rive Gauche over LV Vetiver in about equal doses. The LV Vetiver adds greatly to the already nice woody drydown of the Rive Gauche. You can also use EdPFM French Lover as a base to layer Rive Gauche over. You get the deep spices but the drydown seems to magnify and be much deeper.

Also discovered that Dzing is a great underlayer for almost any leather fragrance. A little dzing adds a little hard working country sweat to any mix. The leather and animalic hay notes of Dzing brings instant depth or experience to almost every other leather I've tried with it. Try Dzing + Rebellious or Dzing + Knize 10, or Dzing + Cuir Oranger, or Dzing + Cuiron. Dzing works as a finishing polish on frags because it has such a great drydown but it is a simple combination so other interesting notes usually add to . . . rather than overcomplicating. Dzing plus any other earthy leather or earthy spice scent gives a more "manned up" result. Like you've put in 8 hours work in the fields and your frag is still wafting through.

[fakepurseninja]

Well my wardrobe is rather lacking at present

I have:

Terre D'Herme
Obsession
Rive Gauch
L'Eau D'Issey
Platinum Egoiste
Cool Waters
Amour PH
Boss Soul
Contradiction

(with Gucci PH, Guerlain Vetiver, and Bois Du Portugal on order)

Some layering resources can be found in the Fragrance DIY section, I posted a combo (not layering but mixing fragrances in a vial) there recently which I have to revisit tomorrow. Another way to get lots of "recipes" is to search any posting written by moondeva, she has lots of "crazy combos" in her signature.

I think layering is best done with at least one of the scent being somewhat simple, so your Gucci PH* may be the way to go to add some incense to, say, Obsession. Adding a simple scent is like adding a simple note/accord. Alternatively, layering scents that intersect very much, that are very similar, can also yield interesting results. To me this whole fragrance mixing thing is really just about sort of finetuning, so I would combine either simple/simple, simple/complex or two similar scents.

* Note: If you feel offended by me thinking that Gucci PH is a somewhat simple scent, I am very sorry.

[kbe]

I have been enjoying an accidental 4 ml roll-on bottle mix of 1/4 Burberry London with 3/4 Havana For Men. I actually think I like it as much as the Havana by itself! The Havana is dominant but the London is definitely in the mix and at once both subdues and yet somehow enhances the opening chaos of the Havana, which in it's turn either hides or softens the Bergamot and Cinnamon edges of the London. Very nice surprise!

[Ged]

Well my wardrobe is rather lacking at present

I have:

Terre D'Herme
Obsession
Rive Gauch
L'Eau D'Issey
Platinum Egoiste
Cool Waters
Amour PH
Boss Soul
Contradiction

(with Gucci PH, Guerlain Vetiver, and Bois Du Portugal on order)

Don't sell yourself short, that's a great collection. IMHO TdH and BdP are perfection alone, so don't even think about layering them!

Obsession is so sweet and rich I think it might go nicely with Guerlain Vetiver. Gucci PH might also stiffen up the musk in Obsession.

Hmmm Rive Gauche is so unique, I've never really thought about layering it with anything. Similarly Platinum Egoiste is a powerhouse, I'd leave it alone too.

Ged

[tvlampboy]

L'eau d'Issey is transparent and soft enough to layer with something else, though.
Hmmm -- what ARE the possibilities?