The Ultimate Guide To Layering Fragrance Like A Perfume Princess

Layering fragrance is an art, an art that we’re dedicated to perfecting and, of course, bringing to the world… Or at the very least, your beauty routine. If you’re new to the concept of layering fragrance, it’s a Middle Eastern tradition that involves combining multiple fragrances to create your own unique scent. Layering fragrance is at the heart of KAYALI fragrances, and we love to layer them to combine scents that represent our mood.

Today marks KAYALI’s third birthday, so to celebrate, we wanted to curate the ultimate guide to layering fragrance like a pro, AKA like our perfume princess and Founder of KAYALI, Mona Kattan. She’s literally the queen of layering fragrance, so as you’d expect, she always smells divine – as does everyone around her! Seriously, wherever she goes, she brings this intoxicating scent that always keeps you guessing. Here’s how to layer your perfume, plus her top tips:

Fragrance Layering 101

We’ll get straight to the point: the secret to layering fragrances is to layer scents in order of intensity. The base should be an intense fragrance, followed by a spritz of perfume that has lighter notes. For example, a base note of oud would complement a middle note of rose, embellished with a top note of jasmine.

If you’re a newbie to the practice of layering, we recommend staying within these fragrance families: floral, warm and sweet gourmand, fresh, and citrus notes. Although scents like vanilla, musk, and most citrus scents layer and blend beautifully, so look for fragrances that contain these notes.

In general, just remember:

• Complex, intense fragrances paired with lighter notes, create the dreamiest scents
• Always spray in order of intensity, with the most intense fragrance first.

The Easiest Way To Layer

The art of layering can be kinda hit and miss when you’re a newbie. The reality is, sometimes two fragrances combined can create the most amazing scent, and other times it may be a little overpowering or too sweet. And as it’s no secret that perfume can be expensive, so the prospect of wasting fragrance on anything other than a scent that sends you to fragrance heaven can feel like a waste. That’s why we created our double-ended KAYALI rollerballs, as it’s THE easiest way to practice and perfect the art of layering. Plus, it allows you to layer when you’re on the go.

Each double-ended rollerball has two different 5ml fragrances, which have been put together because the two unique fragrances smell so divine when combined. You can wear each fragrance alone or layer them together, depending on your mood. It’s also a great way to try new perfumes without having to fork out on expensive bottles while also getting to grips with layering perfume. 

KAYALI Rollerballs:

Vanilla | 28 & Musk | 12 Eau De Parfum Rollerball, $25: One side of the rollerball is loaded with VANILLA | 28, a warm and sweet gourmand scent with notes of musk, amber, and patchouli, and on the other end, MUSK | 12, a powerful concoction with stunning notes of lotus flower, freesia, and sheer jasmine. Layer the two together, and you’re presented with a warm, cocooning scent that is opulent and mysterious.

Perfect for: Winter frolics in the snow or a movie night in with your bestie.

Invite Only Amber | 23 & Déjà Vu White Flower | 57 Eau De Parfum Intense Rollerball, $25: On one side, you have the intoxicating amber scent that’s rich, warm, and powerful, and on the other, the dreamiest white floral fragrance. When combined, they create the most uplifting, addictive scent that’s oh so sexy. 

Perfect for: Date night with your boo or when you want to dominate the board room.

Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper | 25 & Utopia Vanilla Coco | 21 Eau De Parfum Intense Rollerball, $25: If you like sweet but spicy scents, you’ll fall in love with this rollerball. First up, you have the energetic Sweet Diamond Pink Pepper, followed by the creamy vacation scent of Utopia Vanilla Coco |21. Together, they create the dreamiest scent that also packs a spicy punch. 

Perfect for: Sunday brunch with the girls or a hot summer’s day on the beach.

Let us know if you’ve ever layered fragrances, and if you have, what’s your favorite combo! Check out Huda and Mona talking about layering fragrances here and their fave ways of layering fragrances.

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