9 Ways To Apply Perfume + How To Layer Your Fragrances

Wearable fragrance is one of those things most people are either obsessed with or could go without and never think twice. But for those with a perfume knack, there's more meaning to personal scents than meets the eye—plus, more ways to use them than you might think. 

The most common way to apply perfume is directly on the skin—after all, it's low-lift, and this method encourages your fragrance to last even longer. However, you don't want to spray it too far away; otherwise, your skin won't catch enough droplets. 

"If you want a stronger scent, the closer you apply it, the stronger it will be," founder of clean fragrance brand Lake & Skye Courtney Somer tells mbg. If your fragrance has a lighter scent and you want a stronger impact, then spritz it closer to the skin—about 3 to 4 inches. 

Oftentimes advertisements will show models dabbing their perfume in after spraying it on the skin. However, many fragrance experts recommend the exact opposite—just let it soak in! 

The famous cloud method is another option—simply spray your fragrance around your body or in front of you and walk through it (though do your best to avoid the face). "I actually love this way of putting on perfume, but it's going to be a light application," Rosie Jane, founder of namesake clean fragrance brand By Rosie Jane, notes. 

For the minimalists out there, you may consider applying a scented body oil or scented body lotion to check two boxes at once. Of course you can layer your go-to fragrance on top (more on that next), but you can also rock a faint scent. 

Now we're getting to the fun part: layering fragrance. There are countless ways to do this, one of which is using a scented body product, like the crowd-favorite Lake & Skye 11:11 Body Oil, followed by your favorite perfume. 

When layering, I always start with a single note or simpler fragrance as the base and add a more complex blend on top," Somer explains. "It can help to choose scents that have some of the same notes or a common note so they work together," she adds. 

"Try not to layer two very strong competing perfumes," Jane suggests. Simple perfumes don't have to have one single note, but they will be less shocking than potent, memorable formulas. 

Another method: Add what you feel is missing from one perfume, Jane says. "Like vanilla with something more fresh," which she's been doing with the DULCE Perfume Oil and Leia Lou eau de parfum. "It's like a pear hard candy," she says. 

Or, if you'd rather not put in the guesswork, then opt for pre-chosen combinations like the Henry Rose Play Date layering set—this set comes with two mini perfumes that complement one another to create an even more enticing experience. 

If you're committed to your fragrance and want it to be around all the time, you may have to apply it twice throughout the day. However, you'll want to take a few things into consideration including the perfume type and your lifestyle. 

"Fragrance oils are more concentrated and can last longer; eau de parfum may need to be reapplied as needed," Somer says. If you work up a sweat at the gym, your fragrance may not be as strong as before, so reapply post-shower if needed. 

While it's fair to want your strands to smell good, you shouldn't be spraying perfume onto your hair. The ingredients in these fragrances are not designed for your strands and thus, shouldn't be applied to them—unless it's been formulated for this purpose like the Crown Affair Signature Scent Hair Perfume. 

This might be a hot take, but I love wearing fragrance to bed—and I know I'm not alone. You can opt for the same scent you swear by during the day or designate something totally different.

I opt for fresh florals during the day and warm wood scents in the evening, but there's so much room to play. 

More and more people are opting for natural-leaning perfumes, but what does this really mean? To be honest, the terms "clean" and "organic" and "natural" don't have a strict definition, and whether or not you should prioritize these kinds of fragrances isn't a black-and-white conversation. 

Some synthetic ingredients are perfectly safe, while others may be endocrine-disrupting. And on the flip side, some natural ingredients can also disrupt your hormones! Some natural ingredients are wonderful, but they can be less sustainable or even irritating to the skin (for example essential oils often contain common allergens as identified by the EU). And of course, some synthetic ingredients are known to be very irritating as well.

At the end of the day, the world of fragrance is incredibly nuanced. 

"This is why in modern perfumery, we do work with both natural and synthetics. I have fallen in love with working with both," says Mindy Yang, fragrance expert, reiki healer, and founder of Perfumarie. "I love to start with naturals and then use safe, but interesting, synthetics to add the special effects to round out and enhance the formula." 

Like most things in the beauty space, this just means finding brands that are transparent about their sourcing, ingredients, and efforts. Luckily, those options are more prevalent now than any time before in beauty (check out our favorite clean fragrance brands here). So it's entirely possible to find scents that are sourced ethically, are made safely, and—not so small bonus—smell wonderful. 

You also shouldn't write off fragrance as a whole, especially given that it's something that has been used since, well, forever. Plus, many people and cultures put great emphasis on fragrance, which is a good enough reason to use it period. 

PSA: You can make your own perfume, and it's not nearly as difficult as it sounds. Sure you may not have the intense complexity and mastery of a fragrance expert, but you know your personal preferences better than anyone else, so why not give it a shot?

We previously broke down the whole process here, but we'll give you a sneak peek below: 

All you have to do is combine the ingredients in a glass bottle and shake it up, then let it rest in a cool spot to let the scents settle in. You'll want to aim for 20% essential oils and 80% carrier oil—this doesn't have to be exact, but it's a safe general guideline. 

As you can tell, there are more ways to apply perfume than you might think—and certainly a few don'ts as well. For those looking for a stronger scent, apply fragrance to both your skin and your clothes, or consider layering different scents.