A Guide to Layering Scents Using Men's Body Sprays

Layering fragrances isn’t as complicated or intimidating as it sounds. It’s a simple and unique way to create a personal scent that lasts long, too. If this is your first time exploring the concept, then you can always start light with men’s body spray. Compared to perfumes, they have a lower fragrance concentration, since they are lightweight and easier to build on. Read below for an easy guide to making your signature scent.

The key to layering is to start modestly, and that means sticking to shower products with little to no fragrance. Whether it’s men’s body wash or soap, you’ll want them to smell neutral or only have a mild fragrance that can complement your scents of choice later.

After showering, follow it up with an unscented moisturizer or lotion. This step is important as hydrated skin can lock in fragrance better than dry skin, helping your special scent last and blend better throughout the day.

Layering scents is all about pairing fragrances from the same scent families or teaming up contrasting ones that balance each other out. A fragrance family is a system that organizes scents into groups based on their characteristics. With this, it’s safe to layer woody scents together like sandalwood and cedar, or fresh scents like lemon and lavender. For easy reference, you can note down the four basic fragrance families below.

• Oriental: This category is composed of rich, warm, spicy, and sweet scents, like nutmeg, vanilla, cinnamon, amber, musk, and sandalwood.
• Woody: The woody family features deep, warm, and rich aromas like cedar, leather, fir, and oakmoss.
• Fresh: Made up of scents such as basil, mint, lemongrass, and grapefruit, this category offers clean and bright smells.
• Floral: These scents are often delicate, powdery, and romantic, like jasmine, rose, peach, and lily. 

When you’re finally confident enough to go for more complex perfume combinations, test out mixing light and bright scents with warmer or heavier notes. Think of a fresh top note with a spicy base note, or a citrus body spray with a woody cologne.

To layer your scents successfully, be intentional with how you apply them. The general rule is to go from light to heavy. Men’s body sprays are more lightweight and should therefore go first before cologne or perfume.

For a woody scent, try out AXE Body Spray Emerald Sage, made with notes of cedar and patchouli. If you’re going for a more refreshing early layer, there’s AXE Body Spray Aqua Bergamot. Meanwhile, AXE Body Spray Blue Lavender gives you the best of both worlds, featuring mint and amber notes.

For the placement, avoid wasting your product by spritzing it everywhere. Applying it to your pulse points, like the neck and wrists, is more than enough. Remember: go easy on the body spray, so you have more room to top it with your second fragrance. Over-applying scents can lead to a sharp and heavy smell that will only get you more nose scrunches than compliments. If you want to keep it safe, two fragrances are more than enough for a balanced yet unique combo.

The fun thing about layering scents is that you can make multiple combinations and wear them based on what the occasion calls for. For daytime wear, like work or brunch dates, go for lighter and fresher scents. These tend to be subtle yet pleasant, especially for professional settings. Evenings and other special events welcome richer and deeper scents that attract attention, like a spicy plus musk combo.

Smelling good is an important part of men’s hygiene. Take a more thoughtful approach, and you can level up your fragrance game by experimenting with men’s body spray, body wash, and the colognes you already have at home. It’s a fun and interesting way to discover what you like and bring out your personality.