Catching the whiff of your boyfriend’s perfume at a dinner party. Catching your mother’s scent in a crowded wedding room. Catching your baby’s scent as you fold his tiniest romper. What a wealth of feeling scent carries.

But in a world which is increasingly interconnected, having a unique scent is becoming increasingly hard. Your boyfriend’s Tom Ford perfume might not be your boyfriend’s alone.

It might also be applied by thousands of Dicks and Harrys across the globe.  

Layering the scents  

And even if we take into account the fact that each person’s unique body biome reacts differently to each perfume, the perfume notes largely remain unchanged regardless.  

The solution to this is scent stacking. Layering your scents so artfully that you get a scent that is uniquely yours.

Word is that Rihanna has mastered this as she has a unique signature scent that people can tell when she has been in a lift or when she is in a room.

We might not have Rihanna’s money, but we do have the wisdom and bravery to venture out and look for our signature scent.  This is based on the premise that you have the basics of scents right. Like how applying scent on damp skin ensures that it stays on for longer.

Putting scent on your pulse points, the sides of your neck, inside your wrists, or behind your knees ensures that your scent stays on for longer.

That you can put scent on skin and on clothes, but the former is preferable to the latter. That you should never rub your wrists together after spraying, as this breaks down the perfume notes too quickly.  

Stack it up 

That you can enhance perfume longevity by using body wash, lotion and deodorant from the same perfume house as your main perfume.

That you should not wear competing scents; wearing a dress washed in a powerful lavender detergent, washing your hair with an apple shampoo, then wearing a musky scent might be the perfect way to induce a headache due to the competing scents.

That scent is personal and should be playful as you search for the scent that embodies your entire personality and truly expresses who you are. 

Once you have the basics of scent right and now want to level up to layering, the easiest way to do this is by using two perfumes from the same scent class.

Use two floral perfumes, for instance, starting off with the heavier one as the base and the lighter one on top.

Another simple hack is to use a clean, uncomplicated scent like vanilla with one with more complex notes.

A vanilla scent, for instance, pairs well with gourmand, floral, or even musky scents.

The next level is to use complementary scents, layer a citrus scent and a floral one. Or a musky one with an oud scent.

The third and last level in perfume stacking is the pairing of two or more scents.

In the Middle East, where this art originated, people layer up to seven scents, and they do not even have to come from the same scent class.

So feel free to layer contrasting scents. Just ensure they have the same longevity, as one might outlast the other.

But how do you decide if your scent stacks are working? 

Measure it 

There are a few clever ways you can measure whether your scent cocktails are working and which one is working best.

Firstly, measure it by how you feel, what emotions it evokes, and its value for money. If each perfume combo leaves you looking for the next money heist opportunity, is the good scent really worth it?

Probably not.

Next, consider longevity and projection or sillage (what’s the scent trail that you leave in a room, and how long does it stay for?)

Lastly, consider others. Measure the frequency of compliments and questions about what you are wearing, then either choose to ignore them, since gatekeeping your secret scent stack is worth it, or share.

Either way, decide what works and stick with it. Stay smelling good, folks!

After all, smelling good means you feel good. And feeling good means life is good.