The Wife, the Mistress, and the Scent That Exposed It All
Lola knew something was off. Her husband, Tobi, had always been meticulous, from the sharpness of his suits to the way he layered his fragrances. She adored his signature blend of No. 84 and No. 72—a scent that practically screamed wealth and sophistication. But one evening, as he returned from yet another "business meeting," the air around him carried something else.
It was subtle at first, a trace of Sisi lingering on his collar, a scent Lola didn’t own. But that wasn’t the most shocking part—it was layered perfectly with his usual fragrance, blending so seamlessly it could only have been intentional.
The Backstory:
Lola wasn’t one to jump to conclusions, but she also wasn’t naive. The next day, she stopped by the office unannounced, armed with a box of pastries as an excuse. As she walked into his boardroom, she froze. Across the table, a young woman laughed too loudly at Tobi’s joke, her wrist casually brushing his arm. Lola recognized her instantly—Sharon, his new assistant.
And there it was again, that same unmistakable blend of Sisi and No. 84 filling the room.
Fragrance layering isn’t just about smelling good—it’s about making a statement.
Let me let you in on the system of fragrance layering.
For ease we use an acronym SLAY
S - Start Fresh
Begin with the pre-layering arrangement: Take a refreshing shower to cleanse your skin and ensure a clean base. Apply unscented or lightly scented lotions and moisturisers to lock in hydration and provide a canvas for your fragrance to cling to cos you know dry skin won't hold fragrance.
If you want to take it up a notch use a shower bar or gel that is in the same lineage of your destination scent, it doesn't have to be the same family, they could be cousins or nephews.
For example if your perfume is vanilla based and sweet, you should use a bath gel or bar that is generally in the gourmand family.
If you are using an oud based perfume then start with a spicy shower, bar soap or even an unscented soap
L - Lay the Base
The heavier perfume comes first! Think of this as the foundation of your scent story. Use deep, long-lasting fragrances like Velvet Musk, No. 84 to create the initial layer, this one must be long lasting and heavier and it should set the tone for the other perfumes that would be layered on it.
Your choice of a base perfume will be determined by how you want to smell in the end, think of it this way, if you want to erect a building, your choice of building will determine the type of foundation you will put down, the foundation of a 15 floor office complex will vary from a duplex, a bungalow or even a 2 storey building.
So if you want floral, you can start with a perfume that would compliment your floral preference eg Velvet Musk by Tega Milton is a white musky floral and can be layered with a sweeter floral like Delicate Roses, it's a much sharper floral, long lasting and rose centred whereas No. 84 is an oud floral sweetened by vanilla can be layered with No. 22 a sweet floral or still Delicate Roses
Tip: Test out your fragrance combo / perfume layering, let it sit for a couple hours on your skin and make sure you approve before wearing it out, sometimes what you think would work in your head might be a total fail.
A - Add a Star
Now, pick the fragrance that makes the best first impression—the star of the show. This scent should complement the base while adding a unique twist.
Start off with a longer lasting perfume, then you layer with a star, this should actually be something you really like, something you want to perceive all day, something that makes the base better, the star should be enjoyed, cos this is what will be your fragrance first impression.
Y - Your Secret Touch
This step is optional, but it’s your chance to shine! Add a body mist or a light fragrance that compliments the second layer and makes it shine more, this one will last the shortest but if you use this, it would scream signed, sealed and delivered.
In the end fragrance is very personal and subjective, layer what makes you happy the goal is to wear what makes you happy and turn necks.
Tell me your favourite layering combos in the comments below
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