Tips To Layering Scent

We’ve all been there. At the cocktail party. In the elevator. On the airplane. Next to that perfumed person who engulfs you in a dizzying haze of scent.

Of course, we’ve also adorned ourselves with our own favorite fragrances only to have them fade like dew before noon.

At Thymes, we celebrate fragrance—fragrance that stays close to your skin like a comforting pashmina. “Thymes scents are very fresh and clean,” says perfumer Stacy Brown. “We offer nice, personal fragrances that stay close around you. They don’t come in the room before you do.”

How do you get the right balance between too-too and on-and-gone? Try these easy tips.

• Stage it. Start with a fragrant body wash, shower gel or bath soap. Follow with a scented moisturizer. End with a spritz of cologne. Voila, you’ve aced the art of layering.
• Quench it. Skin that has a light layer of moisture, either natural or applied, retains fragrance longer than dry skin. So don’t forget to apply lotion, moisturizer, oil or some other conditioning cream after you bathe.
• Make a halo. Spritz a puff or two of your eau de cologne or perfume into the air and step through it. The droplets will land on your hair and scalp, releasing scent with every nod and shake. Same goes for your clothes.

We celebrate fragrance that stays close to your skin like a comforting pashmina.

• Know your notes. Certain types of perfume ingredients—those with woody or Oriental heart notes, typically—have lower volatility, resulting in natural staying power. In contrast, fragrances with bright top notes, such as citrus scents, tend to have a faster fade. So for lasting fragrance, think amber, sandalwood, musk and spices.
• Check your pulse. Placing perfume on the body’s pulse points, where there’s more heat, yields a greater release. Apply behind your knees, the nape of your neck and, of course, your wrists.
• Get handy. Thymes hand lotions are formulated with less fragrance than our body lotions, moisturizers, butters and creams. Why? Because hands are so active, touching our face, eyes and everywhere else. Still, it’s easy to reapply your favorite hand lotion throughout the day to get a fragrant burst.
• Refresh, refresh! Some Thymes collections feature perfume rollerballs that are easy to stash in purses or pockets. A quick daub is a great way to renew your fragrance.
• Think beyond the body. Most Thymes collections offer envelopes of scented bath salts, which can be used like a sachet. Tuck them in your drawers, your desk, your linen closet or your glove box.
• Layer your home. Thymes home fragrance reed diffusers offer a continuous aromatic experience. Extend it with a scented candle, potpourri or home fragrance mist in the same or complementary fragrance.
• Make it a clean sweep. Mandarin Coriander and Frasier Fir cleansing products leave a light residual fragrance. Wipe down surfaces with all-purpose cleaner, wash with dishwashing liquid, then light a scented candle for a complete—and completely wonderful—layering experience.