When choosing bath and body products to layer with your fragrance, there's one piece of advice that trumps all others: Choose products in the same fragrance family. "If you wear a gourmand scent, choose a gourmand body lotion and shower gel," says Wright. "And the same goes with citrus or floral."
To make things easy, you can always buy the ancillary products that go along with your favorite fragrance. We love Kiehl's Aromatic Blends in Nashi Blossom & Pink Grapefruit, $75, which has a matching body lotion and body cleanser. The fragrances are each slightly different, but they all use the Japanese Nashi Blossom. Using all three will give you a more intense and longer lasting fragrance.
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Use lotion to change your scent for the season
As the summer winds down, you may want to alter your signature scent for the cooler weather. "It's exciting to change your fragrance with the season," says Wright. "As we head into fall, everyone gets excited to wear darker and more exotic fragrances." Rather than splurging on a new perfume, try adding amber to your regimen. "Amber is a friendly note that works well with others," says Eastwood. "It's warm and nuzzly -- ideal for nighttime or colder seasons." Look for amber in body products, like Stella McCartney Stella Body Lotion, $45, which will give you a rich base and warm up your fragrance.
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Think of shower gel as your foundation
While the scent of your body wash may not last very long, it does affect the way you wear perfume. "When you start with a shower gel, you get a nice scent on the skin right away," says Wright. Unless you're using a body wash that matches your fragrance exactly, start with a light, neutral scent like L'Occitane Captivant Shower Gel, $20, which is fresh and zesty with lime and green notes.
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Keep your skin moisturized
Whether you opt for a fragrance-free version or you choose a body lotion that will enhance your perfume, moisturizing is extremely important. "The more moisturized you are, the longer a fragrance will last on your skin," says Wright. "Moisturizers use emollients that keep water molecules -- as well as fragrance molecules -- from evaporating."
To add a warm, rich component to your fragrance try Nest Moroccan Amber Body Cream, $32. If you gravitate towards lighter, greener scents, prep your skin with Nest Moss & Mint Body Cream, $32, which is zesty and refreshing with garden mint and apple blossom notes.
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Spritz your hair
Of course you want your hair to smell great, but your shampoo and conditioner can only do so much. Instead, try using your hair as an unexpected place to wear your favorite fragrance. "Hair is a great fragrance diffuser and probably the best spot to spray fragrance if you want to make an impression," says fragrance guru Frederic Malle. However, Malle warns that a fragrance that's high in alcohol can dry out your hair. Instead of using your regular perfume, Malle recommends fragrances that are designed specifically for the hair.
Some mainstream fragrances also have hair mists -- Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb Hair Mist, $45, is a perfect example. However, any alcohol-free scent will work well, and a fragrance oil could even double as a frizz-tamer.
At least 1,000 new fragrances will come out this year. (To put that number into perspective, only 76 new scents were released in 1991.) With so many fragrances to choose from, you'd think that finding your ideal scent would be easier. But how many times have you smelled a perfume and wished it were a hint sweeter or a little lighter? Instead of sniffing thousands of scents in search of the perfect one (which sounds like a major headache -- literally!), wouldn't it be great if you knew how to wear the perfume you already have -- better?
That's where layering fragrances comes in. In this case, we're not talking about mixing two perfumes, which experts say can be extremely tricky even for a trained nose. Instead, it's about incorporating the right scents into other aspects of your beauty routine to make your perfume work better for you. "Ideally, layering is about choosing a body wash and lotion that will help extend your scent throughout the day," says Franco Wright, co-owner of the Scent Bar in Los Angeles.
Not only can you make your fragrance last longer, but there are also tricks to change your scent for different seasons or wear it in unique ways for more impact. Basically, how you wear perfume is just as important as the fragrance you wear. So, follow these seven tips to get the most out of your favorite perfume now.
