How to Layer Attars and Perfumes

Layering means wearing two fragrances at once so that together they smell like something new. It is an old habit in India and the Arab world, where an attar is often worn under a spray or over the smoke of bakhoor. Done well, it gives you the best of both formats: the staying power of an oil and the projection of a perfume.

Why attar and perfume layer so well

An attar is an alcohol-free oil that sits close to the skin and lasts. An eau de parfum is alcohol-based: it opens brightly and carries further, but it fades sooner. Put an attar down first and spray over it, and the oil acts as an anchor that holds the lighter perfume in place for longer. If you are not sure how the two formats differ, read attar vs perfume first.

Five rules for layering

• Heaviest first. Apply the richer, oilier fragrance first and the lighter one on top.
• Pick one star. One fragrance should lead and the other support it. Two loud fragrances compete rather than blend.
• Find a bridge. Pairings work best when the two share a note or a family, such as two woody scents, or a rose attar with a floral perfume.
• Start with two. Three or more layers gets muddy quickly. Master pairs first.
• Test before you go out. Try a new combination at home and smell it again after an hour, when the top notes have gone.

Pairings that work

Woody base, fresh top

A sandalwood attar under a citrus spray is one of the easiest combinations to get right. The citrus gives a bright opening; the sandalwood keeps it going long after citrus alone would have faded. Try Ruh Sandal under PV COOL, which opens on Amalfi lemon, grapefruit and mandarin orange.

Rose and oud

Rose and oud is a classic of Arabian perfumery for good reason: the rose lifts the darkness of the oud, and the oud gives the rose depth. Layer Ruh Gulab with a woody oud attar for evenings and occasions.

Musk under almost anything

A soft musk is the most forgiving layering base there is. It makes whatever you put over it feel smoother and closer to the skin without changing its character much. See oud vs musk for how the two base notes behave.

Warmth for winter

In the cooler months, a gourmand or amber attar under a spicy or woody spray adds warmth and noticeably extends wear time. Our summer and winter guide covers which families suit each season.

The order to apply them

• Start on clean, moisturised skin. A thin layer of unscented moisturiser helps both fragrances hold.
• Dab the attar onto your pulse points: wrists, the sides of the neck and behind the ears. Our guide to applying attar covers this in detail.
• Wait a minute or two for the oil to settle.
• Spray the perfume over the same areas, or slightly to the side so the two meet rather than sit on top of each other.
• Do not rub. Rubbing breaks down the top notes of both.

Mistakes to avoid

• Layering two very sweet fragrances, which usually ends up cloying.
• Over-applying in the heat. Two fragrances project more than one, so use less of each in summer.
• Layering in a closed office. What smells rich outdoors can be overwhelming in an air-conditioned room.

Where to start

You do not need to buy full bottles to experiment. A 3ml attar is plenty for layering trials, and our own PV Collection sprays start at 30ml. Browse attars and perfumes, or use Find Your Scent to pick two families that suit each other.