Uniquely You

Jo Malone London’s approach to Scent Layering

Uniquely You: Scent Layering with
Jo Malone London

Read time: 3 minutes

Scent Layering is the fragrance trend of the moment, where single signature scents are making way to fragrance wardrobes, allowing you to curate a beautifully personalised perfume from layering multiple scents together.

Jo Malone London has been at the forefront of the movement long before it became a talking point. ‘The way we create always takes Scent Layering into consideration. Right from the start, when the perfumers and I start the scents, we create them so they can be layered with our other scents,’ explains Céline Roux, Global Head Of Fragrance, ‘Which is why every cologne at Jo Malone London is made to be combined so it can be uniquely you. This is in our culture; this is in our DNA.’

What is scent layering?

The practice of combining two or more colognes to create a fragrance that is completely unique, Scent Layering is a tool for self-expression. How successfully and smoothly the fragrances blend with one another is down to the quality of the ingredients, the efficacy of the blend and the skill of the perfumer. The fact that every fragrance at Jo Malone London has been created to be layered makes all the difference. The secret boils down to the clarity, reveals Céline.

‘When you smell Jo Malone London fragrances, they have this freshness, this clarity. And the way I explain it, to have clarity, you have to have minimal, quality ingredients in the formula. A large number of perfumes can have hundreds of ingredients, so you can’t always identify exactly what is in them, while ours use a lot less. I compare it to cooking; if you have amazing ingredients, like amazing homegrown vegetables, really good tomatoes or good cardamom… You don’t need extra stuff, you just need quality ingredients. This is what makes the scent easy to layer.’

Where to start your scent layering journey

Scent Layering is all about experimenting and being playful, but some can find the idea of it intimidating. It is a quandary Céline understands. ‘Even though every one of our fragrances can be layered with each other, for so many people, the concept of Scent Layering can still feel complicated. So, we thought, “How can we make it easier?”’. The answer is the three combiners.

‘When the perfumers and I start the scents, we create them so they can be layered with our other scents’

The three combiner colognes – Grapefruit, Peony & Blush Suede and English Oak & Hazelnut – have been chosen to simplify Scent Layering as a first step.

‘This makes Scent Layering easier to start with,’ says Céline. ‘And then once you have built your confidence, you can explore further.’ What you choose to pair with the combiners can vary according to your mood, the occasion or season. ‘It’s like what you eat, how you choose to dress; it’s usually down to how you are feeling,’ explains Céline.

‘It’s the same with fragrance. Grapefruit always does the same job; it uplifts, it gives brightness.’

‘Perhaps you wake up one morning, and the weather makes everything feel a little bit gloomy and you want something a little bit cheerier, adding Grapefruit to your favourite fragrance will bring that uplifting feeling. If you like, say, Pomegranate Noir or Myrrh & Tonka but it's summer and you want something fresh and zesty, you can accessorise with Grapefruit, and it delivers exactly that.’

Peony & Blush Suede, which is a warm floral, adds warmth, comfort and a prettiness to your favourite scent. English Oak & Hazelnut is excellent for the evening, and so combining any cologne with it results in what Céline calls, ‘a woody sophistication’. Regardless of which scent you choose to layer, the most important thing to take away from the concept, Céline believes, is the joy of it all. ‘It allows you to play. And have fun.’ All while expressing your individuality to create the perfect scent that is uniquely you.

The combiners simplified:

Grapefruit – Adds an uplifting twist of citrus
Peony & Blush Suede – Adds a layer of warmth
English Oak & Hazelnut – Adds a burst of freshness