The right fragrance can transform your mood and transport your mind to another place. If one fragrance has the power to do all that, imagine what a pair of perfectly matched fragrances can do. Whether you’re looking for complementary fragrances that blend together to create a new scent or you want to use different fragrances in rooms close together without them clashing, LAFCO’s fragrance pairings are just what you need.
LAFCO uses only the finest essential-oil based fragrance in their products along with other premium ingredients like solid soy wax and hand-cut reeds. Read on to learn more about the power of fragrance pairing and to see what LAFCO has in store for you.
The Art of Layering Fragrance
Think about your favorite perfume or fragrance and how it smells. Though you may pick up on a specific scent, most fragrances are created by layering several complementary fragrances. The different layers that make up a fragrance are called notes and they are divided into three elements:
- Top Notes – Also known as the opening notes or head notes, the top notes of a fragrance are recognized immediately. They are the first thing you smell but they tend to fade quickly.
- Middle Notes – The middle notes are the heart of the fragrance, making up between 40% and 80% of the final fragrance. You’ll notice these just as the top notes start to fade.
- Base Notes – Once the top notes have evaporated completely and the heart notes are fully developed, you’ll start to pick up on the base notes which make up the final 10% to 25% of the fragrance. These notes blend with the middle notes to create a more complex fragrance.
A strong fragrance starts with a solid foundation and builds from there. By layering scents from the same fragrance family you can start to create a complex fragrance that stands alone.
Tips for Choosing Complementary Fragrances
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When it comes to choosing complementary fragrances, there are several methods you can try. The simplest way to create a fragrance pairing is to choose two fragrances with a common note. For example, if you like the scent of lavender you might select two fragrances that have floral and herbal notes (e.g. LAFCO’s Chamomile Lavender blends well with The Scent inspired by John Derian).
Another way to create your own fragrance pairings is to choose scents that belong to the same fragrance family. The seven fragrance families of LAFCO fragrances are:
- Fresh – Fresh scents incorporate light, natural fragrances like citrus and herbs. Try pairing LAFCO’s Champagne fragrance with White Grapefruit or Spike Lavender.
- Floral – Floral fragrances are bright and airy, making them perfect for top notes in a fragrance pairing. Try pairing LAFCO’s Fresh Cut Gardenia with Duchess Peony.
- Woody – Woody fragrances like sandalwood and amber can be paired to create a complex fragrance pairing. Try pairing LAFCO’s Feu de Bois with Vetiver Sage.
- Fruity – These scents pair well with other light fragrances like citrus or florals. Try pairing LAFCO’s Black Pomegranate with Citrus Berry.
- Gourmand – This fragrance family has some depth to it, but it still pairs well with lighter fragrances like herbal and citrus scents. Try pairing LAFCO’s Amber Black Vanilla with Sage & Walnut.
- Citrus – Citrus scents are often considered “safe” scents because they blend well with most fragrance families. Try pairing LAFCO’s Cilantro Orange with White Grapefruit to create a sense of brightness and energy in your home.
- Herbal – This fragrance family includes herbal scents like lavender, mint, and rosemary. Try pairing LAFCO fragrances like Rosemary Eucalyptus and Lavender Amber.
Certain fragrance families tend to blend better than others. Lighter fragrances like citrus and fruit are easier to layer than more complex fragrances, though it’s important to keep a strong foundation with solid base notes like vanilla, amber, sandalwood, and patchouli. If you’re worried about creating something too overwhelming, avoid pairing fragrances that are dark and heady.
Let LAFCO Fragrance Transport Your Mind
The perfect fragrance is valuable, but the perfect fragrance pairing is priceless. Choosing fragrance pairings based on complementary notes or by fragrance family works well if you’re simply looking for fragrances that won’t clash. For example, you might be concerned about the fragrance used in your kitchen overpowering the fragrance used in your living room or the scent from your foyer mixing unpleasantly with the fragrance in your guest bathroom.
Rather than limiting yourself to fragrance pairings that create a complementary scent, consider shopping for fragrances based on a feeling. The right fragrance can transport your mind to another place entirely and the right fragrance pairing can deepen the experience. Take LAFCO’s Sea & Dune fragrance, for example. This fresh fragrance brings to mind the feeling of cool sea spray drying on your skin as you bask in the summer sun. Paired with Marine, you’ll start picking up notes of marine water and sea moss to deepen the mood and complete the mental image.
The perfect fragrance pairing is a matter of personal taste, so you may need to do a little experimenting to find the ideal combination. Take advantage of LAFCO’s Discovery Trio to enjoy sample sizes of your three favorite fragrances for just $16, including free shipping.