Is there anything better than a stranger saying you smell amazing? I don’t think so! Especially when you know the scent combo you’re wearing is so incredible. And there’s one scent combo that’s my secret to collecting compliments. After being stopped twice in one day, once for a compliment on my perfume and once asking what I was wearing, I knew I had to share my secret. A combination of addictive creamy vanilla spice and ultra-delicate floral tinged with musk, this fragrance combination is a one-way ticket to a bevy of compliments.
The Scent Combo That Gets Me the Most Compliments
If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that PHLUR’s Vanilla Skin Eau de Parfum ($99) is a heavenly and easily combined fragrance that comforts, seduces and soothes. A viral perfume for a reason, this scent has been a best seller since its debut for its rich vanilla creaminess and delicate spice. The dual nature of pink pepper and sugar settles down through rich cashmere before nestling into a core of addictive vanilla and cozy sandalwood.
Now combine that with Parfums de Marly Valaya Eau de Parfum ($220), a delicate floral that wouldn’t be out of place on a bride walking down the aisle. Valaya opens with bursts of bergamot and mandarin for a soft citrus introduction to captivating orange flower and vetiver. Finally, the scent settles its floral heart into a wood musk base that rounds out this fragrance into something as light and airy as it is complex and deep.
Together, vanilla and cashmere mingle playfully with green, watery and linden blossom facets. Sugar wraps delicately around akigalawood, known for it’s rich patchouli notes. The effect is warm and romantic, effervescent but light enough to wear daily. It’s what I imagine a fairy or a Tolkien elf to smell like, cozy under the sun and dancing along a fair breeze.
Shop my Go-To Scent Combo
Create Your Fragrance Wardrobe
“Perfume has shifted from being a weapon of seduction and elegance to an accessory linked to personal confidence and well-being,” explains Bluemercury fragrance expert and consultant Roger Schmidt. “The more confidence you build with experimenting with fragrance, the more you may want to go in a more personalized direction.”
While it’s possible to create truly custom fragrances with a perfumer by your side, combining and layering fragrance is another way to put your own spin on your scent. “Fragrance is fun, so why not play with it?” Schmidt adds.
When combining scents, Delphine Jelk, perfumer for Guerlain, notes that application is a key factor in how your scent combo finishes and lasts.
“Combining scents allows you to personalize your trail rather than adding a perfume directly on another,” explains Jelk. “I love the idea of perfuming your wrists with a scent, your neck with another one and another one all over your clothes. Create your own olfactive look like you do with fashion!”
