To our Lounge Sai customers, over these past several years we've kept introducing Liquides Imaginaires perfumes, so I feel that quite a few of you already own one or more perfumes from the brand.
I'm glad you've been able to pick up these beautiful creations made by perfumers.
Of course, these scent creations can be enjoyed happily on their own, but this time, with the aim of widening how you use perfume, I'd like to go ahead and introduce layering Liquides Imaginaires perfumes.
As mentioned above, while taking as a given that the scents perfumers and brands create are, at their core, works akin to art, personally, I believe that "How you wear perfume is up to you!" That's the camp I'm in, so I thought it might be fun if this serves as a reference when layering perfumes you already own, or if those considering a second Liquides Imaginaires bottle, or those who already have several, factor layering into their selection.
5 Favorite Layering Combinations
Feel free to jump to whichever perfume you already own, or whichever combination catches your interest. The ratios aren't about the number of sprays; they're a guide to the balance of the scents.
- Île Pourpre + Beauté du Diable — 3:2
- Île Pourpre + Sancti — 1:1
- Navis + Phantasma — 2:1
- Buveur de Vent + Dom Rosa — 3:2, or 1:1
- Bergamot Brother + Roasted Tangerine — 1:1
How I Layer
So, on the topic of recommending layering, first let me share my basic approach to it.
Since "how you wear perfume is up to you!" I'd of course love for you to ultimately layer however you like, but when I usually layer, I do so with the mindset of "layering the way you'd cook".
For example, it might be something like "the curry was too spicy, so I add a little milk to mellow it out," or "drizzle honey over cheese so the sweetness brings out the saltiness"; maybe that's the closest way to put it. Does that make sense?
So in my case, it's like having a "main" scent and a "sub" scent, the image of wearing one firmly as the lead scent, then layering a second scent on top like a secret ingredient, that's how I enjoy layering.
And when I layer, sometimes I apply both to the same spot, and other times I apply them to different places, say the main scent on my neck and the sub scent on my wrist, so that the scents mingle together in the air around me.
I think it really depends on how you want to enjoy the scent, so when you try layering, I hope you'll have fun exploring the method that suits you best.
The ratios I share here aren't about the number of sprays; they're a guide to the balance between scents. Since the same amount can feel stronger or weaker depending on the scent, start with a small amount and adjust while thinking about which one you want to take the lead.
Now, that was a long preamble, but from here I'll introduce some Liquides Imaginaires layering combinations I've actually tried and liked.
Île Pourpre ＋ Beauté du Diable
A refined cocktail for grown-ups
First, Île Pourpre + Beauté du Diable combination.
I already loved Île Pourpre, and when Beauté du Diable caught my curiosity and I tried layering them, the combined scent was so good that I became completely hooked.
My personal best ratio is around Île Pourpre 3 : Beauté du Diable 2 , and I usually layer them with Île Pourpre as the lead, using a bit more of it.
By combining Île Pourpre, with its fresh shiso and fig impression, with Beauté du Diable, whose distinctive absinthe-like herbal-liquor scent shifts into a floral transition, the herbal liquor welcomes in the fruity sweetness, giving the feeling of sipping a refined cocktail enjoyed by grown-ups at a bar. (I can't actually drink alcohol, so I don't normally go to bars, but that's the general vibe.)
To avoid making it feel too boozy, I think applying Beauté du Diable somewhere under your clothes, like around the waist, or somewhere far from your nose, lets the scents blend together in a more natural way.
I've also introduced this combination on YouTube.
Île Pourpre ＋ Sancti
Adding freshness to sweetness
Next is another layering that uses Île Pourpre.
For me, Île Pourpre is a scent I want to wear all year round, so I use it year-round, but on hot midsummer days it can sometimes feel a bit heavy.
At times like that, Sancti, added in, brings a refreshing coolness that lets me wear it cleanly even in summer.
As for the ratio, I'm partial to something like Île Pourpre 1 : Sancti 1 , but since Île Pourpre has a firm presence even on its own, I think that even with an equal amount of Sancti, Île Pourpre will still come across as the main scent.
This layering adds freshness to sweetness, making the sweetness feel cleaner than when worn alone; it's an easy-to-understand layering, so I think it could be applied to other scents too.
Navis ＋ Phantasma
A refreshing iced lemon tea
This is the combination of the sea-motif, citrus-scented Navisand the black-tea-forward Phantasma.
Combining these two refreshing scents evokes a scene of ice clinking as it melts in an iced lemon tea on a hot summer day.
For the ratio, I recommend something around Navis 2 : Phantasma 1 .
Buveur de Vent ＋ Dom Rosa
A captivating scent born from leather and rose
Next is this combination of Buveur de Vent and Dom Rosa.
When I discovered this combination, it was so good it moved me.
Buveur de Vent's amber, leather-toned, dry scent, and Dom Rosa's fizzy, light rosé-champagne scent combine, and it's elevated into a sexy scent where you can even sense a cleanliness within the dryness.
The ratio I'd recommend is around Buveur de Vent 3 : Dom Rosa 2, though something like 1:1 also feels good , so please adjust it to your own taste.
Buveur de Vent on its own is quite a strong, distinctive scent, but since Dom Rosa is a Liquides Imaginaires bestseller, I imagine many of you already own it.
By the way, these two bottles are also part of Liquides Imaginaires' bestselling seven-bottle set, Seven Charms Set, where both are included, so if you've purchased the Seven Charms Set, or if you own Dom Rosa and are curious about Buveur de Vent too, I'd love for you to try layering them.
Bergamot Brother ＋ Roasted Tangerine
Adding sheen and weight to citrus freshness
Finally, I'd also recommend the combination of Bergamot Brotherand Roasted Tangerine.
The tartness of bergamot and the glossy, leather-tinged scent combine with the juicy, fruity sweetness of mandarin and a touch of smokiness, so that even though it's citrus, you can still feel real weight to it; a scent to enjoy all year round.
For the scent balance, I recommend something around Bergamot Brother 1 : Roasted Tangerine 1 .
With layering, two bottles let you enjoy three scents
One nice thing about layering is that two bottles let you enjoy three different scents.
When you're in the mood for a new perfume, buying several at once is great, but if you can find one that layers well with what you already own, it might open up even more ways to enjoy it.
This time, as an example of the freedom in how you wear perfume, I've introduced the layering combinations I actually practice.
I'm sure there are still wonderful layering combinations I haven't noticed yet, so as I find new ones, I'd like to keep adding them here.
I'd be happy if this becomes a chance for you to combine scents freely and with flexible thinking, and to widen how you relate to perfume.
If you'd like to know a bit more about each scent, please also see our Liquides Imaginaires perfume introduction article.
