Fragrance is a powerful thing. With a single whiff or faint aroma, it can instantly transport you to another place. When spritzed on the skin, it can invigorate you and boost your mood. In the home, fragrance has a similar effect and can create a welcoming feeling from room to room. It’s not uncommon to have different scents around the house, as making your home smell nice adds to the atmosphere and overall feel of your residence. But when your home is small with limited space, it can be hard to keep aromas from clashing. So what’s the solution?

In beauty, fragrance layering is a favorable trend that allows you to blend perfumes, oils, and other scented products in tandem. A similar method can also be applied to the fragrances in your home. However, like the popular beauty trend, blending aromas requires some skill to pull off correctly. The concept is simple, but if you’re new to home fragrance, these tips will help make your space inviting and warm.

Start With Base Notes

Most home fragrances are typically built around a base note that will help ground the scent—think spices, musk, amber, vanilla, or woodsy aromas. These scents tend to be meatier, lingering long past their initial use. Once you’ve settled on a base, you can begin to build on it with new scents or continue to layer the same notes for intensity throughout the house.

Consider Mixing Formats

When it comes to making your home smell good, candles are the obvious choice. But there are lots of other formats that can be used to build your signature home scent. Essential oils are a natural way to infuse scent into your home and often blend beautifully with other aromas. Even more compelling is the fact that they can be used in various ways, such as reed diffusers and humidifiers.

Think About Placement

Candle styling is a trend all its own and probably takes precedence when placing them around the house. However, the area you choose to burn them is just as important. Some burn slowly, releasing faint but long-lasting scents, while diffusers can be more concentrated and intense. Placing them appropriately will help meld the aromas harmoniously and avoid contrast.

If your living room is spacious, try using a warm scent that is enticing but not overly strong. In the kitchen, you can place a fresh botanical or lightly gourmand scent to add depth. Keeping the placement in mind will ensure that the fragrances blend together as they permeate throughout the house.

While fragrance layering isn’t a new idea, the notion of blending home scents is fairly contemporary. Whether you take a simple approach or opt for a creative mix of aromas, the art of fragrance layering can be a fun way to develop your home’s signature smell.