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How to layer lavender with sweet vanilla

Lavender is herbal, calming and slightly camphorous. Sweet vanilla is creamy, sweet and enveloping.

Starting ratio

one spray of lavender to one of the vanilla

Best for

Evenings, cooler weather and a calming, comforting scent.

Note families

Aromatic and Gourmand

Why this combination works

Lavender is herbal and slightly sharp, and vanilla is sweet and round. The combination is the backbone of many classic masculine and unisex fragrances because each note corrects what the other lacks.

How to layer it

1. Start on clean, moisturised skin. Unscented lotion helps both scents last.
2. Apply the sweet vanilla first, since it is the stronger of the two. Use one spray of lavender to one of the vanilla as a starting point.
3. Wait about a minute, then add the lavender over it or on a different pulse point so it is not buried.
4. Give the blend 20 to 30 minutes to settle before judging it. Notes shift as they warm on skin.

The blend as a scent blueprint

This is how the combination maps across a fragrance's top, heart and base. Use it to look for individual scents, or to describe the result you want.

• Toplavender, bergamot
• Heartgeranium
• Basevanilla, tonka, musk

What to avoid

Avoid very camphorous lavender with a very sweet vanilla, which can smell medicinal and sticky at once.

Frequently asked questions

Is lavender and vanilla a masculine or feminine blend?

It sits comfortably as unisex. The sweetness softens lavender and the herbs stop vanilla feeling dessert-like.

Does it work for bedtime?

Many people find it relaxing, though scent response is personal, so test it before relying on it.

More layering guides

• Layering sweet vanilla with fresh floraltwo sprays of vanilla to one of the floral
• Layering sweet vanilla with bright citrusone spray of vanilla to two of the citrus
• Layering leather with sweet vanillatwo sprays of leather to one of the vanilla