Leave it to Michelle Pfeiffer to completely unravel everything I knew about fragrance layering. The actor and founder of Henry Rose—a gender-free, EWG-verified luxury perfume collection—recently gave me a personal layering lesson on the brand's pop-up truck (a clear glass vehicle representing the brand's commitment to ingredient transparency and safety), where we tinkered with the scent combinations she's been loving as of late, including one unexpected blend she created on a whim. Readers, it is delicious.
I've received countless perfume layering tips as a beauty editor, but I never would have thought to pair these two types of scents. Now, it's officially my go-to combination for summer. Keep reading—your new signature blend awaits.
Michelle Pfeiffer's Most Recent Fragrance Combo: Flora Carnivora and Menace
Pfeiffer instantly reaches for Flora Carnivora and Menace, two of the lightest, freshest scents in her collection. "I wouldn't normally pick Flora and Menace together," Pfeiffer reveals, adding that the two perfumes have a similar scent profile. The former is a delicate, earthy floral with hints of jasmine and neroli, and the latter is a crisp marine aroma grounded by musk. "They're both fresh," she adds, which doesn't make them the most obvious layering pair. Typically, you'd want to select contrasting combinations that create an interesting harmony—gourmands with citrus or woods with florals, for example.
One day, Pfeiffer chose to play with these two similar picks, and in doing so, she created something magical. Imagine catching a whiff of freshly laundered linens swaying in a summer afternoon breeze. That's exactly what this mixture smells like, only said linens are air-drying in the Italian countryside while you lounge nearby in a breezy button-down, sipping on a glass of crisp white. I repeat: It's magical.
If you, too, have a dreamy European holiday on your summer mood board, you'll surely fall in love with this fresh fragrance duo. Call it a summer romance.
More Pfeiffer-Approved Layering Pairs
Char and Windows Down
This is usually Pfeiffer's go-to layering pair. The smokiness of Char blends beautifully with the bright citrus notes in Windows Down.
Torn and Flora Carnivora
Torn has a creamy vanilla base that takes a bit to shine through the woody top notes (usually 30 minutes post-spritz). If you add Flora, however, Pfeiffer tells me you can reach the richness quicker.
Queens & Monsters and Windows Down
Amber and sandalwood meet light, juicy citrus—a classically gorgeous pair.
Sheep's Clothing Body Cream and Last Light
For those new to perfume layering, here's my personal favorite tip: Pair a scented body cream or lotion with your perfume du jour. It results in a subtler scent that still gives the juice a little something extra, such as this combination of soft rose and woody musk.
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