The magic of fragrance combining

Scent has always been strongly associated with memory for me. It has the power to transport us to a specific moment, remind us of someone special and even has the ability to capture a feeling. 

So when it came to picking out the perfume for my upcoming wedding, I knew I wanted something that was going to encapsulate not only the day itself, but also that time period in my life.

After starting the very important job of scent research (AKA sniffing a million and one perfumes), I discovered the Jo Malone London Fragrance Combining™ and Scent Your Wedding services. The idea that you can curate the scents of your wedding day, to help build a memory to keep for a lifetime, was something that ticked all the boxes I was looking for.

RELATED: How-to: Pick the perfect wedding day scent

My Jo Malone London stylist asked me to begin by telling her how my partner Spencer and I got engaged, what our wedding is going to be like and even asked to see a photo of my dress.

The idea is that they can gauge not only what notes you like, but who you are as a person and more importantly, what you and your partner are like as a couple, the vision  and vibe of your wedding and how you'd like it to be remembered.

Then came the (not so) difficult task of sniffing all the beautiful scents, narrowing them down one by one (that part was difficult). I was told to be brutal, I might like a scent, but I have to love it. After all, it is for my wedding!

RELATED: Brides reveal their wedding day scents

After narrowing down my options, it was then time to see how the scents worked together and what combinations I liked using the Jo Malone London Fragrance Combining™ technique.

Scents are categorised by their main notes into groups such as floral, fruity, spicy and citrus. There are no rules, two fragrances could be picked from similar scent families, but I found layering two different categories created the ultimate bespoke experience. 

Floral offerings

Floral scents are usually lead by notes of rose, jasmine and gardenia and can sit on a scale of light to heavy depending on your preference.

bh recommends: 

1. Mary Kay ® Bella Belara Eau de Parfum
2. Jo Malone London Peony & Blush Suede Cologne
3. The Body Shop British Rose Eau de Toilette

Fruity fragrances

Fragrances with fruity notes can include scents like pear, honey and oranges. They are usually super juicy and a great starting point for layering before adding a deeper scent on top.

bh recommends: 

1. Juicy Couture I Am Juicy Couture Eau de Parfum
2. Lancôme Trésor Eau de Toilette
3. Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Cologne

Spicy scents

Spicy scents typically include unique notes like peppercorn, nutmeg, sandalwood and even coffee. Spicy fragrances are a great way of adding depth to your scent layering.

bh recommends:

1. Jo Malone London Nutmeg & Ginger Cologne
2. Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium Nuit Blanch
3. Estée Lauder Cinnabar Eau de Parfum Spray

Zesty citrus

For those that prefer a fresher scent, a citrus fragrance might be ideal for you. Notes like grapefruit, mandarin and lemon make these options great for daytime.

bh recommends:

1. L’OCCITANE Citrus Verbena Eau de Toilette
2. Vanessa Megan Autumn Afternoon Natural Perfume
3. Jo Malone London Grapefruit Cologne

The Fragrance Combining™ technique also included a divine hand and arm massage with scented body and hand wash, followed by the matching body cream. We then applied the first fragrance (I opted for a floral), and then finished off with the second scent (which was darker and slightly spicy).

The scents chosen somehow capture the vibe and vision we have for our wedding, which made the whole experience something I’ll never forget.

Now the hardest part is going to be practicing some self-control and not wearing them until the wedding day!

What is your favourite fragrance combination? Do you have a scent that takes you back a specific memory or moment?