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I describe myself as a maximalist. My 10-step skincare routine is the sole reason I have glass skin, and my closet consists of exclusively bright colors (neutrals? Not my vibe). My perfume collection might be the most extra of all: It spans well over 300 fragrances, including eau de parfums, eau de toilettes, extraits, and even body sprays and oils.
My maximalism has its limits, though, and I draw the line at excessive fragrance routines. My entire TikTok For You Page has been littered with creators sharing eight-step body care regimens that include scented body washes, scrubs, oils, lotions, perfume oils, body mists, hair perfumes, and eau de parfums. Every video that pops up makes me feel like I've reached the over-consumerism final boss.
I understand people's desire to have long-lasting scent trail that fills a room (I want that too!), but there's no way these outrageous routines are the key to achieving an ethereal scent bubble, right? I get a headache just thinking about it.
"This new trend feels less like art and more like excess for excess's sake," says Gustavo Romero, a perfumer with Team of Two Perfumers and founder of Fragrance Alliance Network. "Just because your scent bubble can stretch three feet doesn't mean it should."
So what is the model fragrance routine for a lovely scent trail that won't feel like its attacking your nose? Keep reading to find the answer and learn what steps you should nix to avoid going overboard.
The perfume boom has encouraged people to look at fragrance through a new lens. "Fragrance has evolved from being a final touch to a full-on ritual," says Octavia Morgan, fragrance expert and founder of Octavia Morgan Los Angeles. "Today's consumers want more than just to smell good; they want a sensory experience that feels indulgent and personal." This includes curating full perfume wardrobes for every occasion, season, and mood.
But beyond just having options, consumers -- especially Gen Z -- want their scent to last. Where millennials would spritz and dash out the door, Gen Z has turned fragrance into another form of self-care. "Multi-step routines allow people to immerse themselves in scent from head to toe, building a signature that's entirely their own," adds Morgan.
According Jenine Guerriero, head of marketing and consumer insights for Givaudan North America, fragrance layering is popular not just because it creates a longer-lasting scent -- it also forges creativity and individuality. "Layering is a form of personal storytelling," she says. "We're seeing a surge in people mixing body lotions, oils, mists, perfumes, and even hair mists. Not only for performance, but to curate a signature scent narrative."
While the idea behind these all-out fragrance routines is genuine and innocent, there's a fine line between getting it just right and completely overdoing it. And truthfully, there are a few steps that don't have any effect on your end result.
Let's start with scented body wash. I have my favorites, and while they smell delightful, they aren't enhancing the power of my perfume later on in the day. This step is merely adding a sensorial experience to your shower. The same can be said about body scrubs. "Think of scrubs and washes as pre-game," says Romero. "They prep your skin, remove the dead cells, and smooth the surface for everything that follows -- but they won't boost projection on their own since you just wash them off your skin.
The first step that really matters is applying a body lotion or oil, because fragrance clings better to hydrated skin. "It's like using primer before foundation -- but for fragrance," says Josie Maran, founder of her eponymous body care line. Unscented lotions work just as well as scented options, but since we're talking about ritualistic fragrance routines, try to slather on a body butter that complements your perfume. Nowadays, body lotions come in almost every scent imaginable.
If your primary goal is longevity, Morgan says that "body oils work even better than lotions because oil bonds with fragrance molecules, slowing evaporation." Just keep in mind that there's no need to layer on a body oil and a body lotion all over. Placing the oil specifically on your pulse points (wrist, inner elbow, neck, and chest) can make a world of a difference to increase longevity without overpowering.
When it comes to perfume, though, it's all about where you spritz it. "A targeted approach enhances both how far a scent radiates and how long it lasts," says Guerriero. Your body emits the most heat at its pulse points -- on your wrists, either side of your neck, inner elbows, and behind the knees -- and these areas help amplify your perfume.
When it comes to body mists and hair perfumes, though, lightly spray it over your clothes and/or hair to create a "soft cloud of scent," says Morgan. Layering a mist over top of perfume on your pulse points can muddle the aroma.
Beyond potentially creating an intolerably strong scent bubble, these extra routines have other drawbacks, too. If you are going to layer, be sure to choose products with complementary notes. "Mismatched notes turn your cloud into a cacophony," says Romero. "Just because a product smells good on its own doesn't mean it wants to share a room with five others."
A good rule of thumb is to match your perfume base notes with the lotion or oil you intend to use. For example, pairing a vanilla lotion with a vanilla perfume is a safe bet. Sandalwood and other woody notes, as well as amber, also harmonize with vanilla. "The key is balance -- over‑layering strong or clashing scents can overwhelm, but complementary notes worn in moderation create the long‑lasting effect consumers are looking for," says Guerriero.
Floral oils and lotions also pair well with floral perfumes. The same goes with citrusy scent profiles. If you feel like playing chemist and want to meld a few scent categories, do so on a small patch of skin (like on the inside of your fingers) to test out the combination rather than going all-in from the jump.
Additionally, those with sensitive skin might want to forgo a multi-step routine altogether. Romero says that layering on a variety of products -- especially alcohol-based mists -- can easily cause irritation and sensitivity, especially on freshly exfoliated skin. If you begin to experience any redness, itchiness, or inflammation, pare back your routine. Sometimes simplicity is best.
So, what is the best fragrance routine for someone whose goal is to smell unique and have their scent last from morning to night? Our experts agree that eight steps is a little absurd. (And when you think about how you'd need a different body lotion or oil for every perfume you own, things would get pretty costly.)
"You can still achieve great projection and staying power with just two or three well-chosen steps," says Morgan. "The foundation is moisturized skin, a fragrance-friendly base, and applying your perfume strategically to pulse points. Anything beyond that is about the joy of the ritual."
Morgan says this simple routine "creates a long-lasting, multidimensional scent bubble that's polished yet wearable all day."
The curated multi-step fragrance routines might be fun to watch on TikTok, but to be frank, they're completely unnecessary. Intentionally layering can cloak you in the scent cloud of your dreams without going overboard. "You don't need to turn your bathroom into a scent lab to smell amazing all day," reminds Romero. "Longevity doesn't have to mean intensity, and more isn't always better. Sometimes, the real flex is restraint."
Mary Honkus is a beauty contributor for Cosmopolitan with over seven years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including a guide to smelling expensive for cheap, and a full deep dive on the most expensive note in perfumery. She is an authority in all beauty categories, but has a sweet spot for fragrance with a collection of over 300 scents. She believes in intentionally layering and set out to determine whether this multi-step fragrance routine trend has some merit or if its a total gimmick. While researching for this story, she spoke to multiple fragrance experts and sought to curate an attainable and simple layering routine that still feels indulgent.