Nick Smart, director of agence de parfum, gives us the lowdown on layering fragrance and body care for the ultimate olfactory experience.
The world of fragrance is no longer confined to just a spritz from a bottle. In recent years, the beauty industry has seen a significant shift towards extending perfume and cologne into bath and shower products. This art of fragrance layering enhances and prolongs your favourite scents throughout the day, creating a more immersive and lasting olfactory experience.
We spoke with Nick Smart, Director of Agence de Parfum and fragrance expert about this growing area of fragrance.
Have you noticed a shift in consumer preferences towards incorporating fragrance into everyday life?
Absolutely. We’ve seen a big uptick in people layering fragrance with body care products. These matching body products offer something different. While a body lotion does not project in the same way as its perfume counterpart, it will emulate it. So, in that sense, a hint of a favourite fragrance through a bath or body product is a beautiful way to experience scent in a novel and subtle way.
Many of Agence de Parfum’s more established brands, such as Amouage and Creed, have been supporting their fragrance lines with bath and shower iterations for some time. We’re seeing this echoed by newer houses such as Matiere Premiere, too. It’s a trend that is here to stay.
Why do you think more of us are gravitating towards luxury bath and shower products?
People enjoy creating a ritual for themselves. Enjoying a luxury soap or building on a daily skincare regimen is one way of doing that – and adding a beautiful fragrance into the mix enhances the experience exponentially.
Can scented body products help perfume last longer?
If we’re talking like-for-like, ie perfume plus its lotion form, then yes, it can amplify the overall effect. However, blending different scent families can produce mixed results. On the one hand, opposites, such as a rich amber fragrance sprayed over a light citrus-scented moisturiser can be highly complementary and work wonders, whereas you’d want to avoid dumbing down a sophisticated, smoky scent by introducing a crude pop of passionfruit, for example.
What are some body and bath/shower products you recommend?
La Perla’s Soothing Bath & Shower Oil is just divine. And where to even begin with Santa Maria Novella? If I had to choose one, it’s Acqua della Regina Fluid Cream, which has such a sublime citrus scent – everything I adore in an everyday lotion. A special mention for Christian Tortu’s Forets, too. This brand has one of the most extraordinary liquid soaps you’ll ever use.
Luxury body products are also perfect for gifting. Niche goods in this category offer a glimpse of what a truly luxurious body product can and should be. You’ll also find gift sets galore during the final quarter of the calendar year, meeting the demand for a multifaceted fragrance experience.
