Question:
Open only to the Experienced, the Brave, or the terminally Jaded

The Great Basenotes Layering Challenge (GBLC) is an opportunity for fearless, open-minded individuals to explore using their perfumes with greater creativity and originality, in a warm and friendly environment. Think of it as the fragrance 101 advanced classes for the crazy. It is meant to be fun – so get ready to enjoy yourself!

Initially, the GBLC will follow the same monthly theme as the Sniff n Speak monthly event. GBLC, however, will be ongoing throughout the month, with new scents / themes chosen on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I shall be choosing eau de toilettes and colognes that are readily available and should not drain the funds. I am hoping that participants will also take this opportunity to help each other by swapping samples / decants of the chosen scents, if necessary.

OK people, here’s the process:

I will suggest an initial perfume which fits within the current (Sniff ‘n’ Speak) month’s theme, (suggestions are also welcome), and list the main mood / notes / accords. I will then suggest some layering combinations that I think may work (participants are also encouraged to suggest / share potential combinations).

Your Challenge, should you wish to accept it, is to test run / sample a few of the suggested combos and report back with your findings:

What did you try?
Did you like?
Do you think it ‘works’?
Did it illicit compliments / comments?
Which notes dominated in the blend?
Did it work out the way you imagined it would?
Would you wear it again?

Example:

1)Sniff ‘n’ SpeakTheme = Oriental
Classic perfume = Dana Tabu
Major notes / accord = Patchouli, Amber, Cloves, Cinnamon, Orange, Orange Blossom, Civet.
Actual notes =
Top: Bergamot oil, Coriander, Neroli, Orange, Spice Notes
Heart: Clove Bud oil, Clover, Jasmine, Narcissus, Oriental Rose, Ylang-Ylang
Base: Amber, Benzoin, Cedar, Civet, Moss, Musk, Patchouli, Sandal, Vetiver,

2) I am intrigued by the jasmine / narcissus pairing in the heart notes and by the woody chypre base notes accord (sandal + cedar + moss + patchouli).

Some crazy combos to try:
Tabu + Samsara EDT
Tabu + Mitsouko EDT
Tabu + Samsara parfum
Tabu + Je Reviens
Tabu + Nemat Narcissus
Tabu + SL A La Nuit
Tabu + YSL Nu EDP
Tabu + Guerlain Vetiver
Tabu + Lush Fever massage bar (used as moisturiser / solid perfume).

3) You then pick one, two or many more combos to try over a one / two week period.
4) You hopefully return and share you experience, thoughts and feelings with us!

It will make you see perfume and your personal perfume collection in a whole new light!

I propose that the week / fortnight run from Thursday to Thursday. That way it does not clash with the monthly Sniff ‘n’ Speak event, and those who are unable to log on over the weekend do not miss out either.

Any one brave enough to join me???

Answer:
::Watches the tumbleweed roll by in the dust::

Answer:
Let's start with an easy question: Does anyone out there remember/own Tabu?

Answer:
Eh, don't own it anymore and memory has faded.
I'm getting old

Answer:
Originally Posted by moondeva ::Watches the tumbleweed roll by in the dust:: Hi Moondeva! I would try this but I don't have most of these scents. Tabu is not "me." Anyway... IF I were to do this experiment I would try:
Tabu + Mitsouko EDT
Tabu + Nemat Narcissus
Tabu + Guerlain Vetiver
I'd go with something that might "lift" Tabu and make it lighter - bring out the colour orange. The Samsara combinations seem a little much for me. I start to think of a dark brown shade when this is suggested to me.
Let us know how it goes. :-)

Answer:
Originally Posted by Quarry Let's start with an easy question: Does anyone out there remember/own Tabu? I think Tabu is very similar to L'Occitane Amber Fleur des Citsus (or whatever it's called - the new one.) Tabu is less fruity and has a dry down that's smoky.
It also has a similar "feel" to Opium, Obsession, and TBS Sandalwood Oil.
My layering today: Nemat White Musk, L'Occitane Eau de 4 Reines, L'Occitane Eau de Vaniliers. Several hours later I can only smell musk.

Answer:
Originally Posted by Quarry Let's start with an easy question: Does anyone out there remember/own Tabu? Yes, I do, but I'm not a layerer. The closest I come is this:
Say I'm wearing Tabu, but I feel like something more dirty. I will put Youth Dew on the other wrist. Brings out the civit, adds cinnamon. Or I want more patchouli, I put SMN Patchouli on the other wrist. But I don't spray one over the other. Does that count? Usually my "multi-fragrance application" happens when I'm trying samples of new fragrances with shared notes. After I decide to buy it, I wear it straight. Putting on more than one fragrance makes me sniff myself hyperactively all day, even more so than normal.

Answer:
The example of Dana Tabu was only being used as an example. We can begin with another common oriental like YSL Opium EDT, Lagerfeld KL, or even EL Youth Dew. I chose Tabu because I know it is extremely cheap / easily obtained and therefore easily disgarded if hated afterwards. I can also send a few samples to those who want to join in. I know that many of the perfumes may not be someone's usual choice but I believe that it can't hurt to try something completely different. You need never wear the offending perfume again. But, who knows, you may just discover a combination that is more than its parts and which blows your socks off (in a good way). I am very open to suggestions for a scent to explore. As I said it is not set in stone - yet.

The combos listed are only a few quick ideas listed to illustrate the process. I, like you purplebird7 and mysteryfemme, prefer to lighten Tabu and tend to use orange blossom to do so. My suggestion list was not exhaustive, I was hoping to inspire and to see a show of hands before truly letting loose on the crazy combo's to try.

Concerning the actually 'Layering' process:

I personally am a bit of a nihilist who will happily spritz one perfume directly over another and wait happily as they duke it out to see what results. I also tend to layer my scents by using complimentary alternative bath & body products to explore a theme. I appreciate many others are not so gung-ho in their approach to perfume.

Riannon & purplebird7, I agree that the application of different perfumes on different parts of the body (not directly over each other) is a great way of 'layering' perfumes. Since it is the 'fumes' or sillage of a perfume that we experience throughout the day there is no need to mix the scents on the skin. So the wrist / belly or wrist / wrist method of combining is completely valid! Please feel welcome to join in the madness.

Once we have chosen the first perfume, I will begin a new thread with a list of the crazy combos and we can take it from there...

Answer:
Originally Posted by purplebird7 ...Putting on more than one fragrance makes me sniff myself hyperactively all day, even more so than normal. And this is a bad thing, why?




Answer:
Oh I see what you mean now. Actually if this is the case I normally layer. I never wear just one thing. I put on a scent in the morning after a shower. I brush my hair and then I decide to test a decant - so that's two scents. Mid-day I might reach into my bag and put on something from another decant or sample vial. That's three scents. When I get home I sometimes (if I'm not showering) take a bath with a drop of fragrance oil in it. If the other three scents do not wash away, that's four.
I tend to take my vials out of "storage" four or five at a time and they are usually scents that match. I have them stored in ziplock bags as "sets". So I guess I do layer. I never thought of it that way. I guess I'm gung-ho! :-)
If you don't mind, I might opt out of this project since I don't think I have enough perfumes to layer. I swapped away a lot of things or gave them to friends who didn't wear perfume but were looking for a way to explore them. :-)
But since I'm here I'll tell you how my layering went today: the musk anchored the rose and the vanilla blended into the musk so what I got was a sweet musk with a bit of green rose top notes.
On topic: Tabu would be terrific with TBS satsuma, fuzzy peach, cinnamon spice, or ananya. TBS patchouli would make it more like Youth Dew, I think. If I were making a personal blend I would use Tabu as a base and add bergamot, orange, cinnamon, and lime essential oils.