Scent Stacking: The Art of Intentional Aromatherapy

Have you heard about the trend of ‘scent stacking’ or ‘fragrance layering’? It’s the practice of layering multiple aromas to create a fragrance that is entirely your own. It’s a powerful way to shape how you experience your day, because smell has such a direct impact on how we feel.

The Origin of the Trend

While social media has made scent stacking feel a new craze, humans have been doing this for thousands of years. Our ancestors used botanical resins, incense, and herbal smoke in daily grooming, hospitality, and spiritual rituals. Aromas to our distant ancestors were about ritual and occasion, not just about ‘smelling good’.

As far back as the 7th century, Middle Eastern cultures practised intentional scent layering. Fragrant smoke was used on clothing, and fragrant oils were applied to the skin. Similarly, Ayurvedic rituals have used essential oils, resins and herbs in layers for emotional and energetic effects for many centuries.

Aromatherapy vs. Perfumery: The Wellbeing Twist

While traditional perfumery focuses on the finished aroma, aromatherapy stacks scents for emotional outcomes. By working with pure essential oils, you can create a scent layer that shifts your mood, energises a space, or supports your nervous system.

How to Stack Using Essential Oils

Essential oils are volatile, meaning they evaporate at different rates. To create a balanced stack, follow these notes:

·       Base Notes: These are the woods, balsamic, and floral oils. They are slow to evaporate, anchor the blend, and add depth. You only need a little of these in your mix.

·       Middle Notes: These include herbals, some florals, greens and spices. They balance the aroma and round it out. You will need a little more of these in your overall mix.

·       Top Notes: These are the citrus oils. They evaporate the quickest, creating a vibrant impact and your initial burst of aroma. You will need more drops of these for your signature scent.

Daily Fragrant Rituals

Try these rituals to create your own stack or ‘scentscape’.

Morning Awakening Ritual

Start your day with a spritz of Energy Boost Body & Room Mist around your bathroom, a combination of uplifting citrus essential oils. You can also put a drop or two of Sandalwood or Cedarwood Himalayan onto the floor of the shower to add a steadying base note. Then, apply a body oil to set a bright tone for the day. To create your own, add the following drops to 20ml of blending oil:

·       6 drops of Orange (Citrus aurantium dulcis) – top note

·       3 drops of Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) – middle note

·       1 drop of Cedarwood Himalayan (Cedrus deodar) – base note

Mid-afternoon Reset Ritual

For a mid-afternoon slump, try a blend combination:

·       Spray Total De Stress Body & Room Mist around your space and onto your body; it’s a calming yet uplifting combination of Orange (top), Geranium (middle), and Nutmeg (base).

·       Follow with the Mind Clear Roller Ball for a burst of renewed energy and clarity.

Evening Unwind Ritual

Create your own wind-down diffuser blend:

·       4 drops of Bergamot (Citrus bergamia) - top note

·       3 drops of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) - middle note

·       1 drop of Jasmine Absolute (Jasminum officinale) - base note

You could also massage a soothing blend into chest, upper arms and shoulders. Add 10 drops in total of your chosen essential oils to 20ml of blending oil. Use approximately 5 drops for your top note, 3 for your middle note, and 1-2 for your base note.

By weaving these simple rituals into your day, you create more than just a pleasant aroma; you build a ‘scentscape’ that supports your mood, your energy, and your sense of balance. Scent stacking becomes a way to care for yourself, moment by moment, through the quiet power of essential oils.

We would love to hear what blends you are creating and how you are using your essential oils to scent stack – do let us know.

About Jo Kellett

Our essential oil expert, Jo Kellett TIDHA MIFPA CIMI, graduated from the Tisserand Institute of Holistic Aromatherapy in 1996. She returned to the college in 1999 as an Essential Oil Therapeutics Tutor, where she taught until the college closed. Jo runs a successful private Aromatherapy practice in Brighton, specialising in Women’s health. Jo is also an internationally published author and has lectured on the subject of Aromatherapy both in the UK and abroad.
For more information on Jo Kellett, check out her website or Instagram.