Settles into a velvet armchair with a knowing smile.
Listen, my loves. I’ve been stopped in elevators, at farmer’s markets, in line at the post office, and once memorably in the middle of a crosswalk by someone who needed to know what I was wearing. And every single time, I watch their face when I tell them the truth: I’m wearing both.
The Secret? Break the Rules, Baby
Since my early twenties, when I finally had my own money and could buy whatever I wanted without anyone’s opinions, thank you very much—I’ve been living in this gorgeous, gender-bending scent space that most people don’t even know exists.
I layer men’s colognes with women’s perfumes.
There, I said it.
And honestly? I can’t gatekeep this magic anymore. You deserve to smell absolutely intoxicating, too.
The Method to My Aromatic Madness
Here’s the thing: it’s not about just slapping on random bottles and hoping for the best (though I won’t lie, I’ve had some happy accidents). The real witchcraft is in finding similar notes and complementary scents.
My formula: Cologne first, then perfume.
The cologne gives you that deep, grounding base—those gorgeous woody notes, the crisp citrus, that clean, fresh quality that men’s fragrances do SO well. Then the perfume adds complexity, softness, and a little intrigue. It’s like… the cologne is the foundation of a perfect house, and the perfume is the art on the walls and the cashmere throw on the couch.
My Collection Is Extensive (and I Regret Nothing)
Over the years, I’ve built a deeply curated collection that would make a Sephora employee weep. Woody scents? Check. Citrus that makes you feel like a Mediterranean sunset? Absolutely. Clean, fresh scents for when you want to smell like expensive soap and good decisions? Got an entire shelf.
What you won’t find in my collection: anything aggressively floral, cloyingly sweet, or drowning in rose. No shade if that’s your vibe—it’s just not mine. I like my scents the way I like my personality: complex, a little unexpected, and impossible to pin down.
Why This Works (Beyond the Obvious Magic)
Men’s colognes tend to have better longevity and projection—they’re designed to fill a room. Women’s perfumes often have more nuance and evolution. When you combine them? You get the staying power AND the sophistication. You get stopped in crosswalks.
Plus, there’s something deeply satisfying about refusing to stay in your lane. Fragrance has no gender, darlings. It’s just molecules that make you smell good. The marketing departments can keep their pink and blue bottles—I’m raiding both sides of the store.
Go Forth and Layer, My Loves
So there it is. My secret’s out. Start with scents in the same family—pair a woody cologne with a woody-amber perfume, or a citrus cologne with something green and fresh. Spray the cologne first (chest, wrists, neck), let it settle for literally 30 seconds, then add your perfume on top.
And when someone stops you to ask what you’re wearing?
Smile mysteriously and tell them the truth. Or don’t. A good witch never reveals all her secrets at once.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a date with my vetiver cologne and my sandalwood perfume.
✨🖤✨
What about you, darling? Have you been playing it safe in the fragrance department? Ready to raid the men’s section? Tell your witchy auntie everything.
