Why layer at all
Layering is the practice of wearing two fragrances at once so that they blend on the skin into a single impression. It is not about volume. It is about finding a combination that feels like yours.
The art is quiet: done well, no one can tell where one fragrance ends and the other begins.
Begin with one constant
The easiest way to start is to keep one fragrance as a base and change only the second. A smooth, moderate fragrance works well as the constant because it does not drown the layer on top.
Montreux is a natural candidate: vanilla, sandalwood, and guaiac wood with a fresh opening, creamy rather than loud. It holds a place under most things without arguing with them.
Pair by contrast
The most interesting combinations come from contrast: a warm base under something fresh, or a smoky note lifted by citrus. Opposites tend to give each other room.
Hearth, with its smoked woods and chestnut, becomes softer when a bright citrus fragrance such as Solace is layered over it. Aurelian's rose and oud, in turn, gain a gentler edge when set against a smooth vanilla fragrance like Montreux.
Two is enough
Restraint is the whole trick. Two fragrances, one spray of each on different points of the skin, is a good place to begin. A third almost always turns the blend into noise.
There is no fixed order, but a simple one works: apply the heavier fragrance first, then the lighter one, so the lighter layer stays on top where you first smell it.
Let it settle
A combination needs a full day before you judge it. The opening, the middle, and the drydown are three different fragrances, and the blend changes at each stage.
Test a pairing on your wrist for a day before wearing it out. If it holds together from morning to evening, it is yours. If not, change one element and try again. The practice, like the fragrance, rewards patience.