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Start with something light and build up rather than mixing two heavy scents right away. I tried layering a woody cologne with vanilla perfume once and it turned into this cloying mess that hung around way too long, but when I reversed it - light citrus base, then a heavier scent on top - the whole thing felt balanced and lasted better. The trick is thinking of it like cooking: your first layer is the foundation, so keep it simple, then add complexity with the second one. Most people mess up by going too strong on both and wondering why it smells off.
Are you thinking about mixing complementary scents, or just spraying one after another? You can layer them fine if they're in the same fragrance family (like two florals or two citrus scents), but throw together something floral with something spicy and musky and you'll probably end up with a confused mess.
What's your skin like - oily, dry, sensitive? That matters because layering can amplify scent way more on some skin types than others, and that's where people usually run into trouble.
Layering does work, but the trick is going lighter to heavier. Start with a light citrus or fresh scent as your base, then add something richer on top - a floral or woody. The opposite order tends to smell muddled. Also, less is more with the second spray, or you'll just end up with a confusing wall of smell that doesn't settle into anything nice. Time matters too. Let the first one dry down for a minute or two before spraying the second, otherwise you're just creating chaos while they're both wet on your skin.
The thing everyone seems to skip: don't assume complementary scents from different brands will actually work together. Two "floral" perfumes from different houses can clash hard because one might have a fruity undertone and the other goes woody. Test on a small patch of skin first if you're mixing unfamiliar ones. Also watch out for layering anything with vanilla or amber base notes - those stick around forever and can overpower everything else you add.
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