Truthfully, there's high chance you've never considered a hair perfume—and we get it. Nice-smelling hair a luxury, but not a necessity. It's probably something you never really thought you needed—but you could be mistaken.
Hair perfume, in the form of fragrant mists and oils, is basically the hair-appropriate version of a brand’s most popular fragrance. As such, it's also a clever way of getting a fix of the best perfume for women in a more affordable fashion. Take, for instance, the iconic Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540. While a bottle on the Eau de Parfum might set you back a cool £235. The hair perfume smells exactly the same and costs £75.
Hair perfumes are also a great option for quick freshen ups. They're great for giving second or third-day hair a fresh scent, and are perfect for spraying after the gym or before an event for a little pick-me-up.
And while you can just spritz a traditional fragrance on your hair, these formulas tend to be loaded with alcohol, which can be incredibly drying to strands. Hair perfume on the other hand is much more gentle, as the formula is totally different. First and foremost, it's much more lightweight. "People are more experimental today. Hair perfume creates an invisible veil to scent the hair," says Ben Gorham, the founder of Byredo. It is also more conditioning. All 13 of Byredo's hair perfumes, for instance, use a silicone and polymer formula to leave hair shiny and hydrated. Others like the Diptyque Do Son Hair Mist are enriched with nourishing camellia oil.
So where does a hair perfume fit into your routine? It should be the last thing that you apply to your hair. After styling, mist into the air before walking through it or spray it in a cloud onto your hair brush. What's better is hair perfume gets better as the day wears on as the scent is amplified by the hair's natural movement. Win-win.
If you're wanting to treat yourself, keep on scrolling for our favourite hair perfumes to add to basket. We've tried and tested the below scents and can confirm that they truly live up to the hype. For more inspiration, don't forget to check out our guides to the best fresh perfumes and the best long-lasting perfumes to add to your collection.
9 of the best hair perfumes to buy now:
1. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Hair Mist
If you haven't heard of Baccarat Rouge, then where have you been? It was one of the most popular perfumes of 2022, and we still love it to this day. The only downside is that it can set you back a small fortune. But not to fear, as the hair mist is much more affordable, yet still has that unique scent that we all know and love. It's warm, sweet and sensual, perfect for a special occasion, and the formula is alcohol free so it won't damage your hair.
2. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist
If you like a really sweet scent, then say hello to the Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist. Don't be fooled by the name, as the brand recommends this product for both the hair and body. The scent lasts all day long, and will remind you of being on holiday, relaxing on a sun lounger and tucking into your favourite ice cream.
3. Givenchy L'Interdit Eau de Parfum Hair Mist
This is one of our beauty writer's favourite perfumes, so we were overjoyed when we realised that you could also purchase a hair mist. Light and sophisticated notes of orange blossom, tuberose and jasmine meet dark and mysterious in the form of patchouli, vetiver and musky ambroxan.
4. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Hair Perfume
Chanel never goes wrong when it comes to fragrance. This hair mist is fresh and optimistic with orange and rose, undercut with earthy patchouli to keep it from being too saccharine. The formula has been specifically designed for hair, enriched with an emollient that leaves it silky smooth without weighing it down.
5. Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume
Gisou's hair perfume not only looks beautiful, but smells beautiful too. Enriched with Mirsalehi Honey from founder Negin Mirsalehi's bee garden, it nourishes hair and adds impressive shine. The scent is fresh, floral and sweet, perfect for everyday.
6. Diptyque Eau des Sens Hair Mist
Enriched with camellia oil—which has been known to nourish hair—Diptyque advises spraying this hair perfume onto your brush before styling. When it comes to the scent, imagine a walk through a hot walled garden full of fragrant floral buds in Marrakesh. Eau Des Sens is bursting with vibrant notes of orange blossom.
7. Ormonde Jayne Ambre Royal Hair Mist
There’s something about Ormonde Jayne fragrance that you can’t quite put your finger on, but it has a quality that completely envelopes you and makes you smell incredible. This scent is like a big warm hug (that’ll be the deep amber) is bestowed upon the wearer—and anyone close enough—with floral rose and jasmine. Plus, the brand has added in provitamin B5 and keratin, which has been known to smooth down hair cells and help repair and strengthen damaged hair.
8. Byredo Blanche Hair Perfume
If you're looking for a simple scent that makes an impact, look no further. Blanche by Byredo is a clean fragrance, with fresh and delicate notes that remind us of clean linen hanging on the washing line. But don't be fooled, as pink pepper and musk add a kick.
9. Frederic Malle Iris Poudre Hair Mist
For Frederic Malle, hair mists have been imbued with a nourishing formula that coats hair fibres—without causing damage—for a long lasting scent. Iris Poudre is a super clean scent with the soapy effervescence vetiver and powdery quality of iris.