Thinking outside the bottle: the most exciting ways to wear fragrance now

Park the atomiser, we’re in the midst of a fragrance revolution and it’s all about how (and where) you wear yours…

It’s easy to forget that perfume has so many different guises. If you’re anything like us when someone mentions scent, a traditional spray bottle springs to mind. But over the past few months a slew of surprising, new incarnations have popped up in the beauty halls shaking us from our neck and wrist spritzing habits and introducing us to a whole new world of olfactory delights.

Join us on our journey to discover the most fabulous and exciting new ways to wear perfumes now. From hair mists to rollerballs and balms to powders the only questions is: how will you wear yours?

If you’re thinking of treating a loved one to a fragrant Christmas treat, check out our pick of the best Winter Fragrances or if you haven’t found ‘the one’ yet then you’ll want to read our guide to the Best Perfume for Women, to help you find your signature scent.

The Perfume Hair Mist

Shop now: Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Fresh Hair Mist for £34 from Selfridges

No matter what we’ve tried it’s nigh on impossible to recreate the feeling and smell of hair fresh out of the salon. Enter: hair mist. A bit of extravagance for your everyday, that can refresh day old locks with just a spritz and recreate that elusive delicious smelling hair in the comfort of your home. Because your tresses are porous they hold scent incredibly well, meaning you’ll only need to spritz once in the morning for the scent to last all day. My preferred method of application? Spritzing liberally to form a cloud and then waltzing through to permeate every last strand.

The Perfume Gel

Jo Loves Pomelo Fragrance Paintbrush

Shop now: Jo Loves Fragrance Paintbrush for £40 from Jo Loves

Sweeping and swooshing the glossy bristles from this Jo Loves paintbrush over your neck, arms and down the back of the legs makes application of this scent feel like a beauty ritual in itself. The brush helps evenly spread the clear gel formula over skin, allowing it to sink in and dry down in seconds. The best part? It’s small enough to bring travelling, without the need to decant into a smaller bottle or worry about any spillages in transit. Jo Loves' hero Pomelo scent is light, citrusy and fresh thanks to the Green Orange & Coriander meaning it works just as well for night and day.

The Perfume Compact

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Solid Perfume

Shop now: Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black Solid Perfume for £79.99 from Amazon

From our favourite celebrity designer duo, Mary-Kate and Ashley comes the twin’s first foray into perfumery with brand new launch Elizabeth and James. Our favourite piece from the new collection is this stylish perfumed compact. The formula is creamy and balm like, upon contact with your fingers it warms up and melts into skin on contact for a long lasting hit of scent. A fragrance and a vanity mirror that fits snugly in your palm? We’re sold.

The Perfume Jewels

By Killian Moonlight Ring in Gold

Shop

now: By Killian Moonlight Ring in Gold for £165 from By Killian

Probably the most decadent way to wear fragrance on this list and great for any magpies in your life. If you enjoy a bit of sparkle then you’ll love this beautiful gold ring from the By Killian Moonlight collection that also doubles up as a fragrance. Yes, you read that right. Tucked inside the ring is a discreet slab of ceramic in a hidden chamber. You might be wondering how it works? Because ceramic is porous, when it’s spritzed with your favourite perfume it holds the scent, which is then released through the vent on top of the ring allowing it to circulate. This ring comes with 2 ceramic discs so you can mix and match your scent depending on your mood. Swoon.

The Perfume Brush

Byredo Kabuki Perfume in Bal D'Afrique

Shop now: Byredo Kabuki Perfume in Bal D'Afrique for £42 from Selfridges

From cult fragrance brand Byredo comes this clever Kabuki. When brushed gently against the skin a micro-fine scented powder delivers a dusting of scented talc everywhere it reaches. The sleek black tube and lightweight design makes this silky brush a handbag essential, perfect for on the go touch ups. It comes in 3 of most iconic Byredo fragrances: Bal d’Afrique, Gypsy Water and Blanche.

The Perfume Oil

Jo Malone Dry Body Oil in Dark Amber & Ginger Lily

Shop now: Jo Malone Dry Body Oil in Dark Amber and Ginger Lily for £52 from John Lewis

The easiest way to wear scent? Slathered over limbs. Applied straight after a shower, parched skin drinks this oil up in seconds. It’s rich, hydrating and leaves behind a beautifully glossy sheen. This Dark Amber & Ginger Lily version is deep and smokey thanks to the oud and damask rose but with a hint of sweetness from the praline.