Hair perfumes are nothing new, but they're in burgeoning demand this year. To date, videos tagged #hairperfume on TikTok have racked up more than 114 million views, while beauty retailer LookFantastic last year reported that UK sales of hair perfumes increased by 48 per cent, with its category dedicated to the products also seeing a 225 per cent uplift in sessions.
"The hair’s movement and the head’s heat create superlative conditions for perfume diffusion – and the perfect occasion to live hedonistically with your head in an irresistible cloud," says industry authority Frédéric Malle. But before you start spritzing your usual eau de parfum on your locks, consider the drying effects of alcohol. "Spraying your favourite fragrance on your hair might smell nice in the short term, but can damage hair in the long run by drying it out," fragrance expert Jonny Webber from Perfume Direct points out. Different to traditional fragrance formulas, hair perfumes – often marketed as hair mists – are specifically designed for the hair, so that they carry a scent without compromise. "The lightweight formula allows the scent to linger all day without weighing down or damaging your hair," explains famed perfumer Jo Malone. Some, in fact, go above and beyond in the hair-care department. Those from Kilian Paris, for example, feature an advanced formula with UV filters, to both hydrate and protect from the drying effects of the sun.
But beyond the many beauty benefits of a hair perfume, there are financial ones, too. "Simply a hair-focused iteration of your favourite scent, hair perfumes provide a much more cost-conscious price tag," feels Sheeva Fallahi, beauty editor at LookFantastic. The formulas do tend to deliver a lighter intensity of fragrance, but as "hair is a fantastic ‘carrier’ of perfume and actually holds scents better compared to skin," they can make for a longer-lasting choice.
Of course, the beauty savvy also know that haircare brands are a smart way to shop for scent, too. For example, Balmain Paris Hair Couture's Silk Perfume, Percy & Reed's Shine & Fragrance Spray and Sachajuan's Protective Hair Perfume all offer excellent value. And, while not a hair perfume per se, you could add Lush's Super Milk Conditioning Spray to that list; it's been generating a lot of buzz on social media lately for its beautiful fragrance.
But for those wanting to build on their signature scent, or add a luxe finishing touch to their routine with a hair perfume from a revered fragrance house, we adore the elegant options below. And the best way to apply them? "Hold the mist 15-to-20cm from your head and lightly mist your locks for shine and a burst of scent," says Malone. Consider it done.
There are hair mists, and then there are Guerlain hair mists – ones that look as exceptionally elegant as they smell. This version, Les Absolus d'Orient Santal Royal, is a woody, ambery fragrance created by the house's master perfumer, Thierry Wasse. Expect it to leave an enchanting trail of sandalwood and jasmine that's richly deep but still delicate.
Rightly one of the most popular hair perfumes, Byredo's version of the iconic scent Gypsy Water (a captivating woody aromatic with citrus, sandalwood and vanilla notes) is specially developed to cling onto the hair fibres while gently conditioning them.
Jo Loves' Hair Mist is not only available in the Vetiver fragrance but Fig, Tuberose and Grapefruit too. "The lightweight formula allows the scent to linger all day without weighing down or damaging your hair," Malone tells us of the addictive mists, which suit all hair types.
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Frédéric Malle Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady Hair Mist 100ml
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Frédéric Malle Frédéric Malle Portrait of a Lady Hair Mist 100ml
Here's another cult fragrance: Frédéric Malle's Portrait of a Lady – and a wonderful way to wear it should you want a more subtle diffusion of the uncompromising amber floral scent.
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La Collection Privée Christian Dior Gris Dior Hair Perfume 40ml
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La Collection Privée Christian Dior Gris Dior Hair Perfume 40ml
Like couture for hair, the specially formulated perfumes from La Collection Privée Christian Dior dress locks with sumptuous scent and a veil of luminosity. It’s hard to pick a favourite, but fans of floral and woody accords will adore Gris Dior, an olfactory expression of the impossibly chic ‘Dior grey’ – the colour Christian Dior loved to celebrate.
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Serge Lutens Collection Noire La Fille de Berlin Hair Mist 50ml
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Serge Lutens Collection Noire La Fille de Berlin Hair Mist 50ml
Serge Lutens has created more than 90 perfumes in enduring collections, and this grown-up romantic rose is one of a kind. Reworked into a luxurious hair mist, a few sprays impart an indulgent, long-lasting scent.
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Miller Harris Miller Harris Scherzo Hair Mist 100ml
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Miller Harris Miller Harris Scherzo Hair Mist 100ml
A rich rose-meets-oud, Miller Harris' sensual Scherzo perfume is perfect for the hair, creating an intoxicating scent trail while leaving locks feeling moisturised.
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Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Hair Mist 70ml
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Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Hair Mist 70ml
Fans of the cult Baccarat Rouge 540 will love the subtle addition of this Hair Mist. As gentle on the hair as it is delicate in its impact, it enhances your hair’s shine with a whisper of Francis Kurkdjian's most talked-about creation.
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Kilian Paris Love Don't Be Shy Hair Mist 50ml
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Kilian Paris Love Don't Be Shy Hair Mist 50ml
A fragrance and haircare ally, this rendition of Rihanna’s famously good signature scent – an addictive gourmand –features an advanced formula with UV filters, both hydrating and protective from the drying effects of the sun.
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Chanel Gabrielle Chanel Hair Mist 40ml
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Chanel Gabrielle Chanel Hair Mist 40ml
Chanel’s best-selling scents are available as hair perfumes, including No5, Coco Mademoiselle, and Gabrielle. Designed to be worn alone or to enhance the trail of its partnering perfume, they are delicately scented and enriched with ingredients to leave hair silky soft. Spray them onto your brush before styling, or directly onto the hair, forming an arch above the head to leave it wrapped in the scent.
