“YOU SMELL GREAT” is always an uplifting compliment — and one way to attract a compliment with every embrace or cross of the street is a hair perfume.
Hair perfumes and hair mists are a trending new form of fragrance designed to delicately scent your strands. They’re a light, fresh and versatile addition to your fragrance wardrobe, making them perfect to wear on their own for relaxed summer days or to layer on and complement the notes and longevity of a traditional perfume.
Discover the difference between perfume and hair perfume (and if you can use regular perfume on your hair), and shop your new signature hair perfume below.
Related: 11 hair trends to try for spring and summer 2024
Best hair perfumes to buy in 2024
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BEST CLASSIC HAIR PERFUME
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BEST CLASSIC HAIR PERFUME
JO MALONE LONDON Wild Bluebell Body Mist
$115
For a lighter take on Jo Malone London’s iconic colognes — Wild Bluebell, Wood Sage & Sea Salt and English Pear & Freesia — reach for a hair and body mist. Combining the scents with hydrating glycerin, the mists create a refreshing veil and daily act to elevate your routine.
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BEST LUXURY HAIR PERFUME
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BEST LUXURY HAIR PERFUME
CHANEL Nº5 The Hair Mist
$92
In this hair perfume, the heritage bouquet of CHANEL Nº5 is enriched with rose and jasmine actives. The hair mist is a pared-back reimagination of the floral scent and with just a spritz, it leaves hair shining, silky and scented with CHANEL. The frosted glass of the miniature bottle is a beautiful addition to your beauty vanity, too.
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BEST MUSK HAIR PERFUME
MATIERE PREMIERE Parisian Musc Hair Mist
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BEST MUSK HAIR PERFUME
MATIERE PREMIERE Parisian Musc Hair Mist
$99
With a musk accord that’s almost reminiscent of coconut, this fine Matiere Premiere hair mist leaves behind a soft trail. Meanwhile, the formula is made with natural, nourishing ingredients to maintain supple hair.
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BEST ROSE HAIR PERFUME
DIOR Oud Rosewood Hair Perfume
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BEST ROSE HAIR PERFUME
DIOR Oud Rosewood Hair Perfume
$215
This elevated hair perfume evolves Dior’s Oud Rosewood fragrance from intense and spicy to bright, woody and wearable. Spray the scent directly onto your strands, or onto your hairbrush for a longer-lasting fragrance.
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BEST CITRUS HAIR PERFUME
SALT & STONE Body Mist Bergamot & Hinoki Fragrance
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BEST CITRUS HAIR PERFUME
SALT & STONE Body Mist Bergamot & Hinoki Fragrance
$77
With bergamot, orange blossom and Japanese hinoki bringing citrus notes, this Salt & Stone mist is instantly energising. While it was created for the body, the fragrance is infused with glycerin and red algae that will hydrate skin and hair alike.
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BEST FLORAL HAIR PERFUME
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BEST FLORAL HAIR PERFUME
HERMÈS Twilly d’Hermes Hair Mist
$109
A mini of Hermès signature fragrance, this Twilly hair perfume is floral and spicy. When applied in a sweeping spritz, the hair mist’s active ingredient, Healthy Shine Liliac, creates a comforting cloud to protect your strands from sun damage and city pollution.
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BEST REFRESHING HAIR PERFUME
SACHAJUAN Protective Hair Perfume
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BEST REFRESHING HAIR PERFUME
SACHAJUAN Protective Hair Perfume
$199
This multi-tasking Sachajuan hair perfume will transform second and third-day hair. It’s a fruity, floral fragrance that moisturises dry ends, reduces static and flyaways and adds shine. Even better, the hair mist has anti-odour technology to help keep your hair feeling fresh and clean.
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BEST SOFTENING HAIR PERFUME
BALMAIN Paris Silk Perfume
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BEST SOFTENING HAIR PERFUME
BALMAIN Paris Silk Perfume
$75
A hair perfume that works like a leave-in conditioner, this Balmain Paris Silk Perfume cares for hair with argan oil and silk proteins. The scent itself is summery, with base notes of amber, vanilla and sandalwood complimented by jasmine, gardenia and star anise.
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BEST AMBER HAIR PERFUME
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BEST AMBER HAIR PERFUME
JULIETTE HAS A GUN Not a Hair and Body Mist
$84
If you love the signature Juliette Has A Gun fragrance, Not A Perfume, top up its light, musk and amber scent with this hair perfume. A spritz of the hair and body mist will also support the health of your skin and strands with antioxidant actives.
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BEST DOUBLE-DUTY HAIR PERFUME
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BEST DOUBLE-DUTY HAIR PERFUME
RARE BEAUTY Find Comfort Body & Hair Fragrance Mist
$49
For a moment of calm, Rare Beauty’s uplifting Find Comfort Body & Hair Fragrance Mist combines notes of sparkling lemon zest, jasmine and cashmere wood. It’s lightweight, non-sticky and filled with biotin and niacinamide, so your hair and skin will feel soft, smooth and hydrated.
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BEST CLEAN HAIR PERFUME
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BEST CLEAN HAIR PERFUME
CROWN AFFAIR The Signature Scent
$143
Towing the line between feminine and masculine, the Crown Affair The Signature Scent brings the brand’s bergamot, yuzu and lemongrass notes into your daily fragrance ritual. It’s a mindful act your strands will happily soak up, just like the fine mist’s hydrating glycerin and aloe leaf extract.
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BEST VIRAL HAIR PERFUME
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BEST VIRAL HAIR PERFUME
SOL DE JANEIRO Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist
$63
The original — and TikTok viral — Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist has the vanilla, salted caramel and sandalwood fragrance of the iconic Bum Bum cream. Now there’s a range of eight sweet and summery options for your hair and body to discover.
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BEST AFFORDABLE HAIR PERFUME
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BEST AFFORDABLE HAIR PERFUME
MECCA MAX Optimist Energising Fragrance Mist Date Night Butterflies
$32
Vibrant and vivacious, this date night-ready fragrance mist and hair perfume from Mecca Max will spice up your strands. The cedarwood, moss and vetiver base notes are paired with a rose, magnolia and gardenia heart and bright pink pepper, black currant and pear top notes, which scent your hair with head-turning results.
What is the difference between perfume and hair perfume?
Hair perfumes and hair mists are specifically formulated for your strands, so they’re lightweight, water-based scents with little to no alcohol. Hair perfumes are also formulated with shine-enhancing and strengthening ingredients to care for your hair.
Traditional perfumes are made with a concentration of oils — 5-15 percent for Eau de Toilettes and 15-20 percent for Eau de Parfums — and alcohol, which evaporates to give fragrances their desired concentration and longevity on skin.
Can I use regular perfume on my hair?
A dedicated hair perfume is best, compared to regular perfume. Traditional fragrances and their alcohol content can have damaging and drying effects on your hair over time — plus, hair perfumes will linger on your strands for longer.
How long does hair perfume last?
Hair perfumes generally last five to six hours after your first spritz. You could even layer a hair perfume with your favourite fragrance to enhance its staying power.
Related: 13 fragrances to remind you of summer