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No matter how much you wash your hair or how much dry shampoo you use, sometimes it’s just not enough to mask an unwanted odor that may naturally come from your hair. This is where hair perfumes come in. Hair perfume is formulated with fragrance, of course, but it’s also made with ingredients to nourish, protect, and moisturize the hair.
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So…What is hair perfume?
Hair perfumes are a bit different from regular perfumes, mainly because they’re made without the “bad” alcohols that don’t do any good for your hair, such as ethyl alcohol, denatured alcohol (alcohol denat), and isopropyl alcohol, which can dry out your hair. They’re formulated like any other perfume but with ingredients that cater to the health of your hair, too.
Simply put, it’s a mist with fragrance formulated specifically for your hair and scalp — a.k.a, without overly drying ingredients like the alcohols listed above.
The best part about hair perfumes is that they are multitaskers, meaning they do more than just give your locks a scent. They are made with components that provide benefits to your scalp and your hair adding moisture, shine, taming frizz, and nourishing hair.
Is hair perfume good for your hair?
When using anything on your hair, you want to make sure it’s not going to damage it or strip it of its natural oils. This is why it’s important to look at the ingredients of the hair perfume you’re choosing and keep in mind what your specific hair type and texture needs.
You may notice your hair perfume is made with other alcohols, such as cetearyl alcohol, behenyl alcohol, lauryl alcohol, and benzyl alcohol which can help your hair maintain its moisture, add moisture to damaged hair, and serve as a protective layer. Many of them are also made with ingredients like argan oil, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin E, which work to nourish and hydrate hair.
How do you use hair perfume?
You can use hair perfumes the way you use a regular perfume. To apply, spray it throughout your hair, adding as much or as little as you’d like. You can even spray it on your hairbrush before using it on your hair to ensure all your strands are thoroughly coated in fragrance.
Hair perfumes are also easy to travel with. You can store it in your purse or your cosmetic bag for a little touch-up when needed. If you’re heading to the gym before running errands, you can keep your hair perfume in your bag or car and spray it on your hair to mask the scent of sweat.
How long does hair perfume last?
How long a hair perfume lasts depends on a few things. When applying, keep in mind how strong the scent is and how much you use in your hair. These are two factors that will determine how long your hair perfume will last.
Many brands will include how long the scent will last on the bottle of their products. For example, some will say their hair perfume will last 24 hours or 48 hours, but at the end of the day, how long the perfume lasts may depend on how much you apply to your hair and what you’re doing throughout the day.
There are a ton of hair perfume options out there, but we tried out the ones with the most buzz and found the top 20 options that are worthwhile. Ahead, the best hair perfumes on the market.
Best Overall
Sol de Janeiro can really do no wrong, especially when it comes to their Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ‘62 Bum Bum Hair & Body Fragrance Mist. You can use it as a perfume on your body as well as in your hair. It has a perfectly warm and spicy yet sweet scent with salted caramel, pistachio, and vanilla.
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This layerable hair perfume from Gisou will quickly become your go-to when your hair is due for a wash but you don’t have the time. It has an irresistible scent that will instantly refresh your locks, giving you that freshly showered feel and smell. The hydrating perfume is made with Mirsalehi honey, which works great with all hair types.
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Best Lightweight
A lightweight perfume that doesn’t wear your hair down is crucial. The scent of this perfume is super uplifting and has notes of lemon zest, jasmine, and cashmere wood which you’ll never get tired of. It’s made with nourishing ingredients like niacinamide, ashwagandha extract, and biotin that will keep your hair feeling fresh, soft, and hydrated.
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Gold in a bottle is the perfect way to describe this hair mist. It’s a very mellow scent and formula that includes components like argan oil and provitamin B5 which nourish, soften, and give the hair a noticeable shine. With each spray, your senses will become filled with amber, freesia, woods, and King William pear. Plus, it’ll last all day long.
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The hair elixir spray from R+Co does it all. It hydrates, detangles, helps fight frizz, repairs, and fortifies hair, all thanks to ingredients like hyaluronic acid, sea buckthorn seed oil, and lemon peel extract. You’ll notice your hair feeling more nourished while using this spray as well as an increase in shine. Your hair will feel moisturized, soft, and it’ll smell so good!
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Best Scent Neutralizer
If you’re looking to get rid of any less-than-pleasant scents from your hair, this hair refresher from Oribe will neutralize odors while cutting static. It’ll refresh your hair with ingredients like watermelon, lychee, and edelweiss flower extracts. It will also defend your hair from oxidative stress, photoaging, and the deterioration of natural keratin and at the same time, protect it from feeling dry.
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The fragrance of this perfume is rich and fresh. You’ll smell fresh florals with notes of champagne, bergamot, and rose. It’s not the strongest scent but it’s strong enough to overpower any unwanted odor. It works so well, you’ll feel like you just had your hair freshly washed.
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Best Travel Friendly
When it comes to traveling, your hair care routine may take a back seat, which is why a product like this Between Washes Hair Perfume from Dove is perfect to have on hand. Spraying it on your hair will give your strands some much-needed freshness while eliminating odors you don’t want to smell. For example, you can use it after hitting the gym or when you’re a few days late on washing your hair. It’s also a great size making it super easy to travel with.
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This hair perfume from Chanel is one you won’t want to travel without. It is very airy and provides a fresh feeling that you’ll love. It’s non-drying and very lightweight and won’t weigh your hair down. The perfume is the perfect way to revive your hair with notes of orange, jasmine, and rose.
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Best Affordable
This light and alcohol-free perfume is one you can use on your body and your hair. It’s an amazing scent that is formulated without SLS, sulfates, parabens, and petroleum.
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Give your hair a long-lasting floral scent with this Aussie Flora Aura Scent Boost. It smells magical and is made with Australian jasmine flower extract. This hair perfume is paraben-free, and sulfate-free, and promises to freshen your hair without weighing it down.
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Perfect for those with curly hair, this hair perfume is 100% naturally fragranced and will refresh and revitalize your hair. The perfume will mask lingering scents that you don’t want to smell anymore, plus it’s formulated without silicones, parabens, and sulfates.
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Best Multi-Use
While you can use this fragrance as a hair perfume, you can also use it all over your body. The scent isn’t overbearing and is light in weight, so you can spray as much as you want without producing a headache.
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The scent of this hair and body mist is one you’ll want to smell every day. There are notes of saffron, jasmine absolute, and amber which create a warm floral scent that is long-lasting. You can spray it all over your body, including your hair, and it has a bit of a stronger scent that won’t go unnoticed by your coworkers.
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Frenshe’s hair, body, and linen mists are the epitome of what “multitask” means. You can use it on your linens, your body, and your hair. It smells so good, you’ll want to use it anywhere possible. Its vanilla scent is cozy and creates a peaceful vibe that you’ll love experiencing each time you spray it – it also helps your hair smell amazing.
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Best For Dry Hair
If you have dry hair, it’s important to use a product that will give it the moisture and hydration it deserves. The award-winning hair perfume from Crown Affair will do exactly that. It has a very light and refreshing scent that will be noticed but isn’t too overbearing. It’ll combat dryness in all hair types and add some gorgeous shine to your strands.
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Nourishing your hair is always important, so why not do it with a perfume that’ll also help it smell amazing? This hair perfume will boost the senses and deliver a super fresh feeling each time you use it. It’ll help your hair feel hydrated and nourished because it’s formulated with silk protein and argan elixir. You’ll notice your hair will also start looking and feeling more repaired as you use it.
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This lightweight hair perfume works well on all hair types and is formulated with hydrating ingredients like argan oil and vitamin E. Your hair will feel nourished and soft while smelling incredible, like you’re on a tropical vacation, with scents of the brand's signature scent, a blend of spicy amber and sweet floral notes.
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Best For Shine
When you’re looking to add some fragrance to your hair, you won’t regret investing in this hair perfume by Byredo. It’s scented with a woody, aromatic Mojave Ghost fragrance that you’ll become obsessed with — it seriously smells so good. You’ll find yourself reaching for this hair perfume on those days when you know you should wash your hair, but you’re simply not feeling it.
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Protect your hair and make it smell incredible with this powerhouse of a product. The protective hair perfume from Sachajuan will moisturize your hair while reducing static and protecting dyed hair. It’s made with UV protectants and shine-enhancing properties to ensure your locks stay in tip-top shape.