This simple scent swap will leave you quids in
A core staple in any respectable beauty lineup, our love affair with fragrance is a universal one thanks to its ability to put a spring in our step and conjure up the happiest of memories.
Trouble is, with rising inflation and just about everything going up in price, for many of us, it's also the first product we forgo in a bid to save money.
The good news is that there's an easy switcheroo that will save you some serious dough. Yep, swapping out your traditional perfume for a fragrance designed for your hair might be the beauty hack you never knew you needed.
As well as boasting longer lasting aromas and hypo-allergenic properties, hair perfumes could be the answer to cost-of-living pressures on your beauty spending this summer.
What is hair perfume?
If you’ve never heard of a hair perfume before, rest assured, it’s exactly what it sounds like. In other words, ‘a hair-focused iteration of your favourite scent’ according to Sheeva Fallahi, beauty expert at LOOKFANTASTIC, who adds that sales of hair scents are soaring.
One of the industry’s best kept secrets is that most fragrance brands sell versions of their perfumes that are specifically designed to be used in your hair. They smell the same, but, and here’s the key – they're cheaper in price, sometimes by more than £100.
It’s a beauty hack that we’ve collectively started to clock. Data collected by LF reveals that in the UK alone, sales of hair perfumes have risen by 48% over the previous 12 months.
With the cost of living crisis and inflation on designer perfumes making them less affordable than this time last year, the boost in demand is hardly surprising.
It's being reflected on social media too, and the nascent popularity of hair perfumes has already spawned myriad viral videos. On TikTok the hashtag ‘hairperfume’ has nearly 50 million views, while #hairmist which has racked up over 120 million.
As well as typically being a cheaper dupe for more expensive skin perfumes, other coveted properties include impressive staying power.
Fragrance presenter & creator of IG series Desert Island Spritz, Alice DuParcq adds 'it's brilliant to see more and more brands creating beautiful hair perfumes. They capture the same sensorial universe as the coordinating Eau De Parfum but with a lower percentage of expensive fragrance extracts so the price point can therefore come down a bit.'
Why try a hair perfume?
If you’re sceptical of the ability of a quick hair spritz to do the job of a traditional perfume, then fear not. ‘Hair perfumes tend to have great lasting power as hair is porous so the scent molecules grab on really well,' adds DuParcq.
Because they straddle both haircare and fragrance, they have a unique hybrid function - offering both the nourishing benefits of hair mist, and the allure of your favourite scent. 'They are formulated in a hair-friendly texture that adds shine but zero residue,' explains DuParcq.
It can also be said that now is the best time to try them too. This is because when the mercury rises, your skin isn’t as good as absorbing scents as it tends to sweatier. Yet, making the swap to hair perfumes is an easy way to ensure a more long-lasting fragrance.
Though they technically smell the same as their skin based counterparts, they are lighter and less intense, making them a good choice for those who are phobic of the sometimes sickly strength of traditional perfumes.
Thanks to pared back formulas, they also suit anyone who’s spritzing habits are typically held back by sensitive skin.
‘If your skin is sensitive to normal fragrance and its high alcohol content, hair perfumes may be a safer and more gentle option that achieves the same fragrant goal,’ Fellahi explains.
Sold? WH have rounded up their tops picks of best hair perfumes below.
Best hair perfumes for 2024
1.Diptyque Ilo Hair Mist
Enriched with nourishing camellia oil to soften strands, this 'ode to summer' hair mist is mouth watering-ly refreshing thanks to green and zingy notes of prickly pear, bergamot, jasmine and iris. Diptyque's top tip for application? The hair absorbs this mist more readily after washing followed by a cold water rinse.
2. Byredo Bal D'Afrique
One of the most iconic and sexiest scents to ever exist, fans of the brand will be pleased to know their signature scent now comes in hair mist form. Specially designed to sit on the hair without leaving it greasy, the unique formula leaves the strands luminous, nourished and subtly scented with spicy and alluring notes of marigold, lemon and neroli.
3. Miss Dior Hair Mist
Should you choose to forgo a 100ml bottle of the original EdP then you've made an incredible saving of £67, which is nothing to be sniffed at. With fresh feminine notes of rose, lily and peony, this delicate floral scent leaves a sensual trail with every hair swish.
4. Gisou honey infused hair perfume
A popular choice among TikTokers, with Glossier-esque branding that's made even Scandi-influencer Matilda Djerf a fan. The amber-hued elixir promises sweetness, as well as added shine and boosted strength thanks to a formula enriched with the antioxidants, vitamins and amino acids of Mirsalehi Honey. The lightly floral scent is as fitting for a day time picnic as it is for evening drinks.
5. Jo Malone English Pear and Preesia Hair Mist
We had to include this iconic juicy scent, if nothing else because of the hair perfume’s cost savings. While the traditional version of Malone’s classic will set you back £110, the light weight hair mist equivalent is a mere £38, so you're quids in. Mellow and fresh, it’s perfect for daytime spritzing when you're on the go.
6. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist
This is another perfume that’s been widely lusted after on TikTok. There may be no such thing as a holiday in a bottle – but in our opinion this is close enough. The indulgent scent is infused with caramel, and pistachio, which mingle with tropical and beach-y notes such as jasmine and sandalwood that keep it fresh.
7. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Hair Mist
This fragrance has been revered by many of the fashion and beauty taste-makers for a while now, cementing it in the upper echelons of our fragrance faves. Its famously hefty price tag makes the more affordable hair mist something of a dream come true for those who don't have deep pockets. Musky notes of patchouli are blended with orange blossom and jasmine to give an aroma that’s light, but full-bodied.
8. Balmain Silk Hair Perfume
Crowned one of LF’s bestsellers over the past year, thanks to a formula enriched with silk protein and argan oil, it can even be used as a detangling spray or leave-in-conditioner. Designed to repair damaged hair, it also actively protects it from environmental damage. The unique but gentle aroma comes from a blend that includes tarragon, peach blossom, raspberry and star anise.
9. Oaui
Created by hair styling royalty Jen Atkin, this gorgeous hair and body mist is infused with addictive notes of dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose and musk that strike the balance between sweet and creamy. You'll be using this long after the sun sets on summer.
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