Hair Perfume
Pointless? Genius? Just a trend?
Written by GlenN Lauritz Andersson & Denis Vasilije, fragrance experts
A product category that’s increasingly taking up space on store shelves is so-called “hair mist” — hair perfume. But how do they actually work? Is it just a trick to sell more? What sets them apart from regular perfume? Here’s a brief introduction.
We know there are plenty of perfumes for different tastes and purposes — but who wouldn’t want their hair to smell great too? Maybe you don’t want to wash your hair every day but still need a light refresh; maybe you’ve been in smoky or food-scented environments, or spent a day at the beach and ended up with brittle hair. In those cases, the increasingly popular hair mist, i.e. hair perfume, can often be the solution.
But why not just grab your perfume bottle and give your hair a quick spray?
Well — to be honest, that’s a treatment your hair is unlikely to appreciate. Perfumes contain high levels of alcohol, which can dry out hair and may also irritate the scalp. A hair perfume, on the other hand, is based on a formula specifically designed for the purpose: to make hair smell good without drying it out — and to give it an extra wellbeing boost at the same time. Hair perfume therefore comes with many benefits:
- Makes hair smell great, often for several hours — but without the intrusive performance of traditional perfumes
- Has moisturizing properties and adds vitamins and nutrients
- Adds shine and radiance
- Helps counter frizz
- Protects against UV radiation
- Perfect when you just need a fragrant refresh, for example in sensitive environments such as the office.
So it’s a misconception to see hair mists as perfumed hairsprays — or just another gimmick or trend in the wake of the renaissance that has shaped the exclusive fragrance world in recent years. They exist for a reason, and more and more brands — from designer brands to narrower, more exclusive niche houses — have realized the point of expanding their ranges with this type of exciting product. As a result, the selection of pleasant scents in this category has grown, and there’s more and more to choose from. It’s also a great way to enjoy your favourite scent day-to-day and save your elegant perfume for more special occasions.
Both Swedish Byredo and more unusual brands like French MEMO Paris and Italian Xerjoff offer plenty of fantastic scents to revive your hair. And if you’re a fan of Acqua di Parma’s floral, classic women’s perfumes, you’ll find those available as hair perfume too.