The best compliment is when someone says you smell good. But nowadays, that doesn't just mean your body fragrance.
Hair perfume has been my trick to boosting the scent of my body perfume, and the Internet's, too. Average views on TikTok around the topic are in the thousands, with top performers ranging in the millions. On Google Trends, the search for "hair perfumes" saw its biggest spike in Dec. 2024 and the topic continues to grow year over year. Other breakout terms such as "hair mist" and "hair scent," have also been consistently rising year after year. It's safe to say hair perfume is not going anywhere.
Standard perfume can be damaging to the hair. Hair perfume, however, is specifically meant for the hair. And while it may smell good, hair perfume can also be incredibly beneficial for hair health. Some of our editors have even noticed a difference in their frizz and overall appearance.
Keep reading to discover some editor-loved picks and the best ways to apply hair perfume.
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Is hair perfume good for your hair?
Brands who create hair perfumes, such as Gisou, claim that hair perfumes only use a very small amount of alcohol, making them safe enough to use. Some are even water-based. Body mists have a similar content, too, so you'll often see hair perfumes labeled as 'body and hair mists,' since they're just as gentle.
Standard perfume for the body typically contains a high concentration of alcohol. Spraying body perfume on your hair daily could potentially lead to dry ends, damage and breakage. However, perfumes of all sorts contain alcohol to help distribute fragrance oils. Standard perfumes have more so they last longer, and typically have a stronger and more lingering scent than hair perfumes.
Although hair perfumes usually have a lighter scent, they can help boost the smell of your body perfume, refresh your strands and even help improve its appearance.
Best hair perfumes and mists
For your hair (and home): Being Frenshe Hair, Body & Linen Mist Body Spray
- Infused with essential oils
- Good for hair, linen and body
- Designed to boost mood
- Strong scent; not for everyone
Size: 5 oz | Notes: Fresh lavender, milky sandalwood and sweet cardamom
"This went viral on TikTok last year and I finally found it in stores once and understood why," raves editor Jillian Ortiz. "I tried every scent, but this remains my favorite. It smells so good and actually lasts." It can also be used on the body and linen to boost mood, according to the brand.
To help prevent hair damage: Moroccanoil Mini Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
- Travel-friendly size
- Lightweight scent
- Includes brand's argan oil
- Reviews mixed on mist
Size: 1 oz | Notes: Amber, magnolia and woody notes
The warm floral scent in Moroccanoil's Mini Hair and Body Fragrance Mist is worth mentioning, but the main appeal of this mist is its key ingredients. Vitamin E helps with skin and hair moisture, a UV absorber assists with preventing hair damage from sun exposure and argan oil, a signature from the brand, helps nourish and hydrate. Trust me — you'll want to spray it on all day long, knowing how good it is for your locks.
Good for scent layering: NEQI 2-in-1 Hair Perfume The Signature
- Long-lasting; not overpowering
- Easy application
- Sulfate-free
- Finish may differ on hair type
Size: 2.5 oz | Notes: Floral petals, cedarwood and citrus
The new-to-market brand has been a favorite amongst the Shop TODAY team, with their hair perfume being the star product. Shop TODAY Page Melanie Faz calls it the "perfect mix of sweet and fresh without being overpowering," and says that it layers well with other scents and products. Although the brand says you should see an improvement in shine and feel, Faz notes that it may differ per hair type.
A cap-less option: Touchland Power Essence Body & Hair Fragrance Mist
- Skin care-infused
- Designed to boost mood
- Mixed reviews on bottle
Size: 2 oz | Notes: Varies per scent; seven options available
You might've heard of Touchland because of their viral hand sanitizers, but they recently launched a collection of body and hair mists that I've had my eyes on. The mist is cap-less for stress-free use on the go and travel and is skin care-infused to awaken the senses and hydrate the skin and hair.
Internet-loved brand: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 59 Perfume Mist Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
- Smells downright delicious
- Crowd-pleasing
- Lightweight
- May require reapplication
Size: 3.04 oz; also available in 8.1 oz | Notes: Sugared violet, vanilla orchid and sandalwood
Nowadays, it seems that everyone uses Sol De Janeiro, but we understand the love. The scents are delicious; the formula lasts; and the bottle is too cute to resist. One of production associate Audrey Eckman's favorites from the line is Cheirosa 59.
"I spray it on my hair to use it as a hair perfume, which I think helps the scent stay a bit longer than it does on my skin," she notes. "It layers so well with other perfumes and has a cozy, light vanilla-forward scent."
A summer scent: OUAI St. Barts Hair and Body Mist
- A good summer scent
- Gentle and even mist
- Light beach-y scent
- Only lasts a few hours
Size: 3.3 oz; also available in 8 oz | Notes: Dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose and musk
This hair mist from Ouai is one of my favorite scents for the spring and summer. The main notes are tropical-forward and include dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose, and musk. It's beachy but not in a way that reminds you of sunscreen. Altogether, the scent reminds me of a warm coconut and pineapple, despite not having these notes. I think it's delicious!
When your hair needs a pick-me-up: Emi Jay Aura Hydrating Hair Fragrance Mist
- Helps refresh hair
- Great layering scent
- Claims to smooth and add shine
- Best if you're into musks
Size: 1.8 oz | Notes: Amber and light musk
This alluring and sophisticated scent is full of warm musks without being overpowering. But in my opinion, it is great for touch-ups when your hair needs a refresh or pick-me-up. According to the brand, it has a fine mist for an even spray, plus a quick-drying application so it won't disrupt your hair style. It also contains glycerin and aloe leaf juice to freshen and hydrate.
Mood-boosting: Rare Beauty by Selena Gomez Find Comfort Body & Hair Fragrance Mist
- Layerable scent
- Uplifting and calming
- Non-sticky
- Some say it can be oily
Size: 3.3 oz | Notes: Lemon zest, jasmine and cashmere
Designed to uplift and calm, Rare Beauty's Find Comfort Body & Hair Fragrance Mist features lemon zest, jasmine and cashmere wood (a combo I didn't know I'd love!) to revitalize the hair, skin and mind. Plus, biotin and niacinamide make it a treat for your hair care, too, since they should help tame frizz and enhance shine.
An editor-favorite: Gisou Wildflower Honey Infused Hair Perfume
- Long lasting
- Light and pretty night
- Only a few spritzes are needed
Size: 1.7 oz | Notes: Honey, spring florals, citrus and mandarin
Editor Vivien Moon calls Gisou’s honey-infused hair perfume her “signature hair scent,” which I can also attest to as an avid user myself. It’s enriched with Mirsalehi honey, and smells like it, too, to help refresh and leave a sweet trail. “I no longer care if my shampoo/conditioner make my hair smell good because I know that this will do the job,” says Moon. “I spray it after every time I style my hair, and am constantly surprised at how well it holds up throughout the day.”
Truly multi-use: Fulton & Roark Matia Formula 5 Oil
- Lightweight formula
- Good for hair, body and more
- Long-lasting
- A little goes a long way
Size: 1.7 oz | Notes: Cardamom and ginger blossom
This lightweight oil from Fulton & Roark contains seven nutrient-rich oils to nourish and smooth the hair and skin. While it works its magic, I love that it leaves a fine fragrance of cardamom, ginger blossom and more that you'll want to apply head-to-toe. According to the brand, the product can also be a scalp moisturizer, pre-shave oil, beard oil and dry skin treatment.
For evenings out: YSL Beauty Libre Hair Mist
- Gorgeous bottle
- Long-lasting
- Warm floral scent
- Only need a few spritzes
Size: 1.7 oz | Notes: Honey, spring florals, citrus and mandarin
Moon is a fan of YSL Beauty's Libre perfume, which she loves "wearing to work or a night out because it gives me a little more confidence and feels like the final touch to any outfit.”
With the same notes, YSL Beauty's hair mist gives you the exact invigorating (and confidence-boosting) experience you get from the original. Except, this perfume is hair-safe, and has pomegranate extract to boost shine and softness.
If you prefer rose scents: Diptyque Eau Rose Hair Mist
- Light scent; not overwhelming
- A little goes a long way
- Pricey for a small bottle
Size: 1 oz | Notes: Damascena rose, centifolia rose and litchi accord
"I'm not a huge rose/floral fragrance person but I love the way this smells," boasts associate editor Kamari Stewart. "It's so light and perfect for everyday use," she adds, and says that a few spritzes are all you need for the scent to last a long time. "I love putting this on my hair when I need a little confidence boost or something to put some pep in my step."
Frequently Asked Questions
Hair perfume and body mists contain a much smaller amount of alcohol than standard body perfume. Because of this, they might not smell as intense or last as long, but that doesn't mean they aren't effective.
For instance, "Body mists have less oil and more water than perfumes, which make them lighter and easier to wear," explained Bustle Digital Group Beauty Director Faith Xue in a previous segment. "You can spritz them after the gym, throughout the day [and] in your hair."
Hair perfume often will contain ingredients you've probably seen in skin and hair care products to help tackle common concerns, revive the hair and help hydrate dry ends.
Bee Shapiro, the founder and CEO of Ellis Brooklyn, previously told us that for standard fragrances, moisturized skin is key to holding a scent longer. We can apply that same logic to hair perfume: Using hair care with similar notes can help the hair perfume cling to your hair better. Most hair perfumes will also instruct you to apply to dry hair instead of wet hair for better absorption.
Shapiro also suggests spraying perfumes on pulse points, such as the wrists, neck, behind the ears and décolletage, because these areas hold heat more. So as you spray from root to tip, you may want to leave a spritz or two in these areas to boost the scent of your hair perfume.
Hair perfume should be the very last step in your routine, right after you finish styling your hair. You'll want to divide your hair evenly and spray from root to tip. Some brands will suggest you flip your hair upside down to get the nap of the neck, where one of the pulse points is, to distribute the scent and help it last longer.
How we chose
The Shop TODAY editors and writers search the internet to find the best products out there. We interview expert sources, comb through customer reviews and even use our own personal experiences to make shopping easier for our readers.
As an editorial team, we independently create content and determine coverage based on research, reporting and what we think TODAY.com readers would like to read about. The goal of our content is to provide a service and inform readers who are on the hunt for the latest products to help make their life better. Items are sold by retailer, not TODAY. Pricing and availability are accurate as of publish time.
The Flat Lay Co. Flat Lay Makeup Bag
The Flat Lay Co. Flat Lay Makeup Bag