Hair scents are currently having a moment - slowly but steadily, earning their place as one of the fragrance industry’s most talked-about sub-categories. And it’s easy to see why. A lighter alternative to traditional perfume, hair fragrance can be used to finish a look, layer with other scents, or simply freshen things up between washes.
It’s an olfactory breed that plays keenly to its strengths - scent tends to live longer on more porous hair than it does on skin. This means that hair fragrances can afford to be airier and less concentrated than their eau de parfum counterparts, appealing to those who prefer a more subtle, lean-in approach to scent, rather than one that announces itself to a room before you’ve stepped through the door.
This lower scent concentration also allows for a more accessible price point - offering a gateway into the world of luxury fragrance for a different, often younger consumer. It’s a shrewd way to experience some of the world’s most iconic and elevated scents without quite so sky-high a spend.
But are hair perfumes essentially just regular fragrance repackaged? The short answer is no. Hair fragrances are designed to be lighter and less greasy than traditional formulas, and often contain far less (or no) alcohol, which can be drying and damaging for hair.
Last but by no means least, the savviest formulas do more than just smell good, they do good, too. Enriched with nourishing ingredients that you would typically find in high-end haircare, they often offer UV and pollution protection too, helping to shield strands from environmental stress, while slotting seamlessly into your styling routine. The result? A softer, airier and more wearable fragrance, with added swish, shine and staying power.
"I think we’re seeing a real shift in how people approach their beauty rituals,” says Sam McKnight MBE whose just-launched The Fragrance (With Benefits) was his most requested product to date. “There’s a growing desire for products that are both sensorial and functional … Hair fragrance used to be seen as a bit of an indulgence, but now, people want that little moment of luxury in the everyday — something that makes them feel good and also does good.”
For a delicate and discreet fragrance top-up these are a few of my favourite hair scents.
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume Wildflower Honey (£34, sephora.co.uk) - A best-selling, honey-infused hair perfume that launched to rapturous applause in 2021. This delivers all-day scent, lasting moisture and shine, with the signature addition of wildflower honey from the Mirsalehi Bee Garden.
Sol De Janeiro Cheirmosa Hair and Body Mist (from £24 for 90ml, sephora.co.uk) - A Gen Z favourite and certified sweet treat, this decadent and warm gourmand mist blends caramelised vanilla, toasted macadamia and tonka bean.
Hair Ritual by Sisley Le Parfum, (£92 for 100ml, spacenk.com) - A personal favorite, this addictive scent features mimosa, lemon, verbena and lavender for an irresistible and uplifting swish.
Frederic Malle Protrait of a Lady Hair Mist, (£105, cultbeauty.co.uk) - A lighter, more accessible iteration of the original opulent perfume. Turkish rose, patchouli and incense combine in a formulation designed to work with your hair’s natural ability to diffuse fragrance.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Hair Mist, (£60 for 35ml, chanel.com) - For a chic, whisper-soft trail of the iconic French scent. With orange, rose and jasmine, this emollient-rich formula leaves hair silky, scented and never weighed down.
Byredo Bal D’Afrique Hair and Body Mist, (£60, cultbeauty.co.uk) - A weightless mist inspired by 1920s Paris, with notes of bucchu, African marigold, bergamot, lemon and neroli. Subtly, warm and a bit smoky, it’s a modern classic with conditioning benefits built in.
Phlur Fine Fragrance Hair & Body Mist in Vanilla Skin, (£25, spacenk.com) - Creamy, cosy and long-lasting, this warm vanilla fragrance for the body and hair is blended with sandalwood and agarwood.
Zara Hair Golden Hour: Into the Glow Hair Perfume, (£11.99, zara.com) - Inspired by summer sunsets, this high-impact but highly affordable hair scent combines coconut nectar, jasmine, orange blossom, tiare and sea salt with inbuilt UV protection to shield your strands.
Hair By Sam McKnight The Fragrance with Benefits, (£44, sammcknight.com) - The iconic hairdresser's most-requested product to date, this hair fragrance bottles the brand’s much-loved signature scent by perfumer Lyn Harris. With notes of crisp green leaf, frankincense, juniper and cedarwood — inspired by by Sam’s North London garden — plus pro-vitamin B5 for weightless conditioning and UVA/ UVB filters.
