While these anecdotes are special, and can help bring a brand’s ethos to life, I wondered how different a hair perfume actually was from a traditional fragrance—and if it could offer anything other than sensorial benefits. “Hair mist or hair perfume is definitely a lighter, more subtle version of fragrance created specifically to be sprayed on the hair,” Linda Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation explains, continuing that these tend to be gentler, and provide extra conditioning, nourishing, and strengthening benefits. She describes hair perfume as a less expensive investment and great entry into fragrance for new or younger customers. Plus, it’s an integral step in fragrance layering—the art of combining multiple scents to create a signature scent. “Hair fragrance is the next level of self expression and personalization,” Levy adds.
“Scent lives differently and for longer in hair than it does on the skin, so we’re seeing more customers reach for hair perfumes in 2024,” Cohen notes. “There’s no better compliment than when you go in for a hug and someone says, “you smell incredible” — a hair perfume gives just that effect.” So, read on to discover Vogue’s guide to the best hair perfumes of 2024, from Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Chanel, Dior, and more.
Sol de Janeiro Hair & Body Fragrance Mist
Why We Love It: You’re likely familiar with Sol de Janeiro’s Hair & Body Fragrance Mist, perhaps because it went viral on TikTok, or just because it’s one of the most acclaimed fragrance mists out there. The draw is its delectable aroma that smells good enough to eat. Cheirosa ‘62, one of three available scents, bottles the Brazilian spirit through sunny day-esque notes of pistachio, salted caramel, almond, and vanilla.
Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume
Why We Love It: “Fragrance is also the perfect medium through which we can bring our community into the Mirsalehi bee garden with us, sharing the beauty benefits our Bee Garden has to offer while honoring our 200 year heritage in beekeeping,” Mirsalehi explains. So, no surprise this scent is very honey-forward, juxtaposed with citrus notes of apricot and mandarin.
Crown Affair The Signature Scent Hair Perfume
Why We Love It: Not only does Crown Affair’s Hair Perfume smell good (it’s light, yet invigorating thanks to a burst of citrus), it’s packed with glycerin and aloe leaf extract to boost hair’s shine and reduce frizz. “The Signature Scent has the top notes of Italian bergamot, yuzu, and lemongrass, and base notes of amber and sandalwood— it’s a blend of carefully selected notes that evoke a sense of luxury, freshness, and sophistication,” says Cohen.
Rare Beauty Find Comfort Body & Hair Fragrance Mist
Why We Love It: Anyone partial to a lightweight mist will appreciate Rare Beauty’s fragrance mist. Designed for the body and hair, the formula is enriched with biotin to restore hair’s shine and elasticity, niacinamide to boost moisture levels, and ashwagandha extract to soothe skin. Plus, it boasts a grounding blend of lemon zest, jasmine, violet, vetiver, and cashmere wood.
Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Hair Perfume
Why We Love It: It’s well-known that Chanel makes some of the most classic scents on the market, so if you’re looking for a hair perfume complement to your everyday perfume, look no further that Chanel Coco Mademoiselle. Fresh, delicate, and feminine, this blends patchouli, vetiver, orange, jasmine, and rose into an aroma unlike any other.
Balmain Standard Hair Perfume
Why We Love It: Balmain’s hair perfume pairs sweet notes of peach blossom, raspberry, and apricot opposing warm scents of vanilla, star anise, sandalwood, and white musk for a comfortingly sumptuous fragrance great for daily wear. Plus, silk proteins and argan oil are featured, too, ensuring hair remains nourished and strong.
Moroccanoil Hair and Body Fragrance Mist
Why We Love It: When I think of the hair perfume I’d like to take with me on vacation, my mind goes to the Moroccanoil fragrance mist. Formulated for the hair and body, this leads with nourishing ingredients like argan oil and vitamin E, plus a sun-exposure absorber that protects hair from UV rays. On scent, expect a fresh, magnolia-forward fragrance sure to delight your senses.
Byredo Mojave Ghost Hair Perfume
Why We Love It: Byredo has a way of making fragrance, in all its forms, really, really cool; same goes for its hair perfume. While the label offers six of its most sought-after parfums in hair treatments, Mojave Ghost is the one to know. With a composition of magnolia, sandalwood, and violet at its heart, alongside ambrette, cedarwood, and amber, this is a genderless, truly layerable aroma.
Dior Miss Dior Hair Mist
Why We Love It: Miss Dior is as timeless a scent as they come, so picking up its hair mist is a worthwhile, never-goes-out-of-style vanity staple. What I like most about this hair perfume is that it maintains the same intensity as its eau de parfum counterpart—Italian mandarin threaded with Damascus rose and Indonesian patchouli—and has an equally impressive staying power.
Edition de Parfums Frédéric Malle Portrait Of A Lady Hair Mist
Why We Love It: Real ones know there’s nothing quite like Frédéric Malle’s Portrait Of A Lady—an acclaimed perfume for women concocted by master perfumer Dominique Ropion. Following its success, the label distilled the scent into a lighter formulation to sit weightlessly on the hair. With just a few spritzes, one can revel in its blend of Turkish rose, patchouli, sandalwood, blackcurrant, clove, and Jamaican naseberry that only accentuates one’s natural scent.
Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Hair Mist
Why We Love It: What I like to think of springtime in a bottle, this Jo Malone scent is a personal favorite, so picking up its hair mist is a no-brainer. King William pear, freesia, and patchouli are the key notes, paired with argan oil and vitamin B5 for extra hair conditioning benefits.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Scented Hair Mist
Why We Love It: Levy lists Maison Francis Kurkdjian as one of her favorite hair perfume labels. Known for some of the most iconic scents on the market, the brand’s Aqua Universalis Scented Hair Mist is not to be missed. It’s a light, airy, and citrusy scent brought to life by bergamot, white flowers, and lemon—perfect for a midday pick-me-up.
Diptyque Eau Rose Hair Mist
Why We Love It: There are numerous interpretations of roses these days, but something keeps bringing us back to Diptyque’s Eau Rose. Luckily, the label also offers the alluring scent in a lightweight hair mist—led by two types of roses, damascena and centifolia, rounded out by lychee and ambroxan.