If you want to spruce up your fragrance routine, a hair perfume is a great way to do it. Still, it’s one of those categories that isn’t taken very seriously, especially when many people believe you can just spray some of your normal eau de parfum over your head and call it a day. But the distinction between hair perfumes and normal, alcohol-heavy sprays is an important one.
“Hair and regular perfumes are designed with different purposes in mind and their formulations reflect these distinctions,” November Nichols, founder of Chémin, tells POPSUGAR. Some key differentiators between the two are the ingredients used, the concentration of fragrance in each formula, and the longevity.
“Regular fragrances typically contain a higher amount of alcohol, which can dry out the hair and scalp,” Nichols says. “Hair perfumes, on the other hand, if formulated correctly, [can] be less drying and include moisturizing ingredients to nourish the hair and protect it from damage.”
Are Hair Perfumes Safe to Use?
If you’re new to the world of hair perfumes, you may be wondering if they’re safe to use. The answer is dependent on a few variables. “It’s important to choose ones that are specifically designed for use on that area,” Nichols says. “These products are formulated to minimize damage and dryness, which can be caused by the higher ethanol content in traditional fragrances.”
Additionally, hair perfume tends to be formulated with ingredients that hydrate the hair, whereas regular formulations have to find a balance of scent and cost-effective ingredients that will allow them to turn a profit on the product. This can lead to the presence of ingredients like propylene glycol, which is fairly inexpensive but evaporates quickly. “For true nourishment along with scent, look for ingredients in your hair perfume like glycerin, plant alkanes, and plant oils,” says Krupa Koestline, chief cosmetic chemist and founder of KKT Labs.
If you’re on the hunt for a hair perfume to add to your fragrance wardrobe, we went ahead and rounded up a few of our favorites. From scents that could replace an actual bottle of your eau de parfum to others that will make your hair smell like a fresh garden, keep reading for the best hair perfumes to consider purchasing, according to our editors.
