The 13 Best Hair Perfumes of 2023

Give your hair a luxurious refresh with these intoxicating perfumes designed specially to be spritzed on your strands.

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InStyle / David Hattan

No fragrance wardrobe is complete without a hair perfume. Hear us out: Though they may seem frivolous and unnecessary at first glance, hair perfumes hold a bevy of benefits. Think about it — a hair-focused iteration of your favorite scent has a much more cost-conscious price tag; the formulas usually have a lighter intensity of fragrance, which leaves behind a delicate trace rather than a too-strong impression; and many are made with shine-enhancing or reparative ingredients, keeping hair health top of mind.

On top of that, "If your skin is sensitive to scent, hair perfumes may be a safer option," says fragrance content creator and brand consultant LC James. Whether it's one definitive motivation or a combination of these reasons, hair perfumes are a fantastic option for your beauty collection.

To find the best hair perfumes we consulted with leading fragrance experts and tried out dozens of products, analyzing the ingredient list, benefits, and scent of each. Whether you enjoy gourmand notes, hair-refreshing formulas, or alcohol-free versions, there is an option for you amongst our top picks. Discover the 13 best hair perfumes of the year, below.

Nordstrom

What We Love: You get the iconic Gypsy Water scent for a fraction of Eau de parfum price.What We Don't Love: The perfume still contains a percentage of alcohol.

A handful of the experts we interviewed listed Byredo's hair perfume as a favorite, beauty editors love it, and it's one of the brand's best-selling products — so it's no surprise it claimed the best overall title. While it does contain trace amounts of alcohol (not enough to dry out your strands), this hair perfume is so incredibly powerful and intense that just a spritz or two will last the entire day — an attribute that sets it apart from others whose scents fade relatively quickly.

Another bonus is the price point: If you’re not quite ready to commit to one of Byredo's popular Eau de parfums, try the hair perfume. They come in the brand's most beloved scents, like Gypsy Water, and the 75 milliliter bottle lasts much longer than you’d expect. With notes of bergamot, pine, sandalwood, and amber, the classic Gypsy Water scent creates a craveable smoky, woodsy, and citrus experience.

If you aren't a fan of woody scents, celebrity hairstylist Adam Reed also recommends Byredo's Bal D'Afrique Hair Perfume, which is a citrus and floral fragrance with lemon, black currant, vetiver, and cedar.

Price at time of publish: $80

Size: 75 ml | Key Ingredients: Fragrance, alcohol | Fragrance Notes: Bergamot, sandalwood, amber

Amazon

What We Love: This is a delicious gourmand scent that smells far more expensive than its budget-friendly price point.What We Don't Love: The scent fades pretty quickly.

Looking to get away to a tropical island in mere seconds? Spritz on this hair and body mist composed of Tahitian vanilla and rich bourbon vanilla for an addictive gourmand scent. The upside of this light formula is the ingredient list: It consists of water and essential oils, no alcohol in sight. The downside is the mist can lose its potency quickly, so you may have to mist on a few additional sprays throughout the day. But don't worry about running out quickly — the bottle is by far and away the largest option on this list. Bonus points for the packaging material, which is made of 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.

Price at time of publish: $12

Size: 177 ml | Key Ingredients: Essential oils | Fragrance Notes: Vanilla

Bloomingdales

What We Love: This is a lighter variation on the classic, cult-favorite perfume.What We Don't Love: The mix of sugar and spices makes this an extremely sweet perfume — if gourmand scents give you a headache, you probably want to avoid this.

The Frederic Malle perfumers intentionally designed the brand's hair mists to be similar to the original Eau de parfums, but still unique in their own right. Intended to have a slightly lighter scent that interacts with the heat produced from the head, the Musc Ravageur fragrance projects notes of amber, patchouli, vanilla, and sandalwood. Working beautifully on its own (or in tandem with the Eau de parfum), this bold and sophisticated hair perfume is worth the splurge.

James is also an admirer of this hair mist. "I don't say this lightly — if you like spices, musks, and smelling like the sexiest sugar cookie alive, you need some Musc Ravageur in your scent wardrobe," she says. "The hair mist is the best way to get it, with 100 milliliters being a fraction of the cost of the Eau de Parfum," she adds. "This stuff is dangerous — thank me later."

Price at time of publish: $180

Size: 100 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, fragrance | Fragrance Notes: Amber, vanilla, patchouli, sandalwood

Eva NYC

What We Love: The scent is an expensive-smelling mix of florals and musk — with an under-$20 price tag.What We Don't Love: The bold scent is short-lived: The fragrance isn't long-lasting.

If you’ve used any of Eva NYC's hair care products and couldn't get enough of the scent, it was Mane Magic you were getting a whiff of. The brand's signature mood-boosting scent includes notes of classic florals: Gardenia, freesia, jasmine, and magnolia, along with hints of plum and musk. A quick spritz increases dopamine levels, but as with many hair perfumes, the scent doesn't linger all too long.Truthfully, we can forgive the short-lived fragrance because of Eva NYC's admirable sustainability efforts. They’re the first and only masstige brand to certify as climate neutral; as well as the first brand to launch 100 percent recyclable forever aluminum, which can be reused endlessly.

Price at time of publish: $18

Size: 30 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, fragrance | Fragrance Notes: Freesia, gardenia, amber, musk

Diptyque

What We Love: This smells like both a beach vacation and walking through a tuberose field on a sunny day in spring — plus the formula has hydrating castor oil.What We Don't Love: The floral notes may be too intense for some users.

Inspired by renowned perfumer Fabrice Pellegrin's childhood spent at Do Son beach in Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, the scent hints at tropical getaways with tuberose, orange blossom, and jasmine. But it's the tuberose that does the majority of the Do Son heavy lifting.

Known as the carnal flower, the tuberose is a sweet, potent, almost lily-like blossom that shares almost no olfactory notes with a rose — in fact, completely ignore the word ‘rose’ in tuberose. Instead imagine warm weather locals, sweet florals, and Do Son beach when you see the word tuberose. We’ll be the first to admit that tuberose can be polarizing, but its unique heady aroma is what makes it so memorable.

The formula doesn't just make hair smell good: It also includes castor oil, which can be highly moisturizing and imparts a healthy shine on strands.

Price at time of publish: $56

Size: 30 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, fragrance, castor oil | Fragrance Notes: Tuberose, orange blossom, jasmine

Gisou

What We Love: Featuring hints of wildflowers and honey, this perfume makes you smell like you’ve been running through a bee farm.What We Don't Love: The scent can disappear too quickly.

It's only right that influencer and entrepreneur Negin Mirsalehi's Gisou Hair Perfume smells like honey. After all, the family business is bees. Born and raised in the Netherlands on the family's sixth-generation bee farm, Mirsalehi created Gisou as a celebration of all things honey and propolis. All Gisou products are made from the family's honey, including the Hair Perfume, which has hints of soap, florals, and, yep, honey.

Honey doesn't just make the hair perfume smell sweet, it actually adds a bevy of nourishing, moisturizing, and reparative benefits to the hair, too. Spritz it on second or third day hair that needs a refresh. While it imparts shine that lasts for hours, the fragrance itself lingers only for an hour or two.

Price at time of publish: $83

Size: 100 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, fragrance, honey | Fragrance Notes: Honey, wildflowers, soap

Bloomingdale's

What We Love: The fragrance is a modernized take on a rose scent with tart notes of lychee and bergamot.What We Don't Love: This may be too bold and sweet for some users.

Rose fragrances can be divisive — you love them or you hate them — and Delina is no exception. Those that love natural rose in a fragrance can't get enough, and those that don't care for rose enthusiastically cannot stand it. If you’re in the former camp, this hair perfume is a dream.

Turkish rose is at the heart of this light spritz, but you’ll also find tart rhubarb and lychee, creamy cashmere wood, and musk for an addictive hair perfume. Compared to other hair perfumes, this scent lingers for a long time, too, so you’ll feel energized when you catch a whiff of your hair blowing in the wind.

Price at time of publish: $90

Size: 75 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, fragrance | Fragrance Notes: Turkish rose, lychee, vanilla

Penhaligon’s

What We Love: The historic niche brand features charming packaging and scents, including this deliciously rich woody-floral fragrance.What We Don't Love: The short-lived longevity will leave you wanting to reapply after a few hours.

Penhaligon's — a delightful word to say aloud, but also a delightful heritage brand. The 150+-year-old British brand has a pretty significant fan, too: King Charles III. He granted the brand a royal warrant — a mark of recognition for products used by the British monarchy — in the ‘80s and recently collaborated with them on a fragrance in early 2022 (Highgrove Bouquet, inspired by the florals and fruits that grow around the royal home).

Halfeti is one of the brand's bestsellers: A rich blend of spices, leather, and woody notes create a satisfyingly complex hair perfume. The perfume has citrus, herbs, and spices for top notes, then floral heart notes (including jasmine and Bulgarian rose), and a base of leather, oud, cedar, sandalwood, amber, musk, and vanilla. "11/10 for packaging and presentation, this lush spicy rose is a regal addition to your hair routine," says James. A charming blend from a charming brand — a perfect fit for any Anglophile.

Price at time of publish: $55

Size: 30 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, fragrance, argan oil | Fragrance Notes: Cardamon, Bulgarian rose, oud

Saks Fifth Avenue

What We Love: The formula includes the brand's argan elixir and silk protein complex to moisturize and enrich hair over time.What We Don't Love: Though this is an issue with many hair perfumes, the scent fades pretty quickly.

Fashion label Balmain Paris’ ‘hair couture’ line is dedicated to high-fashion glam with high-tech ingredients and sustainable production methods (What more could you want?). The brand's signature fragrance is a who's-who of gourmand and citrus heavy hitters (in popularity and scent).

Believe it or not, the blend includes all 19 of the following notes: Star anise, tarragon, pinewood, peach blossom, raspberry, gardenia, orange blossom, cloves, jasmine, rose, ylang-ylang, apricot, lilac, amber, vanilla, sandalwood, cedar wood, balsamic, and white musk. You’d think it’d be a potent mess, but magically, the fragrance is a sensual floral, amber, and woody blend.

Oh, and the formula contains the brand's silk protein complex and argan elixir for a dose of hydration throughout the day. All bottles are made of 100 percent recyclable plastic, sustainable ingredients, and the brand practices green shipping methods, too. Considering the price we wish the scent lingered a bit longer, but with all the added benefits we think this hair perfume is well worth it.

Price at time of publish: $163

Size: 100 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, argan elixir, silk protein | Fragrance Notes: Star anise, gardenia, white musk

Kérastase

What We Love: Hair care first, perfume second — this fragrant treatment adds shine, reduces breakage, and strengthens strands.What We Don't Love: The oil can weigh down fine hair.

Kérastase has been pioneering hair care innovation since 1964, but one of its most impressive recent inventions is this hair perfume oil, which works to strengthen and repair hair with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E, while also imparting a complex scent.

While the hair repair benefits are the star of the show, the fragrance isn't playing second fiddle. After all, the scent is created by master perfumer Alberto Morillas, who crafted some of the most iconic scents on the market today (including CK One (!), Acqua di Gio, and Gucci Bloom to name just a few). This hair perfume has top notes of crisp citrus, floral notes of tea rose and peony, and a base of magnolia and wood.

Color expert Shelley Gregory is a fan, noting it's "a great multitasker for moisturizing the hair." Plus, she loves the enviable shine it can add to strands with just a few drops. You may want to skip this if you have fine hair, though, because it can be too heavy and ultimately weigh down strands.

Price at time of publish: $74

Size: 100 ml | Key Ingredients: Fragrance, hyaluronic acid, vitamin E | Fragrance Notes: Tea rose, wood, musk

Sephora

What We Love: This has the same iconic scent the brand's beloved Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.What We Don't Love: Packaging issues can leave the bottle broken and leaking.

If you’ve ever massaged on Sol de Janeiro's famed Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and loved the warm, beachy scent, you’re in luck: This Cheirosa 62 hair and body mist has the exact same scent. Filled with gourmand notes of pistachio, almond, salted caramel, and vanilla, the perfume is designed to leave you metaphorically sundrenched and "cheriosa," which means smelling incredibly irresistible in Brazilian. The brand is focusing on sustainability, too: The bottles are designed to be endlessly refilled (with the refill coming in a hefty 240 ml container). While we love the sustainability aspect, the packaging could use a little work because we found that it's prone to leaking unless stored upright.

Price at time of publish: $38

Size: 240 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, fragrance | Fragrance Notes: Pistachio, jasmine, vanilla, sandalwood

Saks Fifth Avenue

What We Love: A boldly-scented hair mist that's sans alcohol is a rare find, treasure this iteration.What We Don't Love: The recently ubiquitous scent is almost too popular.

The myth, the legend, the Baccarat Rouge 540. Maison Francis Kurkdjian's hair mist is consistently sold out — yes, it's a fantastic hair perfume, but it's also Baccarat Rouge 540 at a fraction of the Eau de Parfum price point. And impressively, Kurkdjian has taken the alcohol-free challenge to heart, creating a potent, beautifully bold scent, sans alcohol. This makes the perfume far more gentle on hair, but it's also much more difficult to formulate, so bravo, dear Kurkdjian.

The light, floral, amber, and woody scent has hypnotized all of social media, becoming a viral sensation in the last few years. Don't let the manic popularity discourage you, though, it's a fantastic scent and a steal at less than $100.

Price at time of publish: $85

Size: 70 ml | Key Ingredients: Castor oil, fragrance | Fragrance Notes: Jasmine, saffron, cedar

Saks Fifth Avenue

What We Love: Anti-odor technology captures odor and breaks it down for fresher, better-smelling second-day hair.What We Don't Love: The scent leans masculine.

Almost all brands have hair perfumes that simply coat your tresses in a delightful-smelling fragrance (which is great!). But the Swedish-based hair care brand Sachajuan isn't like most brands: Their multi-tasking iteration uses anti-odor technology to encapsulate odor molecules and break them down for hair that isn't just masked in fragrance but actually smells better (think Febreeze, but for hair). In addition to odor-killing, the perfume includes ingredients with UV protection, shine enhancement, static reduction, and hydration.

Already a fan of Sachajuan? You’ll recognize the scent of this hair perfume, which is included in all Sachajuan products. Though the fragrance is fruity and floral, it leans more masculine thanks to base notes of patchouli, cedar wood, and white musk. Spritz on daily for hair health and smell-good compliments. "This smells delicious and banishes any fears of damage from hair fragrance," adds James.

Price at time of publish: $83

Size: 50 ml | Key Ingredients: Alcohol, fragrance, sunflower seed extract, olive oil | Fragrance Notes: Green apple, rose, patchouli

Hair holds fragrance surprisingly well. "If perfume seems to disappear off your skin, no matter the formulation, you may get better longevity out of a hair mist," says James.

Shockingly, your hair perfume might even last longer than your standard Eau de parfum. "The science behind a hair perfume allows the fragrance to stay within hair strands for longer than it would on skin, being that pH changes in skin — and with hair that does not happen," says Yvan Jacqueline, president of the Americas for Parfums de Marly. (Of course, it varies with each individual and their body chemistry, he adds.)

Some hair perfumes on this list have better longevity than others (though, the average time a scent will linger is about three to four hours). If you want to be able to catch a whiff of the fragrance all day, we recommend the long-lasting Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa ’62 Bum Bum Hair & Body Fragrance Mist.

Most hair perfumes still contain alcohol, says Kasper Heemskerk, hair stylist and international education director at Balmain Hair Couture, but at a much lower amount making them gentler for strands. "Common wisdom is that a high-alcohol formulation is harsher on hair, especially colored hair," says James. "Alcohol in a hair formulation isn't the kiss of death, though — as with all things, test it on a small portion of your hair before you apply it all over — and always when dry," she adds. If you're dead set on avoiding alcohol though, try Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Scented Hair Mist, which is 100 percent alcohol free.

A hair perfume can be used in (at least) two ways: A scent continuation from their Eau de parfum or an opportunity for scent layering. "Hair perfumes or hair mists can be looked upon as an extension of your fragrance collection or wardrobe," suggests Jacqueline. "Not necessarily targeting a particular part of the body, per se, but rather enrapturing the wearer with their favorite fragrance or fragrances in a new format," he adds.For James, hair perfume is an opportunity to layer and experiment. Mixing and matching fragrance with a different hair perfume can create a whole new scent experience, rather than utilizing an exact clone of your signature scent, she suggests.

"[Regular] perfume can go onto the hair, that is absolutely fine and safe, just spray it into the air and then walk into the mist of fragrance," says Reed. He isn't buying the alcohol fear-mongering, too, whether that be an alcohol-included hair perfume, or just spritzing a standard fragrance into your strands. "Some people say it dries out their hair, but I'm not a massive believer in that because if you spray fragrance on your neck, it's always going to touch your hair anyway," he adds.

Hair perfumes are designed with healthy hair in mind, though, notes Heemskerk. Not only the lesser alcohol percentage, but they can also include ingredients that can help restore moisture and nourish hair. Take Kérastase Chronologiste Huile de Parfum, for example, which is a nourishing hair oil that is beautifully fragranced to double as a hair perfume.

"Hair perfumes should be sprayed from a distance onto the hair, like taking a selfie," suggests Heemskerk. "I like to call it a sprayfie," he adds. Spraying from an arm's length or into the air and allowing the scent to fall onto the hair is best, suggests Reed. This prevents hair from being soaked in an alcohol spritz and disperses the scent evenly through your strands.

Anyone who's hung out by a bonfire knows how the smell of smoke sticks to your tresses, so if you’re looking for longevity, your hair is one of the best places to spray, says James. "Scent longevity for hair perfume tends to follow other fine fragrances — your ouds, spices, and vanillas tend to stick around longer than more fleeting notes like citrus," she adds. So, if you’re looking for a scent that will linger, we recommend Frederic Malle Musc Ravageur Hair Mist. Of course, like when it comes to selecting a signature scent, go with what makes your nose happy — whether that be something fresh, floral, fruity, or gourmand.

Kristin Limoges is a freelance editor for numerous publications, including Byrdie, Harper's Bazaar, and WWD Shop, and has nearly a decade of beauty writing experience. To compile this list she researched and tested innumerous hair perfumes, and consulted with leading fragrance and hair experts — LC James, Kasper Heemskerk, Shelley Gregory, Adam Reed, and Yvan Jacqueline — to lend their expertise and share their favorite products.