Why We're Investing In Hair Perfumes For Summer

But there’s also been a new wave of hair perfumes emerging, in the form of hair and body mists. Affordable, desirable and perfect for those who want to personalise their scent through layering, trend-forecasting agency, WGSN are calling out hair perfume as the next category to watch, predicting that most brands who sell scent will launch one in the next 12-18 months (if they don’t have one already).
You only have to look at your love for Phlur Vanilla Skin Body & Hair Mist or Sol de Janeiro’s Hair & Fragrance Body Mists which consistently fly off shelves and it’s clear there’s a thirst for these strand-scenting spritzers.
“Brands are massively going after mists in general at the moment with Sol de Janeiro and Phlur leading the category for us and they’re a great acquisition driver for customers who are keen to try the brand or a new scent. Ouai’s St Bart’s Hair and Body Mist is another bestseller and they’ve recently launched a jumbo size; Rare Beauty’s Find Comfort Body & Hair Mist follows this ranking #2 and Ellis Brooklyn's relaunched Hair & Body Fragrance Mists are set to fly. We already know that collaborations from big players are in the works so I’d say this is a trend we’re more likely to see come through for hair specifically,” says Abi Gwyther, Space NK’s Assistant Buyer for Fragrance.
Why we love hair perfume:
They’re designed specifically for your hair
It might sound obvious, but we bet you’ve sprayed your favourite perfume up into the air and let it settle on your hair or even sprayed it directly onto your hair. But this is a big no-no.
“Traditional perfumes designed for skin typically contain alcohol which is drying for hair. Hair perfumes are formulated with less drying and more nourishing ingredients, like oils, so you can spritz safely with these. They also have great staying power as the tiny scent molecules don’t evaporate as quickly. Instead, they stick to your hair and create a soft fragrant aroma that lingers with you all day and releases when you move or swish your hair,” explains Siobhan Haug, hairdresser and co-founder of Haug London Haus.
They’re great for layering
Fragrance has become an expression of personal identity and fragrance wearers are both more playful, experimental and confident when it comes to layering and creating their own fragrance wardrobe. While body mists and body creams are a big part of this, hair perfumes are another layer that can be added into the mix.
“Hair perfumes are actually often designed to be used as a base layer of fragrance, so they’ll complement your perfume rather than clash, and you don’t need to worry about matching them as they’ll work in harmony,” continues Siobhan.
They’re considered an affordable way to fragrance
Yes, if you’re treating yourself to a hair perfume from a premium brand, the price tag won’t shift too much, but in some cases, a hair mist can be significantly cheaper than an eau de parfum. Much of this is down to the formulation and ingredients. On average a hair perfume uses between 3 and 5% fragrance oil, but an eau de parfum contains around 20%. That, coupled with the fact that hair mists are more diluted as they have less alcohol than perfume and the addition of water (or even other styling ingredients) means that in general, they cost less.
They’re great all year round, but especially summer
Lightweight and easy to wear, hair mists will smell the same all year round whereas some perfumes react on the skin differently in hot weather when your skin warms up. It’s also believed that some fragrances can disrupt your sun protection as SPF is affected by alcohol so if you’re concerned, opt for a hair perfume and don’t scrimp or sacrifice your sun cream.
How to apply hair perfume
Leave a few inches between the bottle and your hair, just like you would a hair styling product, then spritz. Flip your head upside down so you don’t miss the back and the roots too. Another option is to spray the perfume onto your brush and sweep it through your hair for a light and even coverage.
Our favourite hair perfumes
Hermès
Barénia Hair Mist 30ml, £47.00"Proof that hair perfumes are getting a grown-up makeover, the Hermès hair mist is oh so covetable. Light, airy and perfect for misting on when you want a summer refresh, the notes of lily, oakwood and patchouli smell sophisticated and chic. Just the right size to travel with, everyone who has tried it says it has great longevity which is always a brilliant bonus.
SHOP NOW
Ellis Brooklyn
Peaches Hair and Body Fragrance Mist 50ml, £36.00Currently Ellis Brooklyn has four different Hair and Body Fragrance Mists to choose from and all of them are sweet and nostalgic. From cherry and vanilla to marshmallow, our current crush is this one that mixes juicy peach, orange blossom and pink pepper to create a warm and summery aroma. You can use it from top to toe too.
SHOP NOW
FREDERIC MALLE
Promise Hair Mist 50ml, £105.00Another prestige brand dabbling in hair perfume is Frédéric Malle and this mirrors the aroma of the famous Promise eau de parfum but in a lighter iteration. Delicate and fresh, it has technology that sees the fragrance released with every hair movement so expect people to pick up on the floral, woody scent as you walk on by.
SHOP NOW
Diptyque
L'Eau Papier Hair Mist, £60.00One of the first brands to produce hair perfume, Diptyque hair mists are designed to be an extension of your fragrance ritual. L’eau Papier blends mimosa, wood and white musks to create a creamy, elegant scent. The formula also contains camellia oil to soften and protect the hair so you know you’re getting an extra benefit from spritzing this on.
SHOP NOW
Sol de Janeiro
Cheirosa '62 Perfume Mist, £24.00Sol de Janeiro’s hair mist needs little introduction, especially Cheirosa 62 which is the iconic signature scent of the Brazilian Bum Bum Cream. Pistachio, almond, vanilla and salted caramel intertwine to produce a gourmand fragrance that won’t flatten your hair but will lift your mood.
SHOP NOW
Byredo
Rose of No Man's Land Hair Perfume, £60.00A fine mist that doesn’t weight hair down, this has a soft floral scent that won’t overpower and means you can wear a different fragrance on your skin without having to worry about any aromatic clashes. If you are a fan of rose perfumes, this is a no brainer.
SHOP NOW
Ouai
Hair And Body Mist St Barts, £26.00So popular it now comes in a regular and jumbo size, this gives hair those fresh, holiday vibes, even if you haven’t left the house. A tempting tropical aroma, it lists dragon fruit, orange blossom and musk as the main notes but most wearers call out pineapple and coconut too - which is what gives it the exotic label. Highly recommended by everyone who’s tried it, you may well become the next super fan.
SHOP NOW
Read More
• The Biggest Fragrance Trends of 2025• The Best Frédéric Malle Perfumes • The Best Mood Boosting Perfumes
• We Review all the Sol de Janeiro Perfumes • How to Fragrance your Home