I Always Use This Fragrance Hack to Make My Perfume Last (and Get Compliments)

Anyone who knows me will know I'm something of a perfume hoarder. My 40-strong collection is continuously growing, but I'm no loyalist. While many have their signature scent down, I like to flirt with my fragrance depending on when the mood strikes. From musky skin-scents that whisper a quiet kind of luxury, to summer fragrances that smell like expensive suncream and transport me on holiday, I like to mix it up. And I can't not mention woody notes (one of my new favourite perfumes is inspired by paper) and those salty, windswept scents that take you to the beach. I live near the seaside, so I'm a true coastal grandmother at heart.

But, there are a few qualms I have with fragrance—especially when it comes to this expensive perfumes that cost upwards of £100. Firstly, fragrance just doesn't last as long as I want it to. Of course, lighter eau de toilettes and delicate notes will naturally be more fleeting, but I find that I'm always looking for ways to make my perfume last longer. The cost is the second bug-bear I have, especially if the scent doesn't last as long. But, I've cracked the code to A) make my fragrance last longer, and B), save money while still getting to wear those same luxurious that I scents.

best-hair-perfumes-279149-1680698478011-main

(Image credit: @pink_oblivion)

It turns out wearing your fragrance in your hair is a game-changer for scent longevity. Our lengths cling on to fragrance far more effectively than the skin does. It's a bit like when you catch your usual perfume clinging to the scarf you wear in the winter—your hair works in the same way. Simply spray directly onto your lengths or on to a hairbrush for a more subtle application. Plus, every time your hair moves, be it taking it out of a ponytail or it wafting in the wind, you—and everyone within your hair-swishing vicinity—will notice your scent. It's a guaranteed compliment hack.

best-hair-perfumes-279149-1680698513907-main

(Image credit: @SANIACLAUSDEMINA)

Hair perfumes aren't anything new, and I've long sprayed my usual perfume in my hair—so why would we even need a hair perfume? The cynic in me used to believe that it was just another way for brands to sell more of their perfumes, but there is convincing evidence. Celine Roux, head of fragrance at Jo Malone London, says, "Hair mist is a totally different formula. The mist is very respectful to the hair. It's filled with nourishing and conditioning ingredients yet is very lightweight, leaving your hair with a slight sheen and a delicate scent." Plus, the alcohols found in standard eau de toilettes and eau de parfums can be damaging to your hair, and are best avoided if you're planning to use heat on your hair too.

best-hair-perfumes-279149-1680698525009-main

(Image credit: @JESSICAZWU)

Additionally, a hair perfume is just so much more long-lasting if you want your scent to be noticeable all day long. Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves says that hair mists can be versatile and even more long-wearing than your usual perfume. "Just like fragrance, hair mists are designed to deliciously scent your hair for all occasions. The lightweight formula allows the scent to linger all day without weighing down or damaging your hair. It also works on all hair types," she says.

With more and more hair perfumes versions of the most iconic scents landing on the beauty desk lately, I've rounded up the best scented hair mists to make your hair look and smell amazing. Keep scrolling to shop 15 of the best hair perfumes of the year so far.

The 15 Best Hair Perfumes

1. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Hair Mist

2. By Kilian Love, Don't Be Shy Hair Mist

3. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Hair Perfume

4. Byredo Mojave Ghost Hair Perfume

5. Diptyque Eau Rose Hair Mist

6. Serge Lutens Collection Noire La Fille De Berlin Hair Mist

7. Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady Hair Mist

8. Ruka Hair Perfume

9. Jo Loves A Fragrance Hair Mist in Fig

10. Ex Nhilo Fascinate Sublime Hair Mist

12. Balmain Hair Perfume

13. Sachajuan Protective Hair Perfume

14. Jo Malone London English Pear & Freesia Hair Mist

15. Parfums de Marly Delina Hair Mist

16. Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume

Up Next, Our List of the Best Perfumes of All Time

Eleanor Vousden
Beauty Editor, Who What Wear UK

Eleanor Vousden is the beauty editor for Who What Wear UK. She was previously deputy editor at Hairdressers Journal, health writer at Woman & Home and junior beauty editor at beauty website Powder. She has also contributed to Wallpaper and Elle Collections with written and styling work.Working as a beauty journalist since 2015 after graduating in fashion journalism at the London College of Fashion, she has been highly commended at the BSME Talent Awards for her work on Powder and also contributed to the title winning Website of the Year at the PPA Awards.Eleanor’s journalistic focus is to provide readers with honest and helpful beauty content. Through words, video and live broadcast, she has interviewed several celebrity makeup artists, hairstylists and top dermatologists throughout her career, as well as celebrities such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Scarlett Johansson. She has a particular interest in finding solutions for acne and eczema, which she has experienced firsthand. She has also amassed a large collection of fragrances and can never say no to a new candle.When she’s not writing or testing the latest beauty product or treatments, she’s on the seafront in her hometown of Brighton and Hove, where she lives with her partner and her miniature dachshund.