​​Let’s cut to the chase: are hair perfumes necessary? Absolutely not. Are they a fun, often less expensive alternative to regular perfume? Absolutely. If you’re on a fragrance kick and looking to expand your collection, give one of the best hair perfumes on the market a go and maybe you’ll ditch your standard eau de parfum for good. 

How does hair fragrance compare to regular perfume, you ask? While they’re not a monolith, there are a couple of traits to look out for while perusing and deciphering cryptic scent descriptions. “Hair perfumes or mists usually contain hydrating properties like hyaluronic acid and other natural ingredients that cover odor, have UV ray protection, and give your hair just the right texture and shine,” writes New York City- and Columbus-based hairstylist Mia Santiago. Keep an eye out for hair-loving ingredients to tackle frizz and dryness, on top of making your hair smell impeccable.

Hair perfumes are also more likely to be alcohol-free than their standard counterparts, which earns themselves a big A-plus from Santiago. She notes that because of the alcohol content, regular perfume “would be very drying to your hair and can cause breakage.”

And just because you’re adding new beauty products to your arsenal doesn’t necessarily mean entering totally uncharted olfactory waters. Some of the top names in fragrance like Byredo, Diptyque, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian make scented hair versions of multiple of their beloved, iconic fragrances. The hair versions tend to be more subtle and fade faster than regular perfume, but they’re also usually way cheaper, which feels like a fair trade.

Keep scrolling to see our picks for the best hair perfumes and we bet you’ll have a new signature scent by the time you’re through.