Perfume Oils and Perfume Sprays use many of the same fragrance ingredients (known as Parfum), but they’re created and worn differently.
What are the main differences between Perfume Oil and Perfume Sprays?
Perfume Sprays utilise an alcohol base to disperse fragrance into the air, giving them good projection and allowing an even misting of fragrance in every spritz. The fast-drying nature of alcohol allows Perfume to feel weightless, and not feel heavy on your skin. The alcohol also provides preservation for Perfumes, allowing them to remain stable for long periods of time.
Because Perfume Sprays are typically applied to a wide-area in a misting fashion, they cover more of your clothing and hair compared to Perfume Oil products, and may leave a more noticeable “trail”, while lifting certain fresh notes (such as citrus) higher than in an oil-based perfume.
Perfume Oils do not contain an alcohol base, instead utilising a carrier oil such as coconut and/or jojoba to contain fragrance ingredients. They are designed for application directly onto the skin, and are not suitable for applying over clothing or linens. Due to the concentrated nature of Perfume Oils, these fragrances are typically deeper and last longer on the skin than Perfume Sprays.
Do they smell the same?
Both Perfume Sprays and Perfume Oils can smell similar when using the same base fragrance, but Perfume Oils often smell richer or smoother, because there is no alcohol to sharpen the opening notes.
Having the same scents in both oil and spray perfumes allows you to build your fragrance for optimal staying power, while having a variety of fragrances in both options provides the opportunity to layer different combinations of perfume to create something unique to you.
Which is better- Perfume Oils or Perfume Sprays?
A lot of fragrance lovers will use both!
For people constantly on-the-go, keeping a small Perfume Oil in your bag, on your desk, or in your cosmetics case can be a convenient addition to your fragrance collection- allowing you to top-up your perfume throughout the day without the need to carry a large perfume bottle around with you.
If you’re looking for just one option however, you can choose which works best for you:
For lighter scent intensity, greater area projection and fresh ‘lift’, Perfume Spray would be your go-to.
For longevity, richer fragrance profile directly on the skin and ‘depth’, Perfume Oils would be the best choice.
Which perfume is best if I want something completely natural and to avoid skin irritation?
It is key to note if you have any sensitivities to perfume ingredients that may determine the best perfume for you. All fragrance products can cause skin irritation regardless of whether natural or synthetic ingredients are used, so we recommend spot-testing any new products first before applying, and being cautious if you have experienced issues in the past.
For a 100% natural perfume, you would need a Perfume Oil created using only Essential Oils, derived from 100% natural ingredients such as citrus or plant oils. While using only Essential Oils limits the variety of scents available in perfumes, some fragrance-lovers prefer these options if they do not want to use fragrance containing alcohol or synthetic ingredients.
For a completely natural solution, we recommend our new Botanicals range of six bespoke Roll-On Essential Perfume Oils.
