'I switched my perfume to a cheaper alternative - and I've never had so many compliments'

With so many different perfumes out there, it can be so hard to try and find one that works for you - and there's no denying it can be a pretty expensive trial and error too.

For me, I tend to have my every day go to perfume which is a little cheaper I can throw in my bag and then a more expensive scent for special occasions. After so many different scents, I finally found one I liked - and it didn't come cheap. But when I decided to try out hair perfume - I've never had so many people tell me how good I smelt.

I opted for the OUAI Hair and Body Mist - St Barts (£26) and I have never felt fresher. Initially, I admit, thought hair perfumes were a bit of a fad. Popular in the early 2000's, they have somewhat had a revival. We all remember going to school with a Charlie spray or a So...? body spray and spritzing it throughout the day.

The smell of the cheap bottles wafting through school corridors is nostalgic, and now they are back, and pretty much every perfume house and haircare brand are releasing their own.

If like me, you were thinking 'what's the point of having a hair perfume over a normal perfume' let me tell you - they really, really work. While you could just spritz your perfume all over your hair (I was also guilty of this) it's really not advised due to the drying alcohol levels in them which can dry out your precious strands.

Yes, your perfume could be making your hair dry without you even realising it and with more people becoming consious about their hair, this is why hair perfume is on the rise. Hair perfumes are fragrance mists that are pH-balanced and gentle on the hair fibre, while regular perfumes can be heavy in oils and/or alcohols which can overpower the hair and cause dryness.

There's also a science behind why they work so well. The alcohol and other ingredients used in these formulations evaporate at a slower rate when applied to the hair compared to skin and hair acts as a natural scent diffuser, which allows the fragrance to be gradually released which in turn creates a subtle, lingering effect.

This could explain why people have been asking me what perfume I'm wearing since I made the switch - and it's great for my bank balance too.

I have been opting for OUAI Hair and Body Mist - St Barts (£26). It smells like a holiday in a bottle thanks to it's sweet fresh scent with blends of dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose and musk. One of my favourite daily perfumes contains tuberose and musk which is why I think I have been drawn to this scent initially.

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This mist stands out but it's not too overpowering which is what I like with delicate floral notes and is versatile and can be used throughout the day to give you a little freshen up.

My only advice is that if you do start using a hair perfume and plan on still wearing a normal perfume too, make sure they compliment each other. I had a day where I spritzed the hair mist as well as a strong oud scented perfume and they really didn't smell great together.

After jumping on the hair perfume bandwagon, it was only right to try out a few other scents too. Another that I am absolutely loving is the Guerlain Absolus Allegorua Santal Royal Hair Mist (£61). This is the hair perfume originating from the Guerlain Absolus Allegoria Santal Royal Eau de Parfum which is £164.

Already it's much cheaper, and the scent is very luxurious. It has a deeper and richer smell compared to Ouai and smells very expensive. I use this for when I am going out for dinner or drinks as it can be quite overpowering, but I absolutely love it.

Another I have noticed to be a powerhouse in the hair perfume world is the STRAAND Heaven Scent Hair Perfume & Gloss (£24). It's a very fun and playful scent, but I like it as it's also a gloss too. So not only will you smell good, your hair will be shiny and glossy while also being protected thanks to an innovative anti-pollution active shield over your scalp and hair from daily city grime and environmental stresses.

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