I have fairly sensitive skin and I don’t fare well with a ton of ingredients. One ingredient I find curious in skincare and fragrance is alcohol. I find products with alcohol drying on my skin, face, and hair so I do tend to stay away from them as much as possible, especially if it’s one of the main ingredients.
Perfume without alcohol isn’t easy to find. But why?
Perfumes are one of those non-essential self-care products that many people swear by. After all, smelling good is caring for yourself, and who doesn’t want that?
I have a very sensitive nose and generally stay away from fragrance. If you’re new to the perfume game or simply want to know more about perfumes without alcohol, I’ve got you covered right here!
Why is There Alcohol in Perfumes?
Some people may not know this but alcohol is actually a very common ingredient used in most perfumes.
Alcohol is often used in perfume and fragrance mixtures to dilute the fragrance and essential oils in the formula. Alcohol in perfumes helps create a more obvious, stronger scent overall.
In perfumes, it’s also used to bring out the many notes of the formula. Initially, alcohol-based perfumes come off as strong to the point of being harsh.
When alcohol evaporates, it helps lift the fragrance notes into the air so it leaves an impression on those around you.
Harmful Effects of Alcohol in Perfumes
While alcohol is a common ingredient in many perfume formulas, it isn’t for everyone. We have below some harmful effects of alcohol in perfumes:
Alcohol in perfumes is not skin-friendly
Alcohol, when applied directly on skin, can often be drying, especially when used day-to-day. Those with very sensitive skin can develop skin irritations, rashes, and reactions due to a perfume’s alcohol content.
Alcohol in perfumes makes scents a little too overpowering
Have you ever walked through a department store or across any room and got a headache after smelling something overpowering? Yes, that would be alcohol-based perfumes.
As we’ve mentioned above, alcohol in perfume formulas gives it a stronger scent to the point of it coming off as a little too overpowering. Alcohol-based perfumes smell exactly that: perfumes, instead of the actual scents from the fragrance and perfume oil you want to be wearing.
Are There Non-Alcoholic Perfumes?
If you would prefer a perfume without any alcohol content in its formula, the good news is non-alcoholic perfumes do exist!
With so many people looking for a much-healthier alternative to alcohol-based fragrances, brands and companies are coming out with more and more options for perfumes with zero alcohol content. Many chemical-free perfume brands are also gaining popularity from people who want their perfume organic and much-safer.
Perfumes With Alcohol vs. Perfumes Without Alcohol: Why You Should Make the Switch to Alcohol-Free Fragrances
If you’re still contemplating on whether or not you should make the switch from an alcohol-based perfume to a non-alcoholic perfume, we have below some major points you might want to consider:
Alcohol-free perfumes are more skin-friendly vs. the drying long-term effects of alcohol-based perfumes
As we’ve mentioned earlier, alcohol can be drying. And with perfumes, people tend to apply them directly on skin, and some even reapply it multiple times a day to maintain the fragrance.
You might not be noticing its drying effects now, but in the long run, you might find your skin suffering from dryness due to its alcohol content.
Many people choose to stay away from skincare products with any alcohol in it. Little do people know they can do the same with perfumes too. There are also those with very sensitive skin which makes them more sensitive to alcohol.
With alcohol-free perfumes, you eliminate all the possibility of skin dryness, irritation, and adverse reactions that come with alcohol. Many niche fragrances are alcohol free, but not all so don’t expect something that seems customized to be alcohol free.
Alcohol-free perfumes smell subtle yet better vs. the overpowering scent of alcohol-based perfumes
When you enter a room and you get a headache from something you smelled in the air, that is probably an alcohol-based perfume.
Alcohol in perfume lifts fragrance notes into the air so it leaves a major impression on anyone who smells it, which is of course, a good thing But most of the time, an alcohol-based perfume smells more like what it is: perfume. This can come off as very strong and overpowering.
While this may not be a huge problem for some, not everyone likes strong and overwhelming scents.
An alcohol-free perfume smells more subtle yet more elegant and closely resembles the actual scent of the fragrance blend. These have more natural fragrances and impart a soothing smell instead.
Alcohol-free perfumes are longer-lasting vs. the higher evaporation rate of alcohol-based perfumes
Contrary to popular belief, alcohol-free perfumes last longer than alcohol-based perfumes. This all comes down to evaporation.
Alcohol evaporates faster than water. This means alcohol in perfume formulations makes it evaporate faster as well. The evaporation process in alcohol-based perfumes causes its fragrance notes to lift into the air, giving it an impression as a stronger fragrance. But because they essentially evaporate faster, they wouldn’t last as long as alcohol-free perfumes.
Alcohol-based perfumes may seem stronger initially, but you couldn’t trust its scent to last for an entire day. Perfume with alcohol can’t freeze due to its high alcohol content, but freezing isn’t necessarily a preferred method of storage anyway.
Alcohol-free perfumes last longer since they have a lower evaporation rate.
Alcohol-free perfumes are more versatile vs. the limited use of alcohol-based perfumes
Alcohol-based perfumes are usually applied on skin only, with some options that can be applied on clothes as well. This gives users a limited use for a bottle of their perfume.
Alcohol-free perfumes offer a much wider variety of uses. On top of applying it directly on your skin, these can be used as body spray, hair perfume, and room spray, among others.
What’s more is it can even be used as part of your skincare regimen, given they’re free from alcohol!
Who Should Switch to Alcohol-Free Perfume?
No one here is telling you to do this or do that. The things we listed above are merely a guide on some major considerations to keep in mind. But if you fit in any of the categories below, you might want to consider making the switch:
- If you have sensitive skin or have had a history of skin irritations due to alcohol.
- If you want something that smells clean, simple, and elegant yet lasts long.
- If you have a certain lifestyle or religious restrictions that prohibit you from applying alcohol on your skin.
Conclusion
Alcohol is a common component in perfume formulations but this doesn’t mean all perfumes contain alcohol. If it’s more up your alley, there are options for perfumes with zero alcohol content.
If you’re thinking about going from alcohol-based to alcohol-free perfumes, consider the following points:
- Alcohol-free perfumes are more skin-friendly.
- Alcohol-free perfumes smell better and are more subtle.
- Alcohol-free perfumes last longer.
- Alcohol-free perfumes are more versatile.
Of course, not everyone wants to make the switch from alcohol-based to alcohol-free perfumes. But if you fall in any of the categories below, you should consider it:
- People with sensitive skin or a history of bad reactions to alcohol
- People who prefer something that smells clean, simple, elegant, and something long-lasting
- People who practice a certain lifestyle or have religious restrictions that prohibit them from applying alcohol to their skin
And that has been our guide on everything perfume without alcohol!