The new perfume alternatives you don't have to spray

Have you ever wanted to apply a fragrance without spray? Well now is your chance. There are plenty of alternative fragrance products currently on the market!

We spoke to Debbie Wild, Lifestyle Director at Jo Malone London, about this trend and she isn't surprised by the emergence of these perfumes.

"New trends in perfumery emerge all the time and that’s what is so exciting about the artistry that is involved," she says. "People generally want their scent to be unique and personal to them – there are so many ways to wear perfume."

The basics

In terms of  where you apply these fragrances, the pulse points where you normally spray perfume will do the trick. While Debbie says that your usual wrist and neck will do a good job of diffusing the scent, she also encourages you to have fun with it.

“Alternatively, you can also spray scent on your hair and clothes – mix and match your scents from your fragrance wardrobe and style your scent just like you would a favourite outfit.”

These alternatives are fun and trendy, but my concern was how they really stacked up against traditional spray-on perfume. 

When it comes to how long your fragrance will last, Debbie says it's about the ingredients, not whether it’s a traditional spritz perfume or not.

"In general what you want to pay attention to is the sillage which is the French word for ‘trail’. What is important is the type of ingredients and how they work together,” Debbie says. “Of course, layering your fragrance will ensure that you add depth and longevity to the sillage."

With that in mind, you may want to consider these alternative perfumes...

Brush

In 2013, Chloé launched a limited edition See By Chloé Paint A Scent. It didn't really take off at the time, but now the brush-on perfume is making a comeback!

Perfume brushes contain micro-fine powder that diffuses when you brush them on skin. They are great for making sure your application is precise.

The most talked about has been the Byredo Kabuki Perfume brush which is available in three different scents. However, Jo Malone has also brought out a Jo Loves Fragrance Paintbrush in four different scents.

Instagram image: @jolovesofficial

Rollerball

Rollerball fragrances aren’t a new trend. They have long been the trusty sidekick of spray perfume. Rollerballs are an easy, portable fragrance you can apply throughout the day. They also allow for more control when applying the scent.

If you want to add some rollerball fragrances to your perfume collection, you could try the Kiehl’s Musk Essence Oil Portable or the AERIN Tangier Vanille Rollerball.

RELATED: 4 reasons to use rollerball fragrances

Gel

Similar to rollerball perfumes, gel fragrances are applied directly to your pulse points and can be used for touch-ups while out and about.

If you want to try a gel perfume, you may be interested in the Crabtree & Evelyn Somerset Meadow Perfume Gel or the L’Occitane Cerisier Pastel Fragrance Touch.

Solid

Solid perfumes have a lot of benefits! They’re often in little tins, so you can carry one with you everywhere. They’re buildable, so you can layer your scents and given that solid perfumes are normally formulated with wax instead of alcohol, they can also be a great option for people with sensitive skin.

RELATED: The rise of solid perfumes

If you’re after a solid perfume, you might want to try the Lush Vanillary Solid Perfume or DIPTYQUE Philosykos Solid Perfume.

Oil

Dry body oils are fragrant but also moisturise the skin. You can use an oil alone as a more subtle fragrance, or layer it with another complementary scent.

Debbie recommends the Jo Malone Dry Body Oils in the Cologne Intense range. In this range, they have  Oud & Bergamot, Dark Amber & Ginger Lily, and Velvet Rose & Oud Dry Body Oils. You may also want to try The Body Shop White Musk Perfume Oil.

RELATED: 15 of the best rose perfumes

The verdict

So should we be sticking to traditional spray-on perfume, or testing the alternative fragrance waters? According to Debbie, you should have a play to decide which you prefer.

“There are no rules when it comes to how to apply perfume in my book. As your personal fragrance will express your individuality, we encourage creative and playful experimentation to find your bespoke scent,” she says.

Do you prefer a traditional spray fragrance or an alternative? Do you apply perfume in any other ways?