When it comes to the best perfumes for women, body sprays are often overlooked. I don't know about you, but until recently, whenever I would think about body sprays, I would be taken back to the Victoria's Secret Bare Vanilla Body Mist that I would layer on as a teenager before heading to school. However, this underrated fragrance category has had a serious upgrade in the past few years, with brands such as Tom Ford and Diptyque creating high-end, luxury body sprays for women that are now front-runners in my perfume collection.
You see, body sprays happen to be a much more affordable way of trying out your favourite brands. For example, a Diptyque perfume may set you back a cool £125, but the brand's body spray retails for £50. Not only that, but they're also a lot easier to throw in your handbag, meaning that you can easily top up your fragrance throughout the day.
In fact, body mists are my secret weapon to smelling good all day long, as I can easily give myself a quick spritz without the scent becoming over-bearing or proving to be a very costly price per pump.
According to Jo Malone CBE, founder of Jo Loves, body mists can be used alone or layered to create a scent that is completely unique to you. "I have always loved body mists and travel everywhere with them," she says. "You can spritz as many times as you like as they aren’t going to overpower you with fragrance. I love the easy way you can refresh your scent throughout the day, wherever you are."
If you want to try out this underrated fragrance trend for yourself, then you're in luck, as I've tried and rounded up my favourite body sprays for women below. Keep on scrolling for some of the best scents to shop now.
15 body sprays I've tried and love:
1. Caudalie Thé des Vignes Fresh Fragrance
As much as I love Caudalie skincare, it's actually the brand's fragrances that I favour the most. Out of all of the body sprays on offer this scent is my favourite, as it reminds me of sunny evenings spent on holiday with friends. Notes of neroli and orange blossom give it a fresh, citrusy kick, whilst white musk and jasmine add a sensual finish.
2. Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Crush Cheirosa 62 Perfume Mist
If you prefer sweeter scents, then this is the body spray for you. Another great option for summer, this Sol De Janeiro fragrance features notes of salted caramel and pistachio. Trust me, it smells almost good enough to eat (but we definitely don't advise that).
3. Diptyque Do Son Body Mist
Is there anything chicer than a Diptyque body spray? The brand's Do Son Body Mist is so light on the skin, with floral notes of tuberose and citrusy orange blossom. The fresh, powdery finish makes it perfect for every day.
4. Jo Loves Tuberose A Fragrance Body Mist
For something a little richer, I recommend the Tuberose A Fragrance Body Mist by Jo Loves. Notes of tuberose are mixed with ylang ylang and sweet jasmine which makes spraying this scent feel like a walk in a garden.
5. & Other Stories Perle de Coco Body Mist
In my opinion, & Other Stories does some of the best fragrances on the high street. The Perle De Coco scent is one of my personal favourites, with delicious notes of vanilla, coconut and caramel.
6. Tom Ford Lost Cherry Body Spray
Although this fragrance sounds like it would be overwhelmingly fruity thanks to top notes of cherry, it has a hint of spice to keep things interesting. Think: cedar, cinnamon and sandalwood. It's truly unique, not to mention it looks beautiful on display.
7. The Body Shop Vanilla Fragrance Mist
Another great high-street option. The Body Shop's Shea Fragrance Mist smells as delicious as you would expect, but I like the fact that it feels like a grown up version of your classic body spray thanks to the fact that it's not too overpowering.
8. Dior Miss Dior Scented Body Mist
I love the original Miss Dior perfume, so when I saw that the brand also did a body mist in the scent, I had to try it. It's not as powerful as the perfume itself, but I love how light it is as it means I can layer it with other scents if I fancy something a bit different.
9. Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Sheer Moisture Mist
If you've smelt the Chanel Chance Eau Tendre Eau de Toilette, then you'll know how beautifully fresh and floral this fragrance is. It's such a sophisticated everyday scent, and the mist is no exception. The clever thing about this is that the mist also works to moisturise the skin, so you're getting two benefits in one.
10. Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Hair and Body Mist
I love Rituals, and I especially love its fragrances. This body spray can be spritzed over both your hair and body, and it features beautiful notes of cherry blossom.
11. The White Company Seychelles Hair & Body Mist
The White Company fragrances are so chic, and the Seychelles mist features creamy vanilla, warm amber and fresh bergamot and coconut, making it ideal for the summer months.
12. Rare Beauty Find Comfort Hair & Body Mist
With notes of jasmine, lemon, and tonka bean, this clean but cosy scent is like an olfactory comfort blanket. It's also incredibly long-lasting, lingering on skin, clothes, and hair all day long.
13. Phlur Vanilla Skin Body Mist
If you like warm, sweet scents, then you'll love this one. Expect soft, creamy vanilla with hints of spicy black pepper and floral notes of lily and jasmine—perfect for daily wear.
14. Ellis Brooklyn Sea Fragrance Body Mist
For summer, I'm obsessed with this fresh, zesty scent from Ellis Brooklyn. It features bright and uplifting notes of citrus and ginger.
15. Salt & Stone Bergamot & Hinoki Body Mist
Salt & Stone are most well known for their deodorants, but their body mists are not to be missed! Designed to be worn on bare skin, the formulas are infused with glycerin and red algae to moisturise skin.
Why Is Body Spray Better Than Perfume?
Body sprays are a great alternative to perfume if you like something a little lighter, but how do they actually differ? "The difference between a body mist and a perfume is the formula of concentrated oil to water and alcohol," explains Malone. "Body mists have a lower level of concentrated perfume oil, whilst perfumes will have higher levels and less water." So, if you're looking for a more subtle, everyday choice, body sprays are the way to go.
Why Use Body Spray Instead of Perfume?
There are many reasons why I love using a body spray instead of perfume. Firstly, as mentioned above, they're a lot lighter, so they're perfect if you find certain perfumes a little too intense. Not only that, but a lot of body sprays come in slimmer packaging, making them easy to travel with or to throw in your handbag when you're heading out the door. Last, and by no means least, these sprays are much more affordable than perfumes, and allow you to try out those luxury brands at a fraction of the cost.
How to Apply Body Spray
Body sprays are designed for both your body and clothing, so you can apply them quite liberally. Malone recommends putting yours in the fridge on a hot summer's day for a quick, cooling burst of fragrance.
This story was originally published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
