Here's Why You May Want To Try A Water-Based Perfume
When buying a perfume, most consumers are concerned with the fragrance's top notes, how it blends into the skin, and the emotional and sensory connection that forms after wearing it. Rarely do buyers consider the composition of the formula or whether it is alcohol or water-based. However, with natural and organic living on the rise, consumers are paying closer attention to the ingredient labels on their beauty products.
Water-based perfume is not a new concept; several groups of people choose it as their only fragrance prospect. Alcohol-based perfumes, which are far more accessible and virtually dominate the beauty market, are not halal and are, therefore, not an option for the entire Muslim community (via MISTR). However, almost all perfumes you encounter are alcohol-based as most modern formulas require it to dilute and blend the complex blend of oils. Buly 1803, based in France, claims to be the first ever to create a water-based perfume in an attempt to retain better the delicacy, sanctity, and vibrancy of a fragrance. So, why try the virgin option?
It lasts longer and is gentler on the skin
If you can recall the last time you tried on perfume at the mall, the initial spritz almost has an astringent whiff for the first millisecond. Only once the formula has time to rest on the skin can you begin to understand the full spectrum of the aroma. Even then, you may find yourself reapplying perfume throughout the day, unsure if the scent has lasted. This is because alcohol reduces the longevity of a fragrance and its bouquet endurance (via PROMOSTYL). On the other hand, water-based perfumes offer a longer-lasting scent that's gentle on the skin.
Alcohol-based perfumes are also made from an array of harsh chemicals, including denatured alcohol, SD alcohol, and ethyl alcohol, according to The Water Brand. If you wear perfume often, you may find that these fragrances leave the skin dry — simply stripped of moisture and lacking hydration. Severely sensitive skin may even experience breakouts or worse. Water-based perfumes are much safer and will never dry out or damage skin.
It's a cleaner, fresher scent
Both eau de toilettes and eau de parfums can have an alcohol percentage of nearly 85% (via Beautigloo). Perfumes, which are even higher on the tier of alcohol percentage and odorous substances, can sometimes be painfully pungent. We all know the grandma perfumes that leave us with a headache when trapped in the office with them for too long. There's a fine line between a sweet aroma and aggressive scents that smell like hairspray.
Water-based perfumes, however, never really have this problem. There is no sudden astringency; what you see is what you get upon the first spritz. Alcohol-based perfumes require you to wait at least an hour for top notes to dissipate, letting you really get into a scent's complexity and deeper notes. Water-based fragrances, however, bond with the skin instantly, per Perfumes Kuwait. The smell is cleaner, fresher, and more honest, allowing you to get into its true colors. More and more perfumers are going clean, so expect to see an increase in these fragrances on the market in years to come.