Nothing beats a greeting – be it a cuddle or a kiss on the cheek – from someone whose hair smells absolutely incredible. Whether during party season or at any other point in the year, knowing that your hair smells great is a quick route to boosted confidence. And while a luxurious shampoo and conditioner can help, the easiest way to make your hair smell good instantly is with a spritz of hair perfume.
Hair perfume is not a new category in the haircare space, but it is one that has become more popular in recent years – searches have risen by 70 per cent on Google during the last 12 months. Major brands including Dior, Diptyque and Maison Francis Kurkdjian have all launched hair perfumes, and they are now joined by an equally luxurious offering from high street stalwart Zara, which costs just £11.99.
Masterminded by mega hairstylist and Vogue contributing editor, Guido Palau, the new hair scents (which come housed in cool, jewel-toned packaging) are perfectly showcased by Daisy Edgar-Jones, who scrunches them into her mussed-up hair in video footage from the campaign. “She has the hair that every girl wants,” Palau tells me. “It’s cool and kind of effortless. She has a very effortless beauty to her, a realness, as well as a good personality. She’s a great actress too – I loved her in Normal People.”
The collection is made up of three scents – Dawn: Let’s Begin, Dusk: And Then… and Midnight: After Everything – all designed to be used at different points during the day. In the green bottle (Dawn: Let’s Begin), notes of lemon, apricot blossom and musk feel energising for the beginning of a new day, while Dusk: And Then… (the blue bottle) marries jasmine petals, pink sugar and wood for a bolder scent that’s perfect for evening. And in Midnight: After Everything, in the red bottle, you’ll find notes of vanilla, raspberry and amber – a fragrance that’s as sensual as it sounds.
“They act as a finishing touch to your look – I guess I imagined somebody would spritz it on their hair and then keep it in their purse,” Palau says. “When you smell great, you feel fresh as well. There’s something about putting a product like this in your hair to liven it up when it’s looking a bit tired.” One of the great joys of getting your hair done in a salon, I say, is the smell of your hair as you walk out. He agrees. “People love that, and I know lots of women smell their hair after a haircut and automatically feel good.”
And, of course, if it’s good enough for Daisy…