Anyone with redness-prone, dry, or reactive skin will know to avoid topical skincare products containing alcohol. After all, alcohol can break down vital proteins and lipids, compromising the skin barrier and leading to increased moisture loss and irritation over time. Many of us will scan the back of packaging to check ingredient lists, and spend hours finding alcohol-free alternatives to our favourite formulas. Why, then, do we—without hesitation—complete our beauty routines with a spray of alcohol-based perfume?
Why is there alcohol in perfume?
Look at any perfume label on your shelf and, chances are, alcohol will be the main ingredient. It has played a central role in fragrance creation for decades — not only as a carrier, but also in the extraction process itself. Perfumers use a method known as solvent extraction, in which ethanol dissolves aromatic compounds such as essential oils and aroma molecules. Once the alcohol is evaporated, the concentrated essence that remains—known as an absolute—is further purified and refined using alcohol before becoming the base of the final fragrance.
Are there any other distillation methods?
Sometimes, perfumers use steam distillation to extract the aromatic compounds, but some, like jasmine, orange blossom and tuberose, are too delicate to withstand the heat of the steam and it destroys their fragrance.
There are ways around this, however. Bio-engineered or lab-created fragrance notes offer a near-identical scent and can be mixed directly into oil or water without the need for distillation or extraction.
It’s also worth noting that while some natural extracts, including jasmine absolute, are initially produced using alcohol during extraction, the alcohol is evaporated long before the essence reaches the final juice, meaning the finished product can still technically be alcohol-free.
How are alcohol-free perfumes made?
Alcohol-free perfumes are created by blending aromatic ingredients—essential oils, absolutes and lab-made fragrance molecules—into alternative bases, like oils, water or lightweight emulsions instead of alcohol. The result is a fragrance that feels softer and more nourishing on the skin, with a slower, closer diffusion than traditional alcohol-based scents.
Below, a round-up of the best alcohol-free perfumes available to try now.
The best alcohol-free perfumes
The brainchild of model Bella Hadid, each Ôrebella fragrance features a unique bi-phase “shake-to-activate” formula that blends aromatherapy oils, refined fragrance notes and the brand’s proprietary Ôrelixir base—a nourishing fusion of camellia, almond, olive, jojoba and shea oils.
Their best-seller, Blooming Fire, is a warm, sunny floral combining bergamot and Tahitian monoi blossom with patchouli and cedarwood, evoking tropical shores and golden, late-afternoon light.
A'DDCT’s hypoallergenic, water-based perfumes are crafted with care and innovation at their core, offering a gentler, more understated approach to fragrance. Void Wood is green, earthy and elegant, with notes of jasmine, cedarwood and green leaves, diffused softly through its bi-phase water-and-oil formula. It's the ultimate understated signature scent.
The fine fragrance house’s first foray into alcohol-free scent, La Petite Robe Noire L’Eau Rose reimagines the iconic eau de parfum through an innovative rosewater-based formula. The result is a fresher, more delicate take of the original—a soft, luminous mist of sumptuous rose absolute.
This reimagining of the classic J’Adore Eau de Parfum keeps the same floral signature but reworks it in a lighter, water-based format. The result is a fresher, more transparent interpretation that softens the scent’s intensity without altering its familiar blend of neroli, jasmine sambac and magnolia.
