Which is Better: Perfume or Body Spray? (2025)

If you grew up in the late 2000s or early 2010s, there's no doubt in my mind Bath and Body Works body sprays were some of the first fragrances you owned. While I was obsessed with body sprays throughout my teenage years, once I went to college, I ditched almost every body mist I owned to upgrade to ~fancy schmancy~ perfumes. Up until recently, I thought body sprays were just for the youngins who were new to fragrance. Spoiler: That's simply not the case. Body sprays and perfumes serve different purposes, and everyone should have a few of each in their fragrance collection.

But what's the difference between perfume and body spray anyway? Is one better than the other? Lemme explain. Consider this your handy guide to body spray vs. perfume. Below, you'll find everything you need to know about the two popular fragrance formats, including how long each lasts, find layering tips to become the best-smelling person in every room, and so much more.

What's the difference between perfume and body spray?

There's a lot of differences between perfume and body spray actually. You've probably noticed that body sprays usually come in much bigger bottles than perfumes, but that only scratches the surface. When you get into the nitty gritty, their formulations are drastically different, especially when it comes to the amount of pure fragrance oil in each.

"Body sprays—or sometimes called body mists—have a much lower fragrance concentration than perfumes and are meant to be applied liberally all over your body," explains Rosie Jane Johnston, founder and formulator of her eponymous fragrance line By Rosie Jane. "Body sprays tend to contain more water than alcohol, making them a lighter, more casual way to wear fragrance," she says. But perfumes are basically the opposite: They're chock-full of fragrance oils and are designed to be spritzed sparingly for a "longer-lasting, more complex scent experience," Johnston adds.

Out of all the types of fragrances (eau de parfums, eau de toilettes, extrait de parfums, etc.), body sprays contain the least amount of fragrance oil—about three percent, explains perfumer Darryl Do. To put it in perspective, eau de toilettes contain about 10 to 15 percent fragrance oil, eau de parfums typically have 20 percent, and extrait de parfums are made with 30 to 40 percent fragrance oil.

Which lasts longer: body spray or perfume?

Perfume—whether its an EDT, EDP, or Extrait—will linger much longer than a body spray because their fragrance concentrations are higher. "The wear times for perfume range from several hours to all day, depending on the formula," says Johnston. "Body sprays, because they are lighter and more diluted, typically last around two to four hours on bare skin."

There are a few body sprays—I'm lookin' at you, Sol de Janeiro—whose scents magically linger for days, so know that it's still possible to catch a whiff of your favorite body sprays a little longer than average. And if you want a scent to last even longer, perfumer Alexandra Monet suggests spritzing it on your clothes or hair, rather than your skin, because they tend to hold scent better. Just be wary of spraying anything on silk, since some ingredients found in body sprays can stain the fabric.

Don't let the longevity (or lack thereof) deter you from getting a body spray, though. Each type of fragrance serves a different purpose, says Monet. "Body sprays are light and in turn allow for flexibility when applying, giving people the opportunity to change their scent according to their mood," she explains.

Why is body spray more affordable than perfume?

The main reason why body sprays are so much more affordable—and I'm talking like hundreds of dollars cheaper—is the lower concentration of fragrance. The less perfume oil, the less expensive it will be. On top of that, most bottles are made with plastic rather than glass and aren't as intricately designed as ornate perfume bottles, bringing down the price.

Can you use body spray and perfume together?

Yes, you can—and absolutely should—spritz on body spray and perfume at the same time. Not only is fragrance layering ~super~ trendy right now, but mixing scents can result in a dreamy concoction that truly makes you smell one of a kind.

I recommend layering scents that have similar notes. Like, if your body spray and perfume both feature vanilla or amber or sandalwood, there's no doubt that you'll be smelling incredible when you spritz both. The notes don't have to be exactly the same, though. Fragrance is all about experimentation, so feel free to play around to find a combo that you love. One of my favorite concoctions is pairing Ellis Brooklyn Vanilla Sin with Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille.

When layering, Johnston says to spritz the body spray allllll over your body first. "It acts as a base layer," she says. "Then, apply perfume or even a perfume oil to pulse points—wrists, neck, behind your ears—for a more concentrated, long-lasting scent," she notes. "This method helps build depth while keeping the fragrance fresh throughout the day."

Which is better: body spray or perfume?

Neither body spray nor perfume is "better" than the other, since it's fully based on personal preference, price point, scent, and more. If you're stuck on figuring out which to spritz on any given day, think about your mood and the occasion, says Johnston. "Body sprays are perfect for everyday, casual wear—they’re easy to toss in your bag and reapply as needed," she says. "Perfumes, with their more complex scent profiles and longer wear time, are ideal when you want a more refined, lasting fragrance."

The final verdict:

The fragrance gods have spoken, and they say body sprays and perfumes both deserve a spot in your fragrance lineup. The convenience of body sprays make them ideal for throwing in your gym bag or purse for quick little pick-me-ups throughout the day, and they also work as impeccable bases for fragrance layering. Perfumes will always be the cornerstone in any fragrance collection, but having perfumes and body sprays will take your scent game to a whole new level. Trust.

Meet the experts:

• Rosie Jane Johnston is the founder and formulator of By Rosie Jane, a fragrance line that carries a mix of perfumes, perfume oils, body washes, body oils, and more.
• Darryl Do is the senior perfumer at Delbia Do Fragrances where he helps develop scents for a variety of brands.
• Alexandra Monet is a perfumer at dsm-firmenich and is based in New York, NY. She's worked on perfumes for brands like Nest, Dries Van Noten, and Gucci.

Why Trust Cosmopolitan?

Mary Honkus is a beauty contributor for Cosmopolitan with over six years of experience researching, writing, and editing beauty stories, including reviewing rose perfumes and finding the most spot-on Baccarat Rouge 540 dupes. She is an authority in all beauty categories, but has a sweet spot for fragrance with a collection of over 200 scents. For this story, she interviewed three fragrance experts to learn more about the difference between body sprays and perfumes, and determine whether or not you need both in your collection. (Spoiler: You do.)