For many, the best body mists served as an early introduction to fragrance. But that doesn’t mean these airy scents should be filed away as relics of teenage nostalgia. “Body mists have matured alongside its customers,” Chriselle Lim, creative director of Phlur, tells Vogue. “What we’re seeing now isn’t a return to teenage fragrance, but refinement for an elevated audience. Body mists naturally align with how modern consumers want fragrance to integrate into their routines: layered, expressive, and less prescriptive.” Lim would know firsthand, of course, given Phlur’s undisputed popularity; the brand arguably put body mists back on the map with its enchanting scents at accessible price points.
Vogue’s Favorite Body Mists for Women
Price accessibility is what Linda Levy, president of The Fragrance Foundation, believes is central to body mists’ appeal, enhancing their ease and versatility. Because of its lower perfume concentration, body mists work beautifully as light, everyday scents, for fragrance layering, or even quick hair touch-ups, per Nordstrom beauty director Autumne West. “The category has expanded in a way that makes room for a lot of play from fun and layerable options like Kopari, to more elevated and minimalist offerings like Salt Stone, or even more luxurious takes from heritage brands,” West explains.
That sensibility speaks to the broader way people are engaging with scent right now. This newfound flexibility in the fragrance category feels especially resonant at a moment when, as Lim describes, the era of committing to a single signature fragrance has given way to a more fluid approach—one defined by choice and context. We’re “owning multiple scents that can be worn across occasions.” Within that framework, body mists offer a playful, low-commitment counterpoint: lighter, more casual, and perfectly suited to an ever-evolving fragrance wardrobe. Ahead, a curated edit of Vogue’s favorite body mists of 2026 for every occasion and scent profile.
In This Story
- What’s the difference between a body mist and a perfume?
- How to Wear a Body Mist
- How We Tested
- Meet the Experts
Best Overall: Phlur Vanilla Skin Body and Hair Mist
- Why We Love It: “Vanilla Skin was the body mist that defined Phlur’s entry into the category,” says Lim, noting how it has remained a bestseller since its launch in 2023. “While body mists give us space to explore new notes, we definitely notice a love for gourmands and skin scents.” Vanilla Skin is the love child of both categories, thanks to its blend of pink pepper, sugar crystals, woody notes, and (you guessed it) vanilla. Meanwhile, Lim shares that Heavy Cream, Cashmere Skin, and Beach Skin continue to be standouts.
- Key Notes: Pink pepper, pink apple, sugar crystals, lily, jasmine petals, cashmere wood, benzoin, vanilla, sandalwood, agarwood
- This Smells Like: Someone’s baking in the other room—and it’s chocolate chip cookies sprinkled with sea salt flakes.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Longer lasting, for a body mist | Not for those who don’t enjoy gourmands |
| Sweet, woody, vanilla scent profile |
Best Minimalist: Salt Stone Neroli Basil Body Fragrance Mist
- Why We Love It: One of West’s favorites, Salt Stone’s scent is the body mist for someone who’s typically not keen on body mists. Why? The brand’s range of crisp, herbaceous scents leans more minimalist and fresh than the sweet fragrances we’ve come to associate with the category. With Neroli Basil in particular, the name reveals the bulk of the scent profile, though bergamot, tuberose, and eucalyptus add further complexity by combining fresh fruits, blooms, and herbs. Plus, nourishing ingredients like glycerin hydrate skin with each spritz.
- Key Notes: Neroli, Italian bergamot, basil, tuberose, French lavender, cypress, eucalyptus, shiso leaf
- This Smells Like: Lounging at a luxurious spa, with a plush robe and healing hertz frequencies on.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Refreshing, calming scent | More of a subtle scent than projecting |
| Skin-nourishing ingredients |
Best Fruity: Chanel Chance eau Tendre Body Mist
- Why We Love It: Those drawn to floral-fruity fragrances will find plenty to love in Chanel’s multi-purpose mist—and if you’re already a fan of the Maison’s Chance fragrance collection, even better. Both moisturizing and aromatic, this marks Chanel Beauty’s thoughtful entry into the body mist space. Notes of bright grapefruit and quince bring a fresh, fruit-forward sparkle, while sheer jasmine softens the blend, leaving a light, elegant trail on the skin.
- Key Notes: Quince, grapefruit, jasmine, hyacinth, white musk
- This Smells Like: Fresh, fruity, and delicate
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Light and refreshing scent | On the pricier side |
| Hydrating formula |
Best Tropical: Ouai St. Barts Hair and Body Mist
- Why We Love It: Who wouldn’t love to jet off to St. Barts at a moment’s notice? As good as that sounds, perhaps a packed schedule suggests otherwise. While not quite the same high as temporarily escaping your responsibilities, Ouai’s St. Barts Hair and Body Mist channels vacation energy at any time of year. The scent reads as a tropical breeze thanks to a blend of dragon fruit and zesty orange oil. Meanwhile, orange blossom and tuberose add to the aroma of summer blooms, before the scent dries down to its base notes of amber and musk.
- Key Notes: Orange oil, dragon fruit, orange blossom, tuberose, Baltic amber, musk
- This Smells Like: SPF spritzed on, piña colada in hand, and lounging under some sun-soaked palm trees.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Sun-drenched, summery scent | Some think the scent skews more sunscreen-like |
| Clean formula |
Best Sweet Floral: Sol de Janeiro Cheirosa 68 Beija Flor Body Mist
- Why We Love It: Sol de Janeiro is nearly synonymous with the modern body-mist boom—and this scent is a prime example of why. Even its name offers a hint: cheirosa means “to smell delicious” in Portuguese. Here, juicy pink dragon fruit meets soft jasmine, creamy vanilla, and sheer musk, coming together in an airy, skin-hugging fragrance that feels effortlessly addictive.
- Key Notes: Brazilian jasmine, pink dragonfruit, vanilla, sheer musk
- This Smells Like: An airy, sweet musk scent
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Vibrant fresh scent | Some find the scent to be very short-lived |
| Cruelty-free formula |
Best Fresh: Jo Malone Wood Sage Sea Salt Body Mist
- Why We Love It: One of Jo Malone’s most popular scents, Wood Sage Sea Salt now has a body mist addition to the collection. “Many body mists bring in a wellness element and include skin‑softening ingredients that make them feel as good as they smell,” says West, naming this as one of her favorites. The mineral- and woody-scented blend recreates the scent of breaking waves and driftwood, resulting in a fresh, earthy, and decidedly gender-neutral fragrance.
- Key Notes: Ambrette seeds, sea salt, sage.
- This Smells Like: Waves crashing at the shoreline.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Versatile, refreshing scent | Some find this a bit drying on the skin |
| Lightweight |
Best Hair and Body Mist: L’Occitane Almond Hair Body Mist
- Why We Love It: L’Occitane’s Almond hair and body mist is certainly a gourmand, but never heavy. Instead, the sweet scent offers a lightness inspired by sun-drenched orange blossoms in the South of France. Designed to be worn from head to toe, the formula layers seamlessly—leaving skin and hair lightly scented with the brand’s signature almond profile.
- Key Notes: Almond, vanilla, heliotrope, musk
- This Smells Like: Creamy and subtly sweet
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Lightweight and fast absorbing | Contains alcohol, which could be a bit drying to hair and skin |
| Creamy, slightly sweet scent |
Best Cozy: Maison Louis Marie Fleur de Vanille Hair and Body Mist
- Why We Love It: Maison Louis Marie’s Fleur de Vanilla reads less as a heavy gourmand and more as a warm hug. The alcohol-free formula doubles as a hydrating mist thanks to a blend of hyaluronic acid, glycerin, and seaweed extract. The fragrance opens with a playful burst of juicy raspberry before folding into warm vanilla blossom, eventually settling into a smooth veil of cashmere musk that feels cozy without ever becoming heavy.
- Key Notes: Raspberry, vanilla blossom, cashmere musk
- This Smells Like: Bright, creamy, and quietly addictive
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Comforting and cozy scent profile | More of a skin-scent than projecting |
| Hydrating formula to nourish hair and skin |
Best Creamy: Boy Smells Cream Dream Body Mist
- Why We Love It: Boy Smells makes their case clear: This scent is not your “early 2000s suburban mall vanilla.” Think fluffier and airier, less nauseatingly saccharine sweet. Here, French vanilla and buttercream give it that freshly baked warmth, while blonde woods add just enough structure to keep things balanced. Plus, this pick leaves behind a scent trail, while most body mists only project upon initial spritz.
- Key Notes: French vanilla, buttercream, blonde woods
- This Smells Like: Fresh baked angel food cake
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Soft, creamy, and powdery scent profile | Not the most long-lasting |
| Great for gourmand lovers |
Best Coconut Scent: Kopari Kaanapali Coast Hair Body Mist
- Why We Love It: West considers Kopari’s vacation-minded scents fun and layerable—each of the four hair and body mist options evokes a particular getaway, which makes sense given the brand’s range spans everything from glowing sunscreen mists to spa-inspired setting sprays suited for far-flung destinations. Kaanapali Coast, of course, is an ode to Hawaii, opening with juicy peach nectar and lemon peel before settling into a creamy heart of coconut shavings, milk, and warm spice.
- Key Notes: Peach nectar, coconut shavings, creamy milk, vanilla bean, cloud musk
This Smells Like: Sweet, creamy coastal breeze with a hint of tropical warmth.
| Love It | Leave It |
|---|---|
| Beachy scent is like a getaway in a bottle | Some find the coconut note to be a bit strong |
| Clean formula |
Everything You Need to Know
What’s the difference between a body mist and a perfume?
According to our experts, body mists the lightest possible concentration of perfume oil. “A body mist is sheer, lightweight, airy—like an ethereal veil of scent,” says Levy. “Its formulation is even lighter than an eau de toilette.”
Lim adds that the application approach differs as well. “Eau de parfums have a higher concentration of fragrance oils, and are best applied to pulse points for longevity and worn with intention. They are ideal for layering or refreshing, depending on how you want to wear scent that day and how you are feeling,” she says, noting that Phlur’s body mists are formulated with a higher-than-normal concentration of fragrance oils, which extend their longevity.
How to Wear a Body Mist
“A body mist is such an easy, versatile addition to a body-care routine,” says West. “I love them as a fresh, subtle layer you can spray all over after showering and moisturizing, or as a way add a hint of note you love to your favorite perfume.” That element of versatility and playfulness is the charm of body mists, and experts encourage fragrance lovers to lean into it. West even switches her body mist as often as she does her lip combo.
How We Tested
When we test and review a product, we take a holistic approach to deliver well-rounded product recommendations. First, we lean on Vogue’s vast network of experts—fragrance specialists and beauty executives at major retailers—to gain professional acumen on the industry’s standout products, ones these specialists would actually recommend to their clients. We pair their expertise with editorial best practices to curate our thoughtful edits.
For body mists, we selected the best based on the following characteristics: notes, ingredients, and versatility. To do this, we paired our own personal tests of each formula with expert guidance and reviewer insights to determine which we would recommend.
Meet the Experts
- Linda G. Levy is the president of The Fragrance Foundation.
- Chriselle Lim is co-owner and creative director at Phlur.
- Autumne West is the beauty director of Nordstrom.
