Although fragrance-free is often best when considering the skin that resides above the neck, there’s no denying the timeless allure of a beautifully scented body oil. Dating back millennia, perfumed body oils were thought to have originated in ancient Egypt, with Cleopatra herself creating and using scented body oils made by infusing fragrant herbs in olive oil. The affinity for perfumed body oils continued in ancient Rome and Greece, with the Romans importing their oils from Egypt and quite literally bathing in fragrance.
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The ideal way to suffice your day with scent, a perfumed body oil works to moisturise your skin while giving you a taste of everyday luxury. As for incorporating them into your everyday skincare ritual? Rather than taking cues from the Romans and using them in lieu of bathing itself, try applying your perfumed body oil to still-damp skin just after showering; this allows the body oil to absorb better and locks in hydration. From herbaceous scents to floral body oils that are inspired by ancient traditions, these are the best perfumed body oils in Australia in 2022.
1. Jurlique Rose Body Oil Limited Edition
Featuring Jurlique’s classic lightweight rose formula in double the size, this indulgent body oil is crafted from rich plant oils like safflower, macadamia, and jojoba to imbue skin with moisture. Scented with subtle yet powerful rosa gallica grown on the Jurlique farm, it’s the perfect perfumed body oil to soothe the senses and promote total relaxation.
2. Aesop Breathless Body Oil
From the purveyors of sensorial delight, the Aesop Breathless Body Oil is distinctly herbaceous with light notes of woods and citrus. While it scents your skin, nourishment comes in the form of macadamia, jojoba, and sweet almond seed oils. The ideal accompaniment to the brand’s equally sensorial body balms.
3. Officine Universelle Buly Orange Blossom Dry Body Oil
While heritage brand Officine Universelle Buly’s tuberose and damask rose body oils are bestsellers, this orange blossom iteration is an underrated gem. A fast-absorbing dry oil, the Officine Universelle Buly Orange Blossom Dry Body Oil leaves skin feeling silky soft and smelling of orange blossom and fresh leaves. Squalene meets sesame, apricot, and coconut oils which deeply moisturise the skin, while the beautifully illustrated packaging and vintage-style silver lid hark back to bygone times.
4. Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil
Designed to improve skin elasticity and support cellular renewal, the Tata Harper Revitalizing Body Oil is enriched with 14 active botanical ingredients, which lend the formula a fresh, slightly verdant scent. Lightweight yet nourishing oils like olive, grapeseed, and sunflower provide intense moisturisation, while frankincense and arnica work to tone the skin and reduce puffiness, respectively.
5. Ellis Brooklyn Myth Spectacular Scented Body Oil
Taking the Brooklyn-based brand’s best-selling scent and translating it to body oil form, the Ellis Brooklyn Myth Spectacular Scented Body Oil imbues your skin with floral musk notes of jasmine, cedarwood, ambrette seeds, cassis, and liquid musks, while squalane and rosehip oil provide moisture. Sweet and seductive, it works well on its own or paired with the fragrance that begat it.
6. Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge Body Oil
Taking its cues from the cult-favourite perfume, the Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge Body Oil balances out delicate jasmine and saffron with woodier notes of amber and cedarwood. Fast-absorbing and lightweight, the formula boasts excellent staying power but is quite faint and gentle. For a more potent effect, this body oil is best paired with its fragrance counterpart.
Words by Arabella Johnson
