Why Are Women Discouraged from Wearing Perfume in Public?

Answered by Ustadh Tabraze Azam 

Question

Why can’t women wear perfume when men can? Back then, at the time of the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him, this was done by men, and in those days, perfumes were different. Nowadays, some perfumes have special substances that the other gender finds sexually attractive. By that, I would understand why women shouldn’t wear it, but then, nor should men, certainly? Yet, back then, it was also prohibited for women, too? Why? I don’t understand it.

Answer

In principle, both men and women can wear perfume.

Generally, ladies were interdicted from perfuming themselves before leaving the home. The Messenger of Allah, Allah bless him and give him peace, said,

“The perfume of men is a scent without color, and the perfume of women is colored without scent.” [Abu Dawud]

Scents of color were perhaps something specific to their time, but the important part is the idea of manifest smell.

Mulla ‘Ali al-Qari, the famed Afgani polymath, writes in explanation of this tradition (hadith) that women aren’t permitted to wear fragrant scents when leaving the home, namely, if doing so will attract the undue attention of the opposite gender. The reason for this is that such unwarranted attention goes against the meaning of concealing one’s beauty or adornment in public settings. Allah Most High says,

“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze and guard their chastity, and not to reveal their adornments except what normally appears.” [Quran, 24:31]

Similarly, when it comes to personal care products and the like, such as strong-smelling detergents, the same ruling would generally apply. But in situations where you won’t be around any unrelated men, such as whilst on a family picnic in a secluded spot, it’s fine to wear such scents even if you’re leaving the home.

As for merely making yourself smell customarily pleasant and normal, in a manner which clearly doesn’t invoke the undue attention of the opposite gender, this is acceptable. But you should err on the side of caution lest you fall into religiously problematic territory, namely, dislikedness (karaha) at the very least.

There is a somewhat fine line between not smelling unpleasant through regular personal upkeep and the like, and adorning oneself beyond necessity. Accordingly, each person should follow the prophetic advice to honestly “seek a ruling from your heart.” Usually, the scholars were firm on this issue, with some even listing it among the enormities, given the emphatic warnings against it, so it’s good to exercise a little restraint.

As for men, the basis is that their perfume is noticeable, as understood from the earlier tradition and many other statements of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace. He once remarked,

“Four things are from the way of the prophets: modesty, perfume, the tooth-stick, and marriage.” [Tirmidhi]

Rulings are based on the normative case and not the exception, and here, it is women who have been called upon to be more reserved in their displays of adornment in public.

There are many rulings that assign a certain duty to men or women for one reason or another, or in a similar fashion, limit something, and what we should strive to realize is our servitude in this temporary life, whilst acknowledging that the Sacred Law is full of wisdom, even if we don’t seem to perceive it. [‘Ali Qari, Mirqat al-Mafatih Sharh al-Mishkat; Ibn ‘Ashur, al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir]

Please also see Kohl and Perfume While Fasting, and Women Wearing Perfume, and Can We Use Deodorants, Creams, and Perfumes That Contain Alcohol?

And Allah Most High knows best.
Wassalam,
[Ustadh] Tabraze Azam
Checked and approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani.

Ustadh Tabraze Azam was born and raised in Ipswich, a small town on the east coast of England. He memorized the Quran in his youth and has led congregations in tarawih prayers at home and abroad. He earned his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and Management from the University of Leicester, serving as the head of the university’s Islamic Society. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Amman, Jordan, to study the Islamic sciences full-time with a variety of distinguished traditional scholars. He is now an experienced teacher himself, answering religious questions regularly, and teaching students of knowledge privately and online. Presently, he is pursuing advanced studies and specialization in Amman, where he resides with his wife and children.