Yes. Attars, perfume oils and solid perfumes are all made using an oil base, usually something like jojoba or a light carrier oil, instead of alcohol, and they’re a long-established tradition rather than a modern workaround.

How oil-based perfume differs in practice

Alcohol-based sprays diffuse into the air quickly, giving that immediate, wider projection you get from a spritz. Oil-based perfumes sit closer to the skin, project less initially but often last considerably longer because the oil evaporates far more slowly than alcohol does. This is the whole basis of the attar tradition across the Middle East and South Asia, and it’s also why oud oils and Arabian perfume oils are usually applied by dabbing onto pulse points rather than sprayed.

Who tends to prefer it

People with alcohol sensitivities, those who prefer a more intimate, close-to-skin scent, or anyone who simply finds sprays too sharp on first application often gravitate to oils. Our attar and perfume oils guide covers this properly, and our perfume oils range is worth browsing if you want to try the format. For how alcohol-based perfume is produced by comparison, see our guide to how perfume is made and the complete guide to perfume.