Can I wear perfume while fasting?

Detailed answer

Yes. Wearing perfume, scented oil, deodorant or body spray does not break the fast. Smelling a pleasant scent is not eating or drinking, and nothing reaches the stomach. The one thing to be careful with is incense smoke (bakhoor, or oud chips burnt on charcoal), which many scholars say you should not inhale on purpose while fasting.

What the Sunnah says

The Prophet, peace be upon him, loved good scents and used perfume often. There is no report that he stopped using it in Ramadan, and scholars do not count perfume among the things that break the fast. Smelling flowers, food being cooked or a fragrance in the air is likewise no problem.

Why incense is different

Incense produces smoke made of tiny particles that can be drawn deep into the throat and chest. Many scholars hold that deliberately breathing in incense smoke, for example by holding the burner under your nose, breaks the fast, much like smoking does. Simply being in a room where bakhoor is burning, and smelling it without trying to inhale it, does not break the fast.

In practice

• Apply perfume and deodorant as usual. Spray it on your clothes or skin, not towards your face.
• If your family uses bakhoor, burn it after iftar, or keep your distance while it is lit during the day.
• Scenting your clothes with incense is fine, as long as you do not breathe the smoke in directly.
• Scented creams and lotions are also fine; see creams and lotions while fasting.

A note on good manners

Fasting can make some people more sensitive to strong smells, so a light touch of fragrance is kinder to those around you than a heavy one, especially at work or in crowded places. Being clean and pleasant to be near is part of good character in Ramadan and all year round.

If you also wonder about cosmetics, read makeup and lipstick while fasting.