Thursday 18 Ramadan 1445 - 28 March 2024
English

Ruling on women wearing perfume

9105

Publication : 01-02-2001

Views : 42642

Question

I heard that women are not allowed to wear purfume, and that it makes them like an adulteress.  Why can men purfume, but women can't?

Answer

Praise be to Allah.

Wearing perfume is permissible for women if they are at home or among other women. If it is done in order to please her husband, then it is mustahabb, because it is part of being a good wife. But if a woman puts on perfume and goes out with the purpose of letting non-mahram men smell it, then it becomes haraam, and she is a sinner if she does that, because that involves causing fitnah (temptation) to men. If a man puts on perfume and goes out, that does not cause any fitnah, unlike the case of a woman who goes out wearing perfume. If we assume that a man may cause fitnah if he goes out wearing perfume, as may be the case if he is beardless and handsome, such that he may even cause fitnah to men, then in this case he has to avoid things that may lead to fitnah, including wearing adornments and perfumes. And Allaah is the Source of strength. 

See also Question # 7850 and Kitaab al-Fataawa al-Jaami’ah li’l-Mar’ah al-Muslimah, 3/903

Was this answer helpful?

Source: Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid