What is the ruling on perfumes that contain alcohol?

Alcohol is the primary intoxicating substance and is commonly used in perfumes, especially ethyl alcohol (ethanol), which causes intoxication and often constitutes a high percentage in perfumes. Methanol, despite its toxicity, is also an intoxicant.

The ethyl alcohol found in perfumes is an intoxicant, and some perfumes may be more intoxicating than some alcoholic beverages due to their high ethanol content.

If it is determined that the alcohol used in perfumes makes them intoxicating, then they are considered khamr (intoxicant) and its rulings apply. Therefore, it is not permissible to sell, buy, use, or benefit from them, as Islamic law has forbidden all forms of benefiting from khamr.

The issue of prohibiting the use of perfumes does not depend on whether khamr is ritually pure or impure, but rather on whether these perfumes are intoxicating or not. If it is proven that they are intoxicating, then they are khamr, and must be avoided entirely, regardless of whether we consider them impure or pure.

Accordingly, the ruling on using alcohol-based perfumes depends on the percentage of alcohol present in them: if the percentage is large enough to affect and make them intoxicating, then their use is impermissible. However, if the percentage is negligible and does not show an intoxicating effect, then their use is permissible.