Q. Can you use itr, which has alcohol inside some people say you can? 

In the name of Allah, the most beneficent, the most merciful.

Answer:

Allah says in the Quran: O believers! Intoxicants (khamr) and gambling (games of chance), dedication to stones (paying tribute to idols) and division by arrows (lottery) are the filthy works of Shaytan. Get away from them, so that you may prosper. (Al-Maida: 90)

The following Hadith explains what wine (alcohol/khamr) is. It is narrated by Saidina Abu Hurayra (RA) that the Prophet of Allah (SAW) said: Wine is prepared from the (fruit) of these two trees – date palm and vine. (Muslim, 926)
 

Alcohol extracted from grapes, dates and barley is impure and therefore application and consumption of this type is unlawful. However the alcohol used in perfumes/itr is not extracted from grapes, dates and barley, therefore according to the contemporary scholars it will be permissible to use.
Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani states in Takmila Fath al-Mulhim: “The ruling with regards to the various types of alcohol, the usage of which has become widespread and they are used in many medicines and perfumes, becomes known, in that if the alcohol is extracted from grapes or dates, then there is no question of it being permissible or pure. However, if the alcohol is derived from other than grapes or dates, then there is no problem according to the view of Imam Abu Hanifa, in that it will not be unlawful to use such alcohol for medical or other lawful purposes as long as the alcohol does not reach the level of intoxication…. And normally the alcohol used in medicines, perfumes, etc is not extracted from grapes and dates, rather it is derived from seeds, honey, chemicals, petrol, etc. (Vol 3, P608)

However, piety is to avoid using such perfumes where there is a doubt of alcohol being used. The prophet (sallal laho alaihi wa sallam) said: “Leave those things which create doubts in your mind and adopt that which does not create any doubt in your mind.” (Tirmidhi, 206)

Only Allah Knows Best

Sayeedur Rahman

Darul Ifta, Birmingham