Whether you tick the box next to ‘Male’, ‘Female’, or ‘Prefer not to say’, the one thing we most likely all have in common is the desire to smell good.
Just as women and men’s dressing styles have seen significant crossover and blurring of traditional boundaries, unisex fragrances have also risen in popularity. Favoured for their versatility, some unisex perfumes draw from the more gender neutral notes of dark fruits, leather and smoked wood. Others embrace the value of both traditionally masculine and feminine scents by fusing seldom-paired elements to produce exciting and eccentric combinations.
Either way, the increasing availability of gender-neutral fragrance options have signalled a new age, where ladies are free to spritz on some of their favourite musky cologne while gents can dab on a scent with hints of sweet citrus if they’re so inclined.
Here are nine of our favourite perfume houses that freely cross preconceived gender lines, offering fragrances that dispense with arbitrary olfactory rules of what is designated for him or for her.
Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle
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Distinguishing itself as a ‘publishing house’ of fragrances, with Frédéric Malle at the helm as ‘Editor’, this perfume brand puts a focus on producing a variety of scents, so that perfume lovers of every personality, preference and gender can find a fragrance they can appreciate. Malle writes on his website that he considers lighter fragrances which give a sense of feeling clean to be unisex. He however also notes that more sensual perfumes that evoke the scent of warm skin can be genderless. The Cologne Indelebile is favoured by men and women, with its blended notes of bitter citrus, bergamot, neroli and musk base. W fredericmalle.com
Le Labo
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Most well-known for its Santal 33, a concoction of violet, spicy cardamom, smoked sandalwood, cedarwood, and leathery musk, New York-based Le Labo has gained a cult following due to its unique ability to entice crowds of any gender with its addictive unisex scents. Its collection of hand-formulated perfumes are developed by taking classic notes and crafting it into something new yet evocative of the familiar. While the Santal 33, though thoroughly appealing to women, is decidedly inspired by masculine spirit of the American West, it finds its equal counterpart in the Rose 31. This seemingly feminine, rosy scent defies expectations with its addition of woodsy and spicy notes of cumin, olibanum, cedar, and amber. W lelabofragrances.com
Penhaligon’s
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Founded in 1870, Penhaligon is no newcomer to the world of unisex niche perfumes. Its founder William Penhaligon, was known for his penchant for the peculiar and a zest for creative concoctions that evoked the mystique of the new and unexpected. The woody-floral Hammam Bouquet, which was the Englishman’s first perfume, was inspired by 19th century Turkish baths in Mayfair. The brand’s old-fashioned bottles, still true to the founder’s original design of clear glass and a round stopper, are instantly recognisable and stand as a reminder of the fragrance’s Victorian era roots. Among its popular gender-neutral scents is the Halfeti, a rich and complex union of grapefruit, lavender, agarwood, and leather. W penhaligons.com
Jo Malone London
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With an impressive portfolio of entirely unisex perfumes, the British luxury brand Jo Malone London further encourages customers to pursue their individuality rather than following rigid prescribed codes by playing with and combining different fragrances in the collection. Each of the scents, which are based on a single note, can be worn on its own, or, alternatively, layered with others for a new scent that’s tailored to the wearer. The brand’s signature Lime Basil & Mandarin perfume continues to be a classic among fans, with its fresh mix of citrus fruits, basil, and amberwood. W jomalone.com.my
Aesop
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Widely known for its skincare and soap offerings, as well as a unique approach to store interior design, Aesop naturally expanded their offerings to include a range of gender neutral fragrances. The three fragrances from its most recent collection, Othertopias, were designed to encourage wearers to question their relationship with nature and deconstruct their perceptions. With Miraceti’s labdanum and woody ambrette, Karst’s juniper and cumin, and Erémia’s yuzu and galbanum, the collection shines a light on transitory, in-between spaces, no doubt prompting the wearer to think about the real and imagined boundaries where concepts of gender lie. W aesop.com
Escentric Molecules
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Those truly seeking to break through conventional gender rules should look no further than the unconventional formulation of the fragrances from Escentric Molecules. Geza Schön created Molecule 01 with only a single ingredient, the Iso E Super. The synthetic note works with the wearer’s natural scent, blending to form a one-of-a-kind scent with a touch of cedarwood. This minimal fragrance, containing only one aroma molecule, is described as intermittently fading and reappearing on the skin due to the molecule’s properties, its fluidity adding to the experience of the scent that is unique to the wearer. W escentric.com
Diptyque
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Home to some of the most beloved fragrances and candles in Europe, Diptyque has rightfully earned its place among the top luxury brands in the region. While the Paris beauty brand’s scented candles and perfumes have cemented themselves as industry favourites, its release of the L’Eau laced with notes of cinnamon, geranium and cloves, back in 1968, paved the way for future genderless fragrances. The more recent unisex ‘Eau de Minthe’ fragrance comes with floral notes of geranium, patchouli and mint from the mountains of Oregon. W diptyqueparis.com
Baxter of California
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True to its name, men’s grooming brand Baxter of California stays close to its west coast origins, which is reflected in the thoughtful creation of their unisex fragrance. The eau de parfum Pacific Cannabis was designed to channel the spirit of the Golden State, using patchouli and driftwood as an nod to the Pacific Ocean, while the top notes of bergamot and pink pepper are rounded off by the aroma of tempered cannabis. Although the brand first began by catering specifically to the skincare needs of men, the release of this gender inclusive scent affirms that Baxter of California’s philosophy, which ties personal grooming with the signature LA brand self-expression of creative individuality, applies to all. W baxterofcalifornia.com
Boy Smells
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Forgoing typical marketing labels such as male, female, or genderless, Boy Smells opts for the term ‘genderful’. At the start of the business, the founders started crafting soy candles and underwear, looking to explore the meanings behind masculinity and femininity, resulting in products that celebrate the complexities of both. The belief that a person isn’t bound by a singular identity is evident in their fragrance, Suede Pony, which has notes of saffron, plum, hazelnut and coconut water. With this scent, which mixes traditionally masculine and feminine notes together, Boy Smells invites the wearer to chart their own path and enjoy the boundlessness of their identities. W boysmells.com
Featured Photo: Le Labo
