When you look at fragrance history and culture, rose and jasmine perfumes, considered “feminine” have always been popular with men in the Middle East and do not have a sexual classification. Oud which is often thought as masculine in the West was burnt over braziers to scent women before intimacy.
Perfume is art, and art is for everybody. The distinction masculine / feminine is economic, not creative. Until very recently, large European and American fragrance companies market scents by designating gender. Typically, musk, tobacco and wood colognes are geared to men and fruity-floral and vanilla to women. In an interview with the renowned master perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena he said, “I invite men to use perfumes that are feminine and vice versa. I do not use the wording “unisex”; I prefer to say: to be shared.”
The first fragrance that was marketed as a gender-neutral fragrance was Calvin Klein CK One. In 1994, it was a game changer both in terms of perfume and image; it completely redefined the Western market perception of gender with the slogan” CK One by Calvin Klein, “a new fragrance for a man or a woman.” Androgynous models were featured in the ad campaign, no notes were listed, and it was the first-time perfume was sold in record stores. Its clean citrus musky scent is still as modern and fresh nearly thirty years later. Since its release, CK One fragrance has become one of the best-selling perfumes in history, with over $1 billion dollars in sales.
Big, bold and beautiful, Parfums de Marly Nisean is a gender-bender amber perfume that the brand markets to men, but is worn equally by women. It is sweet and spicy with resinous labdanum and golden threads of saffron. Patchouli and smoky woods create a dense deep base in this warm and versatile fragrance with universal appeal.
Musc Ravageur (meaning devastating musk) is one of the most sensual of all the Frederic Malle perfumes and the brand markets it as gender-fluid. Surprisingly, it has absolutely no musk, which is confirmed by the famous perfumer Maurice Roucel who composed Musc Ravageur. It’s a sexy ambery perfume with pillowing puffs of vanilla and sweet spices. With 9.1 million views on TikTok it’s hot with millennials and Gen Z who are buzzing about its dark and mysterious vibe.
The popular men’s cologne Paco Rabanne One Million has been a mega hit with guys since it was introduced in 2008. Despite it being created for and advertised to men, it’s found success with many others who love it for its fresh, sweet, warm, and woody ambery aroma.
By Kilian is known for their daring perfumes and when Back to Black was launched its tag line was “aphrodisiac. Back to Black polishes heady blond tobacco with a burnished honeyed vanilla finish. Ever changing, the scent goes from smoky tobacco to fruity cherry, then to woody with the warmth of amber. Addicting and original, Back to Black is a great perfume for those who want to stand out in a crowd.
The image of the Marlboro Man in cigarette ads inspired Le Labo Santal 33.which has become one of the most recognized gender-fluid perfumes of recent years. The name of the fragrance comes from the fact that there are 33 different ingredients in the scent, with leather, musk, cardamom, iris, and violet the standouts. What does it smell like? A New York City editor told us, “Like everyone and everything.”
Now that we have suggested perfumes that have universal appeal always wear fragrances that you love no matter what brands label them.
Fragrance advice and recommendations from Perfumista. Perfumista offers fragrance guides published often for every season and occasion, and well as extensive knowledge in the fragrance industry.
