BYRDIE
15 FRAGRANCES MARKETED AS UNISEX
The relationship between gender and fragrance was most certainly curated by the beauty industry, making it easier to sell men and women perfume. But in 2019, stereotyped binaries when it comes to scent aren't as marketable as they once were. Today, literally anyone can wear literally any scent (as it should be).
"Technically, all scents can be considered unisex," says Mariya Nurislamova, CEO and co-founder of Scentbird. "However, brands would typically market fruit or floral-heavy fragrances as feminine, whereas scents featuring heady notes like wood, leather, and spices would be considered masculine."
Andrew Glass, CEO and founder of Non Gender Specific adds that scents are gendered because beauty in general is segregated. "Most of us were raised with a certain idea of how men and women should look, smell, and act." Creating gender binaries, an archaic cultural dictate, is an oversimplification of life, which is by nature complex, nuanced, and messy. Luckily, current zeitgeist recognizes non-binary gender, a notion that even top marketing executives in the beauty industry have embraced. Even classic houses like Chanel have added a unisex scent to their portfolio.
So, what does today's unisex fragrance smell like? "While the unisex fragrances of the '90s were defined by clean notes," says Nurislamova, "often with the odd citrus or aquatic elements thrown into play, unisex fragrances of today are bolder and take more risks." In other words, today, gender fluid fragrance has much more dimension than more dated formulas. Ahead, find 15 exciting fragrances marketed as unisex to enjoy no matter how you identify.
DIRTY GRASS BY HERETIC:
Heretic's Dirty Grass mixes black pepper, lemon zest, hemp, and violet leaf. CBD oil infused into the fragrance adds an extra element of earthiness and offers purported relaxing properties.
SHOP DIRTY GRASS
