Unfortunately, the gender binary is alive and well within the beauty industry. What does this mean for the world of perfumes? It means that for decades now, traditionalist dichotomies of floral perfumes for women and woodsy colognes for men are what has dominated the market. This is outdated, and it’s unfortunate that perfume companies are still pushing the same marketing they did in 1999. Luckily, the paradigm is shifting, and with the general public’s awareness of gender identity broadening, the unisex market in the beauty world is beginning to expand through growing supply and demand. It’s an exciting time to witness, and the fragrance industry is an important sector to see this revolution take place in as it is one of the more heavily segregated markets for males and females.

Still on the fence about what type of fragrance is the best fit for you? Genderless Fragrance is not limited to androgynous spaces only. The beauty of genderless fragrances is that they are for anyone and everyone. Studies about top-selling fragrances even indicate that when a scent is a rum, cedar, and patchouli base, but not labeled specifically for men, the top buyer is actually women. This just goes to show that when you leave gender out of the packaging, people’s natural pick may be different than what they would expect. The scent becomes far more about the emotion, feeling, and story it gives off to the person wearing it. So what are the benefits of wearing a genderless perfume or cologne? We’ve compiled a short, comprehensive list for you below.

1. Avoid the extremes of gendered smells

Classically, gendered scents have meant that sweet, floral, bright tones in scents have been labeled as scents for women and musky, woodsy, dark tones in scents have been labeled as scents for men. The dichotomy is extremely limiting in that men have very few options beyond the mountain man aesthetic when it comes to smell. This classic fragrance will most likely not resonate with a huge population of men who do not in fact identify with a lumberjack aesthetic. Women may feel pigeon-holed within the scents available to them as well, with many complaining that most perfumes are just too sweet. Not every woman identifies with an ultra floral and frilly smell, therefore, it can be hard to find a scent that resonates with the story they want their perfume to tell about themselves. That’s where a genderless fragrance can really come in and save the day, as it allows anyone to pick out the qualities they like about a smell and doesn’t put them in a box of limited options.

2. You and your partner can share

The beauty of a genderless fragrance is that they are neutral, subtle, and complex enough to where the notes react differently on different bodies. In other words, your unisex fragrance will smell differently on you than on your partner. A genderless fragrance isn’t going to smell too girly on a guy, and too masculine on a female. This can be great news for couples where they can buy a fragrance bottle together, share it, and both enjoy it! It’s a great way to simplify your bathroom counter space, save money, and connect with your partner over something shared.

3. Not too overwhelming

Let’s be real, many overtly gendered scents simply can ruin an interaction with someone. Bad perfumes and colognes can make a horrible first impression, and send messages about you that you may not be wanting to send. Men’s cologne, for example, can in many cases be overly sexualized and sensationalized scents meant to attract women. The problem is that many women find these scents offputting as the cologne can come on too strong on a date and seem to indicate a person’s intentions when they may not be meaning to give off that reading at all. Gender-neutral sweet perfumes can send a message that you are warm and attractive, while not giving predator vibes.

4. Easiest to gift

Have you ever been stuck on the perfume/cologne aisle paralyzed by what scent to buy for someone? Perfumes are so individual and smell so different on everyone, that gifting a fragrance can often be a daunting task. Luckily, gender-neutral scents can be significantly easier to gift without a hassle, as the scents are designed to generically avoid the dislikes of everyone without focusing too much on ultra-specific notes that would come off as too much to anyone.

5. Perfect for any occasion

Gender-neutral fragrances are absolutely perfect for any occasion in that they are meant to reflect more of you as a person instead of being occasion specific. Gone are the scents that scream “date night” when you are really just at the office. Genderless fragrances are suitable to your senses but do not limit you to a specific event.