The Rise of Gender-Neutral Perfumes: Why Everyone’s Wearing Them
Over the years, many of us have developed a habit of purchasing fragrances that target a specific gender. For instance, a male is likely to opt for perfumes for men because they desire to smell a certain way. But the fact is, a scent really does not define one’s gender. This is why brands are coming up with various luxury perfumes that are gender-neutral, i.e., both men and women can wear the perfume.
Yes, gender identity no longer decides the perfumes you may or may not use.
This means you can now experiment with different brands with varying price ranges. For instance, oud perfumes are luxurious fragrances that are gender neutral and loved universally. But before we look at why the trend of gender neutral scents is raging, let’s revisit the history of perfumes.
Blast From The Past
When perfumes were created in ancient societies, there was no concept of gender-based perfumes. Everyone used scents like sandalwood, rosemary, lavender, and others since they served a cultural and religious purpose.
Around the 17th century, perfumes became more of a fashion statement and were sported by the affluent classes who had the kind of money to afford rare perfumed oils. During this time, people also selected perfumes based on the scents that appealed to them rather than gender. Yes, there was no concept of long lasting perfumes for men since the main goal was to eliminate body odor and simply smell good. In fact, men of that era wore floral scents if that’s the fragrance they liked, while women didn’t mind wearing earth and musky perfumes.
It wasn’t until the 19th century that the concept of masculine and feminine scents began to emerge. This is because people developed a deeper understanding of organic chemistry, which led to the creation of a variety of fragrances.
During this phase, perfumes became affordable to the masses. However, the availability of luxury items led to diverse marketing tactics, such as varying prices that target a certain class and perfumes catering to a specific gender.
By the 20th century, there was a clear division regarding the types of perfumes a man or woman could wear. Men opted for tobacco and leather scents, while perfumes for women, like lavender, were considered feminine. The shift also redefined what was considered masculine or feminine.
The Re-Emergence of Gender-Neutral Perfumes
Though several gender-neutral perfumes have been released in the last few decades, the drift is now surging due to the new generation and their belief system. For instance, certain colors or scents are no longer associated with a gender.
In fact, Gen-Z is more focused on how a scent makes them feel and how it fits with their personality or aura. Most importantly, gender-neutral perfumes are sustainable and eco-friendly as they reduce waste.
Still not ready to hop on to this way of life yet? Well, times have changed!
According to market research by Statista, 51% of the fragrances launched in 2018 were advertised as ‘unisex.’ Furthermore, the demand for gender-neutral fragrances is not a trend that will soon pass by. It is, in fact, a complete change in the thought process where scents are no longer considered masculine or feminine.
Gender-Neutral Fragrance Notes
Like all other perfumes, unisex perfumes are made using different notes that are mixed together to create a balanced scent that appeals to people regardless of their gender. This means that the scent will never be too sweet or too floral, nor will it be strong and leathery. The key is to create a mixture that does not categorize the scent as masculine or feminine. Here are some fragrance notes that can be used to formulate a gender-neutral scent.
Citrusy Notes:
Many unisex perfumes in the market have citrusy notes, as the scent is fresh and appeals to people of different genders and ages alike. The citrus base note can then be blended with other fragrance families to create a unique scent. Citrus, combined with a hint of floral notes like lavender, is also an interesting combination that is neither masculine nor feminine.
Musk and Amber:
These fragrance notes are made to rule the formal events. Any perfume with musk and amber notes is likely to be rich and sensual. However, mixing these notes with other fragrance families can help adjust the strength of a fragrance while keeping it classy and gender-neutral.
Woody Notes:
Woody notes include sandalwood, cedar, and other earthy scents. Alone, woody fragrances are soothing, but when mixed with different notes, the perfume tends to evolve into an ethereal, balanced mix.
Searching for the right gender neutral perfume in Saudi? Well, you are in luck, as Ahmed al Maghribi has a wide variety of options that you can pick from. Now, you can easily select a scent that is incredible and also falls within your budget.
