Men's, Women's, or Unisex Perfume: How to Choose

For a long time, perfumery was largely organized around two categories: perfumes for women and perfumes for men.

Today, unisex fragrances hold a much bigger place, and many consumers choose primarily based on their olfactory preferences. This raises a simple question: does a perfume's gender really matter when it comes to whether it will suit you?

Why are perfumes classified by gender?

These categories historically make marketing, distribution, and browsing through collections easier. Certain olfactory directions have thus become more associated with masculine or feminine perfumery.

Flowers, fruits, or certain sweet notes have often been used in perfumes marketed to women. Woods, aromatic notes, or certain fresh accords have frequently been associated with perfumes for men. But these boundaries are, above all, cultural and commercial.

Does a raw material have a gender?

No. Jasmine, vetiver, vanilla, sandalwood, or bergamot don't inherently belong to a gender.

It's the way these materials are combined, their balance, and the perfume's positioning that shape the overall perception of the composition. The same wood can appear in a perfume seen as masculine, feminine, or perfectly unisex.

What is a unisex perfume?

A unisex perfume is generally presented as a fragrance that can be worn regardless of gender. That doesn't necessarily mean it's neutral or discreet.

A unisex fragrance can be very fresh, woody, ambery, floral, or particularly intense. The term mainly describes the fragrance's positioning rather than a specific olfactory family.

Why are these boundaries becoming less important?

Consumer habits are evolving. More and more people choose their perfume based on the notes they like and the sensation they're after, rather than a traditional category.

This approach considerably widens the possibilities. Someone who sticks exclusively to a men's or women's section may sometimes miss out on a fragrance that would suit them perfectly.

How to choose without using gender as your first criterion

Start with your fragrance family. Then ask yourself whether you're looking for something fresh, warm, woody, floral, gourmand, or spicy.

Next, look at the intensity, sillage, and the moments you want to wear the perfume. These elements generally let you predict much more effectively whether a fragrance will suit you.

Have the categories become useless?

Not necessarily. They can still be handy for quickly browsing a collection or guiding someone who's just starting to discover perfumery.

But they should be seen as one filter among others, not as a rule.

Can you wear a perfume marketed for another gender?

Of course. If you love a fragrance and how it evolves on your skin, no olfactory rule stops you from wearing it. Perfume is, first and foremost, a personal experience.

Find your own guide

Some people like wearing perfumes clearly tied to a masculine or feminine aesthetic. Others prefer more ambiguous or unisex compositions. Both approaches are perfectly valid.

What matters most is understanding what you truly enjoy.

The CARTHIS LAB approach

The gender categories at CARTHIS LAB mainly serve to make navigation easier. Fragrance families, notes, intensity, and sillage remain the most useful markers for discovering a fragrance.

A perfume doesn't need to match a category to match you.