Let me paint you a familiar picture. You walk into a mall, casually veer into the fragrance section, and before you can even lift a tester, a wild sales associate appears: “Ma’am, for women?” Maybe you weren’t even looking for anything specific, but suddenly you’re nudged toward something softer, sweeter, probably pinker. You’re told what you’re supposed to smell like: florals if you’re “feminine,” woods and spice if you’re “masculine.” But scent isn’t that simple, and neither is it gendered. 

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Do You Smell the Marketing?

The “his” and “hers” divide in fragrances makes selling perfumes easier. Perfume brands figured out a long time ago that it’s easier to push out a product if you tie it to a persona or identity.

“Masculine” scents? Here’s Chris Hemsworth in all-black promoting Hugo Boss. “Feminine”? Bring out Ariana Grande on a swing of flowers in all pink, no less, promoting her latest LOVENOTES scent. These campaigns bank on tropes: strong versus sweet, rugged versus romantic.

This gendered marketing also spills over to the bottles. It’s usually black, sleek, and angular for him; pink, pretty, and curved for her. Why? It’s easier to design, advertise, and display your products when you narrow down who you’re targeting. (Unless you can get a man to pick the stiletto-shaped Carolina Herrera over a dark bottle. If so, you deserve a raise.)

At its core, there really is no natural divide between men’s and women’s fragrances based on scent alone. Marketing teams are just excellent at what they do. Gender sells—and in beauty, sometimes sales come before sense.

Fragrance Has No Gender

That said, enjoy what you please. Leave the color-coding to traffic lights because there’s no such thing as strictly “for him” or “for her.” The rise of gender-neutral perfumes like CK One and YSL’s Babycat Raw Bourbon is proof.

A woman is free to reach for the woodiest scent from her partner’s shelf for that executive meeting. A man can choose a fresh, floral fragrance to stay sharp even after his 18-hole golf game.

Let’s hear it from the MEGA team. Owen Maddela, Head of Content for OMGI’s Creative Services, swears by classics: “The Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue smells infinitely better than the guy version. I have both, but the Pour Homme is less utilized,” he shares. “I’m also a fan of Prada’s Infusion d’Iris. I feel much kinder, gentler, sweeter when I wear them.”

Fashion writer Sean Castelo III also shares his picks: “Britney, I swear! I love her Fantasy line,” he laughs. “Other than that, I also like Versace Yellow Diamond for its freshness and Tom Ford Lost Cherry for its tartness.”

The female editors are fans of genderless scents. Beauty Director Agoo Azcuna-Bengzon says: “I love fragrances from Guerlain, Dior, Diptyque, Frederic Malle, and Maison Francis Kurkdjian. I tend to gravitate towards these brands because they are somehow able to come up with scents that are unique and often genderless, which for me, works better because they don’t dictate a mood too much.”

MEGA Editor-in-Chief Peewee Reyes-Isidro is particularly into one by Maison Francis Kurkdjian. “Gentle Fluidity is known for its unisex appeal and its ability to suit various occasions. Its balanced composition makes it easy to wear and enjoy for many different personalities,” she reveals.

Scent is and will always be personal. It’s less about labels and more about what story you want to wear.

Featured Image and Photos: DIOR, CHANEL, CALVIN KLEIN, SCANNED FASHION WORLD (via website), CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ARIANA GRANDE UPDATES (via Instagram), and STEVEN MEISEL