Perfumes have long been a unique and special way to express oneself and have commonly been known to help enhance one’s image. They are surprisingly powerful and bold ways to come across and bold and sophisticated or sweet and lovely. Currently, a large number of companies sell a variety of different scents ranging from floral and citrusy ones to musky and woody tones. The question is, are these scents genderless? Does it matter if an individual uses a specific perfume simply because they are supposedly ‘for women’ or ‘for men’? Below, we will discuss men's vs women's fragrances and their differences.
The Name and Label
First and foremost, one of the main differences between the two and how one can tell them apart is the label itself. When trying to distinguish between feminine and masculine scents, most perfumes are named either ‘Eau de Parfum’ for men or ‘Eau de Parfum’ for women. This is typically the baseline for identifying which gender the perfume house had in mind when formulating the particular fragrance. This is the most straightforward way to buy perfume.
The Combination of Scents
Another factor that differentiates men’s and women’s fragrances is the combinations and concentrations of scents. Perfume is generally made up of 3 layers, the top note, the middle note, and the base note. The top notes are the ones you smell initially, and the middle and base notes are the ones that are more subtle. Hence, blends of perfumes are made of layers of scents with the intent to create a unique scent profile. As such, the ingredient labels on most fragrances, be it for men or women, are the same. What sets the two apart are instead the composition of scents incorporated into a single perfume.
The way a fragrance is composed and brewed determines if it is predominantly for men or women. Usually, those with deeper and darker tones such as ones that are musky or woody are considered to lean toward the masculine side while those that are sweeter and lighter with floral or fruity tones are taken as feminine ones.
However, the scent itself is subjective and there are no specific rules and guidelines for you to follow. Perfumes interact differently with everyone and as such, no two people will smell the same even when wearing the same fragrance. You should not let brand marketing dictate and restrict you from purchasing scents that you are drawn to. A man may prefer more feminine fragrances and women too may have a preference for more masculine scents, and there is nothing wrong with that!
These days, gender knows no boundaries and norms are no longer as clear. As such, more and more androgynous and unisex fragrances are being created with no particular gender in mind. Perfume houses and brands such as Calvin Klein and Chanel, as well as many others, are championing fragrances that are suitable for both genders. So, when it comes to buying a fragrance and discovering your signature scent, just do whatever you want! Don’t let gender limit you!