Freedom in fragrance
Are you ready for a world of gender-neutral fragrances? They have arrived and they’re teasing our senses into a whirl of delight and wonder.
WHILE inclusivity is the buzz word in the fashion and beauty industry especially, there’s another kind of noise being made that’s paving the way for how products are being imagined and manufactured.
In the world of cosmetics, genderneutral beauty is now hot on the heels of inclusivity. Traditionally in the world of fragrance, perfumes have been designed specifically for men or women, and there is a clear line that distinguishes scents that are meant for females and males.
The conventional approach to creating a fragrance has been steeped in stereotypes of what notes and ingredients would attract a woman and what attracts a man.
Fragrances, whether it’s an EDP (eau de parfum) or EDT (eau de toilette), for women, are usually feminine and skewed towards floral, fruity and sweet, while for men they’re masculine scents of musk, spice and wood.
Interestingly, women have been known to love using men’s fragrances but more rarely, the other way round.
To tap into the gender-neutral segment of products, luxury fragrance brands have started delving into this exciting new world of scents and are racing to concoct that one scent that will win the favour of both genders.
It’s a delicate task for the noses of these luxury houses, but it is the way forward as consumers evolve to become more open-minded, more aware of their individuality and more exploratory in their quest for unique fragrances.