Christian Dior famously said, “A woman’s perfume tells more about her than her handwriting.” But now the concept of a women’s perfume is being well and truly challenged with the rise of unisex perfume.

But this is nothing new. Back in the 90’s CK One was heralded as the first of its kind in unisex fragrance. The hugely successful fragrance was known for its olfactory overdose. This powerful citrus-based fragrance with notes of pineapple, mandarin orange, bergamot, cardamom, lemon and papaya had mass worldwide appeal, whilst maintaining its gender-neutral allure.

And this subject could never be more current than right now as gender definitions are under the microscope.

Unisex fragrances on the rise

Now don’t get us wrong, the traditional and sometimes out-dated messages associated with scent divided by gender are still very popular and will still continue.

Many fragrances targeting women continue to highlight the pretty, feminine and floral notes. Whilst the bolder fragrances of wood, leather and smokiness are often targeted towards men. These stereotyped and segmented market assumptions are now being challenged. This is not just the smaller niche brands but the larger perfume house and fragrances buyers.

According to Mintel, gender-neutral fragrance launches accounted for 17% of the market in 2010 and by 2018 that figure had grown to 51%. And the trend for de-gendering products has not just stayed within the perfume industry. Unisex products are being seen in skincare, personal care and fashion. Shops are beginning to see genderless departments.  Stores and brands that previously targeted men or women are starting to shift their focus.

unisex fragrances

So, what do unisex fragrances smell like?

Once upon a time the shelves were once split into rich woods for men and powdery petals for women. Today’s more progressive perfume houses are thinking beyond this to create signature scents designed with everyone in mind.

The key to the creation of a unisex fragrance is how successfully these traditionally male and female scents are integrated to create balance.

Musk’s are popular for these fragrances as well as energetic citrus/ fruity scents. Sandalwood is another popular option, creating an elegant yet earthy fragrance.

Carvansons Fragrance Creation Developer Amber says,

“Unisex fragrances are becoming more popular and we are seeing a greater demand for fragrances that appeal to a wider audience. Fragrance buyers are becoming more adventurous with their scent choice.  We are seeing this trend in the fragrance samples being requested by our customers.”

Looking to integrate a unisex fragrance into your projects?

We at Carvansons suggest, when looking to create your unisex fragrance, you consider a wide range of different ingredients. Don’t feel limited by traditionally female and male scents and ensure you have done your research. The creation of unisex fragrances can be complex, but is definitely worth pursuing. This trend continues to grow trend within the industry and we are here for it.

Our knowledgeable fragrance creation and research team can help support you with the development of unisex fragrances that not only work for your target market but smell good to everyone.

And that’s got to be good news for everybody!

To talk to us about your next fragrance project, contact us now.

About Carvansons

Carvansons is a world-leading creator and compounder of bulk fragrance oil. Our fragrances are used globally in the cosmetic, personal care, household and industrial manufacturing sectors. As a global fragrance manufacturer we create high-quality fragrance oil compounds, aromas and perfumes with a worldwide presence.

We work with many different companies throughout the world, which include both household names and smaller, niche industries. Whether your product is highly functional or beautifully indulgent we can create a fragrance that benefits and complements your product, brand and target audience.