There are thousands of different smells that are the source of thousands of perfumes. Some are for women, others are for men. But what might escape you is that this gender distinction in perfumery is a recent phenomenon in the West. You should know that originally, perfumes were created to be worn by anyone who wanted them, whether men or women. But why has the trend changed? How do societal codes influence the way perfume is worn? And what place does unisex perfume occupy today?
Perfume for men or perfume for women? This question that never arisen before.
The existence and consumption of perfumes go back centuries. Since antiquity, the various cultures of the world have cherished the virtues of odors, without any gender distinction. Men and women wore the same perfumes identically, with the only difference in the taste preferred by each. Floral notes were worn by men in the same way woody or chypre notes were worn by women. Their only criterion of choice was the olfactory pleasure provided by the chosen fragrance.
Thus, no gender barrier separated the perfumes. It is for this reason, moreover, that the Romans were known in history for the love they had for the smell of roses. Men of this time made up a perfume made from rose water. This represented elegance and symbolized male nobility.
A unisex perfume, the solution to all these problems?
Some social behaviors change and evolve over time, and consumption habits too. All these gender issues have pushed Western brands to develop unisex fragrances. These merge between masculine and feminine notes and are designed to suit both men and women, simultaneously.
Unisex perfume: a new trend in the West.
A photo of a simple perfume bottle placed next to pink and blue flowers on a blurred blue background.
An illustrative photo of a simple perfume bottle. Perfumes for men? The new prohibition of the 18th century. Over time, habits have changed a bit. In the West, between the end of the 18th and the middle of the 19th century, men were content with the smells provided by their soap and certain colognes, with a simple hygienist perspective. The social norm of those times told them that perfumes were reserved for women. It was only at the end of the 19th century that men began to proudly assume their desire to wear perfume. The old social code which had decided to exclude the male sex from the world of fragrances has been increasingly neglected. Thus, men showed their interest in the perfumes of the time, without fear of lacking virility. But some of the fragrances originally intended for women have not escaped the noses of men. This is the case with the Tabaco Blond perfume by Caron. Created for women in the first quarter of the 20th century, this perfume took the liberty of borrowing the leathery notes known to men and made a big splash in the feminine universe, with its strong and audacious notes.
Masculine perfume or feminine perfume? A cultural and social issue
Despite the fact that the industrialization of the perfumery sector has played a role in determining the gender of perfumes through imposing communication campaigns, the cultural dimension also plays a very important role. Indeed, if the West has, for example, reserved floral notes for women, this is not the case with the East. The inhabitants of sunny lands always safeguard a certain universality of smells and their men have no problem wearing floral perfumes. Thus, it is perhaps a question of advertising influence, but also of culture, individual habits, and social codes. An illustrative photo of a bouquet of rose flowers. The scents of the rose are worn by men and women in the Orient.
An illustrative photo of a bouquet of rose flowers.
To give yet another concrete example, let's take the case of the Cyprus olfactory family. In its beginnings, it only included perfumes intended for men. Its virile olfactory notes reflect a certain allure of responsibility, which refers to men with power in the professional world. But in the West, women seized on it in the 20th century, in order to affirm their ability to play the role of responsible, hardworking women, while keeping their feminine side. Perfume, is an essence that fulfills an olfactory desire in the wearer
If the question of gender in perfumes is dealt with in different ways, it is essential to trust our own olfactory preferences rather than the advertising posters that we often have in front of us. And fortunately, many have understood this.
A unisex perfume, the solution to all these problems?
Some social behaviors change and evolve over time, and consumption habits too. All these gender issues have pushed Western brands to develop unisex fragrances. These merge between masculine and feminine notes and are designed to suit both men and women, simultaneously.
Mixed perfumes, a specificity of oriental perfumes
If the gender of perfumes is a debate that has caused a lot of ink to flow in the world of fragrances in the West, oriental perfumes have always defended their diversity. Indeed, men and women from the East have a different approach to perfume compared to Westerners. You may encounter men wearing floral scents, just as you may encounter women wearing leathery, manlier fragrances. In addition, the Oud with its strong woody and smoky smells was worn and is worn until now, by men and women of the Orient. Mixed perfumes remain thus, a tradition inseparable from the Eastern culture before they make their success in the West.
701 MONACO 540-Inspired By Baracatt Rouge 540
A condensed and graphic smell impression is released by Aw Scents a wood-like scent. Spray a small amount of Inspired By Baracatt Rouge 540 perfume directly on the skin. This fragrance has a warming scent, the scent will work everywhere, with a friend or companion 24/7.
FRAGRANCE NOTES
- Top Notes: Jasmine, Saffron.
- Heart Notes: Amber wood.
- Base Notes: Cedar, Fir resin.
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