The best unisex fragrances

Unisex fragrances don't recognise the classic split into men's and women's. In niche perfumery most fragrances are unisex — scent has no gender, only marketing does. Historically the split only appeared in the 19th century, for commercial reasons: twice as many categories means twice as many shelves. Before that everyone wore the same fragrances, and Arabian tradition never adopted the split — to this day it doesn't assign oud, rose or incense to any gender. Below is a selection everyone wears.

How to choose a unisex fragrance: (1) Don't look at the label on the bottle, look at the notes. In Arabian tradition rose is a distinctly masculine note, while incense and oud are genderless in both schools. (2) The most reliably unisex are mineral, woody and musky compositions — they're harder to put in one box. (3) People around you are more likely to read floral and gourmand notes as feminine and tobacco and leather as masculine, whatever the packaging says. (4) Test on your skin, not on paper. The same composition often sounds very different on two people, and with unisex fragrances that's usually what decides it. (5) If you're buying a gift, unisex is a safer choice than guessing.

Marc Antoine Barrois Ganymede: A fresh, metallic unisex fragrance — one of the few truly unisex profiles — that works equally elegantly on a man and a woman.
Armaf Club de Nuit Intense Man: Despite the name, women happily wear it too — the fruity-woody profile is popular with everyone.
Nishane Fan Your Flames: Unisex par excellence — the combination of coconut, rum and tobacco is unconventional, and men and women both wear it.
Xerjoff Alexandria II: An oud-rose profile that's technically unisex — and everyone wears it with the same pleasure.
Fugazzi Vanilla Haze: A modern, genderless vanilla — a niche brand with a genuinely balanced unisex fragrance.

What makes a fragrance unisex?

A fragrance is unisex when it has no distinctly 'masculine' (wood, incense) or 'feminine' (florals, sweet-fruity) traits. Most niche fragrances are unisex by design.

Can a man wear a women's fragrance?

Of course — scent has no gender, only marketing assigns one. Many men find 'women's' fragrances suit them perfectly. Wear what suits you — that's the only real philosophy.

Which unisex fragrance do you recommend as a gift?

Marc Antoine Barrois Ganymede or Xerjoff Alexandria II — both are prestigious, unisex and a lovely gift choice.