Why are unisex fragrances so important.

May 5, 2025

Time to read 3 min

Why are we done with gendered perfume: What unisex fragrance really means

Once upon a time, perfume signaled status more than sex: kings and queens swirled aromatic oils as a statement of wealth, no pink or blue label required unisex fragrance were the norm. It wasn’t until the 19th-century boom that products were divided into “for her” (roses, jasmine, vanilla) and “for him” (leather, woods, spice). Those clear scent divisions are not based in our biological preferences but rather in cultural devices.

The pink VS blue perfume ailse

For decades, the perfume aisle adhered to that script: the “women’s” shelf glowed with sweet florals and fruits, while the “men’s” side offered musk, leather and raw woods. Advertising hammered home the divide with flowery pink bottles and dreamy ads for “her,” versus stark black flasks and rugged imagery for “him”. In reality, a nose needs no passport to enjoy either season, that's when unisex fragrance come into play

The unisex revolution

Calvin Klein’s CK One (1994) famously branded itself “a fragrance for a man or a woman” a bold crash into the gendered fragrance party. It even came in a frosted-glass bottle whose plain logo “lacks any male/female nuances”. Insiders say CK One “helped redefine the boundaries” of modern scent by blurring gender lines. This first unisex fragrance was perfumery’s punk moment, proving one scent could be for anyone.

The scent of freedom

Fast-forward to today, and the mood is even more fluid: perfume reflects a cultural shift toward rejecting traditional gender norms, as people seek scents by character, not packaging. In fact, over half of new perfume launches are now unisex fragrance. Niche houses such as Le Labo, Byredo and Floral Street embrace this change, deliberately blending traditionally masculine and feminine notes. and emphasizing individuality. Scent isn’t about pink or blue anymore, it’s about being you.

Unisex fragrance has become a tiny act of rebellion. Cartier perfumer Mathilde Laurent reminds us, a perfume should never be reserved for one sex because smells have no sex. She even compares a woman in men’s cologne to slipping on a tailored tuxedo, bold and playful. No wonder many women quietly embrace woody, spicy or citrusy blends once deemed masculine, after all, fragrance should follow the nose, not an outdated rulebook.

Mmoire's unisex fragrance

At mmoire, we’ve always crafted scents by memory, not by marketing categories. Each of our fragrance are unisex is a personal story, daring, nuanced and free, meant for anyone who feels it.

Ether woods

Ether Woods conjures a twilight forest. Our unisex fragrance opens with crisp cypress, coriander and green galbanum, spiced by rosy pink pepper. Clove and black pepper in the heart add warm smoke, folded into a veil of “transparent woods.” Creamy tonka bean, earthy patchouli and soft sandalwood-cedar form the base. The effect is grounded yet ethereal unisex fragrance, like dusk in an enchanted pine grove, welcoming to all wanderers.

Sur arize

Sur Arize unfurls like sunrise in a hidden valley. This unisex fragrance opens with vibrant bergamot and creamy coconut, a zesty tropical dawn. A heart of lavender, labdanum and cedarwood weaves herbs through warm resinous depths. Finally, amber-lit Ambroxan, oakmoss and clean musk give an earthy glow, with a whisper of leather for rugged warmth. The result is bright yet embracing unisex fragrance, a citrus-woody memory at home on any skin.

Choosing a mmoire unisex fragrance isn’t about joining a club, it’s about self-expression. It’s rebellion in a bottle. We believe fragrance should follow the nose, not the nursery. Yes, we’re done with gendered perfume. Mmoire's unisex fragrances stands for liberation and creativity: for anyone who refuses to be boxed in. Our unisex fragrances invite you to explore every note, wood, spice, blossom, on your own terms. After all, the only label that should matter is the story you write in the air.