Whether you’re an olfactory fanatic looking for your new signature scent or you’re just starting to dip your toes into the genderless scented pool, we all need a new scent every once in a while — especially for Pride month. But in a world full of colognes and perfumes with harsh gendered lines, it’s hard to figure out which are the truly unisex fragrances. And what exactly do we mean by that?
Subjectively, everything can be gender-neutral — what can be gender euphoric for someone can be dysphoric for someone else — but in general, we’re looking for those scents that live in between perfumes and colognes with an effortless blend of deep warm notes (often thought of as masculine) and classically feminine ones (florals, fruity, or fresh). If that’s what you’re looking for read on — I, a nonbinary fragrance-obsessed shopping writer, have done all the legwork and brought you the best (and some of my personal favorite) gender-neutral fragrances. From budget options with an under-$100 price tag to luxurious ones over $300, these non-gendered scents work for
DashDividers_1_500x100Boy Smells doesn’t actually have gender*less* fragrances, instead, it offers “genderful” ones meant for all “modern identities that defy definitions.” The brand puts queer people at the forefront when it comes to product creation. Woodphoria (a play on the words “gender euphoria”) is the sunkissed, bright, and woodsy scent you’ve been craving. It features notes of fig, coconut, jasmine petals, sandalwood, cedarwood, and musk.
DashDividers_1_500x100OffCourt Coconut Water + Sandalwood Fragrance, $45
This OffCourt fragrance is woody and bright and features notes of bergamot, Meyer lemon, black pepper, coconut water, geranium, sandalwood, cedarwood, and patchouli — a.k.a. the perfect combo between feminine and masculine.
DashDividers_1_500x100Elorea EARTH (곤) Eau De Parfum, $125
Inspired by the founders’ Korean heritage, Elorea’s fragrances balance the traditional with the modern. Using high-quality Korean ingredients, Elorea’s genderless scents are inspired by the luxuries of nature. Earth (곤) is, of course, an earthy scent with a blend of violet, cardamom, vanilla, iris, Goheung cypress, leather, and sandalwood.
DashDividers_1_500x100Juliette Has A Gun Lust For Sun Eau de Parfum, $110
Looking for a summery unisex fragrance? We’ve found it in Juliette Has a Gun’s Lust for Sun, which has key notes of ylang-ylang, coconut, and vanilla. This brand’s very well-known for its sexy genderless fragrances that aren’t just dark and moody colognes.
DashDividers_1_500x100Le Labo Santal 33 Eau de Parfum, $220
I’m sure you’ve heard of the famously expensive fragrance brand Le Labo, well known for its unique unisex scents that “intoxicate a man as much as a woman” — and everyone in between, of course. The brand’s absolute bestseller is Santal 33. Inspired by the American Wild West, the scent blends notes of violet accord, cardamom, iris, cedarwood, leather, and sandalwood that create a scent that is both light and strong — the best of both worlds.
DashDividers_1_500x100Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Cologne, $155
There are a plethora of Jo Malone fragrances to choose from if you’re looking for a unisex and genderless scent, whether it’s fruity or woodsy. The Wood Sage & Sea Salt one is an earthy option with notes of ambrette seeds, sea salt, and sage — perfect for any outdoors-y gay.
DashDividers_1_500x100The Nue Co. is all about products that are good for you and your well-being, and, yes, that includes its fragrances. If you’re in the market for holistic healing with clean and good-for-you ingredients while smelling heavenly, this is for you. Mind Energy’s spicy scent is meant to give you focus and clarity with its blend of sage, juniper, pink peppercorn, and geranium notes.
DashDividers_1_500x100Queer-owned brand NOTO is very well-known for its gender-neutral skin and body care. Different from its bestseller Agender Oil, the Rooted Oil is a scented one and meant to perfume anywhere your heart desires. The most affordable scent on this list, it’s filled with a mix of palo santo, bergamot, cardamom, and cedarwood notes.
DashDividers_1_500x100House of Bō El Sireno, $365
After the most affordable option comes the most expensive — but rest assured, the high price tag reflects the quality. House of Bo fragrances are inspired by the founder’s Mexican heritage and are filled to the brim with luxurious ingredients that will have you smelling like a million bucks. My personal favorite, El Sireno — which translates to “the merman” — is an aquatic floral scent that toes the line perfectly between traditional cologne and perfume. It features notes of kelp, banana leaf, lavender, magnolia, ylang-ylang, oakmoss, and sandalwood.
DashDividers_1_500x100At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
