No more clichés in perfumery
ADELE FADILI
"Genderless" perfumes
Ahhhh… the gender divide: it's feminine, it's masculine… We're a little fed up with these divisive topics (there are more serious things in life, right?). OK, fine, let's go back to the basics of gender in perfumery.
Why "gendered" perfumes?
Throughout history, there has always been this urge to set men apart from women. Let's turn a blind eye to the clichés of the past (men superior to women, woods for men and flowers for women…).
Above all, let's talk about genderless perfumes, THE trend of recent years.
So-called "feminine" and "masculine" perfumes
Clichés and myths
Perfumery's number one cliché: feminine perfumes = soft, floral and masculine perfumes = woody, spicy. This distinction rests on gender stereotypes with no real basis.
"Expensive perfumes are always better": even though high-end perfumes are often of great quality, price doesn't always guarantee quality or satisfaction.
"Men wear less perfume": yet another cliché. Perfume can be worn as often as you like, by all genders.
Some niche brands steer clear of stereotyped ad campaigns. The institutional codes of luxury often mean celebrities or models with cookie-cutter looks, or the idea that the heavier the cap, the more luxurious the perfume… Nowadays, this one-size-fits-all beauty is out.
The idea of "gender" even extends to bottles: colors, shapes, you name it.
Beyond the clichés: what raw materials really smell like
Perfumery and bad smells, a contradiction? And yet it's true: some ingredients stink! To make a good perfume, you need both good and bad smells. Here's the true face of a few raw materials:
- Jasmine: you picture monoi, the beach and sun on your skin. In reality, it's very animalic and medicinal.
- Rose: you picture the fields of Grasse, cradled by the morning dew. In reality, it's fatty, green and bitter, a bit like artichoke.
- Indole: OK, nobody knows this one. It's a synthetic ingredient that smells like feces, yum. And yet it's found in the most beautiful white flowers.
Do you have to pick a side?
No, not at all! What matters is loving your perfume: we wear perfume to feel good and ABOVE ALL to smell good. In the Middle East, for example, perfumery doesn't recognize this idea of gender at all and stands apart from Western marketing: women love oud just as much as men do.
That's why every Versatile perfume is genderless. Everyone wears Gueule de Bois one day or another, right? 😉 As long as it smells good, we're happy!
Myth-busting time!
Another cliché to break: the idea that niche perfumes are reserved for an elite. At Versatile Paris, we believe quality doesn't have to mean a high price. That's why we offer quality perfumes at fair prices, free of clichés, that break stereotypes.
To find out more, check out our Blacklist: everything we refuse to do in perfumery.
Looking for an inclusive gift idea?
Choosing a perfume, for yourself or as a gift, isn't always easy. Our Discovery Boxes bring together our Extraits de parfum in sample size, with a voucher worth the price of the box to use on your future perfume. All genderless, of course. So, which one will be your olfactory crush?
Finally, let's bust the myth that perfume is only for special occasions. It's meant to be worn every day, to feel good in your own skin and give yourself a little boost!
Photos: Versatile Paris
