By Sarah-Eve Leduc
Just like the fashion industry, the beauty industry and the fragrance world has evolved to break down gender norms. With a slight glimpse of advertisements details, perfumes and scents were clearly divided into two categories ; women’s perfumes, which were elegant and colorful, and men’s cologne, which were strong and spicy. The women’s perfume smelled of sweet flowers and fruits, while men’s perfume reminded us of water, soil, earth, and spices. These times, however, are long gone.
I remember as a kid, I used to wear my dad’s perfume, instead of my mother’s. I’ve always had a love for unique scents and absolutely hate the cheap kid’s perfume that you end up having a headache over.I’ve independently hand-selected these products because I love them, and hope that you do as well.
5. Dark Rum EDP – MALIN + GOETZ
A warm, fruity, yet woody and leathery perfume, this unisex scent is a perfect balance between sweet and spicy. It has a sort of milkyness and booziness, however this is one of the perfumes that might not last too long on the skin. Which is something that can be great if you want to get in bed without smelling too strong after a fun night out ! It is velvety and milky, with some bits of brandy. One of the perfect scent for summer 2022.
4. Mumbai Noise – BYREDO
Extremely different from the other four in this list, Mumbai Rose has a strong and coarse perfume on a spicy side. Definitely a little bit feminine but powerful. If you like something spicy and warm, this perfume is perfect for you. One of the core scents in this perfume is Oud, which comes from the wood of the tropical Agar tree. When the wood of this tree gets contaminated with a mold called Phialophora parasitica, it reacts by producing a precious, dark, and fragrant resin. That resin is the ingredient used for oud scent. Agarwood is a rarity on many fronts. Because the resin is only triggered by the mold, it’s estimated that a total of 2 percent of these trees produce it.
3. Coffee Break – REPLICA from MAISON MARGELIA
It’s sweet and warm, and smells like a place where everything seems comfortable, safe and warm, while the cold fall weather has started to take place outside in the city. It is velvety, sultry and has a subtle scent. You could compare it to a tall glass of warm lavender milk, with a hint of coffee and woody aroma. The quiet and more delicate perfume stays on the skin a few hours at most, but keeps a slight sweet touch at the end of the day only for the ones that stay close to you.
2. Voyeur Verde – MAYA NJIE
The freshness of pine and the forest is what hits you first. It’s a fresh smell, that’s a little between airy and earthy. The scent brings you out on a beautiful day in the forest, the Cypress resin smell brings a fresh smell yet the earthy tones bring this perfume to another level. Could be worn on a lumberjack or a fairy, the mix here definitely brings you somewhere else. Most woody perfumes are more on the spicy and strong side, but Voyeur Verde is extremely aromatic, soft even, with the smell of Bergamot, Citrus and Ylang-Ylang all coming together.
1. Thé Matcha 26 – LE LABO
The most surprising one, the smell is fresh and not too strong. It’s one of those smells that you simply keep on smelling on your wrist throughout the day. It is very subtle, which means the scent can only be enjoyed by you or someone that is close – very close – to you. On my skin, it lasted only one night, which could be something that some people want ( do you want to wake up smelling like yesterday? ) Smell fades to subtle freshness on the skin.
The ones that almost made it to the list ;
Santal 33 – Le Labo – This is the classic gender neutral scent – That’s the smell that you would expect. It smells like santal, a little brittle incense mixed with smoky wood. It reminds you of sweet tobacco, or an old book smell in the calm corner of a library. It has the softness of parchment paper and nostalgia of old books that gives you a sense of quietness.
Rose 31- Le Labo – First notes are strong , and the longer it stays on your skin, the smell gets more and more delicate, but keeps smelling enough. This is the most gender neutral smell, althought the aftermath mostly keeps the citrus and roses, and lose the woody and spicy scents throughout the night.
Tobak – Maya Njie – This scent brings me to a cigar farm, on a beautiful and calm day. The sun is shining but the weather is comfortable. Then, the scent brings you to a dark and fancy lounge club. The tones of this perfume are quite sweet, just like the leaves of a great cigar, mixed with Vetiver and leather.
Jazz Club – Replica by Maison Margelia – This one I would totally wear, although it is said to have more of a male fragrance to it. But who decided on that, am I right ? People however can’t seem to come together as if this is a more unisex or masculine scent. It has rum, whisky, cigars and leather tones. It is a strong perfume that is not subtle, and hugs you wherever you go.
Concrete – Comme des garcons – Notes of sandalwood, rose and resin. It is warm and spicy, and brings you to the perfect dry cityscape.
