The Great Divide of Gendered Perfumes - Men's Folio
Grooming, Fragrance

The Great Divide of Gendered Perfumes

  • By Bryan Goh

The Great Divide Of Gendered Perfumes
Like the walkman and #WhiteBoySummer, gendered perfumes are perhaps a thing of the past.

Pink is for girls and blue is for boys. Oud is for men and roses are for women. The gender wage gap is a “myth”. All inane in the grand scheme of things, one would say, but the focus should be on the middle point. Why would a bottle of fragrance — something so simple that its concept has not changed since the ancient Mesopotamia times in Egypt — be herded into demarcated gendered lines throughout the past three eras or in some cases, personified by men in white speedos and teenage singers in their skivvies?-

What fragrance contains — synthetic materials that aim to mimic ingredients of natural origins — allow it to be mass-produced and reap the profits in the millions for companies who will in turn market the “gendered fragrances” aggressively to customers. Be the advertised man, one wants to be with each ring of a cash register — “Livin’ da Vida Loca”.

Presently, the once razor-sharp eyes on a product’s “gender label” are blurring as needs have evolved. Do people appreciate excessively or blindly patronising and pandering to corporate giants? Not really. The power lies within fingers tapping across a screen. Do men want to reap “masculine benefits” from testosterone-laden tips from “Men’s Hypochondria”? That is a no. We can make our own rules; especially when it comes to “gendered fragrances”. Can men appreciate the nuances of these fragrances and respond accordingly regardless of the department it is found in its store? Of course. Enjoy these “beast-frags” — fragrances so powerful and potent they will make every dime worth its olfactory pleasure.



Carolina Herrera Bad Boy: The spiciness of white and black pepper tempered with a zesty bergamot and minty sage accord.



Dolce&Gabbana Pineapple: The slightly sweet and metallic note of pineapple adds a brightness to the warmth of tobacco. 


The Great Divide Of Gendered Perfumes
Penhaligon’s Babylon: Carnal cypriol oil, sweet vanilla and warm sensual sandalwood are readily available at the brand’s ION Orchard store. 



Hermès H24: The wonderful greenness of clary sage, narcissus and rosewood with the pleasing metallic note of sclarene.


The Great Divide Of Gendered Perfumes
Ermenegildo Zegna Javanese Patchouli: Warm tonka bean, herbal patchouli and fresh cedar; sweet calabrian bergamot rounds it out. 


The Great Divide Of Gendered Perfumes
Chanel Le Lion: At the heart of its warm amber depth lies sweet creamy vanilla and honey-like lemon. 


The Great Divide Of Gendered Perfumes
Byredo Open Sky / escentials: Heady vetiver, spicy black pepper and a vibrant pomelo note — a spritz of cool in our humid climate. 

This story about gendered perfumes first appeared in our May 2021 issue