Why I’m Totally Hooked on Gender-Neutral Perfumes
Gender-neutral perfumes are, like, my new obsession, okay? I’m typing this in my cramped Mumbai apartment, the ceiling fan creaking like it’s auditioning for a horror flick, and the smell of street-side chai is sneaking in through the window, mixing with this musky oud spritz I just put on. It’s a hot mess, but I’m living for it. I stumbled into this whole unisex fragrance thing by total accident, and now I’m, like, way too deep. So, picture me last week in a Delhi market, weaving through rickshaws, my nose getting slammed by turmeric, jasmine, and—ugh—diesel fumes. Then I find this tiny stall with a guy selling genderless scents that don’t care if you’re a dude, a gal, or just vibing.
I’m no perfume expert, trust me. Back in the States, I was the guy grabbing whatever was cheapest at the drugstore. But here in India, where every street corner smells like a fever dream, I’ve fallen hard for inclusive perfumes that don’t play by gendered rules. It’s, like, why should a scent scream “man” or “woman” when it can just be me? Honestly, it’s kinda freeing.
### How I Tripped into Gender-Neutral Perfumes
Okay, real talk. I was at this crazy market in Old Delhi, right? My sneakers were filthy, I was sweating buckets, and I felt like a total disaster. This old vendor with a beard down to his knees waves me over, and I’m thinking he’s gonna push some saffron or whatever. Nope! He pulls out these tiny glass vials of genderless scents, and I’m like, “Hold up, what’s this?” He spritzes one on my wrist—vetiver and rose, I think—and it hits like a cool breeze in the chaos. I was shook, y’all.
I bought a bottle right then, even though I totally botched the haggling and paid way too much. Classic American tourist move, I know. But that moment? It flipped something in me. I started noticing how these neutral scents—like oud, patchouli, or citrusy vibes—felt like my story, not some gendered nonsense. This Vogue piece on unisex fragrances totally backs up how this trend’s blowing up, but in India, it feels personal, with all the ancient perfume traditions here.
### Why Gender-Neutral Perfumes Are So Freaking Cool
So, why do these inclusive perfumes hit different? I’m chilling on my Mumbai balcony, the traffic honking like it’s personal, and here’s my take:
- They’re for literally anyone. No “men’s” or “women’s” BS. Just pure vibes. I’m rocking a citrus-cedar thing right now that could work on a rickshaw driver or a Bollywood diva.
- They’re bold but chill. The best gender-neutral perfumes, like stuff from Byredo or Jo Malone, mix weird notes—like black pepper and jasmine—that feel deep but not loud.
- They’ve got stories. In India, scents are everywhere: temple incense, market spices, rain on hot asphalt. Genderless scents bottle that chaos. My fave smells like a monsoon night with a hint of rebellion.
But, like, I’ve screwed up. I once overdid a patchouli-heavy scent before hopping on a packed train. Big mistake. People were staring like I’d rolled in dirt. Lesson learned: go easy on the strong stuff.
### My Fave Gender-Neutral Perfumes (and Why They Slap)
Alright, let’s talk faves. These are the gender-neutral perfumes I’m vibing with, based on my India adventures and too much sniffing around:
- Creed Aventus (Unisex Version) – Yeah, it’s bougie and expensive, but it’s like confidence in a bottle. Pineapple, birch, musk? It’s crisp yet cozy, like a Delhi winter morning. Check Creed’s site for more.
- Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 – Total splurge, but it’s like saffron and amber had a baby. Wore it to a Jaipur rooftop party, and people were like, “Yo, what’s that smell?” More info here.
- Kannauj Attar – India’s perfume capital, Kannauj, is legit. I got a rose-oud attar from a shop there that’s so rich, it’s basically liquid history. Pro tip: don’t haggle like me and overpay.
I’m no pro, okay? I’m just an American dude fumbling through India’s scent scene. But these genderless scents? They’re like a warm hug from someone who gets you, no questions asked.
### Tips for Finding Your Gender-Neutral Perfume
Here’s my messy, real-deal advice for diving into gender-neutral perfumes, straight from my trial-and-error in India:
- Sniff first, buy later. Markets here have testers. Spray, wander, let it vibe with you. I learned this after buying a scent that smelled like burnt rubber on me. Yuck.
- Play with layers. I tried mixing a citrus attar with a woody one, and it was like inventing my own vibe. Total win.
- Talk to locals. Perfume vendors in India know their stuff. They’ll tell you stories about each scent, which makes it feel like yours.
- Check online reviews. Fragrantica is a goldmine for finding unisex fragrances that match your energy.
Wrapping Up This Scented Mess
Look, I’m no perfume genius. I’m just a sweaty American in India, tripping over my own sneakers and falling hard for gender-neutral perfumes. They’re like a big “screw you” to labels, and I’m so here for it. Sitting on my balcony, Mumbai’s chaos below and this oud scent on my wrist, I feel like I’ve found a piece of me in these bottles. If you’re curious, go sniff some unisex fragrances. Hit a market, chat with a vendor, or peek at Fragrantica’s unisex section. What’s your scent vibe? Tell me what you’re rocking—I’m all nose.
