Breaking the Scent Barrier: Why we embrace gender-inclusive fragrance

We feel that scent has no gender. It never has, and it never will.

For decades, the fragrance industry has told us otherwise though, boxing us into artificial categories, dictating that certain notes belong to certain people and genders. Sweet equals feminine. Woody equals masculine. As if our individual chemistry, memories, and preferences could be reduced to such simplistic binaries. This is why we reject these outdated constructs.

The Personal Journey Behind Our Philosophy

Our journey toward gender-inclusive fragrance began with our own experiences growing up. As founders, we consistently found ourselves drawn to what the industry labeled "masculine" scent profiles - the depth of cedar, the complexity of leather, the grounding presence of earth and smoke. These fragrances spoke to us in ways that traditionally "feminine" scents never did.

Our experience (and like so many others) illuminates a fundamental flaw in fragrance marketing. Why should sweetness automatically signal femininity? Why can't florals be powerful and commanding? Why do we accept that musk belongs to one gender while vanilla belongs to another? These associations are cultural constructs, not natural laws, and this is why we felt it so important to be known as a gender inclusive brand. We are not formulating in a way that's any different from other brands that develop scent to be one gender or another - and say it to be so - but we're also not forming campaigns and messaging around the fact that the scent is for one gender over another. 

Complexity Over Categories

When we created EAUSO VERT, we made a conscious decision to build something different, fragrances that are inherently complex and fluid, designed to evolve with the wearer rather than confine them. Each of our scents contains multifaceted layers that unfold differently on different skin, creating a truly personal olfactory experience.

Gender fluidity in fragrance isn't just about removing masculine or feminine leaning packaging touches for example, it's about crafting compositions that honor the full spectrum of human experience and expression. It's about recognizing that identity is nuanced, personal, and ever-evolving—and our fragrances should reflect that same complexity.

Why Gender-Inclusive, Not Just Unisex?

You might see the word "unisex," used a lot more, and while we appreciate the intent behind this term, we chose "gender-inclusive" for EAUSO VERT because it better reflects our philosophy.

"Unisex" implies there are still only two categories of gender, it's simply saying a fragrance works for both. But gender inclusivity acknowledges that identity exists on a spectrum, and our fragrances are created for everyone, regardless of how they identify or express themselves.

The distinction matters because it reflects a deeper understanding of human complexity. We're not just making fragrances that work for "both" genders, we're creating scents that can transcend gender categories entirely - because to be honest, you like whatever you like, without us telling you whether you should or shouldn't. 

The Art of Unfamiliar Territory

We encourage our wearers to step into unfamiliar olfactory territory. Try that note you've never considered. Explore the fragrance that doesn't fit your usual profile. Challenge your own preconceptions about what you "should" like based on how you identify or how others perceive you.

Fragrance should be an act of exploration, not limitation. When you approach scent with curiosity rather than constraint, you open yourself to discoveries about your own preferences, memories, and the intricate ways your body chemistry interacts with different compositions.

Your Interpretation, Your Truth

Every person brings their own history to a fragrance. The same sandalwood that reminds one person of meditation might transport another to a workshop where they learned to build furniture with their grandfather. A touch of rose might evoke a grandmother's garden for some, while others might smell the leather of a favorite jacket.

This is also why we believe in letting you interpret scent in your own way. Our fragrances are intentionally crafted to be open to interpretation, complex enough to mean different things to different people, sophisticated enough to evolve as you do.

Moving Forward

The future of fragrance lies not in reinforcing outdated gender norms, but in celebrating the beautiful complexity of human identity and preference. At EAUSO VERT, we're committed to creating scents that honor who you are today, who you were yesterday, and who you're becoming tomorrow. At the end of the day, the only person who should determine what fragrance is right for you is you. There's no one nose that is more superior than another.