Traditionally fragrances have been defined by both the olfactive groups that they fit into as well as whether the fragrance is masculine or feminine. Is there really a definite line to be drawn between masculine and feminine fragrances though? The majority of perfume shops will separate the male and female perfumes even though, despite their branding, a large percentage of fragrances are comprised of scents that are unisex.

Whether a fragrance is defined as being masculine or feminine seems to have less to do with the fragrance itself and far more to do with the marketing and design that the fragrance house decide to give a particular perfume or aftershave. Perfume and aftershave adverts tend to be heavily focussed on the lifestyle that the fragrance house feels that the perfume exudes, and this is selected to exemplify the type of customer that they want to buy the perfume. This is backed up by the design of both the packaging and the bottles which are often very masculine or feminine (perhaps most notably in the bottles for the Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume and aftershaves classique and le male; where the bottles are literally shaped like a female and male body).

When looking at the scents that are common across feminine fragrances there are a lot (most obviously the strong florals) that are rarely found in masculine fragrances, and similarly there are a few scents that are almost solely found in masculine Aftershave (notably powerful woody scents). Despite this the vast majority of scents used are common across both masculine and feminine fragrances and a lot of consumers would likely be surprised by some of the scents that are being marketed at the opposite sex.

Taste is unique to every individual however and although a lot of men may find certain masculine scents too quintessentially manly they are still unlikely to venture into the female perfume section to look for a new scent. The opposite is true for females who may find very floral or powdery fragrances overly femine but still rarely tread into the masculine aftershave aisles. Due to this many people, both male and female, will likely miss out on fragrances that might suit them perfectly purely due to unisex scents being branded as being for either males or females. So next time that you are browsing for a new perfume why not consider taking a look in the section dedicated to the opposite sex? Sam Qam -- Current favourite scents: Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume and Aftershave

Keywords: Aftershave, Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume

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