The Art & Science Behind Creating a Genderless Perfume

Walk into any major department store, and you're almost immediately funnelled into a choice: "For Him" or "For Her."

On one side, you'll find bottles shaped like high heels and blooming flowers, filled with sugary, light floral concoctions. On the other, dark, imposing bottles shaped like trophies or whiskey flasks, filled with aggressive notes of "blue" ocean, "black" leather, and "intense" woods.

For decades, the fragrance industry has told us what a man and a woman should smell like.

At Unity Scents, we think that's a bit stale.

We believe that scent is a deeply personal form of self-expression, not a gender prescription. The idea that a flower is "feminine" or that wood is "masculine" is an outdated marketing story, and it's one we're passionate about rewriting.

But creating a truly genderless perfume line isn't just about putting a neutral label on a bottle. It's a philosophy that is woven into every decision we make, from the first spark of an idea to the oil-based perfume you roll onto your skin.

Here's a look behind the scenes at the art and science of how we do it.

The Philosophy: Scent for People, Not Labels

Our process doesn't begin with a demographic. It begins with a feeling, a place, or a concept. We ask questions like:

• What does confidence smell like?

• What does the stillness of a deep forest feel like?

• What does the warmth of a spice market evoke?

Our mission is to bottle these universal human experiences. We’re not interested in creating a "unisex" scent that simply blends "masculine" and "feminine" tropes into a safe, neutral middle. We’re interested in creating complex, sophisticated, and original fragrances that stand on their own and letting you decide which one tells your story.

The Art: How We Balance Notes to Break the Rules

The "art" of perfumery is all about balance and harmony. Traditionally, fragrances are gendered by leaning heavily on specific note families. We take those same notes and deliberately defy expectation.

How we do it: We take a note traditionally associated with one gender and balance it with another to create a completely new, multifaceted character.

• Take a note like Rose: Traditionally the queen of "feminine" perfumes, it's often made sweet and powdery. But in our hands, we challenge it. In I1: Majestic Spice, we pair Turkish Rose with the grounding, "masculine" warmth of Cardamom, Clove, and Saffron. In N2: No Surrender, we pair it with the deep, smoky resonance of Agarwood (Oud). The result isn't a "man's rose" or a "woman's spice"—it's a rich, captivating, and powerful new scent.

• Take a note like Vetiver: This is a classic cornerstone of "men's" cologne, loved for its dry, earthy, and woody facets. Instead of just leaning into the heavy stereotype, we explore its full potential. In I2: Iron Will, we lift its earthy spine with a bright, clean burst of Lavender and Green Tea. In Y2: Yieldless, we pull it deep into a mountain-side forest floor with Cedarwood and Moss.

By focusing on the note's true character, not its marketing label, we create fragrances that are complex and compelling on any skin.

The Science: Why Oil-Based Perfume is the Perfect Genderless Medium

This is where our philosophy truly becomes a reality. The choice to use a clean, oil-based formula (like pure jojoba oil) over a traditional alcohol spray is a technical one, and it's crucial.

• Alcohol Sprays "Shout": An alcohol-based perfume is designed to spray a cloud of scent that evaporates quickly, announcing your presence to a room. It's a loud statement.

• Oil-Based Perfumes "Speak": An oil-based perfume is more intimate. The oil binds to the natural oils on your skin, "wearing" the fragrance rather than having the fragrance wear you.

This is the real science of skin chemistry.

Our oil-based fragrances meld with your unique body heat and pH to create a scent that is 100% yours. A perfume like U1: Uniquely Yours with its "skin-scent" base of ISO-E Super, will smell slightly different on everyone who wears it. It doesn't mask you; it enhances you.

What could be more personal or more genderless than that?

The Final Word: A Bottle of Freedom

From the minimalist, non-gendered design of our bottles to the very names we choose—Unbreakable, No Surrender, Iron Will. Every element is considered. We name our scents after states of being and inner strengths, not after "him" or "her."

When you explore our collection, we invite you to forget the rules you’ve been taught. Don't ask, "Is this for a man or a woman?"

Instead, ask:

• "How does this make me feel?"

• "What memory does this evoke?"

• "Does this scent feel like me?"

Choosing a fragrance should be an act of personal joy and discovery, not one of conformity. We don't make perfume for a gender. We make it for you.