Fragrance industry trends shift toward gender-neutral scents

The fragrance industry is seeing a shift toward gender-neutral scents as social norms evolve, allowing individuals to choose aromas based on personal emotion and olfactory memory rather than traditional gender roles. Olfactory memory is noted for its longevity, often linking scents to childhood experiences or prenatal influences.

Several luxury brands have released notable new fragrances. Maison Francis Kurkdjian introduced ‘Velvet Sand Curtain’, which combines oud with peach to capture desert landscapes. Penhaligon's launched ‘The Marchioness’, featuring Chantilly cream and orange blossom. Frédéric Malle released a rose and amber scent that maintains a balanced 1:1 usage ratio between men and women. Additionally, the Korean brand SW19 released ‘5pm Rose Petal’, a scent inspired by the soft light of late afternoon, crafted by perfumer Jérôme Epinett. Versace also introduced ‘Crystal Emerald’, a floral fragrance for women featuring bergamot, peach, and green rose.