The unisex trend has felt even more present in the last couple of years, seeping into the narrow gaps of mainstream society that the ’90s couldn’t quite reach. It’s a good thing, because fashion and beauty have always been tools to channel self-expression, and that should never be limited to binary models of an archaic period. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to level up to our post-gender binary culture without having to sacrifice our existing clothes and makeup would be to introduce a unisex scent.

Brands like Diptyque, Byredo, and Commodity may have started out as industry anomalies, but their gender-neutral model has successfully pervaded the market and they’ve quickly become standouts amongst major brands. A substantial portion of our obsession with a unisex fragrance lies in their practical, minimalistic and aesthetically pleasing designs. However, these fragrances often smell cleaner, more sophisticated and intimate, leaving little room for overpoweringly sweet or floral notes.

Unisex scents make a seriously strong case for sharing, and with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, you might just want to indulge in them with your boo. So, go ahead and give these intoxicating scents a whiff.

Byredo Gypsy Water Eau de Parfum

It’s not difficult to see why this captivating shape-shifter of a scent has risen in the ranks to being a cult-favourite. The initial stages of the fragrance is full of strong, vibrant citrus tinged with cool juniper. As time passes, a light waft of incense and orris gives it more depth and mystery. Finally, notes of amber, vanilla and sandalwood ground the scent, leaving the skin with a warm, creamy base. This scent lingers for hours on end, so you’ll be catching whiffs of its gorgeous earthy drydown when you least expect.

$191 for 50ml, $281 for 100ml; available at escentials.

Escentric Molecules Molecule 01 Eau de Toilette

If you’re going to give Molecule 01 a try, know that you probably won’t be able to pick up on the scent, but everyone around you will. Stay with us, now. The fragrance pays homage to Iso E Super, which actually bears a sweet sandalwood or cedar-esque scent. So, because the fragrance is an aroma chemical and not a perfume, it behaves differently. Give it some time to adjust to your body chemistry – it’ll combine itself with your natural scent to create a truly unique, alluring scent. If you like the idea of a bespoke unisex fragrance, this is as close as you’re gonna get.

US$135 for 100ml, available on luckyscent.com.

Diptyque Eau Duelle Eau de Parfum

Compared to the powdery drydown of Eau Duelle’s Eau de Toilette, the Eau de Parfum expresses itself with a little more audacity. Here, the bourbon vanilla is much richer, and the spice trail of vetiver and frankincense is intensified. Notes of incense and amber round off the fragrance in a sensual way, complete with leathery twists from Asian cypriol. The result is actually not as harsh as these notes may sound. In fact, it’s a comforting one to cosy up to if you seek a more sophisticated take on vanilla (not to mention, the scent of vanilla has been touted as an aphrodisiac in some places ?).

$190 for 75ml, available at escentials and on luckyscent.com.

Commodity Wool Eau de Parfum

Created by perfumer Donna Ramanauskus, Wool drew its inspiration from pretty obvious places. Cosy sweaters and breezy nights come straight to mind upon application. Similar to Diptyque’s Eau Duelle, the scent has touches of bourbon vanilla and Haitian vetiver. The warm and spicy scent kicks off with fresh top notes of mandarin, grapefruit and apple, but quickly mellows down thanks to the amber and gray musk. You can practically feel the warm, soft wool in this luxurious scent, so go on and set the mood with this one.

$146 for 100ml, available at Sephora. 

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Masculin Pluriel Eau de Toilette

You’ll find most fragrances for men in the fougère (“foo-shair”) category, which almost always features notes of lavender, bergamot, coumarin, geranium, vetiver, and oakmoss in its blend. However, this category of fragrance was originally created for women, and while several fragrances of this accord can smell a little too dated, Masculin Pluriel doesn’t. As with most of Francis Kurkdjian’s creations, it can turn a little sweet on the skin. Lavender absolute sets the scent off until a hint of soft leather takes over and grows with notes of red cedar, Indonesian patchouli and Haitian vetiver. (I also described the scent as “what a sexy bearded lumberjack would smell like” to a friend once. To each their own, right?)

$195 for 70ml, available at escentials and on luckyscent.com.

Main image: @tamirajarrel