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Female perfumes that can pass as unisex..Which ones do you agree with?

post #1 of 26
6/24/08 at 7:31am
Thread Starter 
This list is from suggestions made by basenoters, which ones would you pick?
Sorted from A to Y

A.ELIXIR by Clinique
Alexander McQueen "Kingdom"
Alien
ALPONA and POIVRE by Caron
Always & Forever by Jessica McClintock
Angel
Angel Innocent
Angelique Encens
Annayake - Miyako
Après l´ondée
Arpège
Azuree Soleil
Babydoll YSL
Bandit
Black Cashmere
Bois des Iles
Boucheron Jaipur and Saphir
Bronze Goddess
Burberry Brit gold
Cabochard
Caron Alpona
Caron Tabac Blond and Piguet Bandit
Casmir Choppard
Chanel Cuir de Russie
Choc de Cardin
Christian Dior Escale a Portofino
Cloe Innocence
Costume National Scent
Costume National Scent Intense
Covet
Cuir de Russie
Dior Diorissimo
Dior Miss Dior
Diorella by Christian Dior
Dioressence
Dior's Dune,
Divine L'Inspiratrice
DKNY Be Delicious Green Apple
Donna Karan Black Cashmere
Donna Karan Gold
D'Orsay Etiquette Bleue
D'Orsay Tilleul
Elixir des Merveilles
Estee Lauder Aliage and Private Collection
Estee Lauder White Linen
Fendi (the original one.)
Gucci - Rush
Guerlain Herba Fresca
HABANITA by Molinard
Helmut Lang Eau De Parfum
Hermès Calèche
Hermès Eau des Merveilles
Hypnotic Poison
INFUSION D' IRIS by Prada
Irisia, and Corps et Ames (Parfumerie Generale),
Jicky
Kelly Caleche
Krizia Teatro alla Scala
L de Lolita Lempicka
La Dolce Vita Dior
Lancome O de Lancome
Les Néréides - Imperial Opoponax
L'Heure Bleue
Mat Orange
Michael Kors - Michael
Mitsouko
Montale Ta'if Roses
Nº 19 by Chanel
Obsession Night women
Opium
Ormonde Jayne Ta'if
Parfume Sacre - Spicey oriental.
Penhaligon's Cornoubia
Pink Sugar
Prada Amber and Infusion d'iris
Prada edp
Profumo, Acqua di Parma
Rochas Femme
Serge Luten - Tubereuse Criminelle
Shalimar
Sonia Rykiel's Belle en Rykiel
Sous le vent
Tabac Blond
The Different Company - Rose Poivree
Tom Ford - Black Orchid
VIVARA by Emilio Pucci
Vol de Nuit
Y by Yves Saint Laurent
YSL Nu EDP
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post #2 of 26
6/24/08 at 7:38am
Chanel No. 19 I believe was Coco's personal favorite yet I find it distinctively a unisex fragrance.
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post #3 of 26
6/24/08 at 8:04am
I've always loved Guerlain Mitsouko, & Chanel Cuir de Russie.
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post #4 of 26
6/24/08 at 8:08am
Divine L'Inspiratrice (more masculine than feminie to my nose)
D'Orsay Etiquette Bleue (ditto)
Costume National Scent Intense (ditto)
Costume National Scent (ditto)
D'Orsay Tilleul
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post #5 of 26
6/24/08 at 8:20am
Montale Ta'if Roses
Ormonde Jayne Ta'if
Annayake Miyako
Guerlain Shalimar
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post #6 of 26
6/24/08 at 8:23am
Why 2 threads on the same topic???

http://community.basenotes.net/showthread.php?t=210800
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post #7 of 26
6/24/08 at 9:29am
Thank you for compiling that list. It will be nice to have all of the recommendations in one place. I would suggest going through it and eliminating the repetitions, though.

Here are the ones that I have some familiarity with:

Guerlain Mitsouko: This is an absolute masterpiece.

Lanvin Arpège: This is very powerful and floral, and its unisexuality may be overstated.

Estee Lauder White Linen: Nice, but Azuree is far more masculine (almost like Puig Quorum!).

Clinique Aromatics Elixir: A powerful, bitter fragrance. Would be good for a man, but go easy.

Donna Karan Black Cashmere: I thought that this was a little too white-floral to be unisex.

Guerlain Shalimar: Wonderful and sweet, but Mitsuoko is my holy grail right now.

Guerlain L'Heure Bleue: Heart-breakingly beautiful, but do not get this one blind. You may not think of it as unisex.

Guerlain Jicky: Simple and lavendery and wonderful; men should wear this one.
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post #8 of 26
6/24/08 at 1:54pm
My choices would be:

1. Habanita de Molinard

2. No. 19/Chanel

3. Jaipur SAPHIR (Don't know if the Saphir version was previously mentioned specifically.)
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post #9 of 26
6/24/08 at 7:52pm
I would also like to suggest:

Diorella by Christian Dior and
Always & Forever by Jessica McClintock
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post #10 of 26
6/24/08 at 8:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mudassir View Post

Divine L'Inspiratrice (more masculine than feminie to my nose)

Yeah, that's what I've been saying for ages! Well, since it first came out, actually. And that's why I have a big bottle of this marvelous patchouli/rose frag.
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post #11 of 26
6/24/08 at 9:50pm
I think Estee Lauder Aliage and Private Collection (the original) would also be good scents for men. Givenchy III is a fine crossover, although I personally could take it or leave it.
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post #12 of 26
6/24/08 at 10:03pm
Talking about Lauder, Bronze Goddess is another one a guy could easily wear in summer. I do.
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post #13 of 26
6/24/08 at 10:06pm
Y is good on a guy. Sigh.
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post #14 of 26
6/25/08 at 6:26am
Thread Starter 
Baiser Du Dragon Cartier has very few florals in it and is very unisex.
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post #15 of 26
6/25/08 at 6:30am
The ones I've tried and which worked:

A.ELIXIR by Clinique
Angelique Encens
Black Cashmere
Bois des Iles
Caron Tabac Blond
Chanel Cuir de Russie
Christian Dior Escale a Portofino
Costume National Scent Intense
Cuir de Russie
Divine L'Inspiratrice
Donna Karan Black Cashmere
D'Orsay Etiquette Bleue
D'Orsay Tilleul
Elixir des Merveilles
Guerlain Herba Fresca
Hermès Calèche
Hermès Eau des Merveilles
INFUSION D' IRIS by Prada
Jicky
Kelly Caleche
L de Lolita Lempicka
Mitsouko
Parfume Sacre - Spicey oriental.
Shalimar
Tabac Blond
Y by Yves Saint Laurent
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post #16 of 26
6/25/08 at 6:47am
None of the above. If it is marketed towards women, it should be worn by women only. I don't wear shoes marketed towards women and neither does any other man I know.
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post #17 of 26
6/25/08 at 7:48am
Quote:
Originally Posted by samplermike View Post

None of the above. If it is marketed towards women, it should be worn by women only. I don't wear shoes marketed towards women and neither does any other man I know.


We're talking about perfume here. Im' sorry, but shoes have nothing to do with it. Marketing towards a particular gender doesn't mean squat. True scent lovers will always let their nose decide for them, not a company's marketing strategy.

There are two bottles my Wife and I share: They both smell nice on both of us.

Coromandel
Aoud Flowers
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post #18 of 26
6/25/08 at 12:01pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by samplermike View Post

None of the above. If it is marketed towards women, it should be worn by women only. I don't wear shoes marketed towards women and neither does any other man I know.

Of course, you are free to not wear whatever you don't want to wear. By the same token, I can wear anything that I want, whether it is marketed to men or women. The nice thing about freedom is that it works both ways.

Some products are designed only to be useful to one gender. I won't get much use out of a bra; women won't get much use out of an athletic cup. However, consider other products which meet a gender-neutral need, yet which are marketed by gender: disposable razors, shower gel, antiperspirant. There is nothing inherent in these products that require a men's and a women's version, but manufacturers do it in order to sell the same product in two markets for two prices.

Many fragrances can be easily worn by both sexes. If I wear Azuree by Estee Lauder, and you wear Hanae Mori for Men, you will actually be the one smelling sweet and feminine. I'll smell like Quorum.

Honestly, I am grateful that most men avoid the greatest fragrances of all time because, ick, they're for girls. That makes it all the easier for me to be the best-smelling guy in the room.
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post #19 of 26
6/25/08 at 1:15pm
Perhaps a man's fascination with women's perfume derives from the fact that they are designed solely to attract men. Since perfume is a passionate hobby for some of us, one may confuse their "attraction" to a fragrance with "enjoyment" of a fragrance. I can be "attracted" to women's sunglasses, shoes, jewelry, accesories, etc...yet not "enjoy" wearing any of them. To me, attraction and enjoyment are not one in the same. Therein lies the issue. If a product was specifically designed for a woman in order to attract a man, I want nothing to do with it. I prefer to enjoy it on a woman I am attracted to.

If I were to wear Shalimar or Mitsouko and hear someone say "that smells like my grandma" or "my wife wears that", I would feel quite awkward. However, that is a very real possibility with which I can live without, since both smell rather "matronly" and have strong feminine associations due to marketing. Wearing either of those fragrances around my Aunt, who enjoys both, would absolutely be out of the question. I would be placing myself in a precarious position by my need to dance to the beat of a different drum and turn an amusing hobby into my own personal metrosexual fantasy. If that is ignorance, then I'm perfectly happy living out the rest of my life in ignorant bliss, thank you very much.
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post #20 of 26
6/25/08 at 1:24pm
The other day I smelled D&G Light Blue for women and it was really good. Maybe a bit powdery for some men but I think it'd work for some.
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post #21 of 26
6/25/08 at 10:40pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Advocate View Post

Of course, you are free to not wear whatever you don't want to wear. By the same token, I can wear anything that I want, whether it is marketed to men or women. The nice thing about freedom is that it works both ways.

Some products are designed only to be useful to one gender. I won't get much use out of a bra; women won't get much use out of an athletic cup. However, consider other products which meet a gender-neutral need, yet which are marketed by gender: disposable razors, shower gel, antiperspirant. There is nothing inherent in these products that require a men's and a women's version, but manufacturers do it in order to sell the same product in two markets for two prices.

Many fragrances can be easily worn by both sexes. If I wear Azuree by Estee Lauder, and you wear Hanae Mori for Men, you will actually be the one smelling sweet and feminine. I'll smell like Quorum.

Honestly, I am grateful that most men avoid the greatest fragrances of all time because, ick, they're for girls. That makes it all the easier for me to be the best-smelling guy in the room.

Very well said, we are not here talking about all female perfumes but a very small fraction that actually are very well made and work for both sexes, like say a Gillette female razor which I think is better than the male version...I think trying some of these "dual' function fragrances give a new dimension to one's olfactory experience..
AFR
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post #22 of 26
6/25/08 at 10:44pm
Thread Starter 
Fleur Du Male, Burburry Brit Men, Pi, Rochas Homme and hundreds of others are"Marketed " to men but are very feminine, but I find women really enjoy them on a man...we are not here talking about flowery /girly perfumes but a select few which happen to smell good and yes masculine on a guy..
AFR
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post #23 of 26
6/26/08 at 4:54am
Quote:
Originally Posted by samplermike View Post

None of the above. If it is marketed towards women, it should be worn by women only. I don't wear shoes marketed towards women and neither does any other man I know.

Hm... point taken but you do realize a man wearing a perfume marketted to women will still smell like a man, usually? Also, as I'm sure you know at one time all fragrances/perfumes were unisex. Alot of traditional Arab/Indian perfumes are still this way.

Some perfumes like Angel, alot of the really popular sugary/cheap fragrances are arguably quite feminine- I can't see those working well on a straight man, but that doesn't mean there aren't alot of exceptions out there for other fragrances.
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post #24 of 26
6/26/08 at 5:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by samplermike View Post

Perhaps a man's fascination with women's perfume derives from the fact that they are designed solely to attract men.

Are you quoting Archie Bunker here?
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post #25 of 26
6/26/08 at 5:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by samplermike View Post

Perhaps a man's fascination with women's perfume derives from the fact that they are designed solely to attract men.

I guess I need to start wearing more women's perfume then
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post #26 of 26
6/26/08 at 6:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ruggles View Post

Are you quoting Archie Bunker here?

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