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For years, the fragrance felt performative. A way of pointing out something: femininity, masculinity, seduction, power. But that script is loosening. Increasingly, we look for scents that feel intimate rather than impressive. Fragrances that do not ask us to become anything other than ourselves. Enter the rise of the best unisex fragrances: subtle, fundamental and deeply personal.
These genderless scents are about choice rather than neutrality. They blur the line between woodsy perfumes for women and skin scents traditionally marketed to men, creating something much more nuanced in between. Warm musks that melt into the skin. Soft woods that calm rather than command. Scents that stay close and reveal themselves only when you lean in.
Featured image from our interview with Mari Llewellyn by Michelle Nash.
That philosophy is one that Rosie Jane Johnstonfounder of by/rosie janehas built its brand around it. For her, unisex fragrance is not about eliminating identity, but about eliminating expectations. “A unisex scent is freedom,” he says. “It doesn’t ask you to be softer or stronger, sexier or sweeter. It just lets you be.” Below, Johnston shares how fragrances can shape our mood, stabilize our nervous system, and why the most universal scents right now are the ones that feel like a second skin.
Rosie Jane Johnston
Rosie Jane Johnston is a former celebrity makeup artist, born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Rosie, now a mother of three and quiet living enthusiast, has a deep understanding of how ingredients and fragrances can affect our mood and sense of well-being. “I create from such a personal place: these are the products I use every day to feel beautiful, joyful, connected and confident. It’s about simplifying self-care and I love creating scents and products that make it easier for people to care for themselves.”
Why We’re Obsessed With Unisex Fragrances Right Now
What we’re really responding to in unisex fragrances is not so much a trend as it is permission. Permission to choose something simply because it feels good, rather than stating something to anyone else. When people look for genderless scents, Johnston explains, they often choose authenticity over expectations, choosing to dismiss the idea that fragrance should make you softer, bolder, sweeter, or more seductive. Instead, support who you already are.
Fragrance becomes less about how others perceive us and more about how we want to feel in our own skin. A comforting aroma can calm your nervous system before a long day, and a warm, familiar note can provide protection when the world feels noisy. “Fragrance is a silent expression,” says Johnston. “Or, sometimes, silent protection.” That way, the best unisex fragrances aren’t meant to announce themselves: they’re meant to move with you, shaping your energy as the day progresses.
The fragrance change of 2026
That desire for something more personal is determining where the fragrance goes next. According to Johnston, 2026 is less about spectacle and more about sincerity. “People crave honesty,” he says. Instead of bold, room-filling perfumes designed to be noticed from across the street, there is a growing attraction to scents that feel familiar and warm.
We are seeing more leather scents. More oil formats. More refillable bottles and ingredient transparency. Fragrance is becoming something that builds throughout the day rather than applied once and forgotten. It has layers. Reapplied. Chosen based on mood rather than occasion.
In that context, unisex fragrance doesn’t seem like a category. It feels like a reflection of where we are collectively. Less interested in being impressive. More interested in feeling connected: with the body, with memory, with ourselves.
What makes a scent feel universal?
There are certain notes that we connect with the moment they touch the skin. They do not announce themselves or ask to be interpreted: they settle in and create a feeling of tranquility. When it comes to truly universal fragrances, Johnston points to soft musks, soft woods, and warm ambers as a base. “Those notes make me feel at home,” he says. “They don’t scream, they don’t demand attention, but they stay in the most beautiful way.”
This is why woodsy perfumes for women have become such a lasting entry point into unisex fragrances. Woods such as sandalwood and cedar provide a fundamental quality without heaviness, depth without sharpness. When mixed with musk or amber, they soften into something almost skin-like.
Johnston also highlights the power of contrast to make a scent seem human. A hint of fruit layered with something milky, salty or sun-warmed can create that elusive “second skin” effect. It is this balance that makes certain fragrances feel universal across bodies and identities. They don’t act. They connect. In a world that often asks us to be stronger, sharper or more defined, it’s comforting to find a scent that allows you to settle into yourself.
The best unisex fragrances to buy right now
The best to improve your mood
There is a certain type of fragrance that does not overwhelm: it illuminates. The kind you look for when you want to feel a little lighter, a little more open, without announcing yourself in the room. MATILDA by/rosie jane fits perfectly into that category. With its blend of passion fruit, mango and golden musk, it feels cheerful and sunlit, but still with a smooth, close-to-skin finish.
What makes it especially attractive as a unisex scent is its emotional quality. It is not sugary or spicy; instead, it’s seen as warmth: uplifting without being loud, comforting without fading into the background. It’s ideal for days when you want to feel optimistic, present and fully yourself.
The Best Woody Perfumes for Women (and Anyone Else)
Woody fragrances are often mistakenly labeled as heavy or masculine, but the best versions are anything but. When cedar, sandalwood and amber are softened and carefully blended, they become incredibly wearable.
For women attracted to woody perfumes, these fragrances offer depth without drama. They sit close to the body and evolve smoothly throughout the day.
The best “second skin” aromas
Some fragrances don’t smell like perfume at all in the best way possible. Built around warm musks and ambers, these “second skin” scents meld with your natural chemistry, creating something intimate and uniquely personal.
These are the scents you use for yourself. The ones that make you feel a little calmer, whether going out or spending the day at home.
Best for rituals and capes
As fragrance becomes more intuitive and mood-based, ritual plays a greater role. These are the scents that live on your dresser or in your bag, meant to be reviewed rather than kept for a single moment. Layer them, update them, and make them your own. This way, fragrance becomes less about occasion and more about self-care: a little sensory ritual that helps you get back in tune with how you want to feel.
The takeaway
When it comes to choosing a fragrance, there is no more reliable formula than how you want to feel. Instead of asking what’s seasonally appropriate or what’s impressive to others, consider what your body is asking for. Some days require a scent that helps the nervous system exhale. Other days, you might crave brightness or warmth, something to make you feel a little more awake and alive.
Johnston says his own approach is guided less by rules and more by intuition. Mood, memory and energy influence. Smell is deeply transporting, capable of changing the way we inhabit our bodies in an instant. The right fragrance reminds you of who you are, instead of transforming you into someone else.
And maybe that’s the real appeal of unisex fragrances right now. It’s not that it erases identity, but it leaves space for it.
This post was last updated on February 12, 2026 to include new insights.
