The Best Unisex Fragrances to Shop Right Now

For years, fragrances felt like performatives. A way to convey something: femininity, masculinity, seduction, strength, etc. But that script is loosening. Increasingly, we are looking for scents that feel intimate rather than memorable. A fragrance that doesn’t ask us to be anything other than ourselves. Introducing the ultimate unisex fragrance: delicate, grounded and deeply personal.

These genderless scents emphasize selectivity over neutrality. These blur the lines between woody scents for women and skin scents traditionally marketed to men, creating more subtle scents in between. A warm musk that melts into your skin. A peaceful forest that calms the mind rather than commands. A scent that lingers nearby, revealing itself only when you lean in.

Featured image from Michelle Nash’s interview with Mari Llewellyn.

What is that philosophy? rosie jane johnstonfounder of by/Rosie Janebuilt her brand around it. For her, unisex fragrances aren’t about stripping away identity, they’re stripping away expectations. “Unisex scents are liberating,” she says. “It doesn’t ask you to be softer or stronger or sexier or gentler. It just lets you be.” Johnston talks about how scent shapes our moods and grounds our nervous systems, and why the most ubiquitous scents today are those that smell like a second skin.

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Rosie Jane Johnston is a former celebrity makeup artist born and raised in Sydney, Australia. Now a mother of three and a lover of the easy life, Rosie has a deep understanding of how ingredients and scents influence our mood and sense of well-being. “I create from a very personal place. These are products I use every day to feel beautiful, fun, connected, and confident. It’s all about simplifying self-care, and I love creating scents and products that make it easy for people to care for themselves.”

Why we’re obsessed with unisex fragrances right now

What we’re really dealing with with unisex fragrances is a license, not a trend. Permission to choose something simply because it feels good, rather than informing others about it. When people reach for genderless scents, Johnston says, they’re often choosing authenticity over expectation, abandoning the idea that a 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. The grounding scent will help stabilize your nervous system before a long day. Also, when the world feels noisy, a warm, familiar scent feels like it’s protecting you. “Scent is an expression of silence,” says Johnston. “Or, sometimes, silently protecting you.” In this way, the best unisex fragrances are ones that don’t advertise themselves, but rather move with you, shaping your energy as your day unfolds.

Fragrance Shift in 2026

That desire for something more personal is shaping where fragrances are headed next. According to Johnston, 2026 will be a year of honesty rather than spectacle. “People want honesty,” she says. Instead of bold, room-filling perfumes designed to stand out from the street, there’s a growing interest in scents that feel approachable and warm.

Increased skin scent. More oil formats. Improved refillable bottles and ingredient transparency. Fragrances are becoming something you build up to throughout the day, rather than something you put on once and forget about. It’s layered. Reapplied. Make choices based on mood rather than occasion.

In that context, unisex fragrances don’t feel like a category. I feel like it reflects where we are as a group. I’m not really interested in being impressive. I’m more interested in feeling connected to my body, memory, and myself.

Why scents are universally felt

There are certain notes that we connect with the moment it touches our skin. They do not announce themselves or ask for an interpreter, calm and create a feeling of security. For a truly universal fragrance, Johnston points to soft musk, gentle woods, and warm amber as its foundation. “Those notes feel like home,” she says. “They don’t scream, they don’t demand attention, but they linger in the most beautiful way.”

This is why woody perfumes for women have become a permanent gateway to unisex scents. Woods like sandalwood and cedar provide a sense of grounding without heaviness, depth without sharpness. When blended with musk and amber, it becomes as soft as skin.

Johnston also focuses on the power of contrast to humanize scents. Layering something milky, salty or sun-warmed with a touch of fruit creates that elusive “second skin” effect. It is this balance that makes certain fragrances feel universal, transcending bodies and identities. they don’t perform. They connect. In a world that often demands us to be louder, sharper and clearer, it’s comforting to find a scent that allows you to feel at home with yourself.

Best unisex fragrances to buy now

Perfect for uplifting your mood

It has a certain scent that isn’t too strong and brightens me up. It’s the kind of thing you reach for when you want to feel a little lighter, a little more open, without announcing yourself to the room. MATILDA by/rosie jane fits right into that category. A blend of passion fruit, mango, and golden musk, it feels fun and sun-kissed, yet firmly rooted with a soft, skin-hugging finish.

What makes it especially appealing as a unisex scent is its emotional quality. It’s neither sweet nor spicy. Instead, it’s like a warmth, uplifting without being loud, comforting without fading into the background. Perfect for days when you want to be optimistic, feel present, and live your life.

The best forest scents for women (and everyone else)

Woody fragrances are often incorrectly labeled as heavy or masculine, but the best versions are anything but. When cedar, sandalwood, and amber are softened and thoughtfully blended, they become incredibly wearable.

For women who are attracted to woody scents, these fragrances offer depth without being dramatic. It hugs your body perfectly and evolves gently throughout the day.

The best “second skin” scent

Some perfumes don’t smell like perfume at all in the best way. Crafted around musk and warm amber, these “second skin” scents blend with your natural chemistry to create something intimate, unique and personal.

These are the scents you wear for yourself. Whether you’re going out or spending the day at home, it’s something that makes you feel a little calmer.

Perfect for rituals and layering

As fragrances become more mood-driven and intuitive, rituals play a bigger role. These are scents that you keep on hand on your dressing table or in your bag, and are meant to be revisited rather than stored temporarily. Layer, refresh, and make it your own. In this way, fragrance becomes less of an occasion and more of a self-care ritual, a small sensory ritual that helps you get back to how you want to feel.

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There’s no more reliable way to choose a fragrance than how you want to feel. Instead of asking what’s appropriate for the season or what looks impressive to others, think about what your body needs. Some days you need a scent to help your nervous system breathe. Other days, you might want brightness and warmth, things that make you feel a little more awake and alive.

Johnston says her own approach is guided by intuition rather than rules. Mood, memory, and energy all play important roles. Scents are highly emotional and can instantly change the way our bodies behave. The right scent will remind you of who you are, rather than turning you into someone else.

Perhaps that is the true appeal of today’s unisex fragrances. It doesn’t erase identity, it creates space for it.

This post was last updated on February 12, 2026 with new insights.