Skip to Content
Celebrating Canada's 2SLGBTQI+ Communities

The Best Of Gender-Fluid Scents, By Decade

Here are a handful of our favourites…

By Adriana Ermter

Perfumers have been mix-mastering unisex scents for centuries, some lasting for a moment, others for a lifetime. “A perfume is successful when it reaches a timeless balance that seduces one generation after another,” says Vann Guillon. “The materials blended into its composition, a smart design of its bottle and a sharp image that works year after year is the secret.” Here are a handful of our favourites…

1900s: Caron Narcisse Noir: daring and intimate, clean and loud, contradictory notes of soap, musk, rose, spice and wood intermingle.

1910s: Aqua di Parma Colonia: heady blooms mix with herbal, citrus and musk notes for an elegant finish.

1920s: Chanel Cuir de Russie: tobacco, leather, and white and yellow flowers intertwine.

1930s: Jean Patou Le Sien: sporty, fresh and green, like a sharp, crisp spring morning.

1940s: Carven Ma Griffe de Cologne: floaty and warm with breezy green, wood and floral notes, and a touch of spice.

1950s: Hermès Eau d’Hermès: fresh, aromatic, warm and spicy with undertones of leather.

1960s: Revlon Mood Drops: technically for women, the cloudy, woody, warm and aromatic scent was, at the time, also favoured by men.

1970s: Goya Aqua Mandan: a vibrant, warm and bright spicy orange.

1980s: Comptoir Sud Pacifique Eau de Tropiques: a sunshine-filled, warm citrus floral.

1990s: Commes des Garçons Commes des Garçons: honeyed cloves, cinnamon and cardamom mix with flowers and wood.

2000s: Bond No. 9 Eau de New York: dirty, sultry and gritty, notes of musk citrus, wood and flowers swirl as one.

2010s: Creed Royal Oud: stylish, exotic and warm with spiced woody, green and aromatic notes.

2020s: Frederic Malle, Dans Mon Lit: a sleepy, clean and powdered blend of musk and rose water.

ADRIANA ERMTER is a Toronto-based, lifestyle-magazine pro who has travelled the globe writing about must-spritz fragrances, child poverty, beauty and grooming.

tomag/docs/in_magazine_may_june_2021?fr=sNDQ0YTIxNzAwODQ” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”>

Related Articles

November 3, 2025 / Entertainment Latest

What’s New And Queer In Streaming This November 2025

Need something to stream? Add these shows featuring 2SLGBTQI+ performers and storylines to your watchlist this November

October 29, 2025 / Latest Life

OPINION: Sincerity Is Scary – The Lack Of Earnestness In Gay Men

Some gay men consider everything to be “camp,” to protect themselves from the judgments of revealing something about their genuine enjoyments. Can we ever show our true colours, or are we still no better than our closeted selves?

October 27, 2025 / Latest Travel

Fleurieu Uncorked

South Australia’s sun-drenched Fleurieu Peninsula – just a short drive from Adelaide – blends world-class Shiraz, fresh seafood, quiet beaches and raw nature into one cool package

POST A COMMENT

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *