Perfumes Marketed to Women, but Men Should Try

[yellowtone]

My husband nicked a few bottles from my stash, notably:
Chanel No. 19
Estée Lauder Azurée
Chanel Cuir de Russie

But I think anything goes, really!

 

[Hothamwater]

Van Cleef & Arpels - First. It's basically a slightly feminine leaning Amouage Gold Man. I'm basing this opinion on an early 2000's bottle I have. I'm not sure how much it may have changed since then.

 

[PStoller]

I'm basing this opinion on an early 2000's bottle I have. I'm not sure how much it may have changed since then.

Have you kept it in a cool, dry, dark place?

 

[sleep2dream]

Completely agree with Angel Muse, and would add Kenzo Jungle, love its pure spiciness.

 

[CookBot]

Van Cleef & Arpels - First. It's basically a slightly feminine leaning Amouage Gold Man. I'm basing this opinion on an early 2000's bottle I have. I'm not sure how much it may have changed since then.

I have a mini from around that era, and it definitely smells like it could be an Amouage. I couldn't pinpoint it to a specific one, because I don't like Amouages enough to learn to distinguish them, but yeah, First has that whole rich, Middle Eastern thing going on.

 

[Hothamwater]

Have you kept it in a cool, dry, dark place?

All of my fragrances are, but I actually meant I'm not sure how much First's formula may have changed since this bottle was produced 20 years ago. I've only had it for about a year.

 

[PStoller]

All of my fragrances are, but I actually meant…

I know. ‘Twas a jest.

 

[firstascent]

Two samples I purchased recently that I think or marketed more toward women, at least I see the majority of women talking about them not men.
Both of these I like, would wear, and want, especially the first one

BDK - Gris Charnel edp
Masque Milano - Ray-flection

 

[_Nicolas_]

Coty Chypre Parfum, Guerlain Guerlinade and Apres L'Ondee are all beautiful and perfectly unisex on my skin. First two are discontinued and pricy but pleased to say current formulations of Apres EDT and the already-mentioned Mitsouko EDP are both excellent and affordable, so I'd probably start there!

EDIT Byredo Bal d'Afrique would be another feminine that works great for me, but it's pricey for the performance which is similar to Chanel PM EDT on my skin, perhaps even a tad weaker.

 

[lilioka]

To me mostly niche or vintage fragrances marketed towards women smell good on men, though in my mind niche is unisex on default, whatever Fragrantica says. It's kind of hard to imagine something like Mon Guerlain or LVEB on a man, though I should try to corner my husband and test something on him. Skin chemistry difference works miracles sometimes.
I noticed that generally many men like feminine Amouages and vice versa. I'm considering getting Amouage Memoir Man myself.
David Jourquin Cuir Venetien is supposedly marketed towards women, from what I read online (little flower on the neck of the bottle), I love the way it smells on male skin. Roses smell heavenly on male skin, according to my nose at least.

 

[Andrewthecologneguy]

Gucci Guilty Pour Femme Absolute.
On me it is a rose-oud beauty, I get compliments all the time.

 

[Andrewthecologneguy]

Stash by Sarah Jessica Parker.
Apparently for men and women though...

 

[Maddie]

Lots of good propositions are already mentioned, from classics to niche offerings that are in fact rarely marketed as gendered.

Adding: Alaia, des Merveilles flankers (Bleue, Elixir, L'Ombre), Bvlgari Thé (Bleu, Noir, Rouge, Vert), Alliage, L'Air de Rien, Fieno, Terre d'Iris, Fleurs de Sel, Pamplelune and many others Aquae Allegoriae, Escale a Portofino, Burberry The Beat edt, Omnia Crystaline, YSL Nu, YR Accord Chic, L'Occitane Immortelle de Corse, Dioressence, Futur, Midnight Poison, Cerutti Image for Woman... - all of these I would let my husband use if he's unable to get to his collection (while traveling e.g.).

 

[baklavaRuzh]

Maybe controversial, but I think Ariana Grande's Cloud and flanker should be on this list. Sweet Baccarat Rouge and lavender? It might just be my nose, but it smells more unisex than many of my men's fragrances like l'homme idéal edp or Toy boy, even if it's a slightly different style.

 

[Zenwannabee]

Great thread and suggestions here. Adding D&G Light Blue for Women. Fabulous on a man as well.

 

[Andrewthecologneguy]

Great thread and suggestions here. Adding D&G Light Blue for Women. Fabulous on a man as well.

I concur. Smells like a flanker of Versace Man Eau Fraiche

 

[Salumbre]

I have personally worn:

Pascal Morabito Or Noir (the opening is very similar to Chanel No. 5; I tend to butch it up with a spray of Remy Latour Cigar, but have worn it on its own)

Nicolai Number One Intense (a tuberose/jasmine BOMB) and Sacrebleu Intense (makes you say "sacrebleu!")

Shalimar: I tried it, but didn't like it. I hate when people speak of fragrances as "dated" or "old", but Shalimar is so over-the-top powdery and urine-adjacent to my nose, I felt like I had been magically transformed into my own grandmother. In her COFFIN. I may give it another chance...

 

[Toxicon]

Chiming in late to note a few that I either own or have tried and enjoy:

• Gres Cabochard EDP or EDT (both 2019 reformulations are great, gorgeous green floral/leather chypre, with the EDT being more overtly masculine and closer to Aramis)
• Lalique Le Parfum (not my personal favorite scent profile, but a very well done boozy, not overly sweet vanilla)
• Perles de Lalique (peppery / woody rose, very unisex)
• Papillon - Dryad (shimmering gold-green floral chypre, high quality modern niche juice)
• Serge Lutens - La Fille de Berlin & Fils de Joie (both luscious, near-soliflore florals; technically unisex though they both lean feminine, but perfectly wearable on a man; FdB is blood red rose + geranium; FdJ is night blooming jasmine, ylang ylang, honey, & musk; both fantastic)

...and a few that I've read about and hope to try soon:

• Rochas Femme
• Chanel No. 19
• Jacomo Silences
• Estee Lauder Azuree & Aliage
• Clinique Aromatics Elixir
• Perfumer's Workshop Tea Rose