Do Fragrances Have a Gender?

When choosing a fragrance, many of us start with familiar questions. Is this for her or for him? Is it something floral, citrus, or woody? Am I choosing for myself or for someone else?

Since the beginning of time, however, scents have had no gender at all. The idea of gendering fragrance is only about 100 years old. As perfume became more commercialized, marketing began to shape how scents were presented. Some fragrance notes were marketed toward women and others toward men, despite having little to do with how fragrance actually works.

At Lili Bermuda, we’ve refined the way we present our fragrances to make discovery feel more intuitive and inspiring. Rather than defining scents by gender, we invite you to explore them by fragrance family. Following the notes you’re naturally drawn to leads to a more personal and meaningful choice.

“Choosing perfume is like falling in love,” says Master Perfumer Isabelle Ramsay-Brackstone.

This philosophy guides how we think about fragrance. If citrus makes your heart sing, follow it. If soft florals feel comforting or woody notes feel grounding and familiar, trust that instinct. Fragrance is deeply personal, shaped by skin chemistry, memory, and mood. What matters most is wearing what you genuinely love.

Take South Water, one of our most universally loved fragrances. It captures the light, effortless feeling of Bermuda and is worn and enjoyed by all genders. It often delights those who thought they knew exactly what they were looking for, reminding us that fragrance discovery is full of beautiful surprises.

Some women fall in love with the sweet, spicy, woody notes of Somers, while some men are drawn to the soft floral elegance of Island Rose. There are no rules, only preferences.

At its heart, perfume is about feeling. It may be a memory, a place, or how you want to feel in a moment. The right fragrance isn’t defined by trends or labels. It’s simply the one you love wearing.

Of course, we aren't always choosing a fragrance for ourselves. We do understand that when choosing a gift for someone else, a little guidance can be helpful. For this reason, we continue to offer our Fragrance Libraries For Her and For Him, as a place to begin.