As a perfumer, I consider the terms of gender unrealistic. When I first started making perfumes, I thought everything fit into categories. As I tried to market and sell them, I realized there were only a few specific notes that could be broken down into such a way. Never the entire fragrance. My strongest male fragrance, Ironbend, during field testing appealed highly amongst women. It makes absolutely no sense. It smells metallic. The concept was earthy carbon fiber. During this phase I didn't explain what notes were inside because I wanted true unbiased feedback. After the results came back Ironbend was becoming a female favorite. I kept thinking is it the lavender? Is it the patchouli? Then it dawned on me that I needed to stop thinking of each note as something that could be put into a box. I am hard pressed now to label majority of my work as unisex. Quite a few Louisiana women liked Ironbend. (This did not outperform the fragrances specifically made for women but it baffled me.) The reason it baffles me is because it has a gritty earth accord sitting on top of cedarwood at the base. I just didn't think women would be into that fragrance. (Then again many Louisiana women love the outdoors or were raised far outside of dainty stereotypes) The cedar accord smells like smoking wood chips on a grill.It wasn't until one of my first customers confided to me that HE loves to wear Ariana Grande that things began to make sense. He also made it a mission to explain to me how he wasn't gay right after. Proceeded by 10 no homos. That was it. That right there. The fear of being labeled for wanting something different.I had one final idea ... After I finished formulating Cleopatra, a rose based scent, and I mean heavy floral citronellol, lily of the valley, geranium, sandalwood, peppermint. I decided to let my friends from the International Student Center at LSU test it out. This changed my perceptions permanently. I had groups from India, Honduras, and Nepal. Neither group asked me if the scent was for man or woman. They simply enjoyed it for what it was. Positive feedback came from both genders. Both saying they would wear it.I, too, have worn Cleopatra on various occasions. It grew on me after a time. Very strong and metallic with a regal like floral blend while still being mysterious. It doesn't stop saying hello to you and all those around you. All fragrances have a conversation with the nose. This one just keeps the conversation going like a best friend who doesn't want to ever hang up.I was going to market Cleopatra for women. All of my data backfired against my initial thoughts. Thus, I have decided, from now on, to let my audience make this choice.A few are set in stone but fragrance is a liquid. Much like a river, it will bend where nature tells it to. It is only feminine because it is marketed to the target audience. It is only male because the commercial shows a guy flexing around the gym. The bottle itself contains genderless aroma chemicals. Eugenol, coumarin, citronellol, vanillin, indole, calone, menthone, dihydromyrcenol... are just pieces of the perfumery periodic table. A perfume has no gender until the marketing stage unless intended by the artist. Of course, there are a few exceptions. Things that would be a risk to market to the opposite sex. Yet, breaking the mold is common practice. Yet, not going bankrupt is common practice.What do you guys think? Am I overthinking this?Legitimacy: r/xarmony see hubwealthy.com/wealthy
0 comments:
Post a Comment