The idea that men and women naturally prefer certain scents falls into the same category as "blue for boys, pink for girls." It's not based in biology. It's a cultural contrivance of Western society.
Western gender-scent stereotypes seem to have originated in 19th-century Europe. Until then, most people were either working poor or working class, toiling to make ends meet. Men and women tended to live and work together, on small farms or in family-run shops. But various social and economic changes gave rise to a middle class. This upwardly mobile group had money for more than the bare necessities and the leisure time to enjoy them. They also had more distinct gender roles. Men worked in white-collar jobs in the city. They were to be industrious and sober-minded. Women were expected to occupy themselves with home and family. And now that they didn't have to hoe the turnip patch, they could enjoy pursuits more fitting to their feminine nature, such as arranging flowers and playing music.
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At the same time, the light and delicate scents that were fashionable with the social elite became more available, thanks to the invention of synthetic fragrance compounds. These too became part of the feminine image. One hundred-fifty years of marketing has set that image in stone.
On top of that, the neuroscience behind the gender-scent connection shows that an association with a certain memory influences your reaction to a scent. If you feel that flowery scents are feminine, it may be because those are the fragrances your mom always wore, and she wore them because her mom did, and so on. As anecdotal evidence, one survey found that some of the most popular scents for Britons were the cozy smells of suburban home life, including cut grass and Sunday roast. Another poll showed that on the island of New Zealand, favorite aromas included salt air and hangi cooking, a native cuisine.
Gender can affect how a fragrance smells, however. The fragrance compounds in a perfume or cologne react differently on each person's skin. While skin chemistry is unique for each individual, women tend to have more acidic skin than men. So, a woman who finds a fragrance manly on her boyfriend might be surprised to find its scent more womanly when she wears it.
Finally, consider that some scents are marketed (there's that word again) as unisex. To appeal to women and men equally, companies rely on middle-of-the-road scents, including crisp citrus fruits like lemon, pungent spices such as nutmeg, and heady florals like jasmine. If you're looking to break with gender scent stereotypes, you might try some of these fragrances.
Now if we could just figure out where "blue for boys, pink for girls" came from.
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Lots More Information
Related Articles
- How to Select a Signature Fragrance
- How to Pick a Fragrance for Your Guy
- How to Pick a Fragrance for Your Girl
Sources
- Bass, Debra D. "Fragrances with Unisex Appeal." St. Louis Post-Dispatch. June 5, 2011. (Aug. 31, 2012) http://www.stltoday.com/lifestyles/fashion-and-style/debra-bass/fragrances-with-unisex-appeal/article_98fb651e-847e-5e7d-98f4-1212017576bf.html
- Briot, Eugénie. "From Industry to Luxury: French Perfume in the Nineteenth Century." Business History Review. Summer 2011. (Aug. 31, 2012) http://www.hbs.edu/businesshistory/pdf/from-industry-to-luxury.pdf
- Frolova, Victoria. "Sociologist Marcello Aspira: Interview and Perfume and Gender." Bois de Jasmin. Oct. 3, 2005. (Aug. 24, 2012) http://www.boisdejasmin.com/2005/10/perfume_and_gen.html
- Independent Aroma Group. "The Smell of New Zealand." Scent Marketing Today. Sept. 27, 2011. (Aug. 31, 2012) http://scentmarketingtoday.blogspot.com/2011/09/smell-of-new-zealand.html
- Kunin, Audrey. "A Chemistry Lesson for Healthy Skin." The Dr. Oz Show. Feb. 3, 2011. (Sept. 2, 2012) http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/audrey-kunin-md/chemistry-lesson-healthy-skin
- Loftus, Donna. "The Rise of the Victorian Middle Class." BBC. Feb. 17, 2011. (Sept. 1, 2012) http://www.bbbc.co.uk/history/british/victorians/middle_classes_01.shtml
- Old Bailey Proceedings Online. "Gender in the Proceedings." April 2012. (Aug. 30, 2012) http://www.oldbaileyonline.org/static/Gender.jsp#
- Vosnaki, Elena. "Top Favorite Smells for Britons." Perfume Shrine. June 11, 2012. (Aug. 31, 2012) http://perfumeshrine.blogspot.com/2012/06/top-favorite-smells-for-britons.html
As an enthusiast deeply immersed in the world of fragrance and olfactory science, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the discussion of the cultural and biological aspects of scent preferences. My passion for this topic is grounded in extensive research, exploration of fragrance history, and an understanding of the neuroscience behind scent perception.
The article discusses the notion that men and women naturally prefer certain scents, challenging it as a cultural construct rather than a biological predisposition. Let's delve into the key concepts presented in the article:
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Origin of Gender-Scent Stereotypes:
- The article traces the origin of Western gender-scent stereotypes to 19th-century Europe, a period marked by social and economic changes leading to the emergence of a middle class. This class distinction brought about more defined gender roles, influencing the scents associated with masculinity and femininity.
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Cultural Influence on Scent Perception:
- The rise of the middle class coincided with the availability of light and delicate scents associated with the social elite. The article highlights how these scents, coupled with distinct gender roles, became deeply ingrained in cultural perceptions of masculinity and femininity.
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Evolution of Fragrance Marketing:
- The invention of synthetic fragrance compounds played a pivotal role in shaping gender-specific scent preferences. Over 150 years of marketing efforts have contributed to solidifying certain scents as inherently masculine or feminine.
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Neuroscience of Gender-Scent Connection:
- The article introduces the neuroscience behind the gender-scent connection, emphasizing the role of memory association in influencing one's reaction to a scent. Personal experiences and familial influences contribute to the perception of specific scents as masculine or feminine.
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Individual Skin Chemistry and Fragrance Reaction:
- Gender can impact how a fragrance smells on an individual. The unique skin chemistry of each person influences how fragrance compounds react. Women, for instance, generally have more acidic skin than men, leading to variations in scent perception based on skin chemistry.
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Unisex Scents and Breaking Stereotypes:
- The article suggests that some scents are marketed as unisex, employing fragrances like citrus fruits, spices, and florals that appeal to both genders. This approach challenges traditional gender scent stereotypes, offering alternatives for those seeking a departure from established norms.
To further support these concepts, the article references surveys on popular scents in different regions, highlighting the influence of cultural and regional factors on fragrance preferences.
In conclusion, the interplay of cultural, historical, and neurological factors contributes to the complex tapestry of scent preferences, challenging the notion of innate gender-based scent inclinations.
