It’s Official: Unisex Fragrance Is the Only Scent Trend That Matters in 2026

For years, fragrance felt performative. A way to signal something: femininity, masculinity, seduction, power. But that script is loosening. More and more, we’re reaching for scents that feel intimate instead of impressive. Fragrances that don’t ask us to become anything other than ourselves. Enter the rise of the best unisex fragrances: subtle, grounding, and deeply personal.

These genderless scents are about choice more than neutrality. They blur the line between woodsy perfumes for women and skin scents traditionally marketed to men, creating something far more nuanced in between. Warm musks that melt into the skin. Gentle woods that calm rather than command. Scents that linger close, revealing themselves only when you lean in.

Featured image from our interview with Mari Llewellyn by Michelle Nash.

That philosophy is one that Rosie Jane Johnston, founder of by/rosie jane, has built her brand around. To her, unisex fragrance isn’t about removing identity—it’s about removing expectation. “A unisex scent is freedom,” she says. “It’s not asking you to be softer or stronger, sexier or sweeter. It just lets you be.” Ahead, Johnston shares how fragrance can shape our mood, ground our nervous system, and why the most universal scents right now are the ones that feel like a second skin.

Why We’re Obsessed With Unisex Fragrances Right Now

What we’re really responding to in unisex fragrance isn’t a trend so much as a permission slip. Permission to choose something simply because it feels good, rather than signaling anything to anyone else. When people reach for genderless scents, Johnston explains, they’re often choosing authenticity over expectation—opting out of the idea that fragrance needs to make you softer, bolder, sweeter, or more seductive. Instead, it supports who you already are.

Fragrance becomes less about how others perceive us and more about how we want to feel in our own skin. A grounding scent can steady your nervous system before a long day, and a warm, familiar note can feel like protection when the world feels loud. “Fragrance is a silent expression,” Johnston says. “Or sometimes, silent protection.” In that way, the best unisex fragrances aren’t meant to announce themselves—they’re meant to move with you, shaping your energy as the day unfolds.

The 2026 Fragrance Shift

That desire for something more personal is shaping where fragrance is headed next. According to Johnston, 2026 is less about spectacle and more about sincerity. “People are craving honesty,” she says. Instead of bold, room-filling perfumes designed to be noticed from across the street, there’s a growing pull toward scents that feel familiar and warm.

We’re seeing more skin scents. More oil formats. More refillable bottles and ingredient transparency. Fragrance is becoming something you build throughout the day rather than apply once and forget. It’s layered. Reapplied. Chosen based on mood instead of occasion.

In that context, unisex fragrance doesn’t feel like a category. It feels like a reflection of where we are collectively. Less interested in being impressive. More interested in feeling connected—to the body, to memory, to ourselves.

What Makes a Scent Feel Universal

There are certain notes we connect with the moment they touch the skin. They don’t announce themselves or ask to be interpreted—they settle in and create a sense of ease. When it comes to truly universal fragrances, Johnston points to soft musks, gentle woods, and warm ambers as the foundation. “Those notes just feel like home,” she says. “They don’t shout, they don’t demand attention, but they linger in the most beautiful way.”

This is why woodsy perfumes for women have become such a lasting point of entry into unisex scent. Woods like sandalwood and cedar bring a grounding quality without heaviness, depth without sharpness. When blended with musks or amber, they soften into something almost skin-like.

Johnston also notes the power of contrast in making a scent feel human. A touch of fruit layered with something milky, salty, or sun-warmed can create that elusive “second skin” effect. It’s this balance that makes certain fragrances feel universal across bodies and identities. They don’t perform. They connect. In a world that often asks us to be louder, sharper, or more defined, it’s comforting to find a scent that lets you settle into yourself.

The Best Unisex Fragrances to Shop Right Now

Best for a Mood Lift

There’s a certain kind of fragrance that doesn’t overpower—it brightens. The kind you reach for when you want to feel a little lighter, a little more open, without announcing yourself to the room. MATILDA by by/rosie jane fits squarely into that category. With its blend of passion fruit, mango, and golden musk, it feels joyful and sunlit, but still grounded by a soft, skin-close finish.

What makes it especially compelling as a unisex scent is its emotional quality. It’s not sugary or sharp; instead, it wears like warmth—uplifting without being loud, comforting without fading into the background. It’s ideal for days when you want to feel optimistic, present, and fully yourself.

Best Woodsy Perfumes for Women (and Anyone Else)

Woodsy fragrances often get mislabeled as heavy or masculine, but the best versions are anything but. When cedar, sandalwood, and amber are softened and thoughtfully blended, they become incredibly wearable.

For women drawn to woodsy perfumes, these fragrances offer depth without drama. They sit close to the body and evolve gently throughout the day.

Best “Second Skin” Scents

Some fragrances don’t smell like perfume at all in the best possible way. Built around musks and warm ambers, these “second skin” scents melt into your natural chemistry, creating something intimate and uniquely personal.

These are the scents you wear for yourself. The ones that make you feel a little more settled—whether you’re going out or spending the day at home.

Best for Ritual & Layering

As fragrance becomes more mood-led and intuitive, ritual plays a bigger role. These are the scents that live on your vanity or in your bag, meant to be revisited rather than saved for a single moment. Layer them, refresh them, make them yours. In this way, fragrance becomes less about occasion and more about self-care—a small, sensory ritual that helps you tune back into how you want to feel.

The Takeaway

When it comes to choosing a fragrance, there’s no formula more reliable than how you want to feel. Instead of asking what’s appropriate for the season or impressive to others, consider what your body is asking for. Some days call for a scent that helps your nervous system exhale. Other days, you might crave brightness or warmth—something that makes you feel a little more awake and alive.

Johnston says her own approach is guided less by rules and more by intuition. Mood, memory, and energy all play a role. Scent is deeply transportive, capable of shifting how we inhabit our bodies in an instant. The right fragrance reminds you who you are, rather than transforming you into someone else.

And maybe that’s the real appeal of unisex fragrance right now. Not that it erases identity, but that it makes space for it.

This post was last updated on February 12, 2026, to include new insights.