The perfumer named the reasons for the division of fragrances into men's and women's

Perfumery was not initially divided into male and female, and modern gender differences in the perception of fragrances were largely formed due to marketing and cultural traditions. An expert on perfume compositions (evaluator) told Izvestia about this on August 26 the company SYREN Lyubov Berlyanskaya.

"In ancient times, the same aromatic substances could be used by representatives of both sexes. At the same time, individual ingredients were sometimes associated with men or women, but such associations were due to cultural, mythological and religious beliefs," the expert noted.

She clarified that before the 20th century perfumery also did not have a clear gender division. Representatives of the aristocracy, regardless of gender, used similar aromatic waters — floral, citrus and amber compositions.

According to Berlyanskaya, the rigid division of fragrances into men's and women's was the result of the development of the mass market in the 20th century. Manufacturers began to create separate product categories and advertising images, assigning certain directions to different audiences. Thus, fougere and chypre-woody compositions have become more often perceived as masculine, and floral and aldehyde compositions as feminine. However, this distribution is not related to the objective properties of the flavors themselves.

Berlyanskaya noted that the perception of a fragrance depends not only on the composition, but also on the external context — the name, the design of the bottle, the color of the packaging and the advertising concept. The expert explained that even flower arrangements can be perceived as masculine if they are presented in a dark bottle with the appropriate name and advertising. Similarly, gourmet fragrances, which have long been associated primarily with women's perfumes, are now actively produced for men.

In addition to marketing, the cultural environment influences the attitude towards perfumes. The same ingredient may have opposite associations in different countries. For example, a rose in Russia is traditionally associated primarily with femininity, whereas in the Middle East this flower can be perceived as masculine. A similar situation, according to Berlyanskaya, is developing with jasmine. In some cultures, it is associated with childhood and everyday life, while in others it is associated with sensuality and attractiveness.

The perfumer added that the attitude towards sweet scents is also changing. Previously, such compositions were more often associated with women and children, but now they are actively used in men's perfumes.

"Objectively speaking, there are no men's and women's perfumes, just like there are no men's and women's food. In niche perfumery, fragrance is more often perceived as an independent composition associated with a specific idea or image, rather than as a product exclusively for a specific gender," Berlyanskaya said.

According to Berlyanskaya, the gender division in perfumery remains stronger in Russia than in some other countries. The exception remains the niche segment, where the boundaries between men's and women's fragrances are almost blurred.

Professor Alexander Seryakov, MD, Chief oncologist at the SM Clinic Center, warned on July 28 about the dangers of scented candles. Gorenje noted that when candles burn, like any other fire source, toxic gases and volatile organic compounds can be released into the air. At the same time, the degree of their effect depends on the concentration of substances and how well the room is ventilated.