Absolutely everyone.

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By contributor Sheridan Lichak.

Fact: I own more than 200 fragrances.

While in lockdown, I developed a mild obsession with ordering perfume samples. Even though I couldn’t go anywhere physically, I had so much fun traveling to coastal olive groves in Greece, Parisian patisseries, and abandoned witches’ cottages in the woods – all via scent.

As someone who previously did all my perfume shopping at major retailers, I had discovered a world of niche, small, and indie perfumers – and I couldn’t get enough. These olfactory artists made me realize that a great fragrance wasn’t just about smelling good, it was also about invoking an emotional response for the wearer. Two years ago, I hadn’t thought much about perfumery as an artform, but after testing dozens upon dozens of scents, I’m now a firm believer that fragrance is a seriously underrated form of time travel.

Over the past few years, I’ve seen the fashion industry make a huge movement towards gender inclusivity and the fragrance industry has been no exception. For decades, florals were presented as feminine, and smoky leathers as masculine, etc etc. In recent years, I’ve noticed a lot of brands come onto the scene who either adapted a more artful approach, or an approach that outright rejected traditional gender beauty standards. As someone who has always migrated towards spicier, earther, more traditionally “masculine” notes, I’ve loved to see the focus move to pure olfactory preference. Removing division from fragrance offerings allows people to make choices solely based on what they like and what makes them feel good. And after wear-testing oodles of scents, I also think that the possibilities for note pairings are way more interesting when perfumers don’t have to be mindful of catering to one specific gender. For these reasons, lately I’ve been drawn to fragrances that aren’t marketed to a specific gender identity.

A perfect example comes from Non Gender Specific. Non Gender Specific is the brainchild of Andrew Glass, who after over a decade in the beauty industry, decided to launch a brand that wasn’t so rigidly defined by gender conventions. Their fragrance offering, Flooid, is a scent for anyone and everyone – intentionally created to appeal to all gender identities.

Flooid is a warm, woody fragrance. Notes include orange, grapefruit, bergamot, amber, patchouli, vetiver, cedar, and moss. The scent for me started as wonderfully woody with a citrus twist. As the fragrance dried down, I was greeted with a surprising sweetness. Smelling this is like getting a hug from a forest in a bottle!

Flooid is also packed with some seriously impressive longevity. The scent lingered on me for at least 8 hours. A little bit had even gotten onto one of my bath towels and I could smell it for days. It only went away after I washed it! Sillage was equally amazing – the scent initially fills a room but eventually dries down closer to the wearer. I love this wear experience. It feels so intimate. It’s the kind of sillage that would make you do a double take after someone walked by wearing it. This is all housed in a gorgeous, luxe glass bottle that would find itself at home on any dresser.

Crafted with ingredient transparency in mind, Flooid is mixed with natural botanicals and pure fragrances to enhance and showcase each aroma. Sustainability is also at the forefront of Non Gender Specific’s ethos. Packaged with tree-less seed infused paper, the biodegradable box grows into wildflowers when planted.

Because scent is so personal, I asked two other FP Home Office employees how they felt about gender neutral beauty, fragrance, and Flooid.


What are your thoughts on fragrance becoming more gender neutral?

William (they/them): When I think of fragrances, I always look back on how there were only scents made for men and only scents made for women. We never really used to see a fragrance that was gender neutral, one fragrance that everyone could be free to use. In my opinion, to be able to see such drastic shifts in society and how fragrances are now becoming gender neutral, I think this just shows that the beauty industry has made so much progress and has become so much more inclusive.

Alex (he/him): I was always confused about how fragrance was categorized as masculine and feminine, as I was always under the impression that your skin's pH balance is what drastically changed a scent from person to person. For years I was under the impression that cologne was for men and perfume was for women, when in reality, the level of essential oils is the difference. I'm very much for the beauty industry to continue the shift toward being gender neutral, as it should be based on your individual needs and not on being just for men or women.

Sheridan (she/her): I truly believe that all fragrances are gender neutral. Especially because everyone’s chemical composition is different. Scents can present so differently from person-to-person. I’ve never paid attention to whether a fragrance is labeled as “masculine” or “feminine.” What’s more important to me are the notes, the scent experience, or how I’m expressing my personality through a scent. But I do love that the industry is moving away from a gender-centric perspective and towards a focus on how the wearer feels in a certain scent.

What is most important to you when choosing a fragrance? Is it the smell or notes? If it reminds you of something? Is it self-expression through scent?

W: The most important thing for me when choosing a fragrance is finding that perfect balance between gentle and overbearing. I love a fragrance that has a refreshing and pleasant smell but can still be a bit powerful in a sense. I am very fond of smells that remind me of something from my past, whether it be a childhood memory or a sweet scent that I recognize from when I was younger. I typically find myself more attracted to smells that remind me of experiences that I've had.

A: It is all about the smell. I enjoy lighter, floral, and circus fragrances but also experiment with earthy tones. I'd never want to be the person who wears too much. That is a factor in selecting a fragrance and how much I wear! I've worn two similar fragrances for 10 years and try to find something new when I'm traveling, usually custom or from a small local vendor.

S: As a self-described fragrance fanatic, people often ask me how I decide what scent I’m going to wear every day. I have fragrances that smell like pavement after a summer storm, plaster, freshly sharpened pencils, cherry cola, the lilac bush outside my dad’s house, the list goes on. The thing I love most about fragrance is its ability to transport you. To a different place, a distant memory. There’s a very real poetry and art to this transportation.

What did you think of Flooid? What was the scent/wear experience like for you?

W: I am absolutely in love with the smell of it. It smells very light and subtle, and the scent is not overbearing so I truly love that. The fragrance has quite a sweet scent to it, I would say, and I think that is why I really like how it smells on the skin.

A: I love the smell. It is too overpowering for me to wear during the day but perfect for special occasions and late-night events. It has a sexiness to it that I love.

S: I think it’s interesting that a lot of the fragrances being marketed as “gender neutral” often lean more traditionally masculine with their note composition (woody, musky, etc.). Flooid does something interesting because, in addition to notes of vetiver and cedar, there are also fruity notes of grapefruit and orange. Because of the breadth of notes, this really rounds out the wear/scent experience. To me this smelled like eating the most juicy, ripest orange in the middle of a forest on a sunny spring day. There is a warmth from the amber that bubbles up after the initial top notes of orange, grapefruit, and bergamot. It’s like swimming in a cup of the best Earl Grey tea you’ve ever had. The woody base of cedar and moss is so comforting, it’s so reminiscent of that peaceful, healing feeling that being in nature gives. Overall, a really versatile, truly neutral woody fragrance with a uniquely delicious scent profile.