Examples of gender bias exist all over store shelves-pink razors, toys aimed at children based on ascribed gender roles, and fragrances in the beauty and personal care aisle. âMasculineâ smells are typically woody, spicy, and musky, while âfeminineâ scents are floral, powdery, and sweet. But like colors and occupations, the concept of assigning scent to one of two genders is waning, just as the idea of binary gender itself is losing momentum.
Brand Boy Smells taps into the growing consumer desire for gender-neutral products with a line of candles that are both visually and olfactory inclusive. Their line of Pride candles launched in commemoration of Pride month include scents that unabashedly combine earthy scents with floral aromas, combinations as nuanced as the cultural understanding of gender. The “Bundle of Pride” features six candles made from dyed coconut and beeswax with standouts like LES Named for the Lower East Side in NYC), a heady mixture of white cedar, peach blossom, black currant, cardamom, and jasmine rice, as well as PRUNUS, a combination of oakmoss, fig, plum, vanilla, and yuzu.
