Best unisex perfumes in 2026

Santal 33 is one of the best-known unisex niche perfumes in the world, and for many people it is the scent that introduced them to niche fragrance. Le Labo describes cardamom, iris and violet over Australian sandalwood and cedarwood, with spicy, leathery and musky notes.

On skin it smells dry, woody and slightly smoky, like a well-worn leather chair in a cedar-panelled room, with a powdery violet softness. How it projects will depend on your skin, so start with two or three sprays.

The drawbacks are price and ubiquity. It is one of the most expensive bottles here, and in some cities you will smell it everywhere. A few people also pick up an odd sour or pickle-like facet. Still, as a fragrance that genuinely works on anyone and a gift a couple could share, it is our top pick. Le Labo will refill both the 50 ml and 100 ml bottles.

For a gift, 50 and 100 ml are the sizes the brand lists, and the same name often covers several versions (No stronger version; matching body care and candle), so check the label for the exact one before you buy. Try it on skin first if you can, since scent always smells a little different on each person.

Baccarat Rouge 540 was created by Francis Kurkdjian to celebrate the 250th anniversary of crystal maker Baccarat, and it has since become one of the most copied perfumes on the market. MFK names jasmine and saffron alongside an ambergris accord and dry woods, built on two modern materials: Hedione, which gives a light, airy jasmine, and Ambroxan, a warm amber-wood molecule. A gourmand ingredient gives its famous burnt-sugar sweetness.

The effect is glowing and almost weightless: sweet, slightly metallic amber with a dry woody edge. Some people find it easy to smell and others find it fades to a skin scent, possibly because some people struggle to smell Ambroxan.

It is the most expensive fragrance on this page, and countless cheaper dupes copy the style. But the original is smoother and more balanced than most imitations. If you want a luxurious present for someone who loves sweet, warm scents, the 35 ml bottle or 3 x 11 ml travel set is the sensible way in.

The Replica range from Maison Margiela tries to bottle specific memories, and By the Fireplace is its most popular. The brand publishes a clear pyramid: pink pepper, orange flower and clove at the top, a chestnut accord with guaiac wood and smoky cade oil in the heart, and vanilla, Peru balsam and cashmeran (a soft, musky-woody material) in the base.

It smells exactly like the name suggests: wood smoke, roasted chestnuts and a sweet vanilla warmth, a bit like a winter evening in a country pub. It is an Eau de Toilette, but the smoky, sweet style is full-bodied, so two or three sprays are plenty.

It is very much a cold-weather scent, so it is less useful from May to September. As a gift it works for anyone who likes cosy, gourmand smells, and the 10 ml and 30 ml bottles make it easy to try. Maison Margiela also sells a 100 ml refill.

Wood Sage & Sea Salt is a good example of the brand's light, easy style. Jo Malone lists just three notes: ambrette seeds (a plant-based musk), sea salt and sage, and describes it as fresh, woody and subtle enough for every day.

On skin it smells like a windy walk on a British beach: mineral, slightly salty and herbal, with a soft musky warmth underneath. It never shouts, which makes it ideal for offices, hot days and anyone sensitive to strong perfume.

The price of that subtlety is a light touch, as a cologne is the lightest strength, so plan to reapply or spray clothing. Jo Malone colognes are designed to be layered, and pairing it with a richer scent from the range is a common trick. As a gift, the beautifully boxed 30 ml or the 9 ml mini are easy wins for almost anyone.

For a gift, 9, 30, 50, 100 ml are the sizes the brand lists, and the same name often covers several versions (Matching body wash, lotion and candle; layer with other Jo Malone colognes), so check the label for the exact one before you buy. Try it on skin first if you can, since scent always smells a little different on each person.

Molecule 01 is a fragrance made from a single ingredient: Iso E Super, a synthetic woody material that appears in thousands of perfumes. Escentric Molecules describes it as velvety and wood-tinged and says it almost caramelises with your own skin to create a personal scent.

Up close it smells like clean, soft cedar with a faint warm muskiness. The quirk is that many people find it hard to detect on themselves, yet friends and colleagues notice it. This is why people's experience of it differs so much. It is generally a soft, close-to-the-skin scent.

It is a great choice for someone who dislikes obvious perfume, for offices, or as a base layer to boost and smooth other fragrances. It is also an interesting gift for a fragrance enthusiast. Just be aware that for a minority it may as well be water. Escentric Molecules sells 30, 100 and 200 ml bottles and a 30 ml portable spray that can be refilled.

CK One was marketed to everyone from the start, which was a genuinely new idea at the time, and it remains one of the best-known unisex scents. Calvin Klein lists a juicy top of bergamot, cardamom, pineapple and papaya, a heart of jasmine, violet, rose and nutmeg, and a base of musk and amber.

It smells zesty and soapy, like fresh laundry with a citrus twist. That makes it great for hot days, the gym bag or anyone who prefers a light, clean scent. It is a light Eau de Toilette, so spray generously and reapply if you want it to carry through the day.

For the price it is hard to argue with, and the 100 ml and 200 ml bottles go a long way. It is a sensible budget gift for teenagers, students or a couple who want to share one bottle. If you want something stronger, CK One Essence is a more concentrated version.