Post #3576588

2026-07-04 09:51 UTC

I want to try using perfume but I have zero knowledge about it. I see online shops differentiating between male and female scents; is this nonsensical, or is there an actual difference in how scents work based on how much testosterone vs. estrogen you have? also there seem to be a handful different categories of scents, but honestly I have no idea what I would like, these terms mean nothing to me, I'm just not a very scent-knowledgeable person 🤣 where do I start? I'm a bit wary of just visiting a perfumery and ask these things, as I'm not sure how queer friendly they are 😅 like I tried walking into one a while ago but there was only 15-25 year old girls and some security dude that looked at me funny so I felt very out of place and left immediately lol

Replies (3)

@alexadeswift@lgbtqia.space 2026-07-04 09:57

@bazkie@beige.party It is more complicated than that, as it is also about pheromones. And then there are women who will wear men's fragrances as well as women's for precisely this reason! I have been known to do this, and have even had women ask if they can have some of my perfume themselves after smelling it on me. It is really, terribly complex! My tip is to go to a perfume shop and try some of the samplers.

Open ##3576587
@ambientspace@cloudisland.nz 2026-07-04 10:03

@bazkie@beige.party if I could find a decent perfumery, I’d go there tomorrow. When I was in my early 20’s I stumbled on a perfume shop that specialised in making your own. The owners were enthusiastic with anyone wishing to explore and I wish I had bought more than the tiny 5mL bottle of scented oil. It was mostly sandalwood and I later bought a 130mL diffuser of sandalwood. I use it sparingly, but regularly, and it’s lasted me more than three decades. A good shop will work with you and help you figure out what works well with your skin and suits your preferences.

Open ##3576941
@sahqon@beige.party 2026-07-04 10:27

@bazkie@beige.party Don't you have a million cheap/midrange perfumes in drugstores? They might not be as good as actual quality perfumes, but at least let you figure out which direction you want to go if you look up the main scent in them. Here you can just spritz as much as you want on yourself (and then be sick on the side of the road later if you are sensitive like me lol)

Open ##3578258