Unisex scents are one of the hottest trends abroad, and I am glad it is slowly but surely picking up in Manila.

I am a big fan of this kind of scent because it smells clean and crisp. And it is perfect for our weather—nothing too overpowering that will announce your arrival or make someone dizzy.

Also, with this type of scent, I don’t get any violent reaction from my husband, who is not keen on overly fruity or floral scents.

I like, too, that unisex scents aren’t too musky. There is nothing too strong about unisex scents, so the difference in each person can be more pronounced since it gives our body chemistry a chance to play a bigger role. So no need to worry about smelling like your man, or vice versa.

The absence of hyper-feminine or masculine notes makes unisex scents most appealing. For women, the scent can come off as something like shampoo or body cologne: mild floral scents, mixed with fruits, musks with a touch of creaminess. For men, it becomes aromatic, crisp (sort of like fresh laundry), with a slight fruitiness, and apple notes with a touch of musk and creamy wood.

Here are the top five unisex scents I highly recommend. I think it is good to have one at home for everyone to enjoy. In fact when I see guest bathrooms with cologne scattered around, I think to myself they should just have a bottle of unisex scent.

Here are five great unisex scents:

ACQUA DI COLONIA

RUSSA

A very light citrus fragrance with a neroli heart note, a hint of rose and light oriental leather base with a patchouli note. It is possibly one of the best-kept secrets when it comes to unisex scents. It has a subtle sophistication that is old-fashioned, far from current colognes that sometimes smell synthetic or make you smell like everyone else. It is worth a try, and I can’t imagine anyone not wanting this scent in one’s home or as a gift.

GENDARME

My husband has been using this scent, and most of the wives I know also steal it from their husbands! Three words to describe it: crisp, elegant and fresh. Musk users love the scent, which has citrus, greens and verbena as top notes, followed by an herbal dry-down of jasmine and thyme, bound to a hint of leather. A classic, timeless scent.

DIPTYQUE EAU DE LIERRE

This scent starts off with ivy, heavily peppered—green and slightly bitter. It’s a serious yet light scent, formal but still very wearable. The scent lasts long, lingering on the skin for hours.

HIERBAS DE IBIZA

The characters that play in this scent are lemon and orange peel, herbs, jasmine and orange blossom. It’s a very refreshing scent that can be enjoyed by everyone—by grandma who’s off to play mahjong, the husband doing golf, you having dinner, even the kids!

ACCA KAPPA MUSCHIO BIANCO

White Moss is a light musk with mossy, fabric-softener-type scent. I find it the cleanest-smelling scent out there, one that my husband and I also enjoy. It is in his car, golf bag, bathroom, office. I love that it comes in a lot of sizes, too, and that it fits inside his small toiletry kit when we travel. This is how fresh air should smell like.