The Story
Why it exists.
The beginning
Iel was created by perfumer Majda Bekkali and launched in 2022. Its idea is simple: a fragrance can move beyond masculine and feminine categories without losing contrast or character. The composition starts with pink pepper CO2, rhubarb, and red mandarin orange, then turns toward ambrette, jasmine, and grapefruit. Benzoin, Tolu balsam, vanilla, and white musk give it a warm, powdery base. No grand origin story is required. Iel wears its point of view in the structure itself, balancing bright citrus and floral notes with a soft, ambered finish. The opening is crisp and lively, with peppery sparkle from pink pepper CO2, tart fruit from rhubarb, and a juicy red mandarin orange lift.
What makes Iel interesting is the friction between its bright beginning and warm landing. Pink pepper gives the opening a lively edge, while rhubarb and red mandarin orange keep it sharp and citrus-led. Ambrette brings a musky softness into the heart, where jasmine and grapefruit add a polished white-floral lift. The base then turns generous, with benzoin and Tolu balsam adding amber warmth around vanilla and white musk. It is a familiar set of materials arranged with clear contrast, which is where the fragrance finds its identity.
The evolution
Iel begins with a quick lift: pink pepper CO2, rhubarb, and red mandarin orange create a bright, lightly spiced impression. As the opening settles, ambrette, jasmine, and grapefruit take over, softening the citrus without making it disappear. The floral middle feels clean and polished, while the musk keeps it close rather than loud. In the drydown, benzoin and Tolu balsam bring a warm resinous depth, joined by vanilla and white musk. That base is the lasting impression, a soft amber-powder finish that stays intimate and gently sweet. Over time, the sharper fruit and pepper facets gradually give way to a smoother blend of jasmine, ambrette, and musk. Benzoin and Tolu balsam add a deeper, resinous warmth, while vanilla rounds the composition with a soft sweetness.
Cultural impact
Iel was released by Genderfluid in 2022 as a fragrance created by perfumer Majda Bekkali. Its name and composition invite exploration beyond fixed masculine or feminine categories, while the scent itself moves between bright fruit, pepper, floral notes, and a warm musky base. Iel is listed as a fragrance for women and men. Its appeal rests in this balance: pink pepper CO2, rhubarb, red mandarin orange, jasmine, and grapefruit provide a lively opening and heart, followed by benzoin, Tolu balsam, vanilla, and white musk in the drydown.
The House
GenderfluidGenderfluid is an independent fragrance label built around a straightforward premise: scent does not need a gender label. Operating in the growing space of gender-neutral perfumery, the brand composes its fragrances to be worn freely, without the traditional masculine or feminine framing that has dominated Western fragrance marketing since the early 20th century. Its catalog, anchored by Lovely Queer, Iel, and Enby (all released in 2022), draws on inclusive naming and identity-forward themes to position itself within a wider cultural conversation about how fragrance is categorized, marketed, and experienced.
The Creator
Majda BekkaliBekkali favors warm, resinous materials and has shown particular affinity for cedar and incense notes, visible in releases like Mon Nom Est Rouge. Her aesthetic leans toward complexity without heaviness, balancing spice and smoke with cleaner supporting elements.
