Perfume selection for woman in her 70s

[LonelyFlans]

I've been asked to buy a perfume sampling set for a woman in her early 70s.

She doesn't like floral perfumes but is otherwise open to ideas!

Can anyone recommend something that might be suitable please?

There's some great suggestions for perfume presents. They've given me inspiration.

I'd probably go for something a bit more sophisticated than M&S - try Maison Francis Kirkdjian, Byredo, Acqua di Parma, Andy Tauer... Jo Loves has a few floral ones in the discovery set which probably wouldn't be up her street but the nice thing is you get a voucher for a full sized bottle of your favourite.

Les Senteurs is a good place to start, they also do a perfume sampling service so if you can work out what her favourite notes are you could just order a few to try - though they won't be as beautifully packaged as a 'proper' tester set.

@AppleDumplingWithCustard "
Well this old person doesn’t. It’s fucking awful. True fact."

Of course you love lavender! Also a picture frame, a nice scarf and a lap tray. And maybe to be taken out to tea somewhere nice with your grandchildren. Tea is better than dinner because you don't want to be out too late.

My mum was 74 when she passed away in September... her favourite perfume was Chanel no 5 if someone bought it as a treat.

😂🤣
And let's not forget one of those mobile phones with big buttons... always a winner!

And those fleecy lined boots that you put both feet in, love 'em!

I like atelier sets as they're mostly citruses and not floral, but might fall into her too sharp category.

www.cultbeauty.co.uk/atelier-cologne-perfume-wardrobe-set/13309270.html

Agree the penhaligans sample sets might be the way to go.

If you're really pushing the boat out, the space nk 12 days of fragrance set would give good variety.

@Roussette I had forgotten The Big slipper!!!

CurlewKate 'Old people like lavender. True fact.' Not sure where you get your 'facts' from but no older person I know (and I'm 75) wears lavender!

I wear Guerlain 'Little Black Dress', YSL 'Mon Paris' and Chanel 'Coco Mademoiselle' LonelyFlans Do not buy an M & S set unless that is all you can affoord!

Not really relevant but I bought some Britney Spears fantasy after recommendations on Mumsnet. It's sweet sickly and nasty. I sold it on. I'm 39 but can't imagine I'd have liked that even as a teenager.

@jay55 Atelier has gone, sadly. I bought that very set for myself a couple of Christmases ago, and when I went looking for a full size they seemed to have gone out of stock/stopped trading everywhere.

I found something online sort of semi-implying it might only be a temporary situation. But given the lack of any sign of them since, I’m not sure about that.

Wait, I’ve just bought a big slipper for wfh! It is a sheepskin one from Celtic, natch. Have I crossed some sort of line?

I don’t care, I’ll have no word spoken against it. You will prise it from my cold dead feet. Only they’ll be spookily warm, from the slipper 🔥

What about something like this?

https://www.sephora.co.uk/p/SEPHORA-FAVORITES-The-Fragrance-Collection?curr=GBP&utmsource=awin&utmmmedium=affiliate&utmcampaign=Redbrain+Ltd&awinid=22773&awc=2277331700997012_167a816de33024302ea57565e3645ce9

Le labo?

www.lelabofragrances.com/discovery-set-1200.html?size=

@sunshinesupermum Sorry-I should have used the "sarcasm" font....

Just for context, I still think it is.....
Would you honestly not, if give the job of getting a fragrance for someone, want to at least at some point, and along with other things about them, know their age - range, even? (an inescapable fact)

@CavalierApproach that sucks, I have big bottles of the lime and of California clementine, I'll have to make them last.

I feel age is probably the least important criterion for choosing a perfume …

Interest in perfume.

Relative level of sophistication generally.

Open-ness to the avant-garde, or otherwise.

Body chemistry.

Season (sometimes).

Allergies: wearer or people sharing your domestic / work space.

Budgetary accessibility - whether that means only buying samples, or blowing your student loan, or setting aside a regular budget, or asking for things for Christmas …

These are all things I might consider. But I know both nonagenarians and teenage boys who embrace novelty, want to find something exciting, and will consider anything that appeals, regardless of marketing or preconceptions.

Well I suppose if I knew who the recipient was I would roughly know their age but unless possibly the recipient is a teenager who really, really wants her favourite celeb's own brand and I knew the teen would like a celeb brand, I can't think of single point at, or reason why, age and perfume choices correlate.

Thinking back I wore Rive Gauche as a teenager/ early 20s, afterwards occasionally Chanel 5 because I got it as a present (didn't like it) , occasionally various Nina Ricci as my mother and I both liked them, occasionally Estée Lauder. Early 30s someone gave me Hermés 24 Faubourg which I still like swapping it with the various Le Jardin perfumes and the Hermessence range. Guerlain is my go to quick grab something at airport duty free. I used to really like Lanvin's Arpege but have gone off it, not because I've changed but I think they've done something to it.

If you were buying perfume for me the only relevant fact you need to know is that I would not be interested in a celebrity "own brand" not that I'm a 105.

I think these are great too.

THANK YOU!
Just got this for SiL's secret Santa gift !

Whilst I think age is irrelevant @LonelyFlans mother who is 87 has stuck with Van Cleef & Arpels' First, Grannie who would be 111 now wore Guerlain's L'heure Bleu (smells like Harpic on me) and Shalimar, at 63 I'm partial to Cartier's La Panthere.

Very much fancy treating myself to an Hermes Gift Box as mentioned by a pp.

Actually, I do have a lap tray. 😂