Perfume for an older lady- ideas?

[takehimjolene]

I'd be really love some ideas on a perfume to buy for my mother (late 70s). She and my Dad are both not in the best of health and I have been tasked with buying perfume for her birthday as a present from Dad (who is not well enough to shop even online). She has asked for perfume, and I think her idea is that wearing something new will make her feel a bit better as she's dealing with some tricky times. However, their poor health and the stress/worry is making them both pretty cranky and they have told me in no uncertain terms that they don't want any involvement in choosing something (I had suggested I get some samples for her to smell) but they really want it to be right. I'm not very familiar with perfumes (I have a go to perfume that I have been wearing for years, but she doesn't like that so clearly going by my taste is not the best idea!).
The only pointers they will give me are:

1. Not a 'heavy' perfume
2. Not cheap shit! (her words, I think she means no dupes, M&S, gift selections etc)
3. Not an 'old lady' perfume

In her younger days Mum always preferred heavier perfumes, but she doesn't want that now. One lighter perfume that I know she did like was Eternity, but she's made it clear that she wants something she's not had before. If anyone can give me any ideas on potentially suitable perfumes to try that would be amazing! I've had a look at a few shops but am struggling to work out where to start amongst the hundreds of options.

The Floral Street perfumes are lovely and quite light

I would say Chanel No5 might not fit the bill according to her requirements. Not modern enough maybe, it is actually towards a heavy scent in my opinion, although the EDT is a bit lighter than the EDP.

I would get a discovery set

Oh also Calvin Klein Beauty, very nice and not at all expensive in case she doesn't like it. I'm wearing it now ( I'm 55!)

Olene by Diptyque is loved by my mother.

Review of Olene here -

https://thescentaur.com/olene-eau-de-toilette-by-diptyque-review/

Yes, first thing that came to mind was Miss Dior Blooming Bouquet - it’s lovely and definitely the older sister of Miss Dior.
My DH bought me BB as a surprise and the shop assistant apparently asked him if it was for his mum!
I’m late 40s and I hadn’t smelt it before and would say it would appeal to a more mature person, but at the same time it is not an ‘old lady’ type perfume. It’s both fresh and warm, while being pretty.

Bluebells by Penhaligons is light and fresh and gorgeous. Florals from Jo Malone also - her Red Rose, or Wild Bluebells. If you want a lily of the alley flavour, Diorissimo is the one. Avoid the modern syntheticky smelling stuff - a pure floral is far nicer.

Yes I was thinking that! I'm 66 and I wear the florals of Jo Malone, Dior & Prada D'Iris. Sometimes Yardley Lily of the Valley & any random orange blossom scent I can find.

My mum turned 79 yesterday and she wears Hermès 24 Faubourg if that helps…

I have a wish for these from Penhaligans

"LADIES' FRAGRANCE COLLECTION 5 x 5ml | Penhaligon's" https://www.penhaligons.com/uk/en/p/ladies-fragrance-collection-5-x-5ml--000000000065186522

"SCENT LIBRARY 10 x 2ml | Penhaligon's" https://www.penhaligons.com/uk/en/p/scent-library-10-x-2ml--000000000065186518

You'd know in future which she likes.

Elie Saab In White.

I was looking to see if youth dew was mentioned ,totally agree its absolutely vile and i have a youth dew radar and can smell it a mile off !😁

On the back of this thread I’ve just ordered Liz Earle No 100! The fragrance notes are right up my street AND they’re currently offering £20 off and free delivery on orders over £60. So my £62 bottle cost £42!!! 😁

First bought no 5 when i got my first job at 21(?). Loved the smell and didn’t understand the ‘it’s for old ladies thing’. If i love a smell, I love it.

@takehimjolene I second coco mademoiselle. It was my other favourite perfume before i became concerned about toxins in spray perfumes, blah blah 😑

Maybe Kenzo Flower?

Second Estée Lauder pleasures. Have just started wearing it again and have had so many comments saying it's light and pretty and nostalgic.

A lot of the perfumes mentioned here are very sweet to older noses eg. Mon guerlain, Blooming bouquet etc. I’d suggest something less divisive.

Someone above suggested Prada Infusion d’iris. Good call - can’t imagine anyone finding it offensive. Another light but pleasant one is Rituals L’eclat. You can get the travel size small bottle of that for about £18 and combine it with the Prada perhaps?

But you have a hard task! Very difficult to choose perfume for someone else.

Ester Lauder Modern Muse is also nice. Ellie Saab original is lovely too, plus the stopper on the bottle is beautiful.

@GellerYeller
Ester Lauder Modern Muse is lovely but some people find it too strong on the lily. Narcisso Rodriguez’s ‘Forever’ is very very similar but less heavy on the lily - it’s on offer just now at TK Maxx I see.

Something by Tresor. Light and lovely.

My Mum is a very youthful 84 and likes Kenzo Flower - amongst others, she just loves perfume really, but I mention this one because I like it too and it's one of the few perfumes that we both like and will both wear. It's light and floral but not too floral and not sweet. I dislike sweet floral perfumes. In my mind it is a happy summer perfume.

@LollyWillow I wear this myself -

Chanel Chance