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.

I agree, but not EdT, but EdP, otherwise you won't smell anything!

Orange Blossom is indeed lovely.

Clarins perfumes are nice and not too heavy

Princess of Wales wears this

Blue Grass is lovely.

Illegally18. JM Orange Blossom smells gorgeous in the bottle but on my skin it’s not nice at all. The nectarine blossom and honey however smells exactly the same in the bottle as it does on my skin. It’s so weird. But I’d be concerned to buy someone a bottle of something I love and fits the bill in theory, in case it didn’t smell good on them.

I loved Calyx for daytime wear. It's been discontinued

My DIL found the perfect replacement for my birthday. Barbour. Classic. She also bought me a clever little atomiser that I can decant some into.

Helen Mirren wears Jo Malone Blackberry

Guerlain’s Samsara. It’s divine.

Grandmother used to wear this perfume

yes, and a beautiful scent, like a beautiful song, never dates.

Definitely 😀

Chanel 19

I was on a flight recently and was surprised at the number of women (at a guess I would say in their 60s & 70s) asking for Jo Malone Pear & Freesia. It was the same on the return flight. The woman in front of me was undecided if she was going to buy it & the cabin crew said to let her know if she changed her mind as it would sell out, If I hadn’t seen all the women on the outbound flight, I would have assumed this was purely a sales tactic.

So Jo Malone would be my choice based on this!

Jo Malone Blackberry and Bay is gorgeous! Very light and fresh with citrus notes.

L’Occitane Verveine is also gorgeous, very light, fresh and lemony

@Sunholidays ah - samsara is very nostalgic for me - bought a big bottle of this the week I got divorced in 1991- have a very soft spot for it - still one of my favourite winter scents

I have YSL Libre Eau de Parfum it's lovely (there's also an intense)

It was recommended by a 70 year old YouTuber.

Next time, @takehimjolene, it might be better to ask for ‘A perfume for your father to give your mother for her birthday.’ Human beings are suggestible - and since you have the words older lady in your title, posters cannot help but suggest whatever they’ve known an elderly woman to wear, or that they think suitable for the elderly - based on something their ancestor wore in 1975. (And this is a forum where a daintily embroidered handkerchief and a ‘posh’ teabag in a mug is the general guidance for anyone over 40 …)

Hope you find something suitably luxurious and new to her.

My Mother must have been grim.

For those who like Youth Dew - or have family who do - Marks.& Spencer’s Orange Blossom & Amber perfume is almost like an updated version - lighter and more modern but lovely if you like a more complex composition and dislike very sugary sweet fruity fragrances.

Please can the OP come back to the thread at some point and tell us how her choice was received!!

Calyx - I haven't thought about it for years. Used to wear it all the time in the 90's - sorry it has been discontinued.

Chanel Gabrielle is beautiful