Classic, timeless perfume for present for MIL

[mnforadvice]

MIL is in her late 60s. She likes perfumes etc but will never treat herself to anything so im looking for a classic, timeless perfume £50/£60 as a gift. Obviously there is Chanel No 5. But my budget only stretches to a small bottle. Any recommendations of your favourites? She loves my Chloe I wear often and a Jimmy Choo floral one I wear everyday but would like to get something different to this. Tia

Perfumes are such a personal preference and unless you know hers, it's not a safe gift. The same perfume can also smell different on different people.

Chanel perfumes even in a travel size might out of your budget. You run the risk of buying a fake unless you know what to look for and can check batch codes if you don't buy from Chanel.

A sample set might work as a gift.

I wear some Diptyque and Le Labo and Glossier You and Doux and some from an indie perfumer here where I am.

Check out Glossier. They have a floral flanker of You out now, You Fleur and that might be in your budget.

Lancome - La Vie Est Belle, Tresor
Narciso Rodriguez - For Her
Viktor&Rolf - Flowerbomb
Nina Ricci - L’air du Temps
Givenchy - Amarige
Dior - Dune

@outerspacepotato I completely agree, however I don’t think she particularly has a style she prefers, she will just buy a cheaper perfume or one that’s on sale when she’s run out. A miniatures set might be a good idea, thank you.

@WellOrganisedWoman ooh lovely, thank you. I’ll take a look at these

As your budget won’t stretch to a full size bottle of something genuinely classic you could go for something like this set:

https://www.celine.com/en-gb/celine-haute-parfumerie/fragrances/discovery-set-eau-de-parfum-12x2ml-6PC8XC805.37TT.html

(Annoyingly temporarily out of stock - excellent value and gorgeous scents.)

Or perhaps the 10ml size of any Frédéric Malle perfume; this for example:

https://www.lessenteurs.com/products/iris-poudre?variant=921617268745

I would not want my MIL to wear same perfume as me so did. It suggest you get her something you wear! My suggestions are similar vibe to yours, iyswim.

I’ve assumed you wanted something that would be seen as broadly similar to the brands you mentioned.

Chanel 5 is a lot more aldehydey than warm floral/fruity Chloe and Jimmy Choo. If your MIL likes Chanel 5 try Lanvin Arpege.

My mother-in-law likes the classic Burberry perfume. It meets your description, I think.

Elizabeth Arden, Beautiful is lovely. Very flowery

What about one of the fragrance stocking from Cult Beauty or the Spacenk cracker. Flannels were also doing a fragrance box which is worth checking out . All were on offer recently and under £50

All beauty does good discounts on perfumes and aftershaves. I’d google and find out the notes from the fragrances that she likes and ask for similar.

Black opium or Alien

Estee Lauder Beautiful. A classic.

Elizabeth Arden Blue Grass? https://www.theperfumeshop.com/elizabeth-arden/blue-grass/eau-de-parfum-spray/p/11150EDPJU

Ester Lauder Youth Dew?