What perfume are we wearing in our 40s?

[NowIsTheWinterOfOurDiscontent]

Hello

I am loyal to Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin for summer.

For winter, I've used Coco Chanel but wonder if it's a bit too heavy/80s.

I've also used Coco Mademoiselle and Miss Dior and like them but wonder if they're a bit young for me now.

I HATE AND LOATHE CHANEL NO5!

I would like something clean and sophisticated rather than too young/old or sexy.

Any thoughts welcome! Thanks.

Also, if you ever have any money, go to liberty and go downstairs to the perfume concierge. The person there will talk to you about what kind of smells you like and then guide you to the different counters where, for no charge, you can sample all the perfumes you like. I did it and it's brilliant.

Because I live in the middle of nowhere and there are no perfume counters to try anything new, I tell chat gpt what I like, or what I liked back in the day, then I ask it to find me a modern equivalent on Perfume Parlour. I then order loads of the sample bottles so I can try different ones. @bittertwisted yes I think they do have that, I just had a quick check for you.

I'm in my early 50s rather than my 40s but I alternate between Miss Dior, Black Opium and La Vie est Belle. I thught about getting Valaya or Delina Exclusif but I think I prefer Black Opium (although I wish it lasted longer) and La Vie est Belle.

I had a sample of Portrait of a Lady and did not like it at all. I also recently tried Donna Born in Roma (original) which I liked.

I have wondered about this! Which Jo Loves would I like?

I can’t wear one, it gives me a migraine :( wish I could though.

But you never ever go to a big city? Wow

@NowIsTheWinterOfOurDiscontent I can't wait to decide for you, but they do a selection box thing

Can't really *

@hardshoulderr oh great idea, thanks! Yah I love these "discovery" sets. Like a selection box or a variety pack!

@hardshoulderr my nearest city is a plane ride away, thinking about it there are a few shops in our local little town that have perfumes but not a big selection, we have a small boots and a super drug. I maybe get to a city less than once a year and then I'm more focused on getting to food places 😆

I love Burberry.

I'm late 40s.

Bit condescending surely? I rarely go to big cities either, the samples selection sounds like a great idea from the pp.

Yeah, sorry it read like that. It was meant to sound like shock not disapproval.

I'm wearing Yardley lavender at the minute. But I swip and swap perfumes. This was a present from my daughter ❤️

Pretty much anything by Narciso Rodriguez, especially Pure Musc. Also Blanche by Byredo and Prada Infusions - Iris and Carnation.

Oh! YSL Rive Gauche takes me back!! 1981, I did a summer job in a b&b and bought this- my first ‘grown up’ perfume with my wages! Wore it so many years, DH bought me a big gift case of it after I gave birth, all perfume, bath and body stuff ♥️
After the menopause, I just can’t wear it anymore😟

Currently wearing Maison Martin Margiela 'When the rain stops'. It's a beautiful soft, warm, clean scent.

SJP Lovely! Still gorgeous. And White Musk by The Body Shop is still gorgeous.

Yes, lovely a bit of SJP, and also Ralph Lauren ‘Romance’ (quite similar these 2, & I wore Romance on my wedding day)
Also like Givenchy ‘Amarige’ in the winter months for the memories.

I'm 53 and like Coco Mademoiselle, Chance Au Fraiche (and Eau Tendre), YSL Parisienne and Babydoll although I've worn all of them since my twenties so they probably don't meet the brief. Also Mon Guerlain ☺️

My current favourites are Osmanthus and Damask from Ormonde Jayne, and their new one (Musc Rogue or Rouge depending on where you look) is lovely too. They do a fantastic discovery set with 12 2.5ml bottles for £65 which is a lot of top notch perfume for not too much cash - you can pick from two different ones

Hermès Jardin en Méditerranée (figgy, citrus) for the summer. Molton Brown Neon Amber in the winter (spicy, woody).

My H also just bought me Maison Margiela When the Rain Stops (aquatic, floral), and I'm eyeing up the Margiela Jazz Club (tobacco, vanilla) having just sampled it in duty free.

I've been wearing Le Labo Another 13 and Masion Crivrelli's Citrus Batikanga for sunny days but starting to reach for the Crivelli Papyrus Moleculaire and Neroli Nasimba as the weather cools down. Paco Rabanne XS pour Elle was my 90's favourite!

https://www.viviennewestwood.com/boudoir/

And there you go. 4th of october it Drops I believe

I was 42 last year and had worn Hermès Un Jardin sur le Toit for over 10 years. I still love it, but wanted to change things up.

A couple of posters have already mentioned the Maison Margiela REPLICA range. I bought Beach Walk last year and wore it all summer, then bought a discovery set and ended up buying a 50ml Jazz Club for Autumn/Winter.

They are completely different to the Jardin range, which are very light and floral/vegetal.

My husband bought me a Victoria Beckham Discovery set for Christmas, and I have had a lot of use because it's longer lasting.

I've now got no idea what I like best! I liked having a 'signature' scent, but also have really enjoyed wearing perfume for a season. Enjoying some of the recommendations on here!

I went through a phase in my 20s with Stella (now discontinued) but a friend complemented me once and told me that it had been her favourite as a teenager... 🤣 Is it a bit snobby that I want to smell unique/expensive? 😅 I'm put off by others wearing the same scent.

Edited to add that I missed wearing Un Jardin sur le Toit so bought sur le Nile for spring/summer this year. I definitely think that collections are fun to explore.

Yes, I love the M&S range - currently alternating Soft Oud and Velvet Amber. I've just restocked with the current 20% off. I've also been wearing Miller Harris Citron, Citron this summer and am about to inherit a bottle of Marc Jacob's Daisy Love Glow from my teenage daughter who doesn't like it! I'm considerably older than 40 but just wear what I like!