10 Best Perfumes for Older Women in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks
Although perfumes generally seemed to be targeted towards the younger consumers, there are more than enough classic options for women of advanced age (50-year old and up) as well.
Looking good and smelling nice shouldn’t be limited by age and reserved for the younger crowd.
How should the best perfume for older women smell like? Well, the perfume must have a powdery smell or a complex soapy scent to it without being too girly, sugary, or sweet.
Of course, the perfumes of today come with unique, modern twists and blends to ensure they don’t get tagged an “old people perfume.”
Most importantly, when selecting a perfume for older women, you must ensure it suits your taste and personality.
To make the best choice, you should head to a store and try the fragrances out for yourself.
If you can’t do that, I have just the list for you.
This list has been carefully compiled after hours of experiments and recommendations from industry experts.
Age is just a number, so without further ado, here are your options!
At A Glance: Our Top Picks for Best Perfumes for Older Women
If you’re in a hurry, you can jump straight into our top picks (these are the perfumes for older women that most people buy).
- Dolce & Gabbana The One
- Lancome La Vie Est Belle
- Nina Ricci L’air du Temps
Top 10 Best Perfumes for Older Women – Our Reviews:
1. Dolce & Gabbana The One
Dolce & Gabbana’s offering of The One EDP is an excellent choice for older ladies.
This scintillating perfume can be worn at any time of the day.
It has a classy oriental vibe to it with fruity and floral notes.
Upon application, you will detect zesty fruit notes of sweet peach, lychee, mandarin, and bergamot.
Then, as the middle notes begin to show their worth, you’re introduced to an intense, feminine blend of plum, jasmine, and Madonna lily.
For the drydown period, expect to smell warm scents of amber, vanilla and musk, much loved by any fruity floral gourmand.
As I briefly mentioned earlier, for a perfume to be deemed ideal for older women, it must have a powdery base to it.
Thankfully, the Dolce & Gabbana The One EDP has it.
This excellent perfume is also fit for the body chemistry of younger women.
Top Notes: Sweat Peach, Lychee, Mandarin, Bergamot
Heart Notes: Plum, Jasmine, Madonna Lily
Base Notes: Amber, Vanilla, Musk
2. Lancome La Vie Est Belle
The next perfume on the list is the Lancome La Vie Est Belle EDP.
This perfume has many things working in its favor.
La Vie Est Belle, which translates to “life is beautiful,” is the best perfume for women who aren’t afraid to enjoy life.
As for its scent, the Lancome La Vie Est Belle perfume for older women initially gives you top fruity notes of pear and black currant.
As the fragrance settles down, your smelling senses get to enjoy the hearty blend of orange blossom, jasmine, and iris, giving a rather floral vibe to the scent.
When the scent is on its last legs, it leaves you with notes of praline, vanilla, tonka bean, and patchouli.
In essence, as you may have guessed already, the Lancome La Vie Est Belle EDP can be categorized as a fruity oriental scent.
I also like the fact that the perfume has excellent sillage, longevity, and projection.
In my personal opinion, I think the Lancome La Vie Est Belle EDP is the best perfume for mature 40-year-old women and above.
They can wear this perfume any time of the day, irrespective of the occasion.
I also think this perfume is one of the best fragrances for women in the winters.
Top Notes: Pear, Blackcurrant
Heart Notes: Orange Blossom, Iris, Jasmine
Base Notes: Vanilla, Praline, Tonka Bean, Patchouli
3. Nina Ricci L’air du Temps
Wouldn’t you agree that there´s something mystical about perfumes that are tough to pronounce? The Nina Ricci L’air du Temps EDP reaffirms my belief that tough-to-pronounce perfumes are worth the investment indeed.
Created after the Second World War to bring an air of romance and femininity back into the lives of women, the L’Air du Temps perfume for mature women has a splendid fragrance on account of its wide array of ingredients.
A couple of spritzes and your nose will immediately detect scents of rose, neroli, peach, and carnation.
Then, after a certain period, the middle notes begin to take over, emanating scents of jasmine, ylang-ylang, orchid, orris, and gardenia.
As for the drydown period, expect to smell hints of musk, benzoin, sandalwood, cardamom, cedarwood, vetiver, Guaiac wood, and ambergris.
Also, like all high-quality perfumes for mature ladies, the Nina Ricci L’Air du Temps EDP also has a powdery base to it, giving the perfume elements and scents of age, grace, and confidence.
Top Notes: Neroli, Peach, Rose, Carnation
Heart Notes: Lily, Ylang-Ylang, Orchid, Orris, Rose, Jasmine, Gardenia
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Cardamom, Cedarwood, Benzoin, Musk, Ambergris, Vetiver
4. Carolina Herrera
Introduced to the market back in 1988, the Carolina Herrera perfume for older women brings plenty to the table— elegance, sophistication, femininity, and confidence, making it the best perfume for women over the age of 50.
I’m also a big fan of the perfume’s packaging bottle—a pure beauty.
The crystalline bottle, which boasts of eye-catching stylized lines, ensures users have an unobstructed view of the scintillating elixir.
As for its scents, expect to detect head notes of bergamot, green notes, Brazilian rosewood, orange blossom, and apricot blossom that vastly complement each other.
When the middle notes begin to make their presence known, you will smell floral notes of jasmine, narcissus, and Indian tuberose.
At the same time, if you put your nose to the test, you will also smell hints of ylang-ylang, honeysuckle, hyacinth, and Spanish jasmine.
This phase is often described as the scent’s most distinct period.
The drydown notes are quite noteworthy too.
During the drydown period, you will smell musk, sandalwood amber, civet, cedar, vetiver, and oakmoss—something that graceful 50-year-old women will appreciate.
Plus, the fact that the Caroline Herrera perfume for older women has an excellent projection, sillage, and lasting period also adds to its charm.
Top Notes: Bergamot, Green Notes, Brazilian Rosewood, Orange Blossom, Apricot
Heart Notes: Jasmine, Lily Of The Valley, Narcissus, Indian Tuberose
Base Notes: Musk, Civet, Cedar, Vetiver, Oakmoss, Sandalwood Amber
5. Christian Dior Miss Dior
Perfumes can’t get more vintage, elegant, and classic than the Christian Dior Miss Dior EDT.
Released in the year 1947, this fragrance has done well to stand the test of time.
I think this perfume is best for 60-year-old women and above.
A few spritzes of the Miss Dior EDT perfume for older women and you’re taken to a world filled with fresh aroma and fragrances—think gardenia, clary, bergamot, aldehydes, and galbanum.
Then, the middle notes of iris, jasmine, neroli, rose, narcissus, and heart of carnation make their presence known.
These middle notes then combine with the drydown scents of vetiver, oakmoss, leather, amber, patchouli, sandalwood, and labdanum, and offer an extremely rich, welcoming, rejuvenating scent that’ll ensure your psyche is at total peace, no matter your age.
I also like the fact that the Miss Dior EDT perfume for older women has outstanding sillage, projection, and long-lasting period.
A couple of sprays should last you throughout the night.
In a nutshell, this type of perfume is the best perfume for the mature woman who isn’t afraid to steal the spotlight everywhere she goes.
Top Notes: Gardenia, Clary, Bergamot, Aldehydes, Galbanum
Heart Notes: Iris, Jasmine, Neroli, Lily of the Valley, Rose, Narcissus, Heart of Carnation
Base Notes: Vetiver, Oak Moss, Leather, Patchouli, Amber, Sandalwood, Labdanum
6. Estee Lauder Pure White Linen
The Estee Lauder Pure White Linen Lady´s Perfume is a perfect option for mature women who don’t want to spend a fortune to smell good.
However, don’t let its cheap pricing fool you into thinking it isn’t any good, especially when it comes to scents that defy age.
This moderate aroma, from the Floral-Aldehyde olfactory family, opens up with top fruity notes of raspberry, pear, apple, Italian mandarin, and grapefruit.
You’ll also detect hints of green notes and freesia.
As the scent enters its middle phase, expect to be mesmerized by the perfect blend of pink tulip with rose and white blossoms.
Finally, to offer strength to the fragrance, the scents of patchouli, cedar, and white heliotrope join the party.
For some reason, White Linen brings up images of diamond wedding rings set on a fresh, crisp sheet.
For the price point the Estee Lauder Pure White Linen Lady´s perfume is available at, I can’t complain about its longevity.
This perfume for the mature woman is best suited for casual outings and office settings.
If you want to feel relaxed at all times, the Estee Lauder Pure White Linen woman´s perfume is for you!
Top Notes: Green Notes, Freesia Raspberry, Pear, Apple, Italian Mandarin, Grapefruit
Heart Notes: Pink Tulip, Rose, White Florals
Base Notes: Patchouli, Cedar, White Heliotrope
Read Also: Best Estee Lauder Perfumes For Women
7. Chanel No. 5
It would be a grave injustice to create a “best perfumes for women” list and leave out a Chanel scent from the lineup.
So, to ensure things are in order and en entry from the 5th Avenue brand is included, let me introduce the Chanel No.5 EDP woman´s perfume.
Truth be told, I don’t think this woman´s perfume requires any introduction.
It’s famous not just in the United States but all around the globe.
This wildly popular fragrance opens with an outstanding scent of floral notes blended in impeccably with citrusy and fruity notes.
At the same time, you’ll also be welcomed by aldehyde notes in the beginning; these notes bring out Chanel’s signature scent.
As the scent enters its middle phase, you will be greeted by middle notes of jasmine, rose, and iris.
Then, before the scent disappears into thin air, expect to smell a delightful aroma of woods accentuated by base scents of sandalwood, vetiver, oak moss, patchouli, and vanilla.
Ideal for wear any time of the day, throughout the entire year, the long-lasting No. 5 EDP is a must-have for women of all ages.
Whether you’re 30 or 50-year old, this one will work wonders for you.
However, younger women would be glad to know that there’s a version of Chanel No. 5 meant for the younger generation, the Eau Premiere.
Before I draw the curtains on this woman´s perfume, I must also mention that the longevity and sillage of this fragrance are outstanding beyond belief.
This type of fragrance also suits every type of setting, be it casual outings or formal gatherings.
In short, this Chanel perfume is one of the best perfumes you’ll own in your life.
Top Notes: Peach, Bergamot, Aldehydes, Neroli
Heart Notes: Jasmine, Rose, Iris, Lily of the Valley
Base Notes: Sandalwood, Vetiver, Oak Moss, Patchouli, Vanilla
Read Also: Best Chanel Perfumes for Women
8. Elizabeth Arden My Fifth Avenue
As you may have guessed, this perfume has been named after the famous 5th Avenue. Thankfully, it doesn’t let anyone down with its scent.
Introduced to the market in 1996, the Elizabeth Arden My Fifth Avenue Eau De Parfum woman´s perfume offers floral fragrances at an extremely affordable price point.
As you take a whiff of this scent, you’ll notice that the fragrance is dominated by scents of lilac, magnolia, and bergamot.
However, perfume connoisseurs can also detect a variety of notes with their olfactory senses including head scents of mandarin, linden blossoms, and middle notes of carnation, nutmeg, ylang-ylang, violet, jasmine, Bulgarian rose, and peach.
As the scent enters the drydown phase, expect to be mesmerized by hints of cloves, sandalwood, vanilla, amber, and musk.
Overall, you can expect an exotic and vigorous fragrance from the Elizabeth Arden My Fifth Avenue Eau De Parfum woman´s perfume.
As for the scent’s longevity and sillage, they’re average at best.
Who is this fragrance for?
This perfume is for the 60-year-old woman on the hunt for a versatile fragrance that can be worn in the summer, spring, and fall.
Top Notes: Mandarin, Linden Blossoms, Lily of the Valley, Magnolia, Lilac
Heart Notes: Carnation, Nutmeg, Ylang-Ylang, Violet, Jasmine, Bulgarian Rose, Peach
Base Notes: Cloves, Sandalwood, Vanilla, Amber, Musk
9. Calvin Klein Eternity
Loved by many women and ladies all over the globe, the Calvin Klein Eternity Eau de Parfum is just as its name suggests—one for eternity.
This floral fragrance has a certain air about it that showcases its ability to stand the test of time.
If you’ve smelled this fragrance before, you know that the Calvin Klein Eternity woman´s perfume is one bouquet full of fresh flowers.
A couple of spritzes and your nose will feast on the wonderful notes of jasmine and roses.
There’s also a fantastic composition of citrus, conifers, exotic musk, sandalwood, and amber to give the fragrance a luxurious vibe.
In short, if you’re looking for a perfume that boosts your self-confidence and brings back fond memories of being in love, go for the Calvin Klein Eternity Eau de Parfum version without any hesitation.
Top Notes: Mandarin Orange, Citrus, Sage, Freesia, Green Notes
Heart Notes: Lily of the Valley, Violet, Jasmine, Rose, Marigold, Narcissus
Base Notes: Amber, Musk, Heliotrope, Patchouli, Sandalwood
10. Yves Saint Laurent Opium
Looking for a women’s fragrance that helps you travel back in time? If so, try your luck with the Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDT woman´s perfume.
Though ideal for mature ladies, this one suits younger women as well.
If you want to make a statement everywhere you go and stand out from the rest, the Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDT will work like a charm for you.
However, be advised that this women’s perfume is not the best fragrance for shy women.
Best perfume for wear in the evening, the Yves Saint Laurent Opium Eau de Toilette women´s perfume consists of head notes of plum, clove, coriander, pepper, bay, and bergamot, middle notes of carnation, jasmine, rose, myrrh, cinnamon, ylang-ylang, and peach, and base scents of cedar, musk, amber, vanilla, patchouli, vetiver, sandalwood, and frankincense.
All in all, I would describe the Yves Saint Laurent Opium EDT woman´s perfume as a flowery spicy oriental perfume.
Top Notes: Plum, Clove, Coriander, Pepper, Bay, Bergamot
Heart Notes: Carnation, Rose, Jasmine, Myrrh, Cinnamon, Lily of the Valley, Ylang-Ylang, Peach
Base Notes: Cedar, Musk, Amber, Vanilla, Patchouli, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Frankincense
The Bottom Line
As far as I’m concerned, age should never be a factor when it comes to looking good and smelling nice.
So, go for any of the aforementioned perfumes to get your life back on track.
My pick of the bunch is the Chanel No. 5 for its versatility and the Estee Lauder Pure White Linen for its affordable pricing.
Another good brand to check out is Jo Malone.
Some great options from the brand that didn’t make it to the list are Jo Malone Peony & Blush Suede and Jo Malone Red Roses.
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