Frequently asked questions
What should you look for when shopping for perfume for older women?
Freeman says that you shouldn’t necessarily think of fragrance in terms of age—however, she does recommend fragrances with a bit more character to older women for a timeless, elegant finish. Look for notes that include soft florals (from tuberose to lily of the valley), woods (like sandalwood), musks, and citrus (like lemon and orange blossom) for a refreshing, sophisticated finish. “That being said, I would encourage people to shop based on the fragrance itself rather than the age it’s marketed toward,” she says. “The most important thing is finding a scent that feels authentic to your personality and lifestyle.”
What notes suit older women best?
No one set of notes suits older women best, but Keller recommends opting for scents that have strong base notes to add complexity and elegance. “Things like cedarwood, vetiver, and warm musk, paired with a touch of spice like black pepper or coriander, can be interesting,” he says. These combinations bring richness and depth that a lighter, fruity fragrance just doesn’t have. “Younger individuals tend to gravitate toward easy, one-note scents, but elegance comes from complexity. A scent that has some tension in its base feels more interesting and grown-up,” Keller adds.
How we evaluated perfumes for older women
We evaluated perfumes for older women by first asking fragrance experts what notes to look for. We then polled Glamour editors and contributors about the scents they steal from their moms, or what fragrances they’ve recently gifted them. We also reached out to mature testers themselves in their 50s and 60s and asked their thoughts on some of the best fragrances. The best perfumes for older women had soft floral notes, flanked with fresh citrus or musky wood. They came in luxurious bottles and had long-lasting finishes for hours. The ones we landed on gave the mature women who wore them with confidence, which to us, was the most important piece of criteria.
- Sissi Freeman, fragrance expert and chief marketing officer at perfumery Granado
- Kevin Keller, cofounder of perfumer Fulton & Roark
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