Perfume Recommendations

[binchofcolor]

Hi all! I was thinking about buying my mom perfume for her birthday but I'm not sure what to get her. She isn't a fan of strong fragrance (hates scented moisturizers) so I'm looking for something that is pretty subtle. She never wears perfume so I don't know where to start. Please send me your recommendations! Thanks 🙂

[lyravega]

I would suggest looking into eau de cologne and eau de toilette. Perfume, Eau de Parfum, Eau de Toilette, and Cologne ( not as in men's fragrance here! ) are different in their concentrations of fragrance oils. The highest concentration is in pure perfume (or parfum). Next would be Eau de Parfum, then Eau de Toilette, and finally Eau de Cologne. So, the last two are more subtle and probably what you should look for. Ladies here already gave you some excellent recommendations as where you could start your search. Good luck!

[grizzlymaze]

Ok so just have to ask ... why are you buying your mom perfume if she isnt a lover of fragrance and doesnt even like scented moisturizers/lotions? Having said that I would recommend Mon Guerlain, a soft vanilla-ry floral. I think if applied with a light hand - basically one quick spray - then this may be appreciated by your mom. Its certainly a fragrance that would suit a more mature woman and is very gentle, traditional, and feminine.

[MandieNRG]

La Vie Est Belle by Lancome is a super nice traditional perfume scent. They have a rollerball of it on Sephora online to purchase if you want to get it for her as a gift but not invest too much without her approval. Gucci Guilty Black is pricey it a super smooth and amazing scent. More musty. One of my favorites!

[sunshine202]

Check out Philosphy ballet rose. It is very soft and light. I think this would be ideal for someone who doesn't wear perfume typically.

[alexasteph]

@binchofcolor @sunshine202 I second this! It's available at Ulta and absolutely LOVELY. Macy's has a similar Philosophy fragrance called Nude Rose which is also wonderful for non-fragrance wearers. 

[heartsmyface]

Juliette has a gun -Not a Perfume is a lovely scent that many people enjoy.  It’s really quite subtle.  It would definitely be my choice for someone who wasn’t into anything strong.  

[Samtian]

I would suggest finding her an EdT instead of an EdP. 

[fieldsofclover]

Atelier Cologne has a bunch of different perfume wardrobes and sample sets at a lot of different price points, and they're great variety packs of scents that are friendly to people who don't wear a lot of perfume on up to more complex combinations. Their citrus fragrances are a nice entry point for a lot of people.

[pocketvenus]

@binchofcolor

I second @fieldsofclover's suggestion - scents from this house can smell very natural as well.

Jo Malone has a minimalist style that may appeal to your mother as they are made to be layered with each other. They do not smell at all like traditional, heavy perfumes. She might like Wood Sage & Sea Salt which is faint and would be good if she doesn't like sweet fragrances. Earl Grey & Cucumber might be another to try. I find them expensive considering their minimalism, but in your mother's case, this works to her benefit.

Other scents I'd consider are:

Frédéric Malle's Dans Tes Bras which is a subtle scent meant to enhance the skin and Angeliques Sous La Pluie which is a gentle, refreshing scent like a gin and tonic.

If she likes incense, Comme des Garcons makes a lovely one called Kyoto - it's based on Japanese incense and is not a heavy wear. Some of their woods might work for your mother as well.

At the stronger end of the spectrum, Serge Luten's Sa Majeste La Rose is a fresh and clean photorealistic rose. But if she doesn't like scented lotion, maybe this and the CdGs will be too much.

[PinkEvergreen]

@binchofcolor If she likes fresh smells and fragrances, you may want to try Mimosa by Commodity. It’s a lovely sweet, citrus fragrance that is definitely not over the top. It also comes in a travel size if you don’t want to risk spending a lot on a full bottle she may not like. 

Good luck 🙂

[Anonymous]

The Tocca Wardrobe is on sale right now! I have Stella, Giulietta, Florence, and Cleopatra. My personal favorites are Stella and Florence. They are all different but I don't find any overwhelming. The wardrobe would be a nice way to try out several scents.