Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

Need a new perfume - fast.

(223 Posts)
kittylester Thu 13-Aug-20 18:41:03

We have Dgs4 (8) and dgd (7) here. Dgd was upset about his parent's divorcing 4 years ago. He loves his stepfather but sometimes has these wobbles.

I was hugging him and he suddenly said that I smell like an old lady.

I'm hoping it was perfume and nothing else!!

My current perfume is Aromatics by Clinique - suggestions please.

Lancslass1 Fri 14-Aug-20 10:38:00

I love Lou Lou perfume but once when I was giving a friend a lift in the car she said she could tell it had had a clean!
I surely am not the only one to like tgat.
My sister always used Poison .
I thought that was awful.

Fronkydonky Fri 14-Aug-20 10:43:19

I stopped wearing that fragrance about seventeen years ago as I got sick of it. It is very overpowering and I can imagine a little one associating it with older ladies. Let’s just hope he didn’t mean any other sort of old person odour though☹️ Sometimes the fragrance shops have samples to try before you buy.

Alioop Fri 14-Aug-20 10:51:01

Escentric Molecules 01 is lovely, you don't smell it as much as other people do, it's weird.... Also in the summer I love D&G Light Blue, so fresh and clean smelling.

HannahLoisLuke Fri 14-Aug-20 10:51:17

I've read posts about this before and followed recommendations given in the past as I dreaded smelling like an old lady. I bought the Persimmon soap from Japan, it cost £6, doesn't smell of anything but I like the fresh feeling I get from it and no longer need to wear deodorant, even in the recent scorching heat.
On another thread about perfume I bought a sample set of Escentric Molecules perfume as one GN said she smelt it on a young man and it was divine. Let me tell you I spent £25 on a set of ten tiny bottles, good value until I realised I only liked No 5 and the rest had a whiff of pee! Or is that just me? It is supposed to smell differently on different people.
The best, and cheapest perfume was also recommended by a GN and I love it, although it's not very long lasting.
It's Lavande &Vetiver by Jeanne en Provence and is actually supposed to be a mans fragrance but to me it's very feminine. At only a tenner
for 100ml it's a bargain too.

Urmstongran Fri 14-Aug-20 10:53:15

My mum had on the ubiquitous Clinique Aromatics on afternoon and we stopped en route to pick my aunt up. She got in the car and said ‘I’ve forgotten to put any perfume on but never mind - you’re wearing enough for both of us!’

It’s heavy - a little goes a looong way!

I shared an office once with a colleague who used it - oh my god she resprayed herself after every lunch break & I could hardly breathe!

Peewitt52 Fri 14-Aug-20 10:56:42

I like Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir in winter and English Pear & Freesia in summer.
My all time favourite is Opium- the original not the faffed up versions but I feel that sadly that’s becoming an old lady perfume.

JTelles7 Fri 14-Aug-20 11:01:52

What the hell does this person smell like. Does that person remember when he was a toddler how often he may have deficated in his nappies etc and you despite the obnoxious smell you cleaned his ass etc. Just remind him of that.

SparklyGrandma Fri 14-Aug-20 11:02:32

Apparently citrusy, grapefruity perfume makes us smell 10 years younger...I wear True Blue, Tom Fords Neroli and Lancôme’s L’ Eau.

mariella22 Fri 14-Aug-20 11:05:27

Love it!!!

Mollygo Fri 14-Aug-20 11:08:16

I love Aromatics in Black. It’s a 2015 update of the original Elixir which my Sis-in-law wears but smells awful on me.
My GD thinks the Black one smells wonderful on me. Guerlain’s Mandarine Basilic and Roger & Gallet - Fleur de Figuier also smell good on me.
Some perfumes just smell so different on different people.

Bluedaisy Fri 14-Aug-20 11:10:32

In my opinion you can’t beat JO MALONE and you can mix and match them to make your own personal concoction.
Try grapefruit or Wood Sage & Sea Salt, I like those two mixed as my signature scent.

Shortlegs Fri 14-Aug-20 11:16:14

Children are brutally honest. Let's hope it wasn't that fusty, musty charity shop smell.

grannybuy Fri 14-Aug-20 11:16:20

I'm another Aromatics user, and have been for many years. My DGC associate it with me, and they like it. I only use the perfume on ' special occasions ' ( very few nowadays). Day to day, I use the body lotion, which is more gentle. I still love the smell, and am often told how nice it is. I like the fact that it's familiar to my family, though I would stop using it if I had negative comments. Having said that, an ' old lady smell ' doesn't necessarily mean unpleasant, maybe just common amongst older ladies, and, ladies, we are 'older' - not that we look it, of course!

Glorybee Fri 14-Aug-20 11:19:07

ExD , just to clarify-

“ but apparently many others have this notion that there IS an Old Lady Smell, but no one can tell me what it smells like though apparently its unpleasant.”

there is also an Old Man Smell!

Riggie Fri 14-Aug-20 11:25:55

Oh dear. Probably no hope for me as I love the old fashioned single flower perfumes - well Rose! Usually Yardley. Definitely old lady stuff!!

Fernbergien Fri 14-Aug-20 11:25:57

SCRIBBLES I am another one that likes Cabochard. Sophisticated. I first used it when bought it as a present by a french student in 1970s. I seems to be for sale on line.

Nannytopsy Fri 14-Aug-20 11:28:59

Twilly by Hermes is my current favourite. It was Coco Mademoiselle but it doesn’t smell the same on me any more.

Purplepoppies Fri 14-Aug-20 11:30:06

I prefer deep musky smells personally. But thats just it, its personal isn't it?
Although recently I bought (and love) Calvin Klein Beauty. Its definitely not my usual taste and lasts well on me.
I too suggest a trip to the perfume counter. Discuss your preference BEFORE you start smelling them, and maybe only try two or three. I think too many tend to make people nose blind (or in my case give me a headache.....)
Good luck ?

Jayt Fri 14-Aug-20 11:32:49

It's so difficult to find a new perfume. Through the years I've had so many favourites but I think we age our chemistry must change because I wouldn't be able to stand beside myself wearing Poison now although thirty years ago I loved it. My perfume at the moment is Estée Lauder Modern Muse Le Rouge.

Edithb Fri 14-Aug-20 11:38:00

I have had some Aromatics in a drawer for ages and now I realise why I don’t fancy it any more. I used to wear Angel and thinking back it was so strong I must have annoyed a few people! I often wear Liz Earle No 1 in summer and have had many compliments. Going to look into Jo Malone after all the recommendations.

Natasha76 Fri 14-Aug-20 11:42:07

Firstly your grandchildren are correct old people do smell different just as new babies do and its nothing to do with your perfume.
Scientists have identified a couple of hormones that rise steadily and significantly after the age of 40. One is 2-noneal and I can't remember the other one. Its not just humans it's animals as well.
We don't yet know why this happens but some scientists suggest it could be an evolutionary thing to sniff out young, virile mates and to avoid older or sick mates.
So as long as we all keep showering daily, that's all it is.

ShazzaKanazza Fri 14-Aug-20 11:44:46

La Vie est Belle from Lancôme myself and all the young ones around me use it. I’m sure you’ll love it.

kittylester Fri 14-Aug-20 11:50:41

JTelles7

What the hell does this person smell like. Does that person remember when he was a toddler how often he may have deficated in his nappies etc and you despite the obnoxious smell you cleaned his ass etc. Just remind him of that.

This person is 8 and smells divine. If he can't be honest with his Ma, who can!!

Missminnie23 Fri 14-Aug-20 11:50:43

Try Chanel 19 lovely light and fresh

Stansgran Fri 14-Aug-20 11:51:40

I’m glad someone else likes 24 Faubourg as I worry they will stop making it. I can’t get the shower stuff or the lotion any more. Fenwicks used to sell it. My house smells damp to me at this time of the year with the rain and no heating. I hope I don’t.