Fragrance After 60

Perfumes don’t just make us smell nice. Like wardrobe, they are powerful tools that communicate who we are. By the time a woman reaches 60, she has acquired life experience, maturity and wisdom that give her gravitas. Her signature scent should carry the same weight, which is why older women in particular have the ability to pull off heady, complex fragrances. Finding the right perfume is a tricky balance between too much and too little, so here are 5 tips for choosing your best signature scent after 60:

1. Know your notes
   Perfumes are layered, divided into three distinct elements — top, heart and base notes. The top note is what you smell immediately after fragrance is applied, which lasts all of 10 or 15 minutes before fading. The heart note — also known as the middle note — is the next layer to rise up which is about 70% of the fragrance, lingering 30 minutes to an hour before dissipating. The base note is what remains — the final scent there to support the top two and create depth and longevity.

2. Try high-drama florals
   Coco Chanel once said “A woman does not become interesting until she is over 40”, validating that only fully-realized, mature women can carry heady, complex scents. This is when you can try intellectual, confident heart notes like gardenia, ylang ylang, lilac or tuberose, then watch how they develop on the skin. Also consider exotic oriental essences that add mystery like vanilla and tonka bean.

3. Go for robust yet grounding base notes
   It’s time to go bold with base notes that smolder. Smokey and spicy essences (tobacco, vanilla, patchouli, vetiver) add to complexity and convey confidence and power. Warm and woody scents (amber, cedar, leather, suede, dark chocolate) add depth while bringing a touch of luxury and intimacy. These dark and stormy touches add dimension, which references your own.

4. No more girly, flirty perfumes
   By 60, a woman has grown out of light, bright bouquet fragrances. Sweet citrus, springtime florals and green notes are hallmarks of flirty, youthful scents. Their citrusy top notes (lemon, peach, mandarin) and floral heart notes (jasmine, lily of the valley) are a mismatch to a 60+ woman of grandeur, texture and dignity.

5. Avoid scents from yesteryear
   Just like youthful scents should be avoided, so should old-fashioned ones. Certain lavenders smell too vintage, and same with overly powdery fragrances. Rose can skew modern or outdated too. Stay away from heavy, duskier roses that smell of nostalgia and instead opt for fresh, fruity and peppery roses that are more modern and complex — just like you.

See BestLifeOnline.com press feature here.