Do you remember hearing the term “old lady perfume”? Most likely, when hearing that, a memory stirs and you can actually sense a familiar scent of your late grandma or aunt from years ago. It seems that older women all smelled the same decades ago. For me, the smell of lavender will bring up images of my mimi (my French grandmother).

The perfume industry has been around for centuries, and it is an easily adaptable industry that caters to a very wide demographic, including men and women. The industry is constantly changing, and we certainly don’t have to smell like “old ladies” anymore.

According to Grand View Research, “The global perfume market size was valued at USD 31.4 billion in 2018 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.9% from 2019 to 2025.”

Perfume Evolution

I remember as a teenage girl being gifted my first bottle of perfume at Christmas. It came from an older family member who lived in the big city, and I remember thinking that this was an expensive gift that I had to take good care of. That being said, I limited my sprays to special occasions and safeguarded that bottle of perfume for many years.

Our tastes in scents naturally change through the years. The sweet scents that we used to wear as young women may not suit us anymore. I don’t know about you, but I’m not comfortable smelling like a cupcake in my 50s.

Perfumes created with older women in mind are a huge percentage of the market, and perfume makers know this. Perfumes for older women tend to have more sophisticated and elegant aromas without falling into the “old lady smells.”

Perfumes have been and continue to be a notoriously easy gift idea, to give and to receive. Famous actors, singers, and artists have branded their own perfumes and that is a big chunk of the perfume industry today. Most fashion design houses also have their own line of perfumes.

Different Types of Perfumes

Not all perfumes on the market are actually perfumes, or parfum. The percentage concentration of the scent determines what type it is. The higher priced perfumes typically hold the higher concentrations of the fragrance oils.

Parfum

Parfum, or perfume, is the highest concentration of a scent that you can purchase and is generally the most expensive. Higher concentration of fragrance oils (20% to 40%) means that the scent will be more pronounced and will also last longer than the other types.

Eau de Parfum

Eau de parfum is the most popular fragrance on the market because it is significantly less expensive than perfume but still offers the wearer a long-lasting scent. It has less concentration (15% to 20%) of fragrance oils.

Eau de Toilette

Eau de Toilette is sold at a lesser price point than Eau de Parfum, but still provides several hours of scent to the wearer. Typically, Eau de Toilette contains about 5% to 15% fragrance oils.

Eau de Cologne

The least expensive of the types of fragrances to purchase, Eau de Cologne, is the most accessible and contains about 3% to 5% oils.

Know Your Fragrance

Perfumes normally fall into fragrance categories, and we obviously all have our favorite smells. Some perfumes combine fragrances exquisitely to create unique scents.

• Floral – romantic, feminine, and flirty.
• Woody – think rosewoods, campfires, and the great outdoors.
• Citrus – clean and refreshing scents of oranges, lemons, grapefruit, etc.
• Gourmand – sweet vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate, and the smells that evoke food and deserts.
• Aquatic – fresh and salty ocean mist.
• Fruity – cherries, apples, watermelon, etc. They are not as sweet as Gourmand.
• Spicy – warm and sensuous. Incense, peppers, and cardamon.

Best Perfumes for Mature Women

I’ve put together a list of some favorite perfumes that older women love. Of course, there are no rules when it comes to perfumes for mature women. You simply have to choose what suits your personality, personal taste, and lifestyle.

Lancôme La Vie Est Belle L’Eau de Parfum

I simply love the name of this fragrance! La Vie est Belle translates to Life is Beautiful in English. This fruity classic eau de parfum from LANCÔME has a blend of black currant, praline, vanilla, and patchouli. It’s a sweet and feminine scent that older women can wear confidently.

Chloé Eau de Parfum by Chloé

The Chloé Eau de Parfum has soft powdery florals that is delicate and perfect for an everyday fragrance. It is elegant and classy and evokes a romantic vintage feeling.

CHANEL N°5 Eau de Parfum

No list of perfumes for older women would be complete without the addition of the ultra classic CHANEL Nº5. This timeless and iconic perfume from CHANEL was first launched in 1921 and has been a favorite for elegant and sophisticated women worldwide ever since.

It has an intense fragrance that may be too strong for some women to wear every day, but it is perfect to wear with your little black dress.

Libre Eau De Parfum by Yves Saint Laurent

Libre from Yves Saint Laurent offers a warm floral fragrance with hints of lavender and Moroccan orange blossoms. It’s a feminine and modern scent that doesn’t leave anyone indifferent.

Soleil Neige by TOM FORD

“Soleil Neige is the bright side of Soleil, a polar expression to Soleil Blanc’s solar floral. Radiant with winter light, the scent mimics the shimmer of sun on snow.”—Tom Ford

Young and modern scent, yet elegant and mesmerizing. Soleil Neige is an Allure Best of Beauty winner.

Sì Eau de Parfum by Giorgio Armani

Sì by Giorgio Armani is a fruity and floral fragrance that opens with luminous notes of blackcurrant nectar and mandarin. Orange blossom forms the heart of the fragrance while warm vanilla anchors the irresistible blend for a lasting scent.

Romance by Ralph Lauren

This classic floral eau de parfum by Ralph Lauren is a very feminine fragrance that suits young and old alike. It’s playful yet mature. The fragrance starts with the fresh scent of rose and jasmine, then settles into a woody perfume base resembling the comfort of a warm embrace.

What was your favorite perfume when you were young? Has your taste changed? What is your favorite fragrance today? Is it on my list? Do you normally buy your own perfume or do you first go through gifts you have received? Please leave your comments below.

Ramona Singer’s Black Velvet Off the Shoulder Top in Salem

Real Housewives of New York Season 13 Episode 10 Fashion

Voracious in velvet! Ramona Singer’s black velvet off the shoulder top that she wears to dinner in Salem on tonight’s episode of RHONY made for a super cute fall look. And although it’s sold out, no need to fret because there’s some Style Stealers featured down below that’ll still definitely make you want to get up on a table and dance Lisa Rinna Ramona-style. 

Fashionably,

Faryn

L’Agence Top Sold Out at Saks OFF 5TH

Originally posted at: Ramona Singer’s Black Velvet Off the Shoulder Top

Bigger doesn’t always mean better, but when it comes to my beauty sizes, the cliche rings true. Recently, I went shampoo my hair with my holy grail purple shampoo only to find that there was less than a drop left in the bottle (I only wash my hair once a week, so it’s easy for these things to go unnoticed). With no replacement handy, I did my best to add water to the bottle and hope for the best, but I also promised myself that’d I’d buy the jumbo-size next time — if you’re loyal to a product, it only makes sense, am I right? In fact, super-sized beauty products are on the rise, largely due to the fact that you often get more bang for your buck when you with the larger size.

Sure, opting for the beefed-up size for some products, like vitamin C serums with short shelf lives or black mascaras that you ~should~ be tossing and replacing every three to six months, but for plenty of moisturizers, body cream, powder makeup, and hair products, going up a size is fair game. I love perusing Costco’s underrated beauty sections for jumbo-sized beauty products at seriously slashed prices, but my local store is often so picked over, it’s usually not even worth the trip (I guess it’s not a secret anymore).

Fortunately, there’s an under-the-radar e-tailer that’s well-stocked with oversized beauty products that won’t break the bank (or leave you scraping the jar of your favorite BB cream to ensure not even one drop goes to waste). QVC may not instantly come to mind as a go-to beauty destination, but trust me, you’ll be pleased when you see their ample assortment of super-sized beauty products. I’m talking XL tubes of Glam Glow’s cult-favorite mud mask, IT Cosmetics’ beloved CC Cream, Tarte’s super-sized foundation stick sets for 20 percent off, and jumbo-sized body butters by Josie Maran. Scroll through below to check out all of the super-sized beauty products we’re stocking up on at QVC.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. QVC is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy of IT Cosmetics.

IT Cosmetics Super-Size Full Coverage CC Cream SPF 50 w/Luxe Brush, 2.53 fl oz

This is my all-time favorite base (it’s also our editor-in-chief’s holy grail) and trust me, you’re going to want to get the big size.

Courtesy of Glamglow.

Glamglow Mega-Size Super Mud Clearing Treatment, 3.5 oz

This best-selling detoxifying mask deeply cleanses congested pores without leaving the skin feeling dry and tight.

Courtesy of Perricone MD.

Perricone MD Super Size Face Finishing & Firming Moisturizer, 4 fl oz

This top-rated lifting moisturizer cream is now available in a jumbo-sized jar, so you won’t have to worry about running out in a pinch.

Courtesy of Tarte.

Tarte Super-Size Clay Stick Foundation Duo with Sponge (was $49.96)

Not only do you get not one, but two of this full-coverage foundation stick, but you also get a free beauty sponge and 19 percent off. Talk about a score!

Courtesy of Tatcha.

TATCHA Super-Size Deep Cleanse Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser

Don’t miss out on this incredible super-sized cleanser while you can snag on a discount.

Courtesy of Josie Maran.

Josie Maran Super-Size 13.5-oz Argan Whipped Body Butter Duo

I don’t know a single soul who isn’t low-key obsessed with this heavenly-scented body butter, so you may as well get two while it’s on discount.

Josie Maran Body Butter Duo $65.20

Buy Now

Courtesy of Frist Aid Beauty.

First Aid Beauty Super-Size & Travel Ultra Repair Cream

Yet another one of my long-time loves, FAB’s Ultra Repair Cream rarely gets discounted or bundled, so I suggest taking advantage of this steal ASAP.

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream… $43.98

Buy Now

So far, I have written three articles that addressed the importance of feeling a sense of purpose in life, describing the three pillars that can ignite and cultivate your purpose. We have explored:

• Your relationship with your own wisdom and guidance;
• Your relationship with creating with life;
• Your relationship with creating with others.

A Season for Everything

It is said, to everything there is a season. For some of us, our purpose is focused on caring for parents, family and/or work responsibilities. Some of us are exploring what we want next in life. Such freedom is both exhilarating/exciting and perhaps intimidating. Know we each have a choice. Some of the options we choose may include:

• Choosing to “keep busy”;
• Choosing what seems most pleasant in each day;
• Choosing to be without a specific direction and go with the flow;
• Choosing to decide to say “Yes” to the purpose that is calling and take action.

These are choices. Choose the one that best serves you now, at this moment in your life.

I have a friend going on a self-imposed “sabbatical” for the year. Another has decided she is going to get fit. Another is planning her post-pandemic travel itineraries. I’m having fun figuring out how to serve my Boomer generation sisters.

You can always make a different choice at another time. Choose the approach to your life that brings you life now… one that makes you feel more awake and satisfied at this time of your life.

A Meditation Approach

I have created this 7 minute meditation:

Its purpose is to help you consider the guidance of your inner wisdom and pull together the three pillars. See where it takes you. Remember to be in a private space where you can relax without distraction for a few minutes.

6 Books to Inspire Your Life

The question really is about knowing your next step in creating a life that is lived fully, with inspiration and, in the end, satisfaction. Perhaps you are like me and read the ideas of others for guidance and insight. To that end, here are a few books I have read that may support you. Possible summer reading!

Happy Healthy… Dead: Why What You Think You Know About Aging Is Wrong and How to Get it Right by Noelle C. Nelson

Good basic read about how to appreciate life as we age and the benefits of it. It offers quick and insightful tips.

Why Bother: Discover the Desire for What’s Next by Jennifer Louden 

Great inspiration for women of any age… to keep on going and make a difference in this life. This was a good read.

In Our Prime: How Older Women Are Reinventing the Road Ahead by Susan J. Douglas 

Provocative book, keeping the feminist movement alive and providing tips on what we can do to counter ageism. She challenges our generation of women to step up to making a difference. Some of her stories will reignite your indignation regarding society’s relationship with older women.

No Stopping Us Now: The Adventures of Older Women in American History by Gail Collins 

Very well researched work by this New York Times columnist. It will give you a sense of our history through the generations of women in our western culture and where we are now… and what we are being called on to do.

Women Rowing North: Navigating Life’s Currents and Flourishing as We Age by Mary Pipher 

A thoughtful guide to aging with grace, community and gratitude. The author is a therapist specializing in women and effects of culture, so you will find many ideas to support you on your journey.

Too Young to Be Old: Love, Learn, Work, and Play as You Age by Nancy K. Schlossberg Ed.D.

By the author of the retirement types, this book discusses managing the life transition that aging represents with stories that show what positive aging is, including the power of purpose in this stage of life.

Which approach to life is the best fit for you right now? Have you read any of these books? What books do you recommend to our community as a source of inspiration?

Leah McSweeney’s Half Rim Sunglasses in Salem

Real Housewives of New York Season 13 Episode 10 Fashion

Pioneer, but make it fashion! Although Leah McSweeney’s half rim sunglasses (along with the face mask) are unarguably much more 2020 than 1630, we’re glad that she still wore them as part of her getup at Salem’s pioneer village as they gave us something to report on. Now if only the brand could perform a little hocus pocus and bring them back in stock for us, that would be just marvelous.  

Fashionably,

Faryn

Click Here to See her Versace Sunglasses

Originally posted at: Leah McSweeney’s Half Rim Sunglasses