Classic Women's Perfumes
These days, it seems like anyone can make a perfume.  Nearly every celebrity has their own fragrance (or fragrance line) on the market. What ever happened to the good old days of Chanel No.5? Don't fear, we have all those oldies but goodies here for those ladies who'd rather have Dior than Mary Kate and Ashley perfume.
Top Picks
Perfume in the 1920s-1940s
| The Early Years |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Chanel No. 5
Launched in 1921, this classic is everything that Coco Chanel dreamed of: "a woman's fragrance that smells like a woman." Top notes include ylang ylang, neroli, and aldehydes. Jasmine and mayrose are at the heart, and the dry down consists of vetiver and sandalwood. |
Guerlain Shalimar
The classic oriental perfume. Created in 1925, this fragrance is simple, subtle, yet beautiful. You'll be swept away by its notes of patchouli, vanilla, bergamot, lemon, jasmine, incense, and rose. |
L'Air du Temps
This classic was created in 1948. It's fresh, feminine, and truly a classic. This spicy floral contains notes of jasmine, gardenia, iris, carnation, chrysanthemum, musk, and sandalwood. |
Joy Jean Patou
Born in 1930, this perfume is a genuine classic. Though its notes of jasmine and rose can be a bit overwhelming to some noses, it's surely a classic that you'll either love or hate. |
Miss Dior
Created in 1947 by the infamous and iconic Christian Dior, this scent has recently changed its name to Miss Dior Cherie. No matter what you choose to call it, this floral is sophisticated, yet soft and youthful at the same time. |
Perfume in the 1950s and 1960s
| Fifties and Sixties |
|
|
|
|
Youth Dew Amber Nude
Youth Dew was first created in 1953 by Estée Lauder, but it has recently been updated by Tom Ford. The original was a blend of spicy, oriental top notes and a strong clove, ylang-ylang, cinnamon, rose, and orchid heart. The base notes consisted of amber, tolu, benzoin, vanilla, and patchouli. However, the updated version is softer, more mild, and certainly more enjoyable by today's noses. The difference is the substitution of the spice for fruit and flowers, making it rich, but well-balanced, powdery, and feminine and sexy. |
Diorissimo, Christian Dior
Created in 1956, this classic scent is extremely feminine and floral. Though the notes of muguet, lily of the valley, and jasmine can give some headaches, all in all this is a perfectly girly scent. |
Bal à Versailles by Jean Desprez
This exotic scent is a floral oriental. Its main notes are jasmine, patchouli, sandalwood, and musk. There is also a splash of rose thrown in there amongst notes of nag champa, spice, and vanilla. |
Perfume in the 1970s
| Seventies |
|
|
|
|
Opium by Yves Saint Laurent
Perhaps the sexiest scent of all time, this oriental perfume will blow you away. The notes of dark incense and sandalwood are exotic and seductive. A true classic. |
Anaïs AnaÏs, Cacharel
This white floral became a huge hit among young women in the late 1970s. It is composed of lily, hyacinth, and carnation with top notes of orange blossom. The incense and spice are what give it a more "classic" feel despite its lightness and airy floral heart. |
White Linen by Estée Lauder
This scent is perfect for everyday wear. Notes include aldehydes, peach and citrus, rose jasmine, lilac, muguet, and ylang-ylang, and cedar, honey, amber, civet, and tonka bean. You'll love how it'll remind you of a summer morning even on winter nights. |
Perfume in the 1980s
| Eighties |
|
|
|
|
Coco by Chanel
Become a strong, fierce, stylish woman like Coco with this classic perfume. It's perfectly sexy and confident. The top notes are fruity like a Sunday morning mimosa, but quickly fade into a warm floral heart of rose, jasmine, and orange flower. Bits of vanilla and amber linger long enough to make your mouth water. It's a sensuous treat good enough to eat. |
Obsession by Calvin Klein
This is an extremely sexy scent only made for those women who can really work what their momma gave them. The source of the seductive scent? Notes of bergamot, rose, mandarin, orange blossom, and jasmine, coriander, tagete, and armoise, and oakmoss and amber make up this perfume. |
Samsara by Guerlain
This scent is easy to love. Launched in 1989, this perfume is strong, but perfect for fall and winter. You'll love its notes of jasmine, warm sandalwood, soft rose, narcissus, tonka bean, and powdery vanilla. |
Related Guides
|
|
Shopping Directory
