I used to wear Coco Mademoiselle all the time before I switched to Jo Malone.
Good point about body chemistry. I once tried Gucci Flora at the downtown Sephora store where I was killing time waiting for my bus. On the bus, I smelled something absolutely terrible. Like the smell of a person who has not showered for days, so naturally I turned around and checked if any transients got on the bus… Nope. The smell was coming from my own wrist!! Lol. The fruity flowery components evaporated, and the musky base scent that was left is what I was smelling. 
I’m not going to worry about any of that.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I’ve made a list and will go shopping on Monday.
I would check if she even likes to wear perfume or is sensitive to heavy scents otherwise she will be stuck with credit from the store. $150 is a lot of credit to be stuck with and she may prefer a gift card from a store that she shops at instead where she can buy something of her own choice. I would recommend including a gift receipt with whatever you decide to purchase.
Silver Rain by La Prairie is one of my favorites. I also really like Youth Dew by Estee Lauder (it has been around forever–talk about old!!
@emilybee
To answer your question about Hermes, I don’t wear Kelly Caleche but a friend wears the perfume and it is very nice on her.
I 2nd the Prada Reccomendation too. Tom Ford Black Orchid is lovely, but may not be a universal kind of scent. I love Annick Goutal and have several. Can’t go wrong with that- one of those would make a lovely gift.
And we have a winner @mycupoftea! I ordered the the Hermes des Merveilles parfum w/ gift satchel! $171 with tax. and free shipping. It said online only so I figured why bother schlepping to stores.
The bottle is very pretty, too.
Appreciate everyone’s help! Thank you!
I hope she enjoys it!
The new Chanel No. 5 “L’eau” is a good choice. Less old lady than the original.
I also love Creed “Spring Flowers”.
I see you chose! Now I’m going to have to try some others on here!
If you have a Diptyque counter near you, I suggest trying one of the following, depending on what her taste is like:
L’Ombre Dans L’Eau (blackcurrant and Bulgarian roses, pleasantly green-- it’s been around since 1983),
Tam Dao (sandalwood, very low key),
Philosykos (a fig leaf scent with cedar)
If you have access to Acqua di Parma, try Blu Mediterraneo Fico di Amalfi. It’s another fig but it has bright citrus top notes and a lot of people like it.
As a non old lady I love Chanel no.5 for evening. Je Reviens by Worth for fall/spring. Chanel gardenia for summer nights…
I’m not an old lady and I wear Chanel No. 5 and Coco Mademoiselle. My H has bought me no. 5 for years and always tells me how much he likes it!
I’m another Jo Malone fan and alternate between a few of their fragrances for the most part. However, when I go to D’s house, I like to squirt a little of her Miss Dior on my wrists. It pays her back for using my Jo Malone fragrances when she comes to my house. I also like the Chanel fragrances when I get a little whiff occasionally.
Sorry to all the Chanel no 5 lovers! OP said was a 60 YO but not “old”, and most ppl complain it is for old ladies!!
I think people say that about heavy or cloying scents. But I’ve never really known what that means!
My wife is pretty obsessed with O[L](http://olofragrance.com/)O fragrances right now. Maybe not the easiest to find, but pretty special and definitely unique.
I know you’ve already purchased but a dear friend loves “Beautiful.” Personally I mostly dislike scents and my SisIL is terribly allergic to nearly all scents and both kids, hubby and I are also sensitive to scents.
I love, love, love Kenzo’s Flower perfume. Always asked what my perfume is by women when I’m out and about - most say they haven’t heard of it but everyone always says it smells amazing.
I have become a big fan of Jo Malone and how you can layer the fragrance. I just came home from my friend’s daughter’s bridal showers and one of the young women complimented me on my scent. I used to always wear L’Air du Temps but it has somewhat fallen off my radar. My everyday fragrance is Clinique Happy.
Someone in my office wears Thierry Mugler Angel and it is really divine. She always smells amazing whenever she walks by.
@HImom, we have a scent-allergic person in the office, but I have never heard any complaints about my perfume. I put only as much as only I can smell… the others need to seriously encroach my personal space to be able to smell it.
I am scent-impaired (can rarely smell anything), yet I have strong allergic reactions even to things I cannot smell. My dear family has to help ID what might be causing my reactions and get me away from such triggers.