From the rich and smoky scent of Shalimar to the powdery sophistication of Chanel No. 5, no celebrity collaboration can ever compete with classic perfumes that have been around for the best part of a century.
It’s not just older shoppers who love them, with 20-something fragrance fans taking to TikTok to praise ‘old lady perfumes’ as the best kept secret in beauty.
As well as admiring the distinctive aromas of Coty’s Ambre Antique, for example, there’s also a heavy element of nostalgia – with scents such as Miss Dior and Blue Grass bringing back memories of much-loved grandmothers.
‘Fragrance trends move in cycles, and what we are seeing right now is a powerful return to heritage rather than a celeb product,’ brand expert Natalie Trice told the Daily Mail.
‘So-called “grandma scents” are not really about age; they’re about familiarity and permanence in a world that often feels fast and disposable. When people rediscover perfumes like Chanel No. 5, they are tapping into a memory, family stories and brands that have stood the test of time.
‘From a brand perspective, this resurgence also shows the power of legacy for products that have been around for decades, as they carry emotional equity.
‘They remind people of dressing tables, special occasions and women who came before them – maybe a grandma or favourite aunt. In uncertain times, consumers often gravitate towards things that feel solid and reassuring.’
Natalie explained that young people are now ‘discovering classic fragrances and treating them almost like cultural artefacts’.
‘Wearing them becomes a statement, indicating an appreciation for quality, history and timeless style rather than just chasing the latest trend,’ she added.
Read on to rediscover some of the classic scents of the past 100 years, and see how many you can remember.
1900s
Edwardian Bouquet by Floris, making its debut at the turn of the century, offered a strong floral scent which to this day touts ‘eternal modernity and elegance’. So lasting is its legacy that it has been reintroduced more than once over the years. It enjoyed a renaissance in 1984, when according to Fragrantica, the original formula was rediscovered in family archives, and again in 2024. A 100ml bottle will set you back £220 today.
In 1905, nothing was more Parisian-chic than a bottle of Ambre Antique, which blended sultry notes of bergamot, jasmine, orange blossom and rose together. And in 2025, the company came out with an exclusive drop of 1,905 bottles to commemorate the fragrance’s lasting effect. A 75ml bottle is £285.
The Maison Detaille was set up in Paris in 1905, and its eponymous women’s fragrance has certainly stood the test of time. It’s described as having ‘fresh’ floral top notes of violet and jasmine – and a ‘darker’ base featuring oak moss and sandalwood. A 100ml bottle costs €105 – or about £90.
1910s
The designer came out with its L’Heure Bleue scent in 1912, inspired by impressionistic olfactory canvas. The site describes how ‘Jacques Guerlain merged the violet accord and iris with the creamy ivory of vanilla, leaving a bewitching fragrance trail of both fresh and warm nuances’. Today, a 75ml bottle can be purchased for £133.
This citrusy, unisex fragrance came out in 1916 – and has, after all these years, maintained its cult status as the epitome of Italian chic. It’s noted for its heavy, lemon scent – and a 100ml bottle costs £156.
Now considered a luxury, Tabac Blond by Caron encapsulates the roaring 20s, ‘where the intensity of leather blends with the powdery notes of carnation’. According to the perfumer, the fragrance offers ‘earthy accents of vetiver and patchouli, coupled with the smokey notes of cistus labdanum and vulcanised styrax essence’. A 100ml bottle is €410, or £354.
1920s
First launched in 1921, this powdery floral bouquet is composed around May rose and jasmine, with bright citrus top notes of bergamot, aldehydes, lemon and neroli. A 100ml bottle of this iconic perfume is £149.
Molinard’s first ever fragrance, Habanita, is known for its strong, musky preference and overpowering scent. Geranium, jasmine, oak foam and amber can all be picked up in this scent, which in 2012 was re-released in an even stronger concentration. A 75ml bottle is available for €104 – the equivalent of £89.
A hit of the 50s, first released in 1925 in an iconic bottle, which has hardly changed since. An oriental-inspired fragrance that’s voluptuous and sensual, with powdery notes of iris, jasmine and rose. Tonic top notes of fresh flowers and bergamot are calmly intrepid. Meanwhile, the creamy softness of addictive vanilla, the penetrating charm of iris, the balmy roundness of opoponax and the gourmand warmth of Tonka bean orchestrate an intimate symphony of scent for languorous interludes, according to Escentual. A 90ml bottle will set you back £137.
1930s
This strong, heady fragrance was known for its marketing as ‘the forbidden fragrance’, advertised with a print of a couple in a passionate embrace. It evoked sensuality with top notes including neroli and bergamot, while musk and cedar also feature. Various retailers sell the perfume today – on Amazon, a 100ml spray cologne costs £27.99.
Jasmine, orange Blossom and Ylang Ylang stand out as the strong floral notes the era is known for. Often described as a ‘pungent’ bouquet, it’s the perfect example of a retro powdery perfume made for women at the time. A 100ml bottle can be bought for £48.75 on Debenhams.
This 1933 perfume – named after an Antoine Saint Exupery novel, which tells the story of a couple separated by a doomed night fight – is a nostalgic powdery scent that blends together galbanum, narcissus, bergamot and other citrusy notes. A 75ml bottle retails for £111.
This nostalgic scent, with distinct top notes of basil, lime and lemon first came out in the 30s but remains popular today. As per the brand, ‘the heart combines lavender, geranium, jasmine, honey, rose and violet whilst the base cushions with rich notes of beeswax, sandalwood, patchouli, amber, cocoa, musk and cedarwood with animalic nuances’. A 100ml perfume will cost just £13.45.
Initially released in 1934, Elizabeth Arden’s Blue Grass is a ‘fresh feminine floral bouquet with spicy woody undertones’. As per the designer, ‘opening a bottle of Blue Grass Eau de Parfum Spray is like an instant trip to the countryside on a warm summer day’. A 100ml bottle is available to purchase for £34.
1940s
First released in 1947, Miss Dior sold well after the war when lighter perfumes became popular. A floral and feminine heart boasts Indian and Egyptian jasmine absolute with essence of Damask rose. At Selfridge’s, a 100ml bottle is available for £125.
The designer’s first ever perfume – a reconstructed version of which is now sold –features strong, heady notes synonymous with the decade, with violet leaf absolute and incense essential oils. Meaning ‘The ten’ in French, in reference to its first couture salon on 10 Avenue George V in Paris, a 100ml bottle costs £230.
First released in 1948, this scent sold in huge numbers in the 1950s. A fresh and timeless fragrance blending bergamot, peach and carnation with rose and jasmine. A 100ml bottle is £96.
1950s
Unlike the other fragrances on this list, Youth Dew was originally released as a bath oil in 1953. Opulent flowers, rich spices and precious woods make this one of the most sensual fragrances of all time – with top notes of rose, jonquil and lavender and base notes of moss, vetiver and patchouli. A 67ml bottle costs £60.
Described as a ‘romantic’ fragrance, this floral perfume combines a few fan favourites of the decade, including lily of the valley, lilac and jasmine just to name a few. A 100ml bottle is available for £125.
Strawberry, spices, peach and bergamot are the main scents behind this nostalgic fragrance, which was originally created as a gift for Audrey Hepburn. While it has been reformulated and re-released over the years, it still remains popular – and a 100ml bottle will set you back £139.
1960s
Touted as an ‘elegant’ perfume for the modern woman, Rochas describes Madame as ‘the olfactory mirror that reflects Hélène Rochas and a generation of emancipated women, masters of their own destinies’. Described as a ‘woody’ fragrance with hiacynth, neroli, honeysuckle and bergamot, it combines the intense with the fresh and floral. A 100ml bottle is £35.07.
Calèche, coming out in 1961, was the luxury designer’s first ever fragrance for women. ‘Its name echoes the carriages that are emblematic of the House: a light and elegant 19th century horse-drawn conveyance,’ according to Hermès, adding a sophisticated flare for any wearer, with jasmine and rose scents. A 100ml bottle is £138.
This French brand is trendy as ever today – but has been a hit since as far back as the 60s. Diptyque is still enjoying the success of its fragrance L’Eau, which combines geranium, clove, cinnamon and ginger. For £145, you can buy a 100ml bottle.
1970s
Herbal notes like sage and coriander add to the fresh and uplifting feel of this nostalgic fragrance. It is available in Harrods, where a 100ml bottle costs £87. According to the site, ‘it kicks off with toning and astringent qualities that also give the sense of calm, while the mid-notes are drenched in warm oakmoss with a touch of a clean floral scent’. However, finally, ‘you’ll notice the seductive aroma of patchouli with a warm, woody scent’.
Aliage first came out in 1972, popularising itself an earthy, woody scent. Bottles are still sold on online retailers like Comsetify, with a 50ml perfume setting you back £69.50.
YSL’s Opium maintains a lasting legacy for its dark, seductive scent. ‘Opium eau de parfum is an oriental fragrance, sulfurous and provocative with an iconic silhouette,’ the brand says. ‘Highly erotic, the myrrh drives behind reason, exalts the senses, up to break the rules. The warm amber notes , both precious and sacred, have always exert their power of seduction.’ A 90ml bottle of the eu de parfum spray costs £130.
1980s
Nothing screams 80s like powdery, feel good floral fragrances – and Givenchy’s Ysatis delivers, with white flower bouquet notes and a patchouli base. For £116, you can buy a 100ml bottle.
With a bottle nearly as famous as its contents, Dior’s poison brings the heat with a sultry mix of honey and musk. There are also a number of iterations sold by the brand, including Poison Girl and Pure Poison.
The 80s saw a peak of popularity for Calvin Klein thanks to its trendy marketing campaigns – and its warm, spicy fragrance, Obsession, enjoyed the airtime too. Combining top notes of vanilla, with middle notes including sandalwood, it encapsulates warmth, radiance and freshness. At Superdrug, a 100ml bottle can be bought for £30.80.
