With elegance and a fine style of clothing, there comes a nice smell. To get an idea of what perfumes old money uses, we will dive down deeper into this article and give you a list of the best old money perfumes for men and women.
But what does perfume need to have to have to be considered old money? For men, it should have some darker scents in it like wood or spice. This gives off a warm and elegant vibe. The notes should also be timeless and from established brands. Similar to their philosophy, old money fragrances must be long-lasting and of high quality too.
Women will mostly need scents containing citrus, floral elements, subtle fruits, and spices. With this being said, let’s jump into the list which will contain perfumes for men and women in no specific order. You will get to know which one is for men and which one is for women though.
General Overview
First, you will receive a list of all old money perfumes portrayed in this list. They will have the same order as in this article. If you want to know more about a certain perfume, check its description below. The prices are based on the website of the brand. Amazon often offers cheaper ones, which I linked in this article.
| Brand | Name | For Men/women | Smell | Price ($) for 100ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chanel | N°5 | Women | Citrus/Floral | 157 |
| Creed | Royal Oud | Men | Woody/Spicy | 295 |
| Creed | Erolfa | Men | Citrus/Spicy | 265 |
| Dior | Miss Dior | Women | Rose/Floral | 158 |
| Dior | J’adore | Women | Mandarine/Floral | 158 |
| Dior | Eau Savage | Men | Woody/Earthy | 116 |
| Ralph Lauren | Polo | Men | Woody/Aromatic | 70 (59ml) |
| Ralph Lauren | Romance | Women | Floral | 150 |
| Cartier | La Panthère | Women | Apricot | 150 (75ml) |
| Tom Ford | Oud Wood | Men | Woody | 271 |
| Versace | Bright Crystal | Women | Floral | 109 (90ml) |
| Teresa Helbig | Old Money | Women | Spicy/Fruty | 145 |
| Penhaligon’s | Sartorial | Men | Lavendar/Spicy | 140 |
| Hugo Boss | Bottled Perfume | Men | Fruity | 169 |
| Elizabeth Taylor | White Diamonds | Women | Floral | 75 |
| Yves Saint Lauren | Opium | Women | Fruity/Oriental | 100 (90ml) |
| Karl Lagerfeld | Classic | Men | Oriental/Woody | 30-40 |
Chanel N° 5
This iconic perfume for women is probably one of the most famous old money perfumes. With its scent consisting of bergamot, aldehyde, and citrus mainly, this perfume gives off an elegant but also timeless vibe.
This fragrance has been founded in 1921 and since then is a long-lasting and high-quality scent that can be chosen for formal events as well as for daily use. Generally, the brand Chanel crafts timeless colognes that will make you stand apart.
The flacon in the shape of a polished diamond gives off the minimalistic vibe old money often strives for. The price also lets you think of a diamond with a 100ml flacon costing 157$. Nevertheless, a worthwhile investment.
Creed Royal Oud
Now, we come to the house of Creed. This old money perfume for men truly earns its place in this list. Creed Royal Oud, as the name already tells is a fragrance that exudes elegance and timelessness. Its scent consists of cedar, pink pepper, and galbanum resin mainly and therefore, is suited for colder months and formal occasions.
Generally, old money perfume has a rather woody and spicy not to give off an elegant vibe. The flacon of this royal fragrance is the typical one Creed almost always provides. For the 250ml you will get a round one but generally, we will see the square flacon.
Creed is on the pricier side of things with a 100ml fragrance costing about 295-310$.
Creed Erolfa
Let’s stay in the house of Creed for a short time and talk about this old money perfume for men: Creed Erolfa. Unlike its royal version, Creed Erolfa is a lighter and friendlier perfume. With its scent consisting of citrus, lime, tangerine, bergamot, and ginger, you will want to wear this on your summer holiday with your well-off friends or family.
If you want to know, where old money travels to in summer, check out my article about 17 old money travel destinations here.
As this scent gives you a fresh aura, you can use it in the warmer months on a daily basis. Nevertheless, you will still get timeless and for sure a high-quality scent. This also resembles the price with a 100ml flacon costing about 265$. Creed is so confident you will not wear another fragrance in the summer that you can even buy a 500ml flacon.
Miss Dior
Let’s open the category of Dior perfumes with Miss Dior, an old money perfume for women. First made in 1947, this perfume had the task to bring back mystery and excitement into the life of women. The scent’s most remarkable ingredients are roses, apricots, and honey. Together they form a playful but still elegant fragrance that flatters your nose.
In terms of design, this perfume has great things to offer whilst still being rather minimalist. The rose color, the square flacon, and the plain design are enriched by a Poignard bow at the closure. In terms of price, this perfume is in the middle with 100ml costing around 158$.
Dior J’adore
As the name already gives it away, this fragrance for women by Christian Dior characterizes J’adore, I love. The love you will get not only for the perfume but also for wearing it is the vibe these ingredients will give you. With notes of mandarin, Champaca flower, and bergamot, this perfume smells like love.
The elegant side is portrayed by its flacon consisting of a tear-drop-like amphora figure. Elegant is also the price costing the same as the other one by Dior, 158$ for 100ml.
Dior Eau Sauvage
We stay at Dior but switch to the male side of things. This is not a grammatical error but rather a not-that-popular but even better perfume besides the prominent Dior Sauvage. Originally crafted in 1966, the perfume has been remade in 2017 due to a slight reformulation.
With citrus and aromatic notes as well as some woody and earthy ones, this is a great summer fragrance. The elegance it portrays truly screams old money. It costs as much as the Dior Sauvage with 116$ for 100mlbut is far better in my opinion. And also, less used.
Ralph Lauren Polo Eau de Toilette
We cannot have a list of old money stuff and not include Ralph Lauren. This old money fragrance for mengives us the sporty but still elegant vibe old money strives for. Being created in 1978, this perfume is not outdated at all. Strong woody and aromatic notes as well as tobacco and leather will elevate any elegant outfit.
The flacon for this perfume is as minimalistic as it can get with a plain square figure with rounded corners. You may generally wear this one in winter for sporty to a little more formal occasion. As they only offer one size (59ml), the price (70$) cannot completely be seen relative but it is on the cheaper side.
If you want to know which other old money brands there are besides Ralph Lauren, check out my article about the best old money brands.
Ralph Lauren Romance
We stay at Ralph Lauren but switch to women again. First sold in 1998, this old money perfume resembles love, intimacy, and elegance. It resembles a floral bouquet containing notes of citrus, chamomile, and yellow freesia. This timeless fragrance should be worn on romantic and special occasions. It is perfectly suited for a date in a cornfield in Tuscany.
Regarding the price, you can get yourself 100ml for 110$.
Cartier La Panthère
No old money list can be done without Cartier! This fragrance for women resembles the iconic symbol of Cartier, the panther. You can not only see this by the flacon but also feel the elegance, wildness, and feminine strength. Notes like apricot, musk, and oakmoss give this perfume its elegant and powerful touch.
This scent can be worn best to formal occasions and evening events all year long. The price is a little higher than usual fragrances with 75ml costing around 150$.
Tom Ford Oud Wood
Tom Ford is known for its strong scents for men. Oud wood is a great old money perfume if you want something heavier for formal occasions. Rosewood, oud, and cardamom for a great scent you will be recognized by.
I would wear this fragrance in autumn and winter as the woody notes to me give off this vibe of colder weather. When it comes to the price, Tom Ford is rather costly with 100ml for about 271$. Therefore, you will receive a scent, not many people will wear.
Versace Bright Crystal
This combination of timeless elegance and modern chic notes for women is called Bright Crystal by Versace. A mixture of Yuzu and pomegranate for the top as well as a floral bouquet consisting of peony, magnolia, and lotus flower.
The flacon resembles the name of this fragrance with the cap being shaped like a crystal. You may wear this fragrance in spring or summer on a daily basis. Its price is in the mid-section with 90ml costing about 109$.
Teresa Helbig- Old Money
Only because of its name, Old Money by Teresa Helbig has earned its place in this list. But it also resembles the bespoken vibe. This old money perfume for women lets you think of traditions and a cozy home in the colder months. The blend of warm and spicy notes in combination with fruity accords gives you a royal and exclusive feeling.
Just like the style of clothing, this perfume resembles simple but classic and timeless designs with a rectangular shape. In terms of pricing, this perfume sells for around 145$ for 100ml.
Penhaligon’s Sartorial
This old money perfume for men is suited for very formal and elegant occasions like black-tie events. Notes of cardamom, lavender, and patchouli form an incredible and refined smell. Sartorial draws its inspiration from British tailors and the sartorial artistry of Saville Row. The classic flacon with the ribbon-wrapped cup shows the inspiration of the bespoken tailor’s road in London.
With the fragrance, you will definitely make a special entrance. Its price is, in my opinion, rather cheap with 100ml costing around 140$.
Hugo Boss Bottled Perfume
This old money perfume for men gives us the feeling of a warm and elegant environment. The fragrance features sophisticated notes of apple and citrus for a woke and summer-like touch but combines it with cinnamon, geranium, and gloves to add warmth.
You may wear this cologne to a formal occasion. Regarding seasons, it is mainly a perfume for fall and winter due to its warmth. With a price of 169$ for 100ml of the perfume it is not as expensive as others on this list.
Elizabeth Taylor White Diamonds
This old money perfume for women may be the cheapest one on this list. Costing only around 75$ (100ml). Despite its low price, this fragrance is uncommonly long-lasting and has a great and high-quality smell. Whilst it may be somehow opulent, the composition of aldehydes, neroli, and lily gives this fragrance a playful touch.
Made by the famous actress Elizabeth Taylor, this perfume surely represents her timeless and elegant appeal. You may wear this perfume to evening events in colder months due to its warmth and elegance.
Yves Saint Laurent Opium (Eau de Perfume)
This old money fragrance for women has been around since 1977. The perfume draws inspiration from the world of the Orient. Whilst still being elegant it portrays a journey into a realm of sensuality and indulgence. Notes like mandarin, bergamot, and lily as well as carnation and jasmine give it the oriental touch.
Despite some issues regarding its provocative name, it was a massive success and still is one of the best perfumes by YSL. The price of about 100$ for 90ml is fair in my opinion.
Karl Lagerfeld Classic
The last old money perfume for men on this list also features oriental notes. Karl Lagerfeld’s Classic is a rather cheap fragrance with 100ml costing about 30-40$. Unlike its low price, the quality and notes of this perfume smell rather expensive and long-lasting. Aldehydes, bergamot, and nutmeg are responsible for its oriental woody smell.
Being first launched in 1978, this perfume is not outdated at all but is a great daily fragrance. It represents the elegance and exclusivity of its designer and fashion line very well.
Summary
As you can see from this article, there are many old money perfumes for men and women that are not that popular. Whilst some are rather expensive, you can accommodate others for rather low prices.
As always, high quality and longevity of the smell are the most important factors. So go ahead, choose your old money perfumes for any occasion.