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For people with “old souls,” their taste can differ from their peers in a wide variety of ways.
Maybe instead of the Top 40 songs their high school classmates love, they’re listening to artists from past generations, like Billie Holiday or Hall & Oates. Perhaps instead of chugging cheap beer at frat parties, they spend their college weekends drinking red wine and reading classic literature.
And maybe instead of wearing the fruity, flowery perfumes that their girlfriends favor, old souls are buying perfumes with woody and soft scent notes that might be seen as more “classic” than trendy.
In fact, if you know someone with an old soul, there are a number of fragrance notes that may uniquely appeal to them, according to perfumer Sylvana Granelle, founder and scent creator at perfume house Sylvana Granelle, which specializes in roll-on perfume oil.
Below, Granelle shares her top five recommendations of fragrance notes for old souls, along with some of her favorite perfume products that feature these scents.
We also have insight from psychologist Dr. Carol M. Panetta, PsyD, President of the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis, about what it means to be an old soul. Keep reading to learn more.
Related: Psychologists Say These 8 Habits Are Common Among ‘Old Souls’
What Is an ‘Old Soul,’ Exactly?
“An ‘old soul’ is someone who, even if they are extremely young, understands that everything in life is more than it seems,” Dr. Panetta explains to Parade.
“They recognize that every situation has layers of history and even contradictions beneath it,” she adds. “They understand that these layers are reflected by, but not obvious in, the present circumstances.”
As explained earlier, they might enjoy old music and movies, or have wisdom beyond their years.
Related: 9 Cozy Vanilla Perfumes Women Over 50 Get the Most Compliments On, According to a Fragrance Expert
5 Best Fragrance Notes for ‘Old Souls,’ According to a Perfumer
When it comes to perfume notes that may appeal to people with old souls, you’ll want to consider subtle notes that are on the more woodsy and mature side (without being too mature), rather than bright, fruity and floral notes typically associated with perfume for younger women.
Here are five perfume notes that Granelle highly recommends for old souls.
1. Sandalwood
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According to Granelle, sandalwood “smells like warm, creamy wood.” She describes the note as “soft, milky and a little sweet,” “quiet, not sharp” and “deep over noisy,” all traits that lean into the deep and sensitive nature of an old soul.
Per Phlur, sandalwood originally came from sandal trees in India, and has historically been a very popular scent—so popular, in fact, that the Santalum album species is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. So nowadays, most perfumes featuring notes of sandalwood use synthetic versions of the scent.
Granelle’s recommendation for a sandalwood-forward fragrance is Maison Louis Marie’s No.04 Bois de Balincourt. In addition to sandalwood, this eau de parfum features vetiver, amber wood, cedar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
Related: ‘Better Than Ever’ Beauty Awards: The 65 Best Products for Women 50+ in 2026
2. Amber
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In Granelle’s opinion, amber “smells like resin” with a touch of honey, and it’s “rich and not heavy.” When using an amber-forward scent, “warmth radiates to skin,” she adds.
Perfumes with amber notes can also be described as “warm, expressive and endlessly comforting,” per Floral Street. “They bring together sweetness, earthiness, and gentle spice in a way that feels both grounding and indulgent,” and they’re “rich in texture, softly enveloping and always in style.”
Granelle’s recommendation for an amber-heavy fragrance is Radiance by Sylvana Granelle, her perfume house’s debut scent. Along with amber, the perfume oil also features notes of musk (more on musk below!) and soft wood.
3. Vanilla
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Per Granelle, Vanilla has a “sweet, warm, creamy” smell, evoking a sense of comfort and something warm and cozy baking in the kitchen.
A vanilla note “reflects sincerity, home over irony,” she says. “It is a ritual over trendy and deep over noisy.”
A vanilla-forward scent that Granelle loves is Kayali’s Vanilla 28. The perfume’s key notes are vanilla orchid, sweet tonka, brown sugar, amber woods and musk, and Kayali describes it as “like adding whipped cream to your favorite dessert.”
Related: 17 Best Colognes for Your Man, According to Fragrance Experts
4. Frankincense
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Frankincense “smells like ancient resin,” as well as “smoky” and “sacred,” per Granelle. The note is also “sharp at first, then deep.”
As noted by Bios Apothecary, frankincense is actually a resin and it comes from the Boswellia tree. Not only is it used in the perfume industry, but it’s also a common incense scent, as well as an ingredient used in medicine.
For a perfume featuring notes of frankincense, Granelle suggests Silently, Hwyl Eau de Parfum by Aesop, which the brand characterizes as “a fragrant fable of smoky, woody, spicy elements, transporting the mind to the serene depths of an ancient Hinoki Forest.”
5. Musk
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Musk “sits close to skin and does not fill the room,” and it “smells clean, skin-like [and] soft,” per Granelle, making for a subtle and fresh experience.
Musk has a bit of a surprising and cruel origin story. According to Oud Collection, historically, hunters killed male musk deer to harvest musk, as the scent came from the animal’s glandular secretions. Musk deer are classified as critically endangered, so in most cases these days, musk scents are synthetic.
For a perfume with musky tones, Granelle recommends Radiance by Sylvana Granelle. Another option is Phlur’s Missing Person Eau de Parfum.
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Related: 9 Perfumes Women Over 40 Get the Most Compliments On, According to Fragrance Experts
Sources:
Sylvana Granelle, founder and scent creator at Sylvana Granelle. Dr. Carol M. Panetta, PsyD, President of the Boston Graduate School of Psychoanalysis. Sandalwood Scent in Perfumery. Phlur. A Guide to Amber Fragrances: What Does Amber Smell Like? Floral Street. Frankincense. Bios Apothecary. What Does Deer Musk Smell Like? The Secret Behind Perfumery’s Most Prized Ingredient. Oud Collection.Hence then, the article about a perfumer says these 5 fragrance notes may appeal to people with old souls was published today ( ) and is available on Parade ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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