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Sillage

Sillage is the scent trail a perfume leaves as you move. Learn how it differs from projection and longevity, and how to compare it.

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Sillage is the scent trail a perfume leaves as you move. If someone can still smell your fragrance after you walk past, they are noticing its sillage. The word comes from the French for a wake, like the trail behind a boat, and is pronounced roughly “see-yazh.”

Projection describes how far a scent reaches around you; longevity describes how long it remains detectable. These qualities are related, but they answer different questions. A perfume can last on your skin for hours without leaving much of a trail.

The formula, how much you apply, and the conditions in which you wear it all affect sillage. A higher concentration does not automatically mean a bigger trail. To compare two fragrances, wear them on separate days with a similar amount applied, and ask someone nearby what they notice after you pass.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does sillage mean in perfume?+
Sillage is the trail of fragrance left in the air as the wearer moves. It describes the scent someone might notice after you pass them.
How is sillage measured?+
There is no standard consumer scale for sillage. Reviewers use terms such as faint, moderate, or strong as impressions, so look for details about application and wear conditions when comparing reports.
What's the difference between sillage and projection?+
Projection is how far a fragrance reaches around the wearer. Sillage is the trail left as the wearer moves. Projection extends in all directions; it is not a forward-only measurement.
What makes a perfume have strong sillage?+
The full composition matters, along with the amount applied and wear conditions. A note list or an eau de parfum label cannot reliably tell you how large the trail will be.
Does sillage decrease as the fragrance dries down?+
It can change as a fragrance develops, but there is no fixed timetable. Judge the trail at more than one point during wear instead of relying only on the opening.

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