What Is Sillage?
It’s the most-used word in fragrance reviews that almost nobody outside the hobby can define on the spot.
Sillage (pronounced see-yazh, French for “wake”) describes the trail of scent a fragrance leaves as you move through a space — the sense that someone “just walked through” a room. A fragrance with heavy sillage is noticeable well beyond arm’s length; one with light sillage stays close and personal.
What affects sillage
- Concentration — higher-concentration fragrances generally project more.
- Format — alcohol-based sprays typically have stronger initial sillage than oils.
- Note composition — heavier, resinous materials often project further than light, airy ones.
Frequently asked questions
Is heavy sillage a good thing?
It depends on context — a strong sillage suits an evening out, but can feel like too much in a small office. Matching sillage to occasion is part of wearing fragrance well.
Explore our Perfume Sprays for confident sillage.
