How We Rate Longevity and Sillage
Every longevity and sillage rating on this site uses the same scale, applied fragrance by fragrance across the full catalogue. This page explains what the numbers mean and where they come from, so you can read any of our rankings knowing what sits behind the table.
Where the ratings come from
The ratings are community data. For each fragrance we gather the longevity and sillage ratings published by the enthusiast community on the major fragrance databases, where thousands of wearers record how long a scent lasted on them and how far it carried, and we place that consensus on one consistent scale. They are not lab measurements, and we do not run wear tests of our own. A rating tells you how a fragrance tends to perform across many wearers, not exactly how it will perform on you.
How to read the longevity bands
Longevity is the time a fragrance remains clearly detectable on skin, not the point where it disappears entirely.
| Band | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| 10 to 12 Hours | A full working day from a morning application. Usually still present on skin at night and on clothing the next day. |
| 8 to 10 Hours | Morning to evening wear. May soften to a skin scent in the final hours. |
| 6 to 8 Hours | A solid day at the office. Expect to refresh before an evening out. |
| 4 to 6 Hours | Typical of brighter, fresher compositions. Best carried as a decant for a midday refresh. |
How to read the sillage ratings
Sillage is the trail a fragrance leaves in the air around you, assuming normal application (2 to 4 sprays).
| Rating | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Enormous | Fills a room. People notice you arrive and know when you have left. One spray is often enough. |
| Strong | A clear scent bubble around you at conversation distance. Noticeable without being loud. |
| Moderate | An intimate aura within arm's reach. Ideal for offices and close settings. |
What changes it on your skin
Skin chemistry, weather and dosage all shift performance. Heat and humidity amplify projection and shorten wear; cold compresses a scent close to the skin and stretches it. If you run warm, expect one band shorter and one step louder than the table.
Why we publish this data
Full bottles of niche and ultra-niche fragrances are an investment, and performance is the thing a bottle listing never tells you. Publishing a single, consistent scale across the whole catalogue lets you compare an Amouage attar against an indie extrait on equal terms, and a 2ml, 5ml or 10ml decant lets you confirm the rating on your own skin before you commit.
Explore the data: Longevity and Sillage Index · Note Glossary · All Decants