How We Test: Our Longevity and Sillage Ratings
Every longevity and sillage rating on this site follows the same process, applied fragrance by fragrance across the full catalogue. This page explains exactly what the numbers mean and how we arrive at them, so you can read any of our rankings knowing what sits behind the table.
Where the ratings come from
We are a decant atelier. We handle, open, decant and wear the bottles we sell, and every rating starts with that first-hand experience: how a fragrance opens on skin, how it projects in a room, and how long it stays detectable through a normal day. We then cross-reference our impressions against the broad consensus of the enthusiast community and the published composition of each fragrance, and we only publish a rating once the two agree. When our experience and consensus differ, we re-wear and re-test before settling the entry.
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, rated at 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. |
Testing conditions
Skin chemistry, weather and dosage all shift performance, so we normalise for them. Ratings reflect wear on clean, moisturised skin at everyday indoor temperatures, from fresh stock of the same batches we decant and ship. 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