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Projection, sillage and longevity are the 3 performance metrics every serious perfume buyer uses. Master these and you’ll read reviews like a pro.
The 3 metrics defined
| Metric | Definition | Typical Range | What It Matters For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Projection | How far your scent reaches in still air | 1–3 metres | Being noticed when someone walks by |
| Sillage | The trail you leave when walking | Scent trail behind you | Memorable crowd wear |
| Longevity | How long the perfume lasts on skin | Hours | Not reapplying mid-day |
Projection — your scent bubble
Projection is how loud your perfume is in still air. A projection beast like Tom Ford Black Orchid or YSL Black Opium fills a 3-metre radius. A skin scent like most niche musks stays within 30cm. Projection is what gets compliments from strangers in elevators.
- Beast-mode projection: Tom Ford Black Orchid, Le Male Elixir, Florencia Midnight, Florencia Ignite Oud
- Moderate projection: Dior Sauvage, Bleu de Chanel, Florencia Blue Aura, Florencia Victorious
- Close/skin scent: Most niche musks, vintage vetivers, most attars
Sillage — the trail you leave
Sillage (pronounced ‘see-yazh’) is the French word for ‘trail’. It’s the scent you leave when you walk through a room. Strong-sillage perfumes are perfect for weddings and crowded events — you become a memorable scent presence. Weak-sillage perfumes work for office settings where you don’t want to overwhelm.
- Huge sillage: Perfect for weddings, Diwali events, crowded parties
- Moderate sillage: Ideal for restaurants, dates, most social settings
- Low sillage: Office, meetings, meditation-adjacent spaces
Longevity — wear time
Longevity is how many hours the fragrance remains on skin. It’s the metric most Indians obsess about, but projection/sillage matter too. A perfume with 12-hour longevity but low projection might feel like it ‘died’ because you stopped smelling it after hour 3.
- Excellent: 10–16 hours. Extrait, heavy orientals, oud
- Good: 8–10 hours. Proper EDPs including Florencia’s range
- Average: 5–7 hours. Most EDTs
- Weak: 2–4 hours. Body mists, cheap EDTs
The trade-off triangle
These 3 metrics often trade off. A perfume can have:
- High longevity + low projection = niche musks, office-safe
- High projection + low longevity = cheap colognes with loud openings
- High on all three = premium EDPs with heavy bases (Tom Ford, Florencia Midnight, Florencia Ignite Oud)
How to evaluate a new perfume
- Projection test: Hour 1, have someone walk past you from 2 metres — do they notice?
- Sillage test: Walk into a room and leave. Return 2 minutes later — can you still smell it?
- Longevity test: Check your wrist at hour 4, 6, 8. When it becomes skin-scent-only, that’s your longevity number
FAQs
Can projection and sillage be different?
Yes. Some perfumes have huge projection in still air but weak trails (sillage) when you walk. Others are the opposite.
Which matters most for Indian weddings?
Sillage and projection. You want to be noticed across a crowded hall.
Which matters most for office?
Moderate longevity + low projection. You want to last 8 hours without overwhelming colleagues.
Do Florencia perfumes have good projection?
Yes — Midnight, Innocence and Ignite Oud are projection-strong. Blue Aura and Victorious are moderate.
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Try a projection beast
Florencia Midnight and Ignite Oud are built for strong projection, huge sillage and 9–10 hour wear.