Fragrance reviews and forums throw around jargon. These are the terms you will see most on Scentapedia, defined plainly with links to deeper guides.
Drydown
The final stage of a perfume after top and heart notes fade, usually one to three hours after application. This is what you live with most of the day. Always test drydown before you buy. See why perfume changes over time.
Projection
How far scent radiates from your body in the first hour or two. Intimate projection stays close; loud projection fills a room. Explained in depth in our performance guide.
Sillage
The scent trail you leave when you move. A perfume can have moderate projection but heavy sillage if it lingers in the air behind you.
Fixative
An ingredient that slows evaporation and anchors lighter notes. Woods, resins, musks, and patchouli often act as fixatives in the base. See long-lasting base ingredients.
Skin scent
A fragrance only detectable up close. Often musk-heavy or softly blended. Not a defect when you want discretion. Read why some perfumes become skin scents.
Longevity
How many hours a scent stays detectable on skin. Not the same as projection. A perfume can last ten hours as a skin scent or three hours while filling a room. Scentapedia tracks longevity separately from projection and sillage in community ratings.
More vocabulary
Notes, accords, concentrations, and families are covered in our beginner guides and glossaries.