Performance is how a fragrance behaves on skin and in a room over time. Scentapedia tracks three key metrics from community reviews: longevity, projection, and sillage. Understanding them helps you choose scents that fit your lifestyle.
Longevity
Longevity is how long the scent stays detectable on your skin. A fragrance with weak longevity may fade within a few hours; beast-mode longevity can last well into the next day. Skin chemistry, weather, and application amount all affect results, which is why community averages are more useful than marketing claims.
Projection
Projection is how far the scent radiates from your body in the first hour or two after application. Intimate projection stays close to the skin; loud projection fills a room. Neither is inherently better: a soft skin scent works for the office, while a strong projector suits evenings out.
Sillage
Sillage (French for "wake") is the trail you leave behind as you move. A fragrance can have moderate projection but heavy sillage if it lingers in the air after you pass. Reviewers often mention sillage when talking about whether a scent is polite or attention-grabbing in shared spaces.
How we rate performance
Reviewers rate each metric on a 1 to 5 scale. Here is what those scores mean on Scentapedia:
Longevity scale
Projection scale
Sillage scale
Tips for interpreting ratings
- Look at the number of reviews behind a score. Averages from dozens of wearers are more reliable than one or two.
- Read the text reviews. Someone may rate longevity highly but mention it only works in cold weather.
- Consider your context. A loud projector that works at a party may be too much for a desk job.
- Skin type matters. Dry skin often shortens longevity; moisturizer before applying can help.
Go deeper
Read what makes a perfume project, why some scents become skin scents, and our guide to choosing long-lasting perfumes.