The Language of Perfumery: A Glossary
Top notes, sillage, drydown, chypre — master the vocabulary of the fragrance world.
## Essential Terms Every Fragrance Lover Should Know
**Sillage** *(see-yazh)* — The trail of scent left in the air as you move. High sillage means your fragrance announces you before you enter a room.
**Drydown** — The final stage of a fragrance's evolution on skin, typically 30–60 minutes after application. This is the truest expression of a perfume and often the most beautiful.
**Longevity** — How many hours a fragrance lasts on skin. Affected by concentration, skin type, and the molecular weight of the ingredients.
**Concentration** — The percentage of aromatic compounds in a fragrance. Parfum (20–40%) > Eau de Parfum (15–20%) > Eau de Toilette (5–15%) > Eau de Cologne (2–4%).
**Chypre** *(sheep-ruh)* — A fragrance family built on bergamot, oakmoss, and labdanum. The name comes from the island of Cyprus. Classic, sophisticated, timeless.
**Fougère** *(foo-zhair)* — Literally "fern." A fragrance built on lavender, oakmoss, and coumarin. The backbone of many masculine classics.
**Gourmand** — Fragrances that smell edible — vanilla, caramel, chocolate, coffee. A modern family that has become enormously popular.
**Accord** — A blend of notes that together create a new, unified smell — neither note is detectable separately.
**Extrait** — The highest concentration of perfume, typically 30–40% aromatic compounds. The most expensive and most long-lasting form.
