Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Wake; track; specifically, the disturbance of the ether produced by the movement through it of an electrified corpuscle or electron.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of silage.

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word sillage.

Examples

  • I'd never heard the wonderful term "sillage," which is French for "wake" as in the wake left by a boat and is also used to describe how a perfume leaves behind its scent. is coming soon!

    Forbes.com: News Gretchen Rubin 2011

  • I tried the Ropion's creation in eau de toilette and found it, as with most of his perfumes, to be very rich and long-lasting, with the kind of sillage that I adore: the one that envelopes the wearer in the most delicate of gauze and is always present although never overwhelming.

    Archive 2009-02-01 Marina Geigert 2009

  • I tried the Ropion's creation in eau de toilette and found it, as with most of his perfumes, to be very rich and long-lasting, with the kind of sillage that I adore: the one that envelopes the wearer in the most delicate of gauze and is always present although never overwhelming.

    Caron Aimez Moi: Perfume Review Marina Geigert 2009

  • In other words, I don't perceive any drastic transformations from top to middle to base notes, however, strangely, the scent smells different when inhaled very closely nose-to-wrist, from a short distance and as "sillage" wafting subtly with one's movements.

    Archive 2007-10-01 Marina Geigert 2007

  • In other words, I don't perceive any drastic transformations from top to middle to base notes, however, strangely, the scent smells different when inhaled very closely nose-to-wrist, from a short distance and as "sillage" wafting subtly with one's movements.

    Perfume Review: Lalique Encre Noir Marina Geigert 2007

  • I don't imagine you want to send prizes to the UK postage - ouch!) but I wanted to show solidarity during your busy time ... and this will give me time to look up "sillage" and "aoud":-)

    Prize Draw ...and a Break Marina Geigert 2008

  • It is sweet and, after the rather piercing opening, rather tender, despite its assertive sillage.

    Archive 2009-05-01 Marina Geigert 2009

  • Lasting power and sillage are both quite good, far better than most department store scents.

    Scent of Time by David Pybus. Part III. Mini Reviews Marina Geigert 2009

  • Up close, there's a minty freshness and oolong, and there seems to be a by sillage going on here that calls to mind that scent I'm sure that if you tear down buildings in West Hollywood or Chelsea or DuPont Circle they would waft this like asbestos...

    Archive 2009-05-01 Marina Geigert 2009

  • The bombshell rose has to have some of the same elements, such as room-clearing sillage, a strong base of wood/leather/spices/vetiver etc. and a big wallop of sex appeal from animalic elements.

    Archive 2009-03-01 Marina Geigert 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • the trail of perfume a wearer leaves in her wake ...

    January 14, 2007

  • Also known as "throw" in perfume-speak - how far the scent extends from your body. As in "this blend has great throw" or "very little throw - I can only smell it with my nose pressed up against my wrist".

    July 17, 2007

  • silage has extremely high sillage, but is highly undesireable.

    July 17, 2007

  • I never realized this had a name! What a relief.

    July 17, 2007

  • I used to work with a Hungarian woman who could out-throw Nolan Ryan. You could smell her perfume in the parking lot five minutes before she arrived.

    July 17, 2007

  • Sweet word!

    July 17, 2007