The scent fingerprint
Weighted by intensity across 12 accords.
Every perfume in Sillage is represented as a distribution across canonical accord slugs — a lingua franca for scent. Two fragrances with overlapping fingerprints are scent-twins, even if they share no literal note.
- Jasmine90
- Rose80
- Iris Powder80
- Sandalwood70
- Iris70
By the editors · 2 min readThe 1986 eau de parfum reformulation of the original No. 5 opens with a waxy, honeyed quality—ylang-ylang and neroli forming a golden haze that feels less aldehydic punch, more enveloping warmth. The peach softens what might otherwise be austere, rounding the edges without tipping into obvious fruitiness.
As it settles, the florals emerge in their familiar architecture: jasmine and rose supported by powdery iris, all of it hovering in that peculiar No. 5 space between soapy and sensual. The lily of the valley adds a cool, green counterpoint, preventing the composition from becoming too heavy or sweet.
The base carries the weight of sandalwood and patchouli, with just enough oakmoss to anchor it in classic chypre territory and a whisper of vanilla lending body. It wears closer to the skin than the parfum, less a statement of arrival than a persistent, composed presence throughout the day. For those who find the original too sharp or the eau de toilette too fleeting, this sits comfortably between.
