Knowing the varying potencies of different kinds of perfumes is the first step in achieving a beautiful sillage. On the spectrum of least to most potent, a eau de toilette will have the least amount of hold, while an extrait de parfum might have the strongest, per Byrdie. Other kinds of perfumes, for example, fragrance oils or parfums de peau are designed to remain on your skin, per Elle. But this is important: a lasting sillage is not defined by the strength of the perfume alone, but rather a combination of factors. The perfume should be strong enough to last, but diffuse enough to fall behind you as you move through space. Sophie Labbé, who has worked on scents for Bulgari, Estée Lauder, and more, told Elle that sillage is like "an aura."
The natural diffusive properties of the fragrances themselves influence a perfume's diffusion. For example, Sue Phillips told Byrdie, bright top notes such as citrus might not trail for as long as deeper, woodier notes, but both harmonize to create the perfume's sillage. While it can be difficult to test a perfume's sillage before purchase (as sillage tests require time and a scentless area), you can check the sillage of a perfume at home. Spray the perfume into a room, like a bathroom, close the door, and wait a few minutes. When you open the door again, the scent remaining might be similar to that of the perfume's sillage, per Scentbird.
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