Jo's Scent Notes: Manos Gerakinis Sillage Royal

It isn’t often that I try a perfume that instantly goes into my Top Five. Almost never, actually. But Sillage Royal will, I think, be on my scent A-list forever.

I am lucky enough to get to try what feels like a gazillion fragrances, in my day-to-day life, never mind the collection on my dressing table. Discovery sample sets, launches, general sniffing around in perfumeries… Which is one of my favourite pursuits.

And that’s how I came across this, by a Greek perfumer called Manos Gerakinis. You may have noticed that in the past few weeks, alongside Beauty Bible (er, and my career as an event host and speaker), I have just launched a magazine, On The Scent. (You can find it here.) I have now transitioned from swanky magazine editor to Head of Post Room and Logistics Director – which saw me personally delivering 10 copies of the magazine to a wonderful fragrance boutique in Richmond, Parfum Le Dance, run by the supremely knowledgeable Derya Turkan, a former hugely successful fragrance blogger from Turkey who moved her London and now spends her days helping customers to find their perfect scent.

As is my habit, I spritzed and sniffed extensively in Derya’s store. I didn’t honestly expect to find something that stopped me in my tracks, but Manos Gerakinis Sillage Royale did. Technically, it’s really not a box-ticker, for me: a ‘rose oudh’ – but the oudh is a hint of a smidgen of a whisper, while the roses scamper all over this.

Manos Gerakinis actually created this as his own personal fragrance, in 2014 – yet I’d position it among the most feminine in my collection, personally (much flirtier and girlier and dressed-up than most that I own). It smells slightly shisha–like, to me, which makes sense because there’s a tobacco note. Cardamom adds a little drift spice, while the base is ambery, musky, cocooning.

As well as the oudh, there’s the woodiness of cedarwood and patchouli – but these are understated, working to tether this on the skin so that the sillage – the ‘trail’, after which this is named – really does last. I like that this is something I can smell on my own skin hours later, unlike so many – and it’s been a real compliment-magnet; I’ve also been spraying it on my clothes, quite obsessively. Several people have leaned in for a closer sniff (although it has to be said: they are people I know and love…!) I have also spent quite a lot of time… sniffing myself, delightedly, and have even exclaimed out loud, ‘Gosh, you smell GREAT!’ And I do.

For background, Manos Gerakinis is the founder of the first Greek ‘high-end’ niche perfume brand. (I wish I could tell you this was a steal; it’s not, it’s a splurge, although a 10ml size is available, for you to try before you do splurge!) Gerakinis worked in luxury retail, before creating Sillage Royal. So many people asked what he was wearing and wanted to wear it, he went on to share it with the world – for which I’m very grateful.

I’m also deeply grateful to Derya, who gifted me this bottle. And if you possibly can, I recommend that you make a pilgrimage to Parfum Le Dance to check Sillage Royal for yourself – among a huge wealth of scented treasures. (Give yourself a few hours! I will, next time. Though it’s worth pointing out: Derya does have a website.)

The strange thing is that Sillage Royal is full of contradictions. Some days, I feel it’s light and floral. Others, its dark and velvety: a chameleon scent that somehow works with what I’m wearing. (Note: not in full summer frock mode yet. In fact, today: vest and tights under my dress and gilet.) I flipping LOVE it.

But Sillage Royal also got me thinking: what else is in my Top Five? So, here goes… Perfumer H Patchouli. Schiaparelli Shocking (vintage, worn for my wedding 35 years ago). Guerlain Mitsouko. Chanel Les Eaux de Chanel Paris-Paris. I could go on – actually, maybe I’d better make it 10…!

But I do think that Sillage Royal will forever be right up there, in my pantheon of perfect perfumes.

£205 for 100ml eau de parfum – buy here