Every fragrance is worn for a minimum of 7 consecutive days before a longevity rating is assigned. Single-day testing produces unreliable results due to skin chemistry variation, humidity, and environmental factors. Our 7-day protocol controls for this variation.

Application protocol: 3 sprays applied to wrists and neck at 9:00 AM daily. No moisturizers, body oils, or other fragrances on test areas. Room temperature 20-22°C (68-72°F) baseline.

Measurement intervals: Scent is assessed at 1h, 2h, 4h, 6h, 8h, 10h, and 12h after application. "Longevity" is defined as the point when the scent becomes undetectable at 10cm distance, not when projection fades. We report both projection lifespan and skin scent lifespan separately when they differ significantly.

Projection is the distance at which a fragrance can be detected by a neutral third party. We measure projection at three distance intervals: 0.5m (arm's length — intimate), 1.5m (conversational distance), and 3m (room projection). Measurements are taken at 30 minutes, 2 hours, and 4 hours after application.

Sillage (the trail a fragrance leaves) is assessed by having the wearer walk a 10-meter corridor and recording how long the scent trail is detectable. Results are categorized as: intimate (detectable only within 0.5m), moderate (0.5-1.5m), strong (1.5-3m), or room-filling (3m+).

A fragrance's character changes significantly with temperature. Heavy oriental and tobacco fragrances that perform beautifully at 15°C (59°F) can become overwhelming at 30°C (86°F) as heat amplifies projection. We note seasonal recommendations based on the following observations:

• Summer-tested: Worn in outdoor conditions above 25°C (77°F)
• Winter-tested: Worn in outdoor conditions below 10°C (50°F)
• Year-round: Passes both temperature tests without significant character change
• Temperature-sensitive: Performs well in one season but is not recommended in the other

We document the scent character at three stages: top notes (0-30 minutes), heart notes (30 minutes-3 hours), and base notes (3 hours onward). Many fragrances change character significantly from opening to dry-down — a review based only on the first impression is incomplete.

We specifically note: (a) whether the dry-down is more or less appealing than the opening, (b) how long before the fragrance reaches its "best phase," and (c) whether the scent becomes generic in the base or maintains its character. This is particularly important for niche and oriental fragrances where the base is the defining feature.

Compliment factor is a practical metric that matters to most buyers. We track unsolicited positive comments during the 7-day wear period and cross-reference with community data from Fragrantica (2.8M+ user reviews) to produce a compliment score from 1-10.

We acknowledge that compliment frequency is context-dependent — a fragrance that generates reactions in an evening social setting may go unnoticed in an office. Our compliment ratings specify the context in which they were observed.