Unseen and unheard, scent is the ever-present companion to our history, both personal and cultural. There are scents we collectively associate with life events, those we associate with certain cultures, some that mark a period in history, and those we choose to match our own personality. It can represent tradition, or its rejection, hope or abandon. On one’s person, scent can define a mood, can whisper (or shout) a siren’s call, can comfort or even repel. Perfume is the artistic expression of this omnipresent companion, and eauxSILLAGE the musings of one devotee of this this olfactory art.
From its humble beginnings on Instagram, eauxSILLAGE has been exploring the great and scandalous art of perfumery since 2018, earning along the way more than 100,000 likes in a little under 18 months. Initially a perfume diary of sorts, eauxSILLAGE built a loyal following of passionate perfumistas whose interest and encouragement led to the creation of this blog.
Today, eauxSILLAGE continues to deliver visual content across Instagram and Pinterest as well as lengthier, more insightful fragrance reviews and editorial style features here on the blog and Facebook. Weekly features include those reviews of newly released or classical perfumes, occasional explanatory or topical articles – some outside the strict purview of fragrance since this is not a passion that exists within a bubble – and ongoing series that include the self-explanatory Interview with Nose.
My name is Nicholas Van Der Sluys. I am a Perth, Australia based marketing specialist with degrees in Investment Finance and Marketing. My passions outside of fragrance rest in skincare, culinary pursuits, wine, literature, travel and modern history. I am opinionated. I am a perfectionist. I am an aesthete.
My own affinity for scent began at an early age. Born in the tropical Whitsundays region of Queensland, Australia where I spent my first few years, I have vivid olfactory memories of overripe mangoes, refreshing sea breezes and the cremated sweetness of sugarcane fires. A move to Western Australia at the age of 6 introduced me to a whole new fragrant landscape – sandalwood, nose-tingling wattle (mimosa to anyone outside of Australia), the comforting scent of beeswax and honey from hives kept on the farm, and the animalic smells of our racing stables. A mixed bag of olfactory memories, one that goes a way to explaining my broad taste in perfume.
I hold the deepest affection for – but not exclusively – grande dame aldehydes, gothic exotics, suede-like leather accords, big white florals, classical chypres and spicy orientals. I have a dislike for overt masculines and those insipid pink-hued floral musks that occupy department store perfume counters. I am indignant at the ubiquitous use of aromachemicals and white musks that plague modern perfumery.
Expectedly, my views are my own and utterly subjective. I will always give my honest opinion when discussing fragrance, but it is my personal opinion, you will not find purely factual reviews here. I have, do and will always encourage you to try scent on your own skin as personal taste and skin chemistry will impact the way it wears and how you feel about it.
eauxSILLAGE is a personal blog written and administered by me, Nicholas Van Der Sluys. I do not accept payment to publish content or review fragrances, and only feature those products I have sampled myself. The reviews on eauxSILLAGE are mostly of fragrances I have purchased myself, though I do occasionally receive press samples for the purpose of review by brands or distributors, and very occasionally gifts from perfumers or fellow perfumistas. In any case, my review policy is always one of honesty and no positive review is ever guaranteed.