Manos Gerakinis Sillage X, image via the brand, cover

“The only real luxury is time, make yours memorable.”– Manos Gerakinis

Marking ten extraordinary years since its debut, Manos Gerakinis celebrates its legacy as Greece’s first luxury niche perfume house with the unveiling of Sillage X. This is a fragrance that pays homage to its Hellenic roots, ignites the imagination, and seamlessly fuses time-honored traditions with innovative olfactive artistry.

Manos Gerakinis Portrait, picture via the official website

Behind these fragrance lies the aesthetic vision of founder and creative director Manos Gerakinis, whose formative years in Kavala, Greece sparked a lifelong fascination with perfume. After refining his palate in London’s luxury sector, Manos returned to Greece with a new quest.  A man of eclectic tastes and a keen eye for detail, Manos sought a new means of self-expression – and so a bespoke fragrance, initially intended just for his own pleasure, ignited a passion that led to the birth of Manos Gerakinis. Referencing the name of the brand’s very first fragrance – Sillage Royal – and paying homage to the classic vetiver-centered masterpieces, SILLAGE X captures the eagerness and optimism for life’s upcoming adventures through a suave, gender-fluid blend of vitalizing, rejuvenating notes.

Vasiliki Psatha, photo via the brand

Manos remains true to his Greek heritage by partnering once again with a perfumer from Greece. This time, he collaborates with the Athens-born perfumer, Vasiliki Psatha. Nearly four decades of experience at the helm of a major Greek fragrance company form her approach – one that’s grounded in a Chemistry degree and carried forth by an ardent love for philosophy, poetry, and the natural world’s infinite splendor. A free spirit drawn to exploration, Vasiliki looks beyond borders, gathering inspiration from the cultures and environments she encounters in her travels. The cosmopolitan aura of her fragrances often leans into rich, woody, and spicy accords – yet, at their core, they remain profoundly Greek, blending the purity of her homeland’s botanical wonders with global influences to craft perfumes that are both elegantly refined and irresistibly evocative.

Vetiver waves, AI mood photo by Nicoleta

Manos Gerakinis Sillage X reflects some of the fondest scent memories that the creator had over the the kind of refined, “masculine” marketed perfumes that fascinated him as he was growing up – fragrances that many women, too, loved wearing, defying gender labels .From the very first spritz, I’m transported back to hazy olfactive memories, in a whirlwind that begins with the invigorating lemon-spice brightness reminiscent of Clarins Eau Dynamisante. Then a hyper-masculine surge that recalls a 90’s Blue Denim cologne moment – an unapologetic nod to the almighty Drakkar Noir, then slips into the smoky, Twin Peaks – evoking mystery of Chanel Sycomore moods, and sinks into the inky, earthbound darkness that reminds me of Lalique Encre Noire. I feel the memory of Guerlain Vetiver, a gold standard for vetiver lovers – and each facet emerges like a cinematic flashback, weaving together a tapestry of scent memories that feel both achingly familiar and thrillingly new.

Manos Gerakinis Sillage X

Manos Gerakinis Sillage X opens with a brisk swirl of lemon and bergamot, their tartness balanced by the subtle, herbaceous whisper of fennel – a green, gently anise-tinged breeze that feels so succulent and crisp. The pepper and cardamom flash like sparks in this cool, citrus-lit air, stirring anticipation for what’s to come. Then the fragrance shifts its spotlight to vetiver, and stays there. This beloved note unfurls from the tangy, invigorating citrusy top into something richly layered: damp earth meeting the morning sun, roots and soil pushing up through a verdant forest floor. Cedar embers glow quietly in the background, adding a smoky dimension that adds just enough darkness. The orris root enriches these earthy textures, as if gilding them in a pale, shimmering dust- a powdery iris hum harmonizing with the vetiver’s green depths. As the scent settles and warms on the skin, a rugged whisper of leather and patchouli threads through the evolving tapestry, giving it a coarser, more dangerous edge.

Passage of time, AI mood photo by Nicoleta

Created to celebrate a decade of Manos Gerakinis, SILLAGE X succeeded to align  with Manos’ intent – to be a joyful and still contemplative olfactive reflection on the passage of time – and on what remains truly timeless. Although it subtly tips its hat to the grand tradition of classical masculine perfumery, this fragrance wears as effortlessly unisex, its graceful backbone of vetiver lending a natural, airy complexity that feels both sophisticated and richly nuanced. The mood here is one of quiet elegance and gentle calm -a perfect milestone that marks new territory while honoring its heritage. And I, for one, can’t wait to see what Manos comes up with next.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Lemon, Mandarin, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Fennel Seed; Heart Notes: Vetiver, Orris, Cedarwood, Leather; Base Notes: Patchouli, Moss, Musk, Tonka Bean, Amber

Nicoleta Tomsa, Senior Editor

Disclosure: A travel of Manos Gerakinis Sillage X was kindly offered by the brand, opinions are my own.

Also read my reviews for Imperial Malt,  Omen, Anthem

Manos Gerakinis Sillage X,  travel spay via the brand

Thanks to the generosity of Manos Gerakinis we have a 10 ml travel spray of Sillage X for one registered reader in the US, UK or EU. You must register or your entry will not count. To be eligible, please leave a comment saying what sparks your interest based on Nicoleta’s review and where you live. Draw closes12/18/2024

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