We test the application of Kobayashi-McMillan theory for the solutes ortho-, meta- and para-dichlorobenzene in a binary mixture of 6OCB/8OCB in which both high temperature nematic and low temperature reentrant nematic phases exist. Proton NMR spectra of these solutes are analyzed to give two independent order parameters from which the solute smectic potential can be parametrized. The derived smectic order parameters for the solutes in this binary mixture are discussed and compared with those previously found in pure 8OCB solvent. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.