FAAN Amjad Honour vs FAAN Qasida Bakhour: which FAAN perfume should you buy?

Amjad Honour vs Qasida Bakhour: the verdict in three lines

• Amjad Honour for resin, oud and the longest wear.
• Qasida Bakhour for leather, clove and a darker, moodier mix.
• Both suit autumn and winter evenings, and both are unisex.

Notes side by side

Shared: rose, saffron and vanilla. The placement of saffron differs: it is in the heart of Honour and in the top of Bakhour, which means Bakhour smells of saffron straight away. Both also carry an incense-type note under different names: frankincense in the top of Honour, incense in the heart of Bakhour. Only Honour: amber, ambergris, benzoin, cardamom, elemi, geranium, lemon, oud, orange blossom, patchouli and Sichuan pepper. Only Bakhour: blackcurrant, cistus, clove, leather, sandalwood, tonka and violet.

First hour and dry-down

Bakhour starts with saffron and clove, warm and a little medicinal, with a dark fruit edge from blackcurrant. The heart brings rose and violet with incense, powdery and smoky together. The base is sandalwood, cistus (a resin with an ambery, leathery smell), leather and vanilla. It ends as smoky leather with sweetness.

Honour starts with lemon, pepper and frankincense, brighter and drier. Rose and saffron come next, then vanilla, amber, oud and benzoin. It ends warmer and rounder, more like polished resin than leather.

Strength and staying power

Honour: 4/5 projection and 5/5 longevity. Bakhour: 4/5 and 4/5. They project alike. Honour holds on for a few hours longer. For a dinner of three hours, either will do. For a long wedding or a night with a coat on, Honour has the edge.

Season, occasion, audience, concentration and price

Both are listed for autumn and winter, for evenings and special occasions, and as unisex, both in 200 ml. Honour is an Extrait de Parfum at €44.99, about 22.5 cents per ml. Bakhour is an Eau de Parfum at €54.99, about 27.5 cents per ml. So you pay €10 more for Bakhour, and the higher concentration and the longer life come with Honour.

Five situations, one pick each

Who should pick which

Choose Honour if you want resin, oud and the longest-lasting bottle for the money.

Choose Bakhour if leather and clove appeal to you and you want something darker with a bit of fruit in the opening.

If you like both, the saffron guide shows where that note sits across the range. Beyond these two, the guide to choosing a FAAN perfume and all FAAN perfumes give the wider picture.

FAQ

Is Qasida Bakhour smokier than Amjad Honour?

They are both smoky. Bakhour reads as smoky leather, Honour as smoky resin.

Which lasts longer?

Honour: longevity 5/5 against 4/5.

Which is better for a wedding?

Honour for a long day and night, Bakhour for a candlelit dinner. See also our picks for what to wear as a wedding guest.

Related reading

• FAAN Amjad Honour review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• Saffron in perfume and the FAAN bottles that use it
• Which FAAN perfume to choose: a simple guide