FAAN Amjad Kingdom vs FAAN Amjad Mystery: which FAAN perfume should you buy?

Both bottles sit in the Amjad line and are 200 ml Extraits. FAAN Amjad Kingdom is the heavier one. FAAN Amjad Mystery is the friendlier one. They share one note, ambergris, and almost nothing else.

Quick verdict in three lines

• You want a scent that people notice and that lasts through a long evening: Kingdom.
• You want a rosy, nutty, slightly smoky scent that is easier to wear: Mystery.
• You are watching the budget: the price will not decide it, as both cost €54.99, so go by the notes.

Notes side by side

Shared: ambergris, and a resinous amber character. Only Kingdom has amber and Amber Xtreme as named notes, plus ambrette, benzoin and the violet and styrax pairing. Only Mystery has akigalawood, frankincense, hazelnut and osmanthus, and the floral heart of rose and jasmine.

First hour and dry-down

Kingdom starts dry and a little green, because of vetiver and elemi, with the hibiscus adding a sharp, berry-like note. The heart is where it gets its look: violet and styrax, powdery and balsamic at once, over amber and benzoin. The base is labdanum, ambergris and musk, thick and warm.

Mystery starts with pear and hazelnut, a sweet and nutty opening, with frankincense in the background. Rose and saffron arrive next, with jasmine and osmanthus, and the smoke is a thin thread rather than a cloud. It ends in sandalwood and vanilla, soft and creamy.

Strength and staying power

Kingdom is one of only two bottles in the range with longevity 5, the other being Amjad Honour. Mystery is a solid 4. Both are Extraits, so a spray or two is enough. Kingdom is a scent for open spaces and long evenings, Mystery for a table for two.

Season, occasion, audience and price

• Season: both autumn and winter.
• Moment: Kingdom for evenings and special occasions, Mystery for date nights and special occasions.
• Audience: both unisex.
• Price: Kingdom €54.99, about 27 cents per ml. Mystery €54.99, about 27 cents per ml.

How to wear each

With Kingdom, one or two sprays are plenty: one on the chest and one on a jumper or scarf. It is an Extrait with projection 4, so a third spray fills the lift. It also needs cool air to show its best. Mystery is more forgiving. Two or three sprays on chest and neck are fine, and the rose and saffron are pleasant in a warm room too. Neither is a daytime office scent, and for that job our guide to autumn and winter lists calmer options.

Who should pick which

Choose Amjad Kingdom if you like resins and powder, want a scent with presence, and plan to wear it to events, long dinners or cold evenings.

Choose Amjad Mystery if you like rose and saffron, want a sweet nutty note without gourmand heaviness, and prefer a scent that stays closer to you.

If you cannot decide, we have a separate piece on layering Kingdom and Mystery. That is our suggestion, so test on paper first. Use our guide to choosing a FAAN perfume for other pairs, or view the full range.

FAQ

Which one lasts longer, Kingdom or Mystery?

Kingdom, rated 5 out of 5 for longevity against 4 out of 5 for Mystery.

Is Mystery easier to wear than Kingdom?

Usually yes. It projects less, 3 against 4, and its rose and hazelnut are more familiar than Kingdom's violet and styrax.

The one I want is sold out. What now?

Use the notify option on the product page. Delivery takes 3 to 6 working days in the Netherlands and 5 to 8 in the rest of the EU.

Related reading

• Layering Amjad Kingdom with Amjad Mystery
• Ambergris in perfume and the FAAN bottles that use it
• Which FAAN perfume to choose