Benzoin in perfume: what it smells like and which FAAN bottles use it

Benzoin is one of those notes that rarely gets the credit. It is a soft, warm resin that sits behind more famous names like amber and vanilla. Here is what it smells like and where it hides in the range.

What benzoin smells like, and what it does not

Benzoin is a resin from a tree, and it smells sweet and warm: vanilla, a little cinnamon, a hint of powder, with a balsamic, almost cocoa-like richness. It is smoother than incense and less smoky.

It does not smell sharp or medicinal in a perfume, and it is a different material from frankincense, even though both are resins. Frankincense is dry, lemony and smoky. Benzoin is the soft, sweet one. If you like the smell of a warm, closed room with a candle in it, benzoin is part of that picture.

How perfumers use benzoin: top, heart or base

Benzoin is heavy and slow, so it is a base note first. It anchors lighter materials and rounds out a dry-down, a bit like vanilla and amber do. It can also sit in the heart, where it adds a resinous warmth between the flowers and the base. It is not a top note.

Benzoin in the FAAN range

Three bottles list benzoin:

• Amjad Honour, base: with vanilla, amber and oud. Extrait de Parfum, projection 4 out of 5, longevity 5 out of 5.
• Amjad Kingdom, heart: with styrax, violet and amber. Extrait de Parfum, projection 4 out of 5, longevity 5 out of 5.
• Qasida Bidaya, base: with vanilla bean, leather and white musk. Extrait de Parfum, projection 3 out of 5, longevity 4 out of 5.

Note what the three have in common: they are all Extraits, and all three are listed for autumn and winter, for evenings and special occasions.

What benzoin is paired with in these pyramids

• Vanilla, amber and oud (Honour) make a sweet, resinous, dark base.
• Styrax, violet and amber (Kingdom) make a powdery heart. Styrax is another balsamic resin, so benzoin has company.
• Vanilla bean, leather and white musk (Bidaya) make a soft, warm base with a touch of leather.

In each one benzoin works as glue and as sweetness. You rarely smell it on its own. You smell the warmth it gives to everything around it.

Wearing advice: season, sprays and who tends to like it

These are cold-weather bottles. Because they are Extraits, two or three sprays are enough. One of them on clothes helps, since resins hold well on fabric. Read how to wear an extrait for placement and timing.

Benzoin suits people who like warm, sweet and cosy scents, but not sugary ones. If you dislike vanilla, test Kingdom first, where benzoin sits in the heart with violet. If you want it plain, Bidaya is gentler than the other two.

If you like benzoin, start with Amjad Honour

Honour is one of our best sellers. Benzoin is part of its base, and it is the best-known way into the note in this range. Read the Amjad Honour review for the full walk. The wider group of Extraits is covered in what an Extrait de Parfum is. If you are comparing several, see the five FAAN Extraits ranked, or see all FAAN perfumes. For general help, read which FAAN perfume to choose.

FAQ

Is benzoin just vanilla?

No, but they are close in feel. Benzoin is a resin with a balsamic, slightly spicy edge. Vanilla is creamier. Several perfumes use both, and Honour and Bidaya do.

Does benzoin make a perfume last longer?

Heavy resins and balsams are base notes, and base notes stay on skin longest. In this range the benzoin bottles are rated 4 or 5 out of 5 for longevity.

What if a bottle is sold out?

Ask to be notified on the product page. Orders take 3 to 6 working days in the Netherlands and 5 to 8 working days in the rest of the EU.

Related reading

• What is an Extrait de Parfum?
• FAAN Amjad Honour review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• The five FAAN Extraits ranked for value, strength and wearability