Perfume for a Christmas party and the holiday season

December is the one month when almost every FAAN bottle suits the weather. The harder question is how much to wear. Here is a short guide.

Warm rooms, crowds and spice

A packed, heated room lifts every scent. What smells polite on a cold street can become heavy at a table of twelve. So cut your usual sprays by one. Two sprays of an Extrait, three of an Eau de Parfum is a good ceiling.

Spice works well in December because cold air and warm rooms both suit it. It also carries across a room without being sharp. Very sweet or very smoky scents can feel heavy next to roast dinners, so if the party is a family meal, pick the softer end of the list.

Festive notes already in the range

You do not need a seasonal launch. Several bottles already list the notes people link with the holidays:

• Cinnamon, cardamom, almond and praline in Qasida Signature.
• Clove, cherry and coffee in Qasida Queen.
• Saffron, cardamom, vanilla bean and benzoin in Qasida Bidaya.
• Frankincense, cardamom and saffron in Amjad Honour.

All four are listed for autumn and winter.

Four bottles for office parties and family dinners

• Office party: Signature. Warm, sweet and easy to wear, with projection 3 out of 5 and longevity 4 out of 5. Two or three sprays.
• Office party or small dinner: Bidaya. An Extrait, projection 3 out of 5, longevity 4 out of 5. It is saffron and vanilla without much smoke, so it sits well near others.
• Evening party: Queen. Cherry, clove and coffee, projection 4 out of 5. Listed for date nights. Use three sprays at most.
• Big night out: Honour. Frankincense, saffron and oud. Projection 4 out of 5, longevity 5 out of 5. Two sprays. It is one of our best sellers.

For the wider range, read the best FAAN perfumes for autumn and winter.

Layering up for the cold walk

Cold air mutes the first minutes of a scent, so apply indoors, ten minutes before you go out. Put one spray on a scarf or the inside of a coat collar, where wool and fabric hold it and release it slowly in the warm room. If you own both Honour and Queen, layering Honour with Queen is our suggestion for a big evening, but test it on paper first.

Wrapping it as a gift too

A bottle is also an easy Christmas present. For ideas by person, see the Christmas gift ideas and the general gift guide. In December, orders take 3 to 6 working days in the Netherlands and 5 to 8 working days in the rest of the EU, and busy periods can add time, so order early. If a bottle shows as sold out, ask to be notified on the product page. See all FAAN perfumes.

Mistakes at the party table

• Reapplying in the loo. In a warm room your nose stops registering the scent within the hour. Everyone else still smells it, so skip the top-up.
• Wearing a summer scent for winter. Amjad Coral is listed for spring and summer and can look thin in a December coat.
• Heavy resin for a seated dinner. Honour and oud suit a standing party better than a small table, where the person next to you gets all of it.
• Spraying on the way out the door. Cold air mutes the opening, and you smell the loudest part later, at the party.

FAQ

How many sprays for a Christmas party?

Two of an Extrait, three of an Eau de Parfum. A heated room does the rest.

Can I wear a sweet perfume to a family dinner?

Yes, in moderation. Signature is sweet and warm but not heavy at two or three sprays.

What if the bottle I want is sold out?

Ask to be notified on the product page, and choose another warm bottle from the list in the meantime.

Related reading

• Best FAAN perfumes for autumn and winter
• FAAN perfume gift guide
• Christmas perfume gifts: FAAN ideas by person and delivery dates