Wedding guest perfume: what to wear for the ceremony, dinner and dancing

Day wedding or evening wedding: pick by the clock

A wedding is one scent in front of the same people for twelve hours. Split the day. Until the end of the ceremony and the drinks, the scent should be light and close. After the sun goes down it can warm up. If you can only wear one bottle all day, choose the middle: projection 3, longevity 3 or 4, and a base that does not turn heavy in a warm room.

Sitting close to strangers: keep the sillage low

Pews and round tables put you elbow to elbow with people you do not know, and some of them dislike strong scent. Our projection ratings help here. Projection 2 or 3 stays within arm's reach. Projection 4 fills a corner. For the ceremony, stay at 2 or 3. Use two sprays, one on the chest under the jacket and one on the back of the neck, and skip your wrists. It is a good day to apply on clothes: the inside of a jacket lining holds a scent calmly. Test a hidden spot first if the fabric is silk or satin.

Three bottles for a summer ceremony

• Qasida Purity: projection 2, longevity 3. Pear, jasmine and tuberose over cashmere musk and vanilla. The quietest bottle in the range and listed for spring and autumn. Ideal for a late-spring or early-autumn ceremony.
• Amjad Coral: projection 3, longevity 3. Pear, mandarin, ginger and clean woods. Listed for spring and summer, and the best choice if the ceremony is outdoors in the heat.
• Qasida Senses: projection 3, longevity 3. Pear, peony and soft vanilla, written for her and listed for spring and summer.

Three bottles for an autumn or winter wedding

• Qasida Signature: projection 3, longevity 4. Praline, vanilla and amber. Sweet and welcoming. It sits well on a coat and through a long dinner.
• Amjad Mystery: projection 3, longevity 4. Hazelnut, saffron and smoky rose. Listed for date nights and special occasions, and a good partner for a first dance.
• Qasida Bakhour: projection 4, longevity 4. Saffron, rose, incense and leather. The moodiest of the three, for an evening reception. Use one spray less than usual.

Touch-up plan for a twelve-hour day

All FAAN bottles are 200 ml, so do not carry the bottle. If you want a touch-up, pour a small amount into a clean travel atomiser at home. The longevity ratings here are our own, so for how long a scent lasts, read how long FAAN perfumes last. You can browse all FAAN perfumes for more.

FAQ

What perfume should I wear to a wedding?

Something with projection 2 or 3 for the day, and a warm base for the evening. Purity, Coral and Signature all work.

Is a strong perfume rude at a wedding?

It can feel that way in a close seating plan. Two sprays and a lower projection rating keep you polite.

Can I wear Amjad Honour to a wedding?

You can, in autumn or winter, with one spray on clothes. It is rated 4 for projection and 5 for longevity, so it is a bold choice.

Related reading

• Best FAAN perfumes for spring and summer
• Best FAAN perfumes for autumn and winter
• How long do FAAN perfumes last?