Valentine's Day perfume: what to wear and what to give

There are two jobs here: what you wear on the night, and what you put in a gift bag. They overlap, but not entirely. Here are both.

Wear it or gift it: two routes

Wear it. A dinner for two is a small space. Someone is a metre away. You want a scent that is warm and noticeable up close, not one that arrives before you do. Projection 3 out of 5 is plenty, and two sprays of an Extrait go far.

Gift it. A gift has to survive a guess. Pick a scent the person is likely to like from what they already wear, and one they can return if the guess is wrong: the 14-day withdrawal right applies to a sealed bottle, as set out on the shipping and returns page.

Warm bottles for a quiet dinner

• Amjad Mystery: hazelnut, saffron, smoky rose, sandalwood and vanilla. An Extrait listed for date nights, projection 3 out of 5, longevity 4 out of 5. Two sprays.
• Qasida Queen: dark cherry, clove, jasmine, vanilla, amber and coffee. Listed for date nights, projection and longevity 4 out of 5. Two or three sprays.
• Qasida Signature: bergamot, cinnamon, almond, praline and vanilla. Warm and easy, projection 3 out of 5. Three sprays.
• Qasida Bakhour: saffron, rose, incense and leather. The bolder choice, projection 4 out of 5. Use it if you both like smoke.

For more, the best FAAN perfumes for a date night goes further.

What to give her, what to give him

Skip the labels and think about taste. Does the person like sweet, nutty or smoky?

• Sweet and dark: Queen, which is written for her.
• Sweet and easy: Signature, listed unisex.
• Nutty and floral: Mystery.
• Fruit and oud: Qasida Sahm, which is written for him.

If you are unsure, our perfume gifts for him and for her lists safer picks, and the FAAN gift guide goes by person.

Delivery times to be sure it arrives

Orders to the Netherlands take 3 to 6 working days in total: 1 to 2 for processing and 2 to 4 for transport. To the rest of the EU, 5 to 8 working days: 2 to 3 for processing and 3 to 5 for transport. These are estimates under normal conditions, and busy periods can add time. For a safe margin, order by the end of January for the Netherlands and a week earlier for the rest of the EU. That is our suggestion, not a guarantee. If a bottle shows as sold out, ask to be notified on the product page.

Gift extras that cost nothing

• Write the notes on the card: top, heart and base. It turns a bottle into a story.
• Add one line about why you chose it.
• Plan the first spray together. Put it on at home before you go out.
• Send it straight to the recipient by entering their address at checkout.

In the Netherlands, shipping is free from 75 euros, so two bottles from the Extrait range, for example, qualify. See all FAAN perfumes.

FAQ

What is the best FAAN perfume for Valentine's Day?

For a date, Queen or Mystery. For an easy gift, Signature.

Is a 200 ml bottle too much for a gift?

It is a generous one. It lasts many months of regular use.

Can I return it if they do not like it?

Within 14 days of receiving it, if the bottle is still sealed. Contact us with your order number.

Related reading

• Best FAAN perfumes for a date night
• FAAN perfume gift guide
• Perfume gifts for him and for her