FAAN Qasida Sahm review: fruit first, oud last

FAAN Qasida Sahm is written for him, and it is one of the most searched bottles in the range. It opens with a basket of fruit and ends in dark oud and leather. That swing is the point. This is not a customer review and it has no star score. It is a plain description built from the notes, so you know what to expect.

We are an independent retailer of FAAN fragrances. The bottle is here: FAAN Qasida Sahm, 200 ml Eau de Parfum. The word sahm means arrow in Arabic.

Notes

• Top: mango, lemon, pink berries, ginger, raspberry, green mandarin, bergamot
• Heart: blue coumarin, jasmine, cedar, dry woods, cardamom, lavender, clary sage
• Base: oud, nagarmotha, musk, amber, leather accord, vetiver, wolfwood

Main accords: fruity, aromatic, woody and oud. It is the longest note list in the Qasida line.

How it smells

The opening is juicy. Mango, raspberry and mandarin come first, with ginger and lemon to keep the fruit sharp. It is not a sugar bomb. The ginger gives it a dry bite.

After about half an hour the fruit steps back. Lavender and clary sage bring a clean, barbershop feel. Cedar and dry woods make the middle firm. Cardamom adds a little spice. Blue coumarin is a sweet, hay-like note that smooths the join between fruit and wood.

The base is dark. Oud, leather accord, vetiver and wolfwood sit together. Nagarmotha is an earthy, slightly smoky grass-root. Musk and amber round it. By the third hour the fruit is mostly gone and the scent smells of woods and leather. That is why we describe it as fruit first, oud last.

The notes explained

Some of these notes are not everyday words, so here is what they do.

• Pink berries: a sweet, slightly peppery fruit note. It lifts the opening.
• Blue coumarin: a soft, hay-like, almond-sweet material. It bridges the fruit and the wood.
• Clary sage: herbal, a bit musky, a bit like tea. It makes the heart feel clean.
• Nagarmotha: also called cyperus. Earthy, smoky and slightly sweet. It is the root of the dark base.
• Wolfwood: a dry, ambery wood note. It adds a rough edge to the cedar.

Strength and staying power

We rate projection at 3 out of 5 and longevity at 4 out of 5. It is a polite scent. People who stand close will notice it. People across the room will not. It lasts well into the evening on skin and longer on clothes.

When to wear it

The listed seasons are autumn and spring, and the listed moments are daily wear and evenings. That fits. Fruit makes it light enough for a mild day. Oud and leather make it serious enough for a dinner.

• Spring and autumn days.
• Evenings out, shirt and jacket.
• Office, in one or two sprays.

Who it suits

If you want a masculine scent with a fruity start and you like a bit of oud without a lot of smoke, Sahm is a good match. If you dislike any sweetness in the opening, look at Qasida Dunes, which is dry and peppery, or Qasida Al-Badr, which is calm and powdery.

It is written for him, but scent has no rules. If you like fruit and oud on your skin, wear it.

How to get the most from it

Spray the neck and the chest, then one spray on the clothes. Fruity openings are strong in the first minutes, so wait before you add more. A 200 ml bottle is a lot of perfume, so see our guide on wearing and storing a 200 ml perfume to keep it fresh to the last drop.

Looking at the rest of the line? The Qasida collection guide covers all nine. And for a quick choice, read which FAAN perfume to choose.

Buying it

The bottle is 200 ml and the price is on the product page. 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 it takes 5 to 8 working days: 2 to 3 for processing and 3 to 5 for transport. Shipping is free in the Netherlands from €75. If the bottle shows as sold out, ask to be notified on the product page.

Looking for the two ends of the Amjad line? Amjad Honour is the deep, resinous one. Amjad Coral is the fresh one.

FAQ

Is Qasida Sahm for men?

It is written for him. Fruit lovers of any gender could enjoy it.

Does it smell sweet?

The opening is fruity and a little sweet. The base is dry, woody and leathery.

What concentration is it?

Eau de Parfum, in a 200 ml bottle.

Is it good for the office?

Yes, in one or two sprays. It is listed for daily wear.

Related reading

• FAAN Qasida perfumes: all nine bottles explained
• Best FAAN perfumes for spring and summer
• How to wear and store a 200 ml perfume

Ready to choose? Browse all fourteen FAAN perfumes.