How long does FAAN Qasida Sahm last? Wearing time, projection and how to stretch it

FAAN Qasida Sahm is the best-known bottle of the Qasida line and an Eau de Parfum in 200 ml. A typical Eau de Parfum wears four to eight hours, so a 4 puts Sahm at the top of that range. All hour figures here are typical ranges, not lab numbers.

The ratings: longevity 4/5, projection 3/5

The gap between the two numbers is the useful part. Longevity 4 out of 5 means the scent keeps going well into the evening. Projection 3 out of 5 means it does not shout. People standing close notice it, and nobody leaves the lift because of it. Sahm lasts longer than it carries, which makes it easy to wear in company.

What in the pyramid holds it on skin

The top is long: mango, lemon, pink berries, ginger, raspberry, green mandarin and bergamot. Fruit and citrus are the first to go, and you should not expect them after the first hour. The heart adds blue coumarin, jasmine, cedar, dry woods, cardamom, lavender and clary sage, and these carry you through hours two and three.

The base is what the 4 is made of: oud, nagarmotha, musk, amber, leather accord, vetiver and wolfwood. Oud and leather are heavy, slow materials. Nagarmotha is an earthy root note, vetiver is dry and grassy, and wolfwood is a dry, ambery wood. None of these evaporate quickly, which is why the scent turns darker as it ages instead of fading out. For what oud adds to a bottle, see our guide to oud in perfume.

How long does Qasida Sahm last on skin and on clothes?

• Hour 1: loud fruit, ginger bite, mandarin.
• Hours 2 to 3: lavender, cedar and clary sage take over, clean and dry.
• Hours 4 to 8: oud, leather and vetiver, close to the skin.
• On clothes: the base can still be there the next morning.

Fabric holds leather and wood well, so a shirt or jacket often outlasts the skin.

Weather, skin type and sprays: what changes

Heat pushes the fruit out fast and makes the first hour louder, while the base stays put. In cold air the whole thing sits closer and the fruit lingers a little longer. Dry skin shortens any perfume, and a light unscented lotion helps. Three to four sprays are enough for Sahm. Because its longevity is higher than its projection, adding sprays buys you volume, not hours.

Five ways to stretch it

1. Apply after a shower on moisturised skin, chest and neck.
2. Spray one on the clothes, jacket or scarf, where leather and wood settle in.
3. Wait through the first hour before you judge it. The fruit is loud, and the oud only shows from hour two.
4. Skip the wrists. Rubbing them together blurs the opening.
5. Store the bottle upright in a cool, dark cupboard. A hot car or a sunny windowsill ruins the fruit first and flattens the rest.

When and where to reapply

For the office, one application in the morning is usually enough. For a dinner, add one spray on a shirt or jacket before you leave and you will carry it to late. If you reapply on skin, wait until the fruit has left, because a second layer of mango and raspberry on top of oud and leather sounds muddled. Compare other bottles in the longevity overview, or ask which FAAN perfume to choose if you want something that lasts even longer. To see the whole range, open all FAAN perfumes.

FAQ

Is Qasida Sahm long lasting?

Yes, it is rated 4 out of 5 for longevity. Typical wear is several hours on skin and longer on clothes.

Why does Sahm get darker after an hour?

The fruit evaporates first. What is left is oud, leather, vetiver and wolfwood, which sit lower and last longer.

What if it 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

• FAAN Qasida Sahm review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• How long FAAN perfumes last, bottle by bottle
• Oud in perfume: what it smells like and which FAAN bottles use it