How long does FAAN Qasida Signature last? Wearing time and how to stretch it

We sell FAAN Qasida Signature as an independent retailer. It is a 200 ml Eau de Parfum from the Qasida line. The hour figures below are typical ranges for this concentration, not lab results and not a promise.

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

Both numbers come from the product page. Longevity 4 means it stays well past the first hour. Projection 3 means people notice it when they stand near you, not from across the room.

Next to the rest of the range it sits in the upper middle. Amjad Honour is rated 5 for longevity, while the fresh pear bottle Amjad Coral is rated 3. Signature is closer to Honour than to Coral.

What in the pyramid holds it on skin

Signature opens with bergamot, cinnamon, almond and cardamom. Those are bright and spicy, and bergamot is the first thing to go, usually within the first half hour.

The heart is orange blossom, coconut and guaiacwood. This is the creamy middle that you smell for the next couple of hours.

The base does the staying: praline, vanilla, dry amber and cashmeran. Sweet, heavy materials like these cling to skin and fabric. This is why the scent you wear at 6 pm is warmer and sweeter than the one you sprayed at noon.

Realistic wearing time: skin versus clothes

Typical ranges for an Eau de Parfum are about 4 to 8 hours on skin. With a base like this one, expect the upper half of that range, so a long dinner is no problem.

Fabric keeps scent longer than skin. A wool scarf or a cotton shirt can still smell of praline and vanilla the next morning. Nobody can promise an exact number, because it depends on the fabric and the weather.

Weather, skin type and sprays: what changes

• Cold air: the scent stays close and moves slowly. Autumn and winter, the seasons listed for Signature, are where it lasts best.
• Heat: it projects harder for an hour, then fades faster. Sweet notes can turn heavy, so use fewer sprays.
• Dry skin: drinks perfume. The same spray may last two hours less than on oily skin.
• Sprays: three sprays makes it louder, not much longer. The base notes set the length.

Five ways to stretch it

1. Moisturise the spot first with an unscented cream. Praline and vanilla grip onto a slightly rich surface.
2. Put one spray on the chest under your shirt and one on the inside of a scarf or jumper collar.
3. Spray from about 15 cm, then leave it alone. Rubbing your wrists breaks up the top notes faster.
4. Wear it in the evening. Cooler air slows evaporation, and the dry amber has time to show.
5. Keep the bottle in a drawer or a box, away from the radiator and from sunlight.

When and where to reapply

Do not top up in the first hour. The cinnamon and almond of the opening are the loudest part, and your nose gets used to them. If the scent has disappeared after four or five hours, add one spray to clothing, not to skin. If you want a warmer finish, Qasida Bakhour can sit underneath it, which we cover in layering Signature with Bakhour. That is our suggestion, so test it on paper first.

To compare other bottles on the same scale, look at the full FAAN range or our guide to choosing a FAAN perfume.

FAQ

Does Qasida Signature last all day?

Not on skin alone. Expect an evening, around 6 to 8 hours as a typical range. On clothes it can still be noticeable the next morning.

Is it strong enough for the office?

Projection is 3 out of 5, so one or two sprays stay polite. It is listed for evenings and special occasions, though, and the sweetness suits dinner better than a meeting room.

My bottle shows as sold out. What do I do?

Use the notify option on the product page and leave your email address. Delivery after you order takes 3 to 6 working days in the Netherlands and 5 to 8 working days in the rest of the EU.

Related reading

• FAAN Qasida Signature described note by note
• How long FAAN perfumes last across the range
• Sillage and projection explained