How to wear an extrait: fewer sprays, better placement

If you have just bought a bottle like FAAN Amjad Honour, the main thing to unlearn is spray count. The habits you built on lighter bottles will overshoot. Here is how to adjust. For the definition of an Extrait, read what an Extrait de Parfum is.

Start with two

An Eau de Parfum typically has around 15 to 20 percent fragrance oil, and an Extrait 20 percent and more. These are general industry ranges, not figures for one bottle. The extra oil makes the scent denser. A dense scent fills a room faster, and it is hard to take back.

So begin with two sprays and wait ten minutes. If you can still smell it clearly, you have enough. Add a third only if you want it louder, and only on a cold day. Our ratings show the spread across the FAAN Extraits: Honour and Amjad Kingdom have projection 4 out of 5, Amjad Mystery 3 out of 5, and Amjad Coral 3 out of 5. The higher the projection, the closer you should stay to two.

Chest first, clothes second

Put the first spray on the upper chest, under the collar. Warmth rises from there and releases the scent slowly. Put the second on a shirt, scarf or jumper, from about 15 cm away. Fabric holds an Extrait well, and it keeps the base notes for a long time.

Skip the wrists. Rubbing them breaks the opening, and an Extrait does not need the extra warmth. Our guide to the pulse point myth explains why.

Heat and extrait

In warm weather an Extrait can turn heavy. Resins and ambers get louder in heat, and a room full of people adds to it. Use one spray, on clothing rather than skin. In summer, a fresh Extrait such as Coral is the easier choice. In winter, Honour or Kingdom thrive, and two or three sprays are fine. Cold air keeps the scent closer, so you can afford a little more.

Reapplying

An Extrait is built to last, and if you cannot smell it after a few hours, your nose has stopped registering it. Others can still smell it. Wait five or six hours before you top up, and when you do, use one spray on clothes, not on skin. Layering a second dose on skin tends to make the scent heavier, not longer.

If you really need a top-up at work, a small atomiser helps. See decanting a 200 ml bottle.

A starting point for each bottle

These are our suggestions, based on the projection ratings, not rules.

• Honour and Kingdom (projection 4 out of 5): two sprays.
• Mystery and Qasida Bidaya (projection 3 out of 5): two or three sprays.
• Coral (projection 3 out of 5, fresh): three sprays in spring and summer.

If you change bottles, change the count. Do not carry one number across the whole shelf.

Stacking with lotion

Moisturised skin holds perfume longer. Use an unscented lotion, so the scents do not fight. A scented lotion that does not match your Extrait can muddy the base. Apply the lotion first, wait a minute, then spray.

FAQ

Can I wear an Extrait in summer?

Yes, with one spray on clothing. A fresh one such as Coral is the easy choice.

Is an Extrait stronger than an Eau de Parfum?

Usually it lasts longer and sits closer to the skin, but projection depends on the blend. Check both ratings.

What if my Extrait 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. See all FAAN perfumes.

Related reading

• What is an Extrait de Parfum?
• How to wear and store a 200 ml perfume
• FAAN Amjad Honour review: notes, strength and when to wear it