One bottle from desk to dinner: FAAN perfumes that work all day

Most people do not want to carry two perfumes or change in a station toilet. A good scent already does the changing for you. Here is how that works in the FAAN range.

What changes between nine and nine

A working day asks for a scent that is polite near other people. An evening asks for something with more warmth and a little more reach. The air differs too: a heated office is dry and still, a restaurant is warm and crowded, and the walk between them is cold.

So you want three things: a start that does not shout at nine, a middle that survives lunch and a finish that is richer by seven. That is exactly how a pyramid works, if the base is warm.

Use the dry-down, not a second bottle

A perfume has top, heart and base notes. The top fades in under an hour. The heart takes over for a few hours. The base is what you smell after lunch and into the evening. Choose a bottle where the top is light and the base is the evening scent you want, and apply it once in the morning. By the time you leave the office the base is already on your skin.

Spray after a shower on moisturised skin, three sprays, one of them on a shirt. See how long FAAN perfumes last for how the ratings translate into hours.

Three FAAN bottles that grow warmer

• Qasida Al-Badr: bergamot, nutmeg and cardamom open it dry and bright. Iris, sage and cedarwood fill the afternoon. Vetiver, tonka, vanilla and patchouli close it softly sweet. Listed for daily wear and the office. Projection and longevity 3 out of 5, so it is the quietest of the three.
• Qasida Sahm: fruit and ginger at nine, lavender and cedar at noon, oud, leather and vetiver by evening. The only bottle that lists both daily wear and evenings. Projection 3 out of 5, longevity 4 out of 5.
• Qasida Signature: bergamot, cinnamon and almond open it. Orange blossom and coconut follow. Praline, vanilla and amber finish it. Listed for evenings and special occasions, projection 3 out of 5, longevity 4 out of 5. Use two sprays at the office, since it is sweeter than the others.

One spray top-up routine

1. Morning: two or three sprays after a shower.
2. Lunch: nothing. Your nose has stopped smelling it, and others still do.
3. Before the evening: one spray on a shirt collar or scarf, not on skin. Skin has already given what it has, and fabric lets the base show.
4. Late: do not add more. Let the dry-down speak.

When you do need two bottles

Sometimes the split is too wide. If your office is scent-sensitive and your evenings are bold, take a quiet bottle for the day and an evening bottle such as Amjad Mystery, an Extrait listed for date nights. Two sprays of it is enough. For ideas, read the best FAAN perfumes for a date night or the Qasida Sahm review. To see everything, open all FAAN perfumes.

FAQ

Can one perfume really work all day?

Yes, if the base is something you also want in the evening, and you top up once on clothes.

Which is the safest for the office?

Al-Badr. It is rated 3 out of 5 for projection and listed for the office.

What if a bottle is sold out?

Ask to be notified on the product page. Delivery 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 Sahm review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• Best FAAN perfumes for a date night
• How long FAAN perfumes last