Perfume for the office: how much is too much, and which FAAN bottles stay polite

The two-spray rule and the arm's length test

Two sprays is the starting number for almost any Eau de Parfum or Extrait at work. One goes on the chest under your shirt, one on the back of your neck. Then run the arm's length test. Lift your wrist to your nose: you should smell it. Hold your arm out straight: you should barely smell it, and a colleague at the next desk should not smell it without leaning in. If they do, you used too much.

Your own nose lies to you. After ten minutes you stop noticing a scent you are wearing, which is why people add a third and fourth spray. Trust the rule, not the nose.

Open-plan offices change the maths

In a closed room, you can fill the air a little. In an open-plan office, the air is shared, so a scent that suits you can turn into a background smell for twelve people. Air conditioning pushes it around. A warm room makes it stronger. A lift or a meeting room with no window makes it feel stronger still. In those settings, aim for one spray less than your usual and place it on clothes rather than skin.

Why strong Extraits go wrong at a desk

The products with the longest wear and the loudest voice are the Extraits rated 4 for projection, such as Amjad Honour and Amjad Kingdom. Their longevity rating is 5, so they build on a jacket through the day and are still there the next morning. A scent that carries and lingers is exactly what you want at a dinner, and exactly what you do not want in a small meeting. Keep them for the evening, and read how long Honour lasts if you are not sure what that means in hours.

Four FAAN bottles that stay polite

• Qasida Purity: projection 2, longevity 3, the quietest bottle in the range. Pear, jasmine and tuberose over cashmere musk and vanilla. Listed for spring and autumn, daily wear and the office.
• Qasida Al-Badr: projection 3, longevity 3. Dry, powdery and calm, with iris, sage, cedarwood and vetiver. Listed for autumn, winter and spring, daily wear and the office. The most grown-up of the four.
• Amjad Coral: projection 3, longevity 3. Pear, mandarin, ginger and clean woods. Listed for spring and summer, daily wear and the office, and the best choice for a warm room.
• Qasida Sahm: projection 3, longevity 4. Fruit up front, oud in the base, written for him. Listed for daily wear and evenings, so it carries on after work. Two sprays, not three.

The first three are all listed for the office. Our Al-Badr review shows why the dry one is so easy to wear.

How to apply so it lasts to five o'clock

1. Spray after your shower onto moisturised skin. Unscented lotion first gives the scent something to hold on to.
2. Use two sprays, not more: chest and the back of the neck.
3. Do not rub your wrists together.
4. Leave the bottle at home. A 200 ml bottle does not belong in a bag, and a reapplication at lunch usually ends up as too much.
5. If you want a refresh, spray a handkerchief, not your skin.

For storage and further tips, see how to wear and store a 200 ml perfume.

FAQ

How many sprays of perfume are right for the office?

Two for most Eau de Parfum and Extrait, three at most for the softest bottles, such as Purity.

Which FAAN perfume is the best for an office?

Qasida Al-Badr is the calmest all-round pick. Amjad Coral is the best for a warm room, and Qasida Purity for a shared desk.

Can I wear Amjad Honour to work?

You can, with one spray on clothes. It is rated 4 for projection and 5 for longevity, so it is usually too much for a shared room.

Related reading

• FAAN Qasida Al-Badr review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• Which FAAN perfume to choose: a simple guide
• How to wear and store a 200 ml perfume