29 October 2026 · By Faan Perfumes

Perfume as a colleague gift: how to stay safe and still say something

FAAN Qasida Al-Badr Eau de Parfum 200 ml bottle

Quick answer: A perfume gift for a colleague is only safe if the scent is quiet and easy and the moment is chosen with care. Qasida Al-Badr, Qasida Purity and Qasida Signature are the three closest to safe: all are unisex and rated 3 or lower for strength. If you barely know the person, consider a different gift.

We are an independent retailer, and every note, rating and price below is the one on the product pages. Perfume is personal, so this guide is as much about when not to give it as about what to choose.

When perfume is a good work gift

It works when you know the person a little: you have heard them mention a favourite scent, you can smell what they already wear, or the gift is from a group with a handwritten note. It works for a leaving present or a long-standing colleague.

It does not work when you have never talked about scent, when your workplace is scent-free or has people who are sensitive to perfume, or when the gift could feel like a comment on the person. A 200 ml bottle is also a large gift. If you are not close, a group gift is more natural. Five colleagues sharing a €54.99 bottle is about €11 each.

The safest FAAN bottles

Qasida Al-Badr is calm, dry and slightly powdery: bergamot, nutmeg and cardamom, then iris, sage and cedarwood, then vetiver, tonka, vanilla and patchouli. It is listed for daily wear and the office, and strength and longevity are both 3 out of 5. €51.99. It is the one most likely to suit an office.

Qasida Purity is soft and creamy: pear, fig nectar and lily of the valley, then ylang-ylang, jasmine and tuberose, then cashmere musk, sandalwood milk and vanilla. Strength is 2 out of 5, the lowest in the range, longevity 3. Listed for daily wear and the office. €52.99. It sits close to the skin and rarely offends.

Qasida Signature is warm and gourmand, with praline, almond, cinnamon and vanilla. It is rated 3 for strength and 4 for longevity and listed for evenings and special occasions, so it suits a colleague you know a bit better. €54.99.

If you want something lighter on the wallet, Amjad Coral is fresh, listed for daily wear and the office, and the lowest price tier at €44.99. For a wider look at gift prices, see perfume gifts by budget.

What to avoid

Strong bottles. Amjad Honour, Amjad Kingdom, Qasida Dunes, Qasida Bakhour and Qasida Queen are rated 4 for strength. They are lovely but loud for an office.
Very sweet scents for someone you do not know. Sweet divides people.
A scent chosen for yourself. Choose for them.
Anything sold as a joke or hint. A perfume given at work should not suggest the person smells.

Our guide on perfume at the office explains how much is too much, which is worth reading if you work in a shared space.

How to present it at work

Give it privately or in a small group, not in front of the whole team. Write a short card with the notes: "Cardamom and cedar, calm and dry. A gift for the person who always listens." Notes give the gift a reason. Say it is a gift to try, and that there is no pressure to wear it to the office.

You can also send it directly to their home with their address at checkout, and a note. For the full set of options, see the FAAN perfume gift guide.

Budget notes

Prices run from €44.99 to €56.99 for 200 ml. Orders to the Netherlands take 3 to 6 working days in total, and to the rest of the EU 5 to 8 working days. Shipping is free in the Netherlands from €75. As the buyer you can withdraw within 14 days of receiving the order while the seal is intact. If a bottle shows as sold out, ask to be notified on the product page. Browse all fourteen bottles.