FAAN Qasida Queen vs FAAN Qasida Bakhour: which one should you buy?

FAAN Qasida Queen and FAAN Qasida Bakhour are two of the strongest bottles in the Qasida line. The ratings are identical, which makes the decision about taste only.

Quick verdict in three lines

• Queen if you want sugar, fruit and coffee: a dark dessert.
• Bakhour if you want smoke, spice and leather: a dark incense room.
• Same strength, same season, so choose by what you like to eat and what you like to burn.

Notes side by side

They share clove and vanilla, and both have an amber accord. Only Queen has cherry, orange blossom, jasmine, cashmeran, patchouli and coffee. Only Bakhour has saffron, blackcurrant, rose, violet, incense, tonka, sandalwood, cistus and leather. That is why they feel so different despite the shared clove: one wraps it in fruit and sugar, the other in resin and hide.

First hour and dry-down

Queen opens sweet and glossy. Cherry and orange blossom lead, clove adds a warm bite, and pink pepper stops it from being syrup. The heart is jasmine and cashmeran, soft and slightly creamy. Coffee and vanilla own the base, and amber holds it together. It smells like a dessert that has been left on a warm radiator, in a good way.

Bakhour opens with saffron and clove, a dry, golden heat, with blackcurrant giving a dark, tart edge. The heart turns smoky: incense with rose and violet, softened by tonka. The base is sandalwood, cistus and leather, with vanilla as a gentle cushion. It smells like a leather jacket in a room where incense burned an hour ago.

Strength and staying power

Both score 4 out of 5 for projection and 4 out of 5 for longevity, and both are Eau de Parfum in 200 ml. Two sprays are enough for either, three on a very cold day. In a small room both will be noticed, so keep them for evenings out, not the office. For the numbers across the whole range, see FAAN perfumes ranked by projection.

Season, occasion, audience and price

Queen is listed for autumn and winter, date nights and special occasions, for her. Bakhour is listed for autumn and winter, evenings and special occasions, unisex. Queen costs 51.99 euros, 26 cents per ml. Bakhour costs 54.99 euros, 27.5 cents per ml. That is three euros less for Queen.

Who should pick which

Pick Queen if you wear gourmand scents already, you want something clearly feminine and sweet, or you are planning date nights. Pick Bakhour if you prefer spice and leather, you want one bottle for him or her, and you do not mind a smoky trail. If you are unsure, test the idea with food: do you reach for dessert or for a smoky dish? The answer is usually right. The guide to choosing a FAAN perfume has more pairs, and the full range lists all fourteen.

FAQ

Is Qasida Bakhour a men's perfume?

It is listed unisex. The saffron, rose and leather suit anyone.

Which is better for a date?

Queen is listed for date nights. Bakhour is listed for evenings and special occasions and also works.

Which is cheaper?

Queen, by three euros: 51.99 against 54.99.

Related reading

• FAAN Qasida Queen review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• FAAN Qasida Bakhour review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• Which FAAN perfume to choose: a simple guide