FAAN Qasida Senses vs FAAN Qasida Sahm: which FAAN perfume should you buy?

Qasida Senses is listed for her. Qasida Sahm is listed for him. Both are Eau de Parfum in the Qasida line, both 200 ml. We are an independent retailer, and these facts come from the product pages. The listings are a starting point, not a rule; anyone can wear either.

The short version

• Senses is bright, fruity-floral and soft. It ends creamy.
• Sahm is fruity at first, then aromatic, woody and dark. It ends in oud and leather.
• Sahm lasts one rating point longer and costs €4 more.

Notes side by side

They share bergamot, jasmine and raspberry. That is why both open juicy. Beyond that, Senses has pear, peony, rose, iris, coconut and vanilla. Sahm has mango, ginger, lavender, cedar, oud, leather and vetiver. Only Sahm has anything dark in the base.

First hour and dry-down

Senses starts with jasmine and pear, with raspberry and red berries for colour. After a while the heart opens into peony, damask rose and lily of the valley over Bourbon vanilla and coconut. Iris adds a powdery softness. The base of white musk and sandalwood keeps it close and quiet. It stays light and floral.

Sahm starts with mango and raspberry, but ginger and lemon keep it dry. About half an hour in, lavender and clary sage bring a clean, barbershop note, and cedar firms up the middle. By the third hour most of the fruit is gone, and what you smell is oud, leather accord and vetiver. Our tagline for it: fruit first, oud last. The story is told in full in our Sahm review.

Strength and staying power

Both are 3 out of 5 for strength, so they are polite and close-range. Longevity differs: Senses is 3 and Sahm is 4. As a typical range, Senses is a half-day scent and Sahm will carry well into the evening. That is a general figure, not a test result. With strength at 3, you can use three sprays of either without being loud.

Season, occasion, audience and price

Senses is listed for spring and summer, daily wear and evenings. Sahm is listed for autumn and spring, daily wear and evenings. Spring is the overlap. Senses is the one to carry into the heat, since pear and peony stay pleasant when it is warm; see wearing Senses in winter for the other direction.

Senses is €52.99 for 200 ml, about 26 cents a ml. Sahm is €56.99, about 28.5 cents a ml. Senses costs less, and Sahm lasts longer on paper.

Who should pick which

• Choose Senses if you want a soft, fruity, floral scent for a warm day, you like vanilla and peony, and you do not want anything dark.
• Choose Sahm if you want fruit with a dark finish, you like lavender and oud, or you need something for mild days that can become an evening scent.
• Not sure? Think about the end of the day, not the start. Both begin with fruit, but one finishes with white musk and the other with leather.

Which FAAN perfume to choose covers the range, and all fourteen bottles are on one page. If a bottle shows as sold out, ask to be notified on the product page.

FAQ

Is Qasida Senses sweeter than Sahm?

Yes. Vanilla, coconut and rose make Senses creamier. Sahm's fruit is cut by ginger and lemon and ends dry.

Which is better for summer?

Senses. Sahm is listed for autumn and spring.

Can a man wear Senses, or a woman wear Sahm?

Yes. The audience on the page is a guide. Choose by the notes you like.

Related reading

• FAAN Qasida Senses review: pear, peony and soft vanilla
• FAAN Qasida Sahm review: notes, strength and when to wear it
• Which FAAN perfume to choose: a simple guide