FAAN Qasida Signature vs FAAN Qasida Bakhour: which FAAN perfume should you buy?

Both are 200 ml Eau de Parfum bottles from the Qasida line. FAAN Qasida Signature is the sweet all-rounder. FAAN Qasida Bakhour takes its name from bakhoor, the perfumed incense used in Arabic homes, and its notes follow that idea.

Quick verdict in three lines

• You want sweet, creamy and easy: Signature.
• You want smoke, spice and leather with a floral touch: Bakhour.
• You want it to be noticed from a distance: Bakhour, projection 4 against 3.

Notes side by side

Only vanilla is shared. Only Signature has bergamot, cardamom, cashmeran, almond, cinnamon, coconut and praline. Only Bakhour has blackcurrant, cistus, clove, incense, leather, saffron and sandalwood. They are about as far apart as two Qasida bottles can be while both listing vanilla.

First hour and dry-down

Signature opens warm and sweet. Cinnamon and almond come first, and within the hour orange blossom and coconut turn it creamy. The praline and dry amber arrive after that and stay.

Bakhour opens with saffron and clove, with a dark, jammy edge from blackcurrant. The heart is where the smoke starts: incense, with rose and violet to soften it, and tonka for a little sweetness. By the base you have sandalwood, cistus (a resinous shrub note), leather and vanilla. If you want to know why incense plays such a big part, read what bakhoor is and how it shapes perfume.

Strength and staying power

Both last about the same. Bakhour is louder, so one or two sprays are enough, while Signature can take three. An Eau de Parfum typically stays on skin for 4 to 8 hours, and both lean towards the upper half.

Season, occasion, audience and price

• Season: both autumn and winter.
• Moment: both evenings and special occasions.
• Audience: both unisex.
• Price: both €54.99, about 27 cents per ml.

With identical season, audience and price, the choice is purely about taste. That makes this comparison easier than most.

How each wears

Signature is a scarf scent. Spray the scarf and the collar, and it will smell good in a coat pocket. Bakhour works best on warm skin, where the incense and leather open up, and it rewards a single spray at the chest. If you ever want both in one evening, we have a suggestion in layering Signature with Bakhour. It is only a suggestion, so test it on paper first.

Who should pick which

Choose Qasida Signature if you like cinnamon, almond and vanilla, want a crowd-pleaser, or want to buy a gift for someone whose taste you do not know.

Choose Qasida Bakhour if you like incense, leather and saffron, already own a sweet bottle, or want a scent with character. The full range has other smoky options too.

FAQ

Is Bakhour sweet?

A little, from tonka and vanilla, but the first impression is saffron and smoke. It is far less sweet than Signature.

Which is better for a first Arabic-style perfume?

Signature is the gentler start. Bakhour is a better second step.

What if the one I want is sold out?

Use the notify option on the product page. Delivery takes 3 to 6 working days in the Netherlands and 5 to 8 in the rest of the EU.

Related reading

• FAAN Qasida Signature described note by note
• FAAN Qasida Bakhour described note by note
• Which FAAN perfume to choose