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

Both are 200 ml Eau de Parfum bottles from the Qasida line. FAAN Qasida Signature costs €54.99 and FAAN Qasida Queen costs €51.99. They are the two sweetest-looking bottles in the range, so people often put them next to each other.

Quick verdict in three lines

• You want sweet, warm and easy for any occasion: Signature.
• You want sweet but dark, with fruit and coffee, for evenings out: Queen.
• You want the louder one: Queen, projection 4 against 3.

Notes side by side

They share three things: orange blossom, cashmeran and vanilla. Only Signature has bergamot, cardamom, cinnamon, almond, coconut, praline and guaiacwood. Only Queen has cherry, clove, pink pepper, jasmine, patchouli and coffee. Signature's sweetness is nutty and creamy. Queen's is dark fruit with a bitter edge.

First hour and dry-down

Signature opens on cinnamon and almond with a hint of bright bergamot. After an hour it turns creamy with orange blossom and coconut, and the praline arrives later. It ends sweet and warm, with dry amber under the vanilla.

Queen opens on cherry and clove, with pink pepper as a sparkle and orange blossom on top. The heart adds jasmine, and the base is vanilla and amber with patchouli and coffee. The coffee stops it from being sugary and gives it the darker finish. See our amber guide for how the amber works in both.

Strength and staying power

Queen is louder; both last about equally. A typical Eau de Parfum stays on skin for 4 to 8 hours, and both lean towards the upper half. With Queen, one or two sprays are plenty. Signature allows a third.

Season, occasion, audience and price

• Season: both are listed for autumn and winter.
• Moment: Signature for evenings and special occasions, Queen for date nights and special occasions.
• Audience: Signature is unisex, Queen is listed for her.
• Price: Signature €54.99, about 27 cents per ml. Queen €51.99, about 26 cents per ml.

How to wear each

Signature is forgiving. Spray the chest and a scarf, and it stays friendly even in a warm room. Queen asks for a lighter hand in heated places, because the cherry and clove can turn thick. Wear it on clothes if you are sitting close to people. For a second bottle in the same family, see Signature next to Bakhour, which swaps the sweet side for incense and leather.

Who should pick which

Choose Signature if you like cinnamon, almond and vanilla, want something any friend or partner could also wear, or want a fragrance that suits a family dinner as well as a bar.

Choose Queen if you like cherry and coffee, want a scent that makes an entrance, and like your sweetness with some darkness in it.

Both? They do not overlap much, despite sharing vanilla and orange blossom. Browse the full range if you want to compare with a drier option.

FAQ

Which is sweeter, Signature or Queen?

Signature is the creamier sweet, Queen the darker one. Neither is a sugar bomb, but Signature will taste sweeter to most noses.

Can men wear Queen?

It is listed for her. Signature is unisex, so it is the easier choice if you are buying for someone whose taste you do not know.

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
• Amber in perfume and the FAAN bottles that use it
• Which FAAN perfume to choose