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

Both are 200 ml Eau de Parfum bottles from the Qasida line. FAAN Qasida Signature is unisex. FAAN Qasida Sahm is listed for him, though as we explain in is Sahm for women, the notes are not gendered.

Quick verdict in three lines

• You want sweet, creamy, cosy: Signature.
• You want fruit that dries down into wood and oud: Sahm.
• You want something that suits spring as well as autumn: Sahm.

Notes side by side

They share bergamot and cardamom, though in different places: cardamom is in the top of Signature and in the heart of Sahm. Beyond that, Signature has almond, cinnamon, orange blossom, coconut, guaiacwood, praline, vanilla and cashmeran, while Sahm brings mango, lemon, ginger, raspberry, lavender, cedar, oud and leather. Sahm's list is the longest in the range.

First hour and dry-down

Signature begins sweet and spicy, and it stays in that world. The only change is that it becomes creamier and drier as the hours pass, finishing on praline and vanilla over amber.

Sahm changes more. It starts juicy, with mango and raspberry kept sharp by ginger and lemon. Within half an hour, the fruit steps back and lavender and clary sage give it a clean, herbal feel. By hour three you smell cedar, oud, leather and vetiver. You could say it is three scents in a row.

Strength and staying power

Identical on paper. Both stay polite, and a typical Eau de Parfum runs 4 to 8 hours on skin, with both nearer the top of that range. The difference is in how they feel while they last: Signature stays one thing, Sahm travels.

Season, occasion, audience and price

• Season: Signature is autumn and winter, Sahm is autumn and spring.
• Moment: Signature for evenings and special occasions, Sahm for daily wear and evenings.
• Audience: Signature is unisex, Sahm is listed for him.
• Price: Signature €54.99, about 27 cents per ml; Sahm €56.99, about 28 cents per ml.

Sahm is the one you can wear on a cool spring morning. Signature belongs to colder, darker months.

Who should pick which

Choose Qasida Signature if you like gourmand scents, want one reliable bottle for winter, or are buying a gift for someone who prefers sweet.

Choose Qasida Sahm if you like fruit, enjoy a scent that changes, and are happy with oud and leather in the end. It also suits people who find pure gourmands too heavy.

Torn? Our guide to choosing a FAAN perfume can narrow it down, and the full range has the rest.

FAQ

Do Signature and Sahm smell alike?

Not really. They share bergamot and cardamom, but Signature is sweet and creamy while Sahm moves from fruit to oud and leather.

Which one is easier to wear at work?

Sahm, in one or two sprays. It is listed for daily wear. Signature is more of an evening bottle.

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 Sahm described note by note
• Which FAAN perfume to choose