Strong or subtle? Choosing by projection across the FAAN range

We are an independent retailer of FAAN fragrances. Every product page shows a projection rating and a longevity rating from 1 to 5. They are our guides, not lab measurements. This page turns them into advice.

What strong really means

People use "strong" for three different things. A scent can be strong because it spreads far (projection), because it lasts long (longevity), or because it is dense and concentrated (Extrait compared with Eau de Parfum). Those do not always go together. Amjad Coral is an Extrait with projection 3 and longevity 3. Qasida Dunes is an Eau de Parfum with projection 4 and longevity 4.

So decide first what you mean. If a colleague complained, it was projection. If your scent vanished by lunch, it was longevity.

Reading the projection rating

As a rule of thumb for these ratings: at 2, only people very close to you notice the scent. At 3, people within an arm's length do. At 4, people who walk past you, or sit across a small table, do. None of the FAAN bottles is rated 5. The longevity scale also runs from 1 to 5. Honour and Kingdom are the only two bottles at 5.

Subtle bottles

• Qasida Purity: projection 2, longevity 3. White flowers, pear and milk. The quietest bottle in the range, made for the office and for close company.
• Qasida Al-Badr: projection 3, longevity 3. Calm spice, powdery and dry. Listed for daily wear and the office.

For these two, three or four sprays are fine. You cannot easily overdo them.

Mid-strength bottles

Most of the range sits at projection 3: Qasida Signature, Amjad Coral, Qasida Senses, Qasida Sahm, Amjad Mystery and Qasida Bidaya. Signature is the best example: warm and sweet, noticed by people near you, with longevity 4 so it lasts the evening. Two sprays is the usual amount. If you want one bottle that is neither shy nor loud, choose from this group. Our guide to choosing a FAAN perfume helps you pick.

Loud bottles and when to wear them

• Amjad Honour: projection 4, longevity 5. Frankincense, saffron and oud. Autumn and winter evenings, special occasions.
• Amjad Kingdom: projection 4, longevity 5. Violet, resin and ambergris. The same use.
• Qasida Dunes, Queen and Bakhour: projection 4, longevity 4. Pepper and leather, dark cherry and coffee, saffron and smoke.

Use one or two sprays only, and keep them to places with space: dinners, evenings out, cold air. In a small office or a crowded train, a loud bottle is hard for others to ignore. If you like the idea of a loud bottle but want to be careful, spray once on clothes rather than on skin.

What the extra spray costs you

A third spray is not three times as loud, but it is more than you expect. With a 4, each spray adds to a cloud that others sit in for hours. With a 2 or 3, each spray mostly adds time on the skin. That is why we suggest fewer sprays for loud bottles and more for quiet ones, and why spraying clothes is a safe middle step for either.

A simple way to choose

1. Write down where you will wear it most.
2. If it is a desk or a small room, take a 2 or 3.
3. If it is evenings and winter, a 4 is fine.
4. If you want it to last past dinner, check longevity as well, because projection and longevity are separate.

The full range shows each rating on the product page.

FAQ

Is a higher rating better?

No. It is only louder. A 2 or a 3 is the right choice in many rooms.

Which bottle is best for a first-date dinner?

A 3 with a good base, such as Signature. Close enough to be noticed, quiet enough not to dominate.

What if the bottle 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 perfumes ranked by projection
• How long FAAN perfumes last
• Sillage and projection explained