Bulgarian Rose vs First
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
12%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
First takes 6 of 7 categories.
Bulgarian RoseChoose it for a amber and rose character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Bulgarian Rose1/7
First6/7
- Ratings & consensus
- First
- Community sentiment
- First
- Longevity
- First
- Sillage & projection
- First
- Value for money
- Bulgarian Rose
- Versatility
- First
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- First
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
Bulgarian RoseMahoganyFirstVan Cleef & ArpelsWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.66/ 5 · 105 votes
Have 35%Had 22%Want 42%
3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
Category winnerFirstRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate25%Love
44%Like
7%Ok
22%Dislike
3%Hate
105 votes
38%Love
41%Like
3%Ok
17%Dislike
1%Hate
3,483 votes
Category winnerFirstMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityFirst
SillageFirst
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerBulgarian RoseBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent familyamber100%
rose92%
vanilla84%
fruity77%
sweet69%
citrus61%
floral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
Scent match12%Clearly different
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
White RoseBlack CurrantMandarin OrangeBergamotLemon
Heart
Bulgarian RoseRaspberryLily-of-the-ValleyPlum
Base
BenzoinTonka BeanMuskAmberVanillaCedarSandalwood
Top20-30 mins
AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose
Base6-8+ hrs
CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean
InformationalShared notesBlack Currant, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot and Raspberry. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter77
Day–
Night–
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter99
Day100
Night85
Category winnerFirstMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#27,296
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews4
Overall rank#955
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews205
Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotMahogany Bulgarian Rose offers a rich floral profile centered on a deep rose note. It starts with a juicy splash of black currant and bright mandarin orange before settling into a warm foundation of sweet tonka bean and benzoin. This fragrance suits casual evening wear during cooler spring and autumn nights.
Reviews →First by Van Cleef & Arpels opens with a brisk, effervescent burst of aldehydes, tart bergamot, and ripe black currant that immediately calls to mind crisp, high-end French milled soap. As the initial sparkle settles, the scent unfolds into an abundant floral heart packed with spring narcissus, dewy green hyacinth, an…
Reviews →InformationalRead bothTaste is personal
How we score: ratings blend public fragrance ratings with Fragranxe member votes; longevity, sillage, value and sentiment are community vote scores, and season bars are relative to each fragrance's strongest season. Categories with too little data are shown but not scored. The scent match weighs accord overlap (60%) and shared notes (40%). More in the FAQ.
Guided comparison
Ask about this matchup
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Bulgarian Rose or First?
First takes 6 of 7 categories. Bulgarian Rose is rated 3.66/5 from 105 votes; First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes. Choose Bulgarian Rose for a amber and rose character. Wins on value for money. Best in spring. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Bulgarian Rose or First?
First lasts longest (First 72/100, Bulgarian Rose 59/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Bulgarian Rose or First?
First projects furthest (First 64/100, Bulgarian Rose 52/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Bulgarian Rose and First smell similar?
Clearly different: a 12% scent match on Fragranxe. They share few main accords. Common notes include Black Currant, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot and Raspberry.
Is Bulgarian Rose or First better for summer or winter?
For summer, Bulgarian Rose is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Bulgarian Rose and First?
Bulgarian Rose has top notes of White Rose, Black Currant, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot, heart notes of Bulgarian Rose, Raspberry, Lily-of-the-Valley and Plum, a base of Benzoin, Tonka Bean, Musk and Amber. First has top notes of Aldehydes, Bergamot, Black Currant and Peach, heart notes of Narcissus, Hiacynth, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley, a base of Civet, Oakmoss, Honey and Amber.
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