Charisma vs First
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
48%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
First takes 5 of 7 categories.
CharismaChoose it for a floral and powdery character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in winter.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Charisma2/7
First5/7
- Ratings & consensus
- First
- Community sentiment
- First
- Longevity
- First
- Sillage & projection
- First
- Value for money
- Charisma
- Versatility
- Charisma
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- First
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
CharismaAvonFirstVan Cleef & ArpelsWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.77/ 5 · 425 votes
Have 58%Had 42%Want 0%
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 hate26%Love
49%Like
5%Ok
16%Dislike
3%Hate
391 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 winnerCharismaBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfloral100%
powdery92%
musky84%
white floral77%
fresh69%
amber61%
floral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
Scent match48%Some overlap · both floral, white floral and fresh
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
AldehydesCorianderHyacinthNeroliPeachBergamot
Heart
CarnationRoseYlang-YlangLily-of-the-ValleyNarcissusJasmineOrris Root
Base
CivettaMuskStyraxSandalwoodAmberTonka BeanVanille
Top20-30 mins
AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose
Base6-8+ hrs
CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean
InformationalShared notesAldehydes, Peach, Bergamot and Carnation. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring89
Summer54
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter99
Day100
Night85
Category winnerCharismaMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#5,550
PerfumerNot listed
Launched1968
Reviews62
Overall rank#955
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews205
Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotCharisma is a classic 1968 vintage floral that opens with a bright, soapy blast of aldehydes, bergamot, and neroli. The heart reveals powdery iris, carnation, and white florals, eventually settling into a warm, musky, amber-rich base. It is a nostalgic, clean-scented staple for those who appreciate traditional, aldehy…
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, Charisma or First?
First takes 5 of 7 categories. Charisma is rated 3.77/5 from 425 votes; First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes. Choose Charisma for a floral and powdery character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in winter. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Charisma or First?
First lasts longest (First 72/100, Charisma 63/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Charisma or First?
First projects furthest (First 64/100, Charisma 60/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Charisma and First smell similar?
Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral, white floral and fresh accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Peach, Bergamot and Carnation.
Is Charisma or First better for summer or winter?
For summer, Charisma is the stronger pick. For winter, Charisma is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Charisma and First?
Charisma has top notes of Aldehydes, Coriander, Hyacinth and Neroli, heart notes of Carnation, Rose, Ylang-Ylang and Lily-of-the-Valley, a base of Civetta, Musk, Styrax and Sandalwood. 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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