Expression vs First
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
21%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Expression takes 4 of 7 categories.
ExpressionChoose it for a woody and honey character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Expression4/7
First3/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Expression
- Community sentiment
- Expression
- Longevity
- Expression
- Sillage & projection
- Expression
- Value for money
- First
- 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
ExpressionJacques FathFirstVan Cleef & ArpelsWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.23/ 5 · 214 votes
Have 68%Had 32%Want 0%
3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
Category winnerExpressionRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate49%Love
44%Like
2%Ok
5%Dislike
0%Hate
185 votes
38%Love
41%Like
3%Ok
17%Dislike
1%Hate
3,483 votes
Category winnerExpressionMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityExpression
SillageExpression
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerFirstBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothwoody100%
honey92%
earthy84%
aromatic77%
animalic69%
green61%
floral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
Scent match21%Clearly different · both green
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
AldehydesMandarin OrangeGreen NotesBergamot
Heart
HoneyGalbanumCarnationRoseCorianderYlang-YlangIris
Base
BeeswaxLeatherAmbergrisOakmossPatchouliOrris RootVetiverSandalwood
Top20-30 mins
AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose
Base6-8+ hrs
CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean
InformationalShared notesAldehydes, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot and Honey. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring29
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
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#3,189
PerfumerRaymond Chaillan
Launched—
Reviews32
Overall rank#955
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews205
Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotExpression by Jacques Fath is a potent 1977 oriental floral. It opens with sharp, soapy aldehydes and green notes before settling into a deep, honeyed leather base. This classic composition rewards those who appreciate traditional, heavy-hitting oakmoss and carnation. Best suited for cooler weather when its complex, a…
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
Get a practical answer grounded in the fragrances currently selected.
Recent comparisons
Head-to-head activity from live history
♛
PrometheuNecalliWINNER
vs
Bruno ImperialAnfar LondonRUNNER-UP
1 person compared this today
PrometheuNecalliWINNER
vs
Bruno ImperialAnfar LondonRUNNER-UP
Super CedarByredoRUNNER-UP
vs
♛
NorthMendittorosaWINNER
BohemeSegreti di LuccaRUNNER-UP
vs
♛
Soir de LuneSisleyWINNER
Orange FlowerOscar de la RentaRUNNER-UP
vs
♛
Ti AmoRoja DoveWINNER
Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Expression or First?
Expression takes 4 of 7 categories. Expression is rated 4.23/5 from 214 votes; First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes. Choose Expression for a woody and honey character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on value for money, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Expression or First?
Expression lasts longest (Expression 76/100, First 72/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Expression or First?
Expression projects furthest (Expression 72/100, First 64/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Expression and First smell similar?
Clearly different: a 21% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share green accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Mandarin Orange, Bergamot and Honey.
Is Expression or First better for summer or winter?
For summer, Expression is the stronger pick. For winter, Expression is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Expression and First?
Expression has top notes of Aldehydes, Mandarin Orange, Green Notes and Bergamot, heart notes of Honey, Galbanum, Carnation and Rose, a base of Beeswax, Leather, Ambergris and Oakmoss. 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.
Popular fragrance comparisons
The matchups people have compared most on Fragranxe.
vs
Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel
Dior · Chanel · 36 comparisons
vs
Paco Rabanne Pour Homme Rabanne for men vs Shiyaaka Shadow
Rabanne · Khadlaj Perfumes · 30 comparisons
vs
Baccarat Rouge 540 vs Khamrah
Maison Francis Kurkdjian · Lattafa Perfumes · 21 comparisons
vs
Birth of Venus vs Brioni Eau de Parfum Intense
Argos · Brioni · 17 comparisons
vs
Supremacy Not Only Intense vs Arabians Tonka
Afnan · Montale · 14 comparisons
vs
Secret De Venus Eau de Parfum vs # What Matters is Inside - Italy
Weil · Jovoy Paris · 14 comparisons