First vs Initial Perle de Soleil
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
18%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
First takes 4 of 7 categories.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Initial Perle de SoleilChoose it for a citrus and fruity character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.
First4/7
Initial Perle de Soleil3/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Initial Perle de Soleil
- Community sentiment
- Initial Perle de Soleil
- Longevity
- First
- Sillage & projection
- First
- Value for money
- First
- Versatility
- Initial Perle de Soleil
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- First
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
FirstVan Cleef & ArpelsInitial Perle de SoleilBoucheronWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
4.36/ 5 · 33 votes
Have 29%Had 21%Want 50%
Category winnerInitial Perle de SoleilRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate38%Love
41%Like
3%Ok
17%Dislike
1%Hate
3,483 votes
42%Love
55%Like
0%Ok
3%Dislike
0%Hate
33 votes
Category winnerInitial Perle de SoleilMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityFirst
SillageFirst
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerFirstBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfloral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
citrus100%
fruity92%
fresh spicy84%
rose77%
floral69%
honey61%
Scent match18%Clearly different · both floral
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop20-30 mins
AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose
Base6-8+ hrs
CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean
Top
Mandarin OrangeBlack Currant
Heart
RosePepperJasminePatchouli
Base
HoneyVanillaAmber
InformationalShared notesBlack Currant, Mandarin Orange, Jasmine and Honey. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter99
Day100
Night85
Spring100
Summer91
Fall55
Winter55
Day100
Night40
Category winnerInitial Perle de SoleilMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#954
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews205
Overall rank#28,720
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews2
Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotFirst 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 →Boucheron Initial Perle de Soleil opens with a bright flash of juicy mandarin orange paired with tart black currant buds. As the top notes quiet down, crisp black pepper sparks against a traditional floral heart of rose and jasmine, anchored by a light patchouli leaf. The dry-down settles into warm amber, golden honey…
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.
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, First or Initial Perle de Soleil?
First takes 4 of 7 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Initial Perle de Soleil is rated 4.36/5 from 33 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Initial Perle de Soleil for a citrus and fruity character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, First or Initial Perle de Soleil?
First lasts longest (First 72/100, Initial Perle de Soleil 53/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, First or Initial Perle de Soleil?
First projects furthest (First 64/100, Initial Perle de Soleil 58/100), based on community performance votes.
Do First and Initial Perle de Soleil smell similar?
Clearly different: a 18% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral accords. Common notes include Black Currant, Mandarin Orange, Jasmine and Honey.
Is First or Initial Perle de Soleil better for summer or winter?
For summer, Initial Perle de Soleil is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear; Initial Perle de Soleil suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in First and Initial Perle de Soleil?
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. Initial Perle de Soleil has top notes of Mandarin Orange and Black Currant, heart notes of Rose, Pepper, Jasmine and Patchouli, a base of Honey, Vanilla and Amber.
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