First vs Magie Noire
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
31%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Magie Noire takes 5 of 7 categories.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Magie NoireChoose it for a woody and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
First2/7
Magie Noire5/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Magie Noire
- Community sentiment
- Magie Noire
- Longevity
- Magie Noire
- Sillage & projection
- Magie Noire
- Value for money
- First
- Versatility
- First
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Magie Noire
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
FirstVan Cleef & ArpelsMagie NoireLancômeWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
4.08/ 5 · 5,407 votes
Have 57%Had 43%Want 0%
Category winnerMagie NoireRating 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
44%Love
37%Like
2%Ok
16%Dislike
1%Hate
5,407 votes
Category winnerMagie NoireMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityMagie Noire
SillageMagie Noire
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%
woody100%
green92%
earthy84%
aromatic77%
amber69%
warm spicy61%
Scent match31%Clearly different · both green
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
GalbanumCassisCassiaHiacynthBulgarian RoseRaspberryBergamot
Heart
HoneyNarcissusCedarOrris RootYlang-YlangTuberoseJasmineLily-of-the-Valley
Base
OakmossSpicesCivetPatchouliIncenseMyrrhAmberVetiver
InformationalShared notesBergamot, Raspberry, Narcissus and Hiacynth. 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
Spring33
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day–
Night–
Category winnerFirstMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#955
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews205
Overall rank#484
PerfumerGerard Goupy, Jean-Charles Niel, Yves Tanguy
Launched—
Reviews205
Category winnerMagie NoireHigher 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 →Magie Noire is a dark green chypre with moss, smoke, incense and an animalic undertow. It opens sharp and bitter, often with cassis and galbanum up front, then settles into a damp, resinous, woody drydown that many wearers find far more beautiful than the first spray. This suits shoppers who enjoy vintage-style perfum…
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, First or Magie Noire?
Magie Noire takes 5 of 7 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Magie Noire is rated 4.08/5 from 5,407 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Magie Noire for a woody and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
Which lasts longer, First or Magie Noire?
Magie Noire lasts longest (Magie Noire 82/100, First 72/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, First or Magie Noire?
Magie Noire projects furthest (Magie Noire 74/100, First 64/100), based on community performance votes.
Do First and Magie Noire smell similar?
Clearly different: a 31% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share green accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Raspberry, Narcissus and Hiacynth.
Is First or Magie Noire better for summer or winter?
For summer, First is the stronger pick. For winter, Magie Noire is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in First and Magie Noire?
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. Magie Noire has top notes of Galbanum, Cassis, Cassia and Hiacynth, heart notes of Honey, Narcissus, Cedar and Orris Root, a base of Oakmoss, Spices, Civet and Patchouli.
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