Fragrance comparison

First vs Megara

Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.

Updated 5 Nov 2026 3,505 ratings analysed

5 wins

First

Van Cleef & Arpels

3.983,483 votes

Rank #945 FloralGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

50%scent match

Some overlap

Megara

Le Galion

4.2722 votes

Rank #37,329 White FloralFloral

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

First takes 5 of 6 categories.

First
Choose it for a floral and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Megara
Choose it for a white floral and floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus. Best in spring, day or night wear.

First5/6

Megara1/6

Ratings & consensus: Megara
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: First
Sillage & projection: First
Value for money: First
Versatility: Not scored
Note pyramid (duration): First
Fragranxe ranking: First

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance

FirstVan Cleef & Arpels

MegaraLe Galion

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes

Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%

4.27/ 5 · 22 votes

Have 44%Had 20%Want 36%

Category winnerMegaraRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

38%Love

41%Like

3%Ok

17%Dislike

1%Hate

3,483 votes

45%Love

41%Like

9%Ok

5%Dislike

0%Hate

22 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate75

⏱ Longevity66

〰 Sillage63

♥ Love / hate82

Category winners

LongevityFirst

SillageFirst

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value59

¤ Price value56

Category winnerFirstBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

floral100%

green92%

aldehydic84%

white floral77%

yellow floral69%

fresh61%

white floral100%

floral92%

woody84%

green77%

powdery69%

earthy61%

Scent match50%Some overlap · both floral, white floral and green

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Top20-30 mins

AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry

Heart3-4 hrs

NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose

Base6-8+ hrs

CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean

Top30 to 45 minutes

HyacinthAldehydesBergamotPeachRaspberry

Heart2 to 4 hours

JasmineGardeniaLily-of-the-ValleyRoseHoneyOrchidOrris

Base3 to 6 hours

OakmossMuskSandalwoodCedarAmbergris

Category winnerFirstLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter99

Day100

Night85

Spring100

Summer63

Fall75

Winter75

Day100

Night100

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men2

Unisex12

Women86

Men0

Unisex22

Women78

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#945

PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena

Launched—

Reviews205

Overall rank#37,329

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews1

Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

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 →

Megara by Le Galion is a vintage floral perfume launched in 1978. It opens with a crisp burst of aldehydes, bitter-edged bergamot, and spring-like hyacinth, softened slightly by subtle hints of peach and raspberry. As the opening sparkle settles, a dense bouquet of jasmine, gardenia, rose, and lily-of-the-valley takes…

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.

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Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, First or Megara?

First takes 5 of 6 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Megara is rated 4.27/5 from 22 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Megara for a white floral and floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus. Best in spring, day or night wear.

Which lasts longer, First or Megara?

First lasts longest (First 72/100, Megara 66/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, First or Megara?

Projection is very close: First 64/100, Megara 63/100 for sillage.

Do First and Megara smell similar?

Some overlap: a 50% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral, white floral and green accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Bergamot, Peach and Raspberry.

Is First or Megara better for summer or winter?

First suits daytime wear; Megara suits day or night wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in First and Megara?

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. Megara has top notes of Hyacinth, Aldehydes, Bergamot and Peach, heart notes of Jasmine, Gardenia, Lily-of-the-Valley and Rose, a base of Oakmoss, Musk, Sandalwood and Cedar.