First vs Mystere
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
41%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Mystere 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.
MystereChoose it for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
First2/7
Mystere5/7
- Ratings & consensus
- Mystere
- Community sentiment
- Mystere
- Longevity
- Mystere
- Sillage & projection
- Mystere
- Value for money
- First
- Versatility
- First
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- Mystere
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
FirstVan Cleef & ArpelsMystereRochasWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
4.49/ 5 · 1,232 votes
Have 56%Had 44%Want 0%
Category winnerMystereRating 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
65%Love
26%Like
1%Ok
8%Dislike
0%Hate
1,214 votes
Category winnerMystereMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityMystere
SillageMystere
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%
aromatic100%
woody92%
green84%
floral77%
earthy69%
musky61%
Scent match41%Some overlap · both floral and 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
GalbanumCorianderHiacynthAldehydesBergamot
Heart
CarnationRosemaryNarcissusOrris RootYlang-YlangVioletJasmineTuberose
Base
OakmossCivetCypressStyraxPatchouliCedarMuskSandalwood
InformationalShared notesAldehydes, Bergamot, 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
Spring51
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#298
PerfumerNicolas Mamounas
Launched—
Reviews92
Category winnerMystereHigher 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 →Mystere by Rochas is a dense, aromatic green chypre built for those who love vintage complexity. It opens with sharp galbanum and bitter coriander before settling into a mossy, cedar-heavy heart. This 1978 creation projects authority and sophistication, feeling most at home during cool autumn evenings or formal office…
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 Mystere?
Mystere takes 5 of 7 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Mystere is rated 4.49/5 from 1,232 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Mystere for a aromatic and woody character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter.
Which lasts longer, First or Mystere?
Mystere lasts longest (Mystere 79/100, First 72/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, First or Mystere?
Mystere projects furthest (Mystere 72/100, First 64/100), based on community performance votes.
Do First and Mystere smell similar?
Some overlap: a 41% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral and green accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Bergamot, Narcissus and Hiacynth.
Is First or Mystere better for summer or winter?
For summer, First is the stronger pick. For winter, Mystere is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in First and Mystere?
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. Mystere has top notes of Galbanum, Coriander, Hiacynth and Aldehydes, heart notes of Carnation, Rosemary, Narcissus and Orris Root, a base of Oakmoss, Civet, Cypress and Styrax.
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