Fragrance comparison

First vs Near

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

Updated 19 Oct 2026 3,510 ratings analysed

5 wins

First

Van Cleef & Arpels

3.983,483 votes

Rank #911 FloralGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

21%scent match

Clearly different

Near

Ajmal

3.7827 votes

Rank #38,917 White FloralHoney

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

First takes 5 of 7 categories.

First
Choose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Near
Choose it for a white floral and honey character. Wins on sillage & projection and versatility. Best in winter, daytime wear.

First5/7

Near2/7

Ratings & consensus: First
Community sentiment: First
Longevity: First
Sillage & projection: Near
Value for money: First
Versatility: Near
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 & Arpels

NearAjmal

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes

Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%

3.78/ 5 · 27 votes

Have 31%Had 31%Want 38%

Category winnerFirstRating 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

19%Love

59%Like

4%Ok

19%Dislike

0%Hate

27 votes

Category winnerFirstMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate75

⏱ Longevity59

〰 Sillage68

♥ Love / hate69

Category winners

LongevityFirst

SillageNear

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value59

¤ Price value58

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%

honey91%

tuberose83%

vanilla74%

sweet65%

animalic56%

Scent match21%Clearly different · both white floral

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

Notes

HoneyTuberoseVanillaJasmineAmberMusk

No top / heart / base split published

InformationalShared notesJasmine, Tuberose, Honey and Amber. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter99

Day100

Night66

Spring60

Summer10

Fall60

Winter100

Day100

Night33

Category winnerNearMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men2

Unisex12

Women86

Work 33%Casual 29%Date 25%Party 14%

Men0

Unisex0

Women100

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#911

PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena

Launched—

Reviews205

Overall rank#38,917

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews0

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 →

Near by Ajmal is a honeyed white-floral that leans heavily into tuberose, with jasmine adding a creamy, petal-like lift. The sweetness reads like warm honey and vanilla rather than bright fruit. As it dries down, amber and musk give it a more sensual, slightly animalic finish. If you enjoy rich, sweet florals with not…

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.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, First or Near?

First takes 5 of 7 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Near is rated 3.78/5 from 27 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Near for a white floral and honey character. Wins on sillage & projection and versatility. Best in winter, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, First or Near?

First lasts longest (First 72/100, Near 59/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, First or Near?

Near projects furthest (Near 68/100, First 64/100), based on community performance votes.

Do First and Near smell similar?

Clearly different: a 21% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share white floral accords. Common notes include Jasmine, Tuberose, Honey and Amber.

Is First or Near better for summer or winter?

For summer, Near is the stronger pick. For winter, Near is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear; Near suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in First and Near?

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. Near features Honey, Tuberose, Vanilla, Jasmine and Amber.