Fragrance comparison

First vs Nile

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

Updated 19 Oct 2026 3,486 ratings analysed

First

Van Cleef & Arpels

3.983,483 votes

Rank #911 FloralGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

25%scent match

Clearly different

3 wins

Nile

Extract

3.673 votes

Rank #59,426 CitrusFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Nile takes 3 of 4 categories.

First
Choose it for a floral and green character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Nile
Choose it for a citrus and fresh spicy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.

First1/4

Nile3/4

Ratings & consensus: Not scored
Community sentiment: Not scored
Longevity: Nile
Sillage & projection: Nile
Value for money: Nile
Versatility: Not scored
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

NileExtract

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes

Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%

3.67/ 5 · 3 votes

Have 0%Had 0%Want 100%

Category winnerNot enough dataRating 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

33%Love

33%Like

0%Ok

33%Dislike

0%Hate

3 votes · too few to score

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate75

⏱ Longevity80

〰 Sillage67

♥ Love / hate67

Category winners

LongevityNile

SillageNile

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value59

¤ Price value92

Category winnerNileBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

floral100%

green92%

aldehydic84%

white floral77%

yellow floral69%

fresh61%

citrus100%

fresh spicy92%

fresh84%

aldehydic77%

woody69%

aquatic61%

Scent match25%Clearly different · both aldehydic and fresh

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

Top

BergamotAldehydesMandarin Orange

Heart

Water NotesPepperCedar

Base

OakmossAmberVanilla

InformationalShared notesAldehydes, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Oakmoss. 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

Spring100

Summer100

Fall100

Winter50

Day100

Night–

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men2

Unisex12

Women86

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

Men100

Unisex0

Women0

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#911

PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena

Launched—

Reviews205

Overall rank#59,426

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 →

Nile by Extract delivers an invigorating blast of bright bergamot, sparkling mandarin orange, and crisp aldehydes that feels like stepping out of a cold morning shower. As the opening settles, cool water notes and cracked black pepper blend over a solid backbone of dry cedar wood. The base finishes with earthy oakmoss…

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 Nile?

Nile takes 3 of 4 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Nile is rated 3.67/5 from 3 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Nile for a citrus and fresh spicy character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, First or Nile?

Nile lasts longest (Nile 80/100, First 72/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, First or Nile?

Nile projects furthest (Nile 67/100, First 64/100), based on community performance votes.

Do First and Nile smell similar?

Clearly different: a 25% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share aldehydic and fresh accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Bergamot, Mandarin Orange and Oakmoss.

Is First or Nile better for summer or winter?

First suits daytime wear; Nile suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in First and Nile?

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. Nile has top notes of Bergamot, Aldehydes and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Water Notes, Pepper and Cedar, a base of Oakmoss, Amber and Vanilla.