First vs Pavlova
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
34%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
No clear winner: the 7 categories split 3–3.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
PavlovaChoose it for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on community sentiment, longevity and value for money. Best in spring.
First3/7
Pavlova3/7
- Ratings & consensus
- First
- Community sentiment
- Pavlova
- Longevity
- Pavlova
- Sillage & projection
- Tie
- Value for money
- Pavlova
- Versatility
- First
- 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 & ArpelsPavlovaPayotWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
3.86/ 5 · 393 votes
Have 58%Had 42%Want 0%
Category winnerFirstRating 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
26%Love
55%Like
2%Ok
16%Dislike
1%Hate
352 votes
Category winnerPavlovaMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityPavlova
SillageTie
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerPavlovaBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfloral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
woody100%
aromatic92%
white floral84%
earthy77%
green69%
fresh spicy61%
Scent match34%Clearly different · both green and white floral
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
CassiaGrapefruitRaspberryMandarin Orange
Heart
TuberoseHiacynthGeraniumYlang-YlangJasmineNeroli
Base
OakmossVetiverSandalwoodMuskVanilla
InformationalShared notesMandarin Orange, Raspberry, Hiacynth and Jasmine. 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
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter91
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#2,789
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews81
Category winnerFirstHigher 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 →Pavlova is an old-school floral with a bright fruity opening, then a fuller heart of tuberose, jasmine and ylang-ylang over moss, woods and soft vanilla. On skin it often reads green, powdery and slightly soapy, with a distinctly vintage character. It suits shoppers who enjoy classic florals with oakmoss depth more th…
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 Pavlova?
No clear winner: the 7 categories split 3–3. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Pavlova is rated 3.86/5 from 393 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, versatility and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Pavlova for a woody and aromatic character. Wins on community sentiment, longevity and value for money. Best in spring.
Which lasts longer, First or Pavlova?
They last about the same: Pavlova 73/100, First 72/100 for longevity in community votes.
Which projects more, First or Pavlova?
Projection is very close: First 64/100, Pavlova 64/100 for sillage.
Do First and Pavlova smell similar?
Clearly different: a 34% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share green and white floral accords. Common notes include Mandarin Orange, Raspberry, Hiacynth and Jasmine.
Is First or Pavlova better for summer or winter?
For summer, First is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in First and Pavlova?
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. Pavlova has top notes of Cassia, Grapefruit, Raspberry and Mandarin Orange, heart notes of Tuberose, Hiacynth, Geranium and Ylang-Ylang, a base of Oakmoss, Vetiver, Sandalwood and Musk.
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