Fragrance comparison

First vs Royal Copenhagen

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

Updated 17 Oct 2026 3,777 ratings analysed

3 wins

First

Van Cleef & Arpels

3.983,483 votes

Rank #913 FloralGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

24%scent match

Clearly different

Royal Copenhagen

3.81294 votes

Rank #20,425 PowderyVanilla

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

First takes 3 of 3 categories.

First
Choose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, note pyramid duration and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Royal Copenhagen
Choose it for a powdery and vanilla character.

First3/3

Royal Copenhagen0/3

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

Royal CopenhagenRoyal Copenhagen

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes

Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%

3.81/ 5 · 294 votes

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

Not enough votes yet

Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate75

⏱ LongevityN/A

〰 SillageN/A

♥ Love / hateN/A

Category winners

LongevityNo data

SillageNo data

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value59

¤ Price valueN/A

Category winnerNot enough dataBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

floral100%

green92%

aldehydic84%

white floral77%

yellow floral69%

fresh61%

powdery100%

vanilla92%

aromatic84%

sweet77%

floral69%

woody61%

Scent match24%Clearly different · both 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

Top15-30 mins

AldehydesLavenderLimeLemonGreen NotesCardamomBergamot

Heart2-4 hrs

CarnationRoseVetiverOrris RootPatchouliJasmineCedar

Base6-8+ hrs

MuskHoneyVanillaTobaccoTonka BeanAmberHeliotropeOakmoss

Category winnerFirstLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter99

Day100

Night66

Spring–

Summer–

Fall–

Winter–

Day100

Night41

Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men2

Unisex12

Women86

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

Not enough votes yet

Casual 42%Work 32%Date 16%Party 9%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#913

PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena

Launched—

Reviews205

Overall rank#20,425

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews79

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 →

Royal Copenhagen by Royal Copenhagen is a legendary barbershop classic that greets you with a bright, bracing splash of lemon, crisp lime, and fizzy aldehydes before settling into cozy comfort. Released in 1970, this scent quickly reveals a heart of aromatic lavender and spicy carnation, wrapping the wearer in a clean…

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 Royal Copenhagen?

First takes 3 of 3 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Royal Copenhagen is rated 3.81/5 from 294 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, note pyramid duration and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Royal Copenhagen for a powdery and vanilla character.

Do First and Royal Copenhagen smell similar?

Clearly different: a 24% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Bergamot, Jasmine and Carnation.

Is First or Royal Copenhagen better for summer or winter?

First suits daytime wear; Royal Copenhagen suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in First and Royal Copenhagen?

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. Royal Copenhagen has top notes of Aldehydes, Lavender, Lime and Lemon, heart notes of Carnation, Rose, Vetiver and Orris Root, a base of Musk, Honey, Vanilla and Tobacco.