First vs Ruler
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
22%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
First takes 4 of 4 categories.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.
RulerChoose it for a white floral and tuberose character. Best in fall, daytime wear.
First4/4
Ruler0/4
- Ratings & consensus
- Not scored
- Community sentiment
- Not scored
- Longevity
- First
- Sillage & projection
- First
- Value for money
- First
- 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 & ArpelsRulerARgENTUMWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
3.78/ 5 · 9 votes
Have 23%Had 9%Want 68%
Category winnerNot enough dataRating 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
33%Love
11%Like
56%Ok
0%Dislike
0%Hate
9 votes · too few to score
Category winnerNot enough dataMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityFirst
SillageFirst
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%
white floral100%
tuberose92%
fresh spicy84%
aromatic77%
citrus69%
fresh61%
Scent match22%Clearly different · both white floral and fresh
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
Argentinian LemonJuniper Berries
Heart
TuberosePink PepperTurkish Rose
Base
GingerAmberJasmine
InformationalShared notesJasmine, Tuberose and Amber. 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
Spring75
Summer50
Fall100
Winter75
Day100
Night67
Category winnerNot enough dataMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#954
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews205
Overall rank#62,566
PerfumerDelphine Thierry
Launched—
Reviews0
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 →Ruler by ARgENTUM opens with a sharp burst of Argentinian lemon and tart juniper berries before shifting into spicy pink pepper and green tuberose. A dry-down of zesty ginger, warm amber, and subtle jasmine sits close to the skin. It works best during crisp spring mornings or mild autumn afternoons when you want a cle…
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.
Recent comparisons
Head-to-head activity from live history
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, First or Ruler?
First takes 4 of 4 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; Ruler is rated 3.78/5 from 9 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose Ruler for a white floral and tuberose character. Best in fall, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, First or Ruler?
First lasts longest (First 72/100, Ruler 40/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, First or Ruler?
First projects furthest (First 64/100, Ruler 25/100), based on community performance votes.
Do First and Ruler smell similar?
Clearly different: a 22% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share white floral and fresh accords. Common notes include Jasmine, Tuberose and Amber.
Is First or Ruler better for summer or winter?
First suits daytime wear; Ruler suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in First and Ruler?
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. Ruler has top notes of Argentinian Lemon and Juniper Berries, heart notes of Tuberose, Pink Pepper and Turkish Rose, a base of Ginger, Amber and Jasmine.
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