First vs The Lover
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
44%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
First takes 5 of 7 categories.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
The LoverChoose it for a white floral and citrus character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.
First5/7
The Lover2/7
- Ratings & consensus
- First
- Community sentiment
- First
- Longevity
- First
- Sillage & projection
- First
- Value for money
- The Lover
- Versatility
- The Lover
- 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 & ArpelsThe LoverWe PinkWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
3.60/ 5 · 25 votes
Have 65%Had 9%Want 26%
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
16%Love
52%Like
16%Ok
8%Dislike
8%Hate
25 votes
Category winnerFirstMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityFirst
SillageFirst
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerThe LoverBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfloral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
white floral100%
citrus90%
fresh80%
floral70%
fruity60%
sweet50%
Scent match44%Some overlap · both white floral, 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
PeachMandarin OrangeOrangeBlack Pepper
Heart
Lily-of-the-ValleyFreesiaJasmineYlang-Ylang
Base
VanillaAmberMuskSandalwood
InformationalShared notesPeach, Mandarin Orange, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley. 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
Summer58
Fall83
Winter58
Day100
Night58
Category winnerThe LoverMost 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#60,939
PerfumerNot listed
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 →The Lover opens with a bright burst of mandarin orange and orange, immediately cut by the sharp bite of black pepper. As the initial citrus fizz settles on the skin, a soft peach note emerges, blending into a light floral heart of freesia and lily of the valley. It is a clean, fruity floral that feels tailored for war…
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
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, First or The Lover?
First takes 5 of 7 categories. First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes; The Lover is rated 3.60/5 from 25 votes. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose The Lover for a white floral and citrus character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, First or The Lover?
First lasts longest (First 72/100, The Lover 50/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, First or The Lover?
First projects furthest (First 64/100, The Lover 44/100), based on community performance votes.
Do First and The Lover smell similar?
Some overlap: a 44% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share white floral, floral and fresh accords. Common notes include Peach, Mandarin Orange, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley.
Is First or The Lover better for summer or winter?
For summer, The Lover is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear; The Lover suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in First and The Lover?
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. The Lover has top notes of Peach, Mandarin Orange, Orange and Black Pepper, heart notes of Lily-of-the-Valley, Freesia, Jasmine and Ylang-Ylang, a base of Vanilla, Amber, Musk and Sandalwood.
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