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FRAGRANXE
Fragrance comparison

First Date vs Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber

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

Updated 121 ratings analysed
Closely related
Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

First Date takes 6 of 8 categories.

  • First Date

    Choose it for a amber and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, evening wear.

  • Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber

    Choose it for a amber and vanilla character. Wins on community sentiment and value for money. Best in summer, daytime wear.

First Date6/8
Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber2/8
Ratings & consensus
First Date
Community sentiment
Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber
Longevity
First Date
Sillage & projection
First Date
Value for money
Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber
Versatility
First Date
Note pyramid (duration)
First Date
Fragranxe ranking
First Date

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance
First DateSphinx Fragrances
Island Sunset Sea Salt & AmberMarks & Spencer
Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split
4.17/ 5 · 95 votes
Have 90%Had 10%Want 0%
4.12/ 5 · 26 votes
Have 31%Had 22%Want 47%
Category winnerFirst DateRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate
52%Love
25%Like
15%Ok
5%Dislike
3%Hate

95 votes

35%Love
46%Like
15%Ok
4%Dislike
0%Hate

26 votes

Category winnerIsland Sunset Sea Salt & AmberMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores
⏱ Longevity78
〰 Sillage62
♥ Love / hate79
⏱ Longevity61
〰 Sillage54
♥ Love / hate78
Category winners

LongevityFirst Date

SillageFirst Date

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it
¤ Price value64
¤ Price value87
Category winnerIsland Sunset Sea Salt & AmberBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both
amber100%
vanilla92%
sweet84%
woody77%
coconut69%
powdery61%
amber100%
vanilla90%
powdery80%
white floral70%
woody60%
salty50%
Scent match55%Closely related · both amber, vanilla and powdery

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared
Top15-30 mins
CoconutAlmondBay LeafThymeOrangeLimeAmalfi Lemon
Heart2-4 hrs
Cashmere WoodSaffronSea SaltJasmineSandalwoodVirginia CedarCedarRose
Base6-8+ hrs
VanillaAmbergrisCaramelAmberMuskTonka Bean
Top20 to 30 minutes
JasmineMandarin OrangeGinger
Heart2 to 3 hours
VanillaSea Salt
Base3 to 4 hours
AmberCashmere WoodSandalwood
Category winnerFirst DateLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season
Spring100
Summer95
Fall98
Winter95
Day85
Night100
Spring33
Summer100
Fall92
Winter58
Day100
Night73
Category winnerFirst DateMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes
Men30
Unisex56
Women14
Men0
Unisex0
Women100
InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#10,026

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews9

Overall rank#20,265

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews5

Category winnerFirst DateHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

First Date by Sphinx Fragrances opens with a surprising splash of lime, sweet orange, and creamy coconut, backed immediately by an aromatic snap of crushed thyme and bay leaf. As the bright citrus settles, the scent turns into a smooth mix of warm amber, creamy almond, and cozy cashmere wood, with salted vanilla risin…

Reviews →

Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber by Marks & Spencer blends warm sweetness with a breezy coastal edge. The scent opens with bright mandarin orange and crisp ginger, accompanied by a soft petal touch of jasmine. Soon, a distinctive heart emerges where sweet vanilla balances mineral sea salt, evoking warm skin by the shore…

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.

Recent comparisons

Head-to-head activity from live history

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, First Date or Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber?

First Date takes 6 of 8 categories. First Date is rated 4.17/5 from 95 votes; Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber is rated 4.12/5 from 26 votes. Choose First Date for a amber and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, evening wear. Choose Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber for a amber and vanilla character. Wins on community sentiment and value for money. Best in summer, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, First Date or Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber?

First Date lasts longest (First Date 78/100, Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber 61/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, First Date or Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber?

First Date projects furthest (First Date 62/100, Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber 54/100), based on community performance votes.

Do First Date and Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber smell similar?

Closely related: a 55% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share amber, vanilla and powdery accords. Common notes include Cashmere Wood, Sea Salt, Jasmine and Sandalwood.

Is First Date or Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber better for summer or winter?

For summer, Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber is the stronger pick. For winter, First Date is the stronger pick. First Date suits evening wear; Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in First Date and Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber?

First Date has top notes of Coconut, Almond, Bay Leaf and Thyme, heart notes of Cashmere Wood, Saffron, Sea Salt and Jasmine, a base of Vanilla, Ambergris, Caramel and Amber. Island Sunset Sea Salt & Amber has top notes of Jasmine, Mandarin Orange and Ginger, heart notes of Vanilla and Sea Salt, a base of Amber, Cashmere Wood and Sandalwood.

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