Fragrance comparison

First Instinct Blue vs Island

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

Updated 9 Oct 2026 773 ratings analysed

First Instinct Blue

Abercrombie & Fitch

3.68715 votes

Rank #3,289 Fresh SpicyAromatic

Full profile Similar & dupes

48%scent match

Some overlap

4 wins

Island

Verset Parfums

3.7458 votes

Rank #16,090 CitrusLavender

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

Island takes 4 of 7 categories.

First Instinct Blue
Choose it for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.
Island
Choose it for a citrus and lavender character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring.

First Instinct Blue3/7

Island4/7

Ratings & consensus: First Instinct Blue
Community sentiment: First Instinct Blue
Longevity: Island
Sillage & projection: Island
Value for money: Island
Versatility: Island
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: First Instinct Blue

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

First Instinct BlueAbercrombie & Fitch

IslandVerset Parfums

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.68/ 5 · 715 votes

Have 79%Had 21%Want 0%

3.74/ 5 · 58 votes

Have 58%Had 26%Want 16%

Category winnerFirst Instinct BlueRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

26%Love

50%Like

16%Ok

7%Dislike

1%Hate

630 votes

24%Love

48%Like

10%Ok

12%Dislike

5%Hate

58 votes

Category winnerFirst Instinct BlueMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity55

〰 Sillage50

♥ Love / hate73

⏱ Longevity68

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate69

Category winners

LongevityIsland

SillageIsland

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value73

¤ Price value91

Category winnerIslandBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

fresh spicy100%

aromatic92%

lavender84%

warm spicy77%

woody69%

fruity61%

citrus100%

lavender88%

fresh spicy77%

aromatic65%

amber53%

floral42%

Scent match48%Some overlap · both fresh spicy, lavender and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Top

AppleBergamotCardamom

Heart

LavenderRosemaryPepper

Base

SandalwoodTonka BeanAmber

Top

Bergamot

Heart

Lavender

Base

Amber

InformationalShared notesBergamot, Lavender and Amber. Note durations are not published for these fragrances, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter26

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter67

Day–

Night–

Category winnerIslandMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men93

Unisex6

Women1

Men91

Unisex7

Women2

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#3,289

PerfumerYves Cassar

Launched—

Reviews112

Overall rank#16,090

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews5

Category winnerFirst Instinct BlueHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

First Instinct Blue by Abercrombie & Fitch is a Aromatic Fougere fragrance for men. First Instinct Blue was launched in 2018. The nose behind this fragrance is Yves Cassar. Top notes are Apple, Bergamot and Cardamom; middle notes are Lavender, Rosemary and Pepper; base notes are Sandalwood, Tonka Bean and Amber.

Reviews →

Island by Verset Parfums targets men seeking a crisp, lavender-forward everyday cologne. The composition leads with a clean blast of bergamot, transitioning into a soothing herbal heart, before settling on a warm amber base. It offers an affordable option for casual spring afternoons, mimicking the structure of high-e…

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 Instinct Blue or Island?

Island takes 4 of 7 categories. First Instinct Blue is rated 3.68/5 from 715 votes; Island is rated 3.74/5 from 58 votes. Choose First Instinct Blue for a fresh spicy and aromatic character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring. Choose Island for a citrus and lavender character. Wins on longevity, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring.

Which lasts longer, First Instinct Blue or Island?

Island lasts longest (Island 68/100, First Instinct Blue 55/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, First Instinct Blue or Island?

Island projects furthest (Island 55/100, First Instinct Blue 50/100), based on community performance votes.

Do First Instinct Blue and Island smell similar?

Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share fresh spicy, lavender and aromatic accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Lavender and Amber.

Is First Instinct Blue or Island better for summer or winter?

For summer, First Instinct Blue is the stronger pick. For winter, Island is the stronger pick. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in First Instinct Blue and Island?

First Instinct Blue has top notes of Apple, Bergamot and Cardamom, heart notes of Lavender, Rosemary and Pepper, a base of Sandalwood, Tonka Bean and Amber. Island has top notes of Bergamot, heart notes of Lavender, a base of Amber.