First Parfum vs Ivoire de Balmain
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
30%scent match
Clearly different
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
First Parfum takes 7 of 7 categories.
First ParfumChoose it for a floral and powdery character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear.
Ivoire de BalmainChoose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Best in spring.
First Parfum7/7
Ivoire de Balmain0/7
- Ratings & consensus
- First Parfum
- Community sentiment
- First Parfum
- Longevity
- First Parfum
- Sillage & projection
- First Parfum
- Value for money
- First Parfum
- Versatility
- First Parfum
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- First Parfum
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
First ParfumVan Cleef & ArpelsIvoire de BalmainPierre BalmainWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.22/ 5 · 298 votes
Have 48%Had 23%Want 29%
4.13/ 5 · 1,107 votes
Have 68%Had 32%Want 0%
Category winnerFirst ParfumRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate47%Love
39%Like
4%Ok
10%Dislike
0%Hate
298 votes
42%Love
43%Like
2%Ok
13%Dislike
0%Hate
1,107 votes
Category winnerFirst ParfumMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityFirst Parfum
SillageFirst Parfum
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerFirst ParfumBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothfloral100%
powdery92%
woody84%
sweet77%
musky69%
animalic61%
aromatic100%
fresh spicy92%
herbal84%
woody77%
floral69%
green61%
Scent match30%Clearly different · both floral and woody
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop20-30 mins
AldehydesPeachBlack CurrantBergamotRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
HyacinthTurkish RoseCarnationYlang-YlangJasmineTuberoseOrris RootOrchid
Base8-10+ hrs
CivetHoneyMossSandalwoodVetiverAmberMuskVanilla
Top
AldehydesChamomileGalbanumMarigoldAsafoetidaArtemisiaBergamotLemon
Heart
Orris RootNarcissusCarnationNutmegTurkish RosePepperYlang-YlangIris
Base
OakmossVetiverSandalwoodIncensePatchouliLabdanumMuskTonka Bean
InformationalShared notesAldehydes, Bergamot, Turkish Rose and Carnation. Durations are only published for First Parfum, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring86
Summer0
Fall0
Winter100
Day73
Night100
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter68
Day–
Night–
Category winnerFirst ParfumMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#4,436
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews25
Overall rank#26,630
PerfumerFrancis Camail, Michel Hy
Launched—
Reviews0
Category winnerFirst ParfumHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotFirst Parfum by Van Cleef & Arpels opens with a crisp rush of aldehydes alongside sweet peach and tangy black currant, creating a bright fizz that immediately recalls luxury French bath soap. As it warms on the skin, a rich floral heart takes over, mingling velvety Turkish rose, night-blooming jasmine, and earthy hyac…
Reviews →Ivoire de Balmain stands as a definitive green chypre. It opens with a sharp, herbal punch of galbanum and marigold before settling into a sophisticated, mossy floral core. This is a scent for those who appreciate traditional, crisp structure. It feels most at home during cool spring mornings, providing an immediate s…
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 Parfum or Ivoire de Balmain?
First Parfum takes 7 of 7 categories. First Parfum is rated 4.22/5 from 298 votes; Ivoire de Balmain is rated 4.13/5 from 1,107 votes. Choose First Parfum for a floral and powdery character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in winter, evening wear. Choose Ivoire de Balmain for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Best in spring.
Which lasts longer, First Parfum or Ivoire de Balmain?
They last about the same: First Parfum 73/100, Ivoire de Balmain 71/100 for longevity in community votes.
Which projects more, First Parfum or Ivoire de Balmain?
Projection is very close: First Parfum 65/100, Ivoire de Balmain 64/100 for sillage.
Do First Parfum and Ivoire de Balmain smell similar?
Clearly different: a 30% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral and woody accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Bergamot, Turkish Rose and Carnation.
Is First Parfum or Ivoire de Balmain better for summer or winter?
For summer, First Parfum is the stronger pick. For winter, First Parfum is the stronger pick. First Parfum suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in First Parfum and Ivoire de Balmain?
First Parfum has top notes of Aldehydes, Peach, Black Currant and Bergamot, heart notes of Hyacinth, Turkish Rose, Carnation and Ylang-Ylang, a base of Civet, Honey, Moss and Sandalwood. Ivoire de Balmain has top notes of Aldehydes, Chamomile, Galbanum and Marigold, heart notes of Orris Root, Narcissus, Carnation and Nutmeg, a base of Oakmoss, Vetiver, Sandalwood and Incense.
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