Fragrance comparison

Ivoire de Balmain vs First

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

Updated 14 Oct 2026 4,590 ratings analysed

Ivoire de Balmain

Pierre Balmain

4.131,107 votes

Rank #23,646 AromaticFresh Spicy

Full profile Similar & dupes

31%scent match

Clearly different

4 wins

First

Van Cleef & Arpels

3.983,483 votes

Rank #901 FloralGreen

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

First takes 4 of 7 categories.

Ivoire de Balmain
Choose it for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus and community sentiment. Best in spring.
First
Choose it for a floral and green character. Wins on longevity, value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Ivoire de Balmain2/7

First4/7

Ratings & consensus: Ivoire de Balmain
Community sentiment: Ivoire de Balmain
Longevity: First
Sillage & projection: Tie
Value for money: First
Versatility: First
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: First

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Ivoire de BalmainPierre Balmain

FirstVan Cleef & Arpels

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.13/ 5 · 1,107 votes

Have 68%Had 32%Want 0%

3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes

Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%

Category winnerIvoire de BalmainRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

42%Love

43%Like

2%Ok

13%Dislike

0%Hate

1,107 votes

38%Love

41%Like

3%Ok

17%Dislike

1%Hate

3,483 votes

Category winnerIvoire de BalmainMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity71

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate78

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage64

♥ Love / hate75

Category winners

LongevityFirst

SillageTie

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value50

¤ Price value59

Category winnerFirstBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fresh spicy92%

herbal84%

woody77%

floral69%

green61%

floral100%

green92%

aldehydic84%

white floral77%

yellow floral69%

fresh61%

Scent match31%Clearly different · both floral and green

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top

AldehydesChamomileGalbanumMarigoldAsafoetidaArtemisiaBergamotLemon

Heart

Orris RootNarcissusCarnationNutmegTurkish RosePepperYlang-YlangIris

Base

OakmossVetiverSandalwoodIncensePatchouliLabdanumMuskTonka Bean

Top20-30 mins

AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry

Heart3-4 hrs

NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose

Base6-8+ hrs

CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean

InformationalShared notesAldehydes, Bergamot, Orris Root and Narcissus. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter68

Day–

Night–

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter99

Day100

Night66

Category winnerFirstMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men3

Unisex37

Women60

Men2

Unisex12

Women86

Work 33%Casual 29%Date 25%Party 14%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#23,646

PerfumerFrancis Camail, Michel Hy

Launched—

Reviews0

Overall rank#901

PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena

Launched—

Reviews205

Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

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 →

First 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 →

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, Ivoire de Balmain or First?

First takes 4 of 7 categories. Ivoire de Balmain is rated 4.13/5 from 1,107 votes; First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes. Choose Ivoire de Balmain for a aromatic and fresh spicy character. Wins on ratings & consensus and community sentiment. Best in spring. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on longevity, value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, Ivoire de Balmain or First?

They last about the same: First 72/100, Ivoire de Balmain 71/100 for longevity in community votes.

Which projects more, Ivoire de Balmain or First?

Projection is very close: Ivoire de Balmain 64/100, First 64/100 for sillage.

Do Ivoire de Balmain and First smell similar?

Clearly different: a 31% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral and green accords. Common notes include Aldehydes, Bergamot, Orris Root and Narcissus.

Is Ivoire de Balmain or First better for summer or winter?

For summer, Ivoire de Balmain is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Ivoire de Balmain and First?

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. 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.