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FRAGRANXE
Fragrance comparison

MCM Blue Paradise vs First

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

Updated 3,510 ratings analysed
Some overlap
Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

First takes 5 of 7 categories.

  • MCM Blue Paradise

    Choose it for a fruity and floral character. Wins on community sentiment and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.

  • First

    Choose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, daytime wear.

MCM Blue Paradise2/7
First5/7
Ratings & consensus
First
Community sentiment
MCM Blue Paradise
Longevity
First
Sillage & projection
First
Value for money
First
Versatility
MCM Blue Paradise
Note pyramid (duration)
Not scored
Fragranxe ranking
First

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance
MCM Blue ParadiseMCM - Mode Creation Munich
FirstVan Cleef & Arpels
Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split
4.15/ 5 · 27 votes
Have 45%Had 24%Want 31%
3.98/ 5 · 3,483 votes
Have 63%Had 37%Want 0%
Category winnerFirstRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate
33%Love
56%Like
4%Ok
7%Dislike
0%Hate

27 votes

38%Love
41%Like
3%Ok
17%Dislike
1%Hate

3,483 votes

Category winnerMCM Blue ParadiseMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores
⏱ Longevity63
〰 Sillage60
♥ Love / hate79
⏱ Longevity72
〰 Sillage64
♥ Love / hate75
Category winners

LongevityFirst

SillageFirst

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it
¤ Price value0
¤ Price value59
Category winnerFirstBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both
fruity100%
floral92%
powdery84%
green77%
woody69%
earthy61%
floral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
Scent match40%Some overlap · both floral and green

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared
Top
PeachBlack CurrantMandarin OrangeVioletGalbanumBergamot
Heart
OrrisCyclamenHyacinthRoseLily-of-the-ValleyJasmine
Base
OakmossMuskSandalwoodAmberVetiver
Top20-30 mins
AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose
Base6-8+ hrs
CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean
InformationalShared notesPeach, Black Currant, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season
Spring100
Summer60
Fall50
Winter20
Day100
Night50
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter99
Day100
Night85
Category winnerMCM Blue ParadiseMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes
Men0
Unisex50
Women50
Men2
Unisex12
Women86
InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#39,967

PerfumerArturetto Landi

Launched—

Reviews1

Overall rank#955

PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena

Launched—

Reviews205

Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

MCM Blue Paradise is a fruity floral chypre from 1989 with a syrupy peach and black currant opening, a powdery cyclamen and orris heart, and a mossy green base. Despite the name, it does not read as a true aquatic. It suits shoppers who enjoy vintage-leaning fruity chypres with floral powder and green undertones. Samp…

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.

Recent comparisons

Head-to-head activity from live history

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, MCM Blue Paradise or First?

First takes 5 of 7 categories. MCM Blue Paradise is rated 4.15/5 from 27 votes; First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes. Choose MCM Blue Paradise for a fruity and floral character. Wins on community sentiment and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, MCM Blue Paradise or First?

First lasts longest (First 72/100, MCM Blue Paradise 63/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, MCM Blue Paradise or First?

First projects furthest (First 64/100, MCM Blue Paradise 60/100), based on community performance votes.

Do MCM Blue Paradise and First smell similar?

Some overlap: a 40% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share floral and green accords. Common notes include Peach, Black Currant, Mandarin Orange and Bergamot.

Is MCM Blue Paradise or First better for summer or winter?

For summer, MCM Blue Paradise is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. MCM Blue Paradise suits daytime wear; First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in MCM Blue Paradise and First?

MCM Blue Paradise has top notes of Peach, Black Currant, Mandarin Orange and Violet, heart notes of Orris, Cyclamen, Hyacinth and Rose, a base of Oakmoss, Musk, Sandalwood and Amber. 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.

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