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FRAGRANXE
Fragrance comparison

New Valaam vs First

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

Updated 3,519 ratings analysed
Closely related
Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

First takes 4 of 7 categories.

  • New Valaam

    Choose it for a green and citrus character. Wins on community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.

  • First

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

New Valaam2/7
First4/7
Ratings & consensus
First
Community sentiment
New Valaam
Longevity
New Valaam
Sillage & projection
First
Value for money
First
Versatility
Tie
Note pyramid (duration)
Not scored
Fragranxe ranking
First

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance
New ValaamPhronema Perfumes
FirstVan Cleef & Arpels
Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split
3.92/ 5 · 36 votes
Have 6%Had 5%Want 89%
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
25%Love
56%Like
11%Ok
3%Dislike
6%Hate

36 votes

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

3,483 votes

Category winnerNew ValaamMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores
⏱ Longevity76
〰 Sillage62
♥ Love / hate73
⏱ Longevity72
〰 Sillage64
♥ Love / hate75
Category winners

LongevityNew Valaam

SillageFirst

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it
¤ Price value25
¤ Price value59
Category winnerFirstBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both
green100%
citrus92%
white floral84%
fresh77%
floral69%
aromatic61%
floral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
Scent match56%Closely related · both green, floral and white floral

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared
Top
Lily-of-the-ValleyYuzuGrapefruitAldehydesPeachHeliotropeBergamot
Heart
Violet LeafCassisNarcissusJasmineHyacinthCyclamen
Base
OakmossCivetMyrrhVetiverAmberTonka Bean
Top20-30 mins
AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose
Base6-8+ hrs
CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean
InformationalShared notesLily-of-the-Valley, Aldehydes, Peach 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
Summer71
Fall14
Winter14
Day100
Night50
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter99
Day100
Night85
Category winnerTieMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes
Men18
Unisex64
Women18
Men2
Unisex12
Women86
InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#27,939

PerfumerWeston Adam

Launched—

Reviews2

Overall rank#954

PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena

Launched—

Reviews205

Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

New Valaam by Phronema Perfumes is a daring unisex scent that leads with sharp yuzu and bright lily-of-the-valley. As it dries, it shifts into a complex green and mossy composition, anchored by civet and earthy vetiver. This 2022 release excels in spring weather, offering a crisp yet animalic profile that demands atte…

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, New Valaam or First?

First takes 4 of 7 categories. New Valaam is rated 3.92/5 from 36 votes; First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes. Choose New Valaam for a green and citrus character. Wins on community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, sillage & projection and value for money. Best in spring, daytime wear.

Which lasts longer, New Valaam or First?

New Valaam lasts longest (New Valaam 76/100, First 72/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, New Valaam or First?

Projection is very close: First 64/100, New Valaam 62/100 for sillage.

Do New Valaam and First smell similar?

Closely related: a 56% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share green, floral and white floral accords. Common notes include Lily-of-the-Valley, Aldehydes, Peach and Bergamot.

Is New Valaam or First better for summer or winter?

For summer, New Valaam is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. New Valaam suits daytime wear; First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in New Valaam and First?

New Valaam has top notes of Lily-of-the-Valley, Yuzu, Grapefruit and Aldehydes, heart notes of Violet Leaf, Cassis, Narcissus and Jasmine, a base of Oakmoss, Civet, Myrrh and Vetiver. 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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