Sensual vs So First
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
48%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
Sensual takes 6 of 8 categories.
SensualChoose it for a citrus and white floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
So FirstChoose it for a floral and citrus character. Wins on note pyramid duration and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Sensual6/8
So First2/8
- Ratings & consensus
- Sensual
- Community sentiment
- Sensual
- Longevity
- Sensual
- Sillage & projection
- Sensual
- Value for money
- Sensual
- Versatility
- Sensual
- Note pyramid (duration)
- So First
- Fragranxe ranking
- So First
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
SensualJohan BSo FirstVan Cleef & ArpelsWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split4.37/ 5 · 65 votes
Have 39%Had 22%Want 38%
3.90/ 5 · 291 votes
Have 45%Had 21%Want 34%
Category winnerSensualRating weighted by vote count
Community sentiment
How voters split from love to hate52%Love
38%Like
3%Ok
6%Dislike
0%Hate
65 votes
28%Love
49%Like
9%Ok
12%Dislike
1%Hate
291 votes
Category winnerSensualMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevitySensual
SillageSensual
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerSensualBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothcitrus100%
white floral92%
fruity84%
floral77%
woody69%
green61%
floral100%
citrus86%
vanilla72%
powdery58%
tropical44%
woody30%
Scent match48%Some overlap · both citrus, floral and woody
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop15-30 mins
BergamotTangerineBlack CurrantNectarineApple
Heart2-4 hrs
GardeniaMagnoliaJasmineFreesiaLily-of-the-Valley
Base4-6+ hrs
PatchouliMuskSandalwoodVanillaAmber
Top15-30 mins
BergamotMagnolia
Heart2-4 hrs
FrangipaniFreesiaJasmine
Base6-8 hrs
VanillaSandalwood
Category winnerSo FirstLongest dry-down: 6-8 hrs
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer71
Fall29
Winter29
Day100
Night48
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter41
Day100
Night25
Category winnerSensualMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#10,945
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews12
Overall rank#7,760
PerfumerNathalie Lorson
Launched—
Reviews41
Category winnerSo FirstHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotJohan B Sensual opens with an immediate burst of sparkling bergamot, tangy tangerine, and crisp green apple. It wastes no time making an impression. The initial citrus rush carries a juicy sweetness from ripe nectarine and tart black currant. Within twenty minutes, the bright fruit notes step aside for a lush bouquet …
Reviews →Van Cleef & Arpels So First opens with a bright splash of tangy bergamot and dewy magnolia petals that immediately brings a clean, sunny warmth to your morning routine. As the initial citrus sparkle softens on your skin, tropical frangipani blends with sweet freesia and delicate jasmine blossoms to build a lush, garde…
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
Ask about this matchup
Get a practical answer grounded in the fragrances currently selected.
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Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, Sensual or So First?
Sensual takes 6 of 8 categories. Sensual is rated 4.37/5 from 65 votes; So First is rated 3.90/5 from 291 votes. Choose Sensual for a citrus and white floral character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose So First for a floral and citrus character. Wins on note pyramid duration and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, Sensual or So First?
Sensual lasts longest (Sensual 61/100, So First 56/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, Sensual or So First?
Sensual projects furthest (Sensual 59/100, So First 56/100), based on community performance votes.
Do Sensual and So First smell similar?
Some overlap: a 48% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, floral and woody accords. Common notes include Bergamot, Magnolia, Jasmine and Freesia.
Is Sensual or So First better for summer or winter?
For summer, Sensual is the stronger pick. For winter, So First is the stronger pick. Sensual suits daytime wear; So First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in Sensual and So First?
Sensual has top notes of Bergamot, Tangerine, Black Currant and Nectarine, heart notes of Gardenia, Magnolia, Jasmine and Freesia, a base of Patchouli, Musk, Sandalwood and Vanilla. So First has top notes of Bergamot and Magnolia, heart notes of Frangipani, Freesia and Jasmine, a base of Vanilla and Sandalwood.
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