The Lover vs First
Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.
44%scent match
Some overlap
Quick verdict
Which one should you pick?
First takes 5 of 7 categories.
The LoverChoose it for a white floral and citrus character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear.
FirstChoose it for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
The Lover2/7
First5/7
- Ratings & consensus
- First
- Community sentiment
- First
- Longevity
- First
- Sillage & projection
- First
- Value for money
- The Lover
- Versatility
- The Lover
- Note pyramid (duration)
- Not scored
- Fragranxe ranking
- First
Head-to-head breakdown
Every category side by side, with the winner called out.
Fragrance
The LoverWe PinkFirstVan Cleef & ArpelsWinner
Ratings & consensus
Average rating and ownership split3.60/ 5 · 25 votes
Have 65%Had 9%Want 26%
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 hate16%Love
52%Like
16%Ok
8%Dislike
8%Hate
25 votes
38%Love
41%Like
3%Ok
17%Dislike
1%Hate
3,483 votes
Category winnerFirstMost positive mix (25+ votes)
Longevity & sillage
0–100 community performance scores
Category winners
LongevityFirst
SillageFirst
Value for money
How fairly priced voters find itCategory winnerThe LoverBest value score
Main accords
Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by bothwhite floral100%
citrus90%
fresh80%
floral70%
fruity60%
sweet50%
floral100%
green92%
aldehydic84%
white floral77%
yellow floral69%
fresh61%
Scent match44%Some overlap · both white floral, floral and fresh
Note pyramid (duration)
Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = sharedTop
PeachMandarin OrangeOrangeBlack Pepper
Heart
Lily-of-the-ValleyFreesiaJasmineYlang-Ylang
Base
VanillaAmberMuskSandalwood
Top20-30 mins
AldehydesBergamotBlack CurrantPeachMandarin OrangeRaspberry
Heart3-4 hrs
NarcissusHiacynthJasmineLily-of-the-ValleyCarnationYlang-YlangOrris RootTuberose
Base6-8+ hrs
CivetOakmossHoneyAmberMuskSandalwoodVetiverTonka Bean
InformationalShared notesPeach, Mandarin Orange, Lily-of-the-Valley and Jasmine. Durations are only published for First, so this is not scored.
Seasons & time of day
Relative to each fragrance's best seasonSpring100
Summer58
Fall83
Winter58
Day100
Night58
Spring100
Summer0
Fall0
Winter99
Day100
Night85
Category winnerThe LoverMost year-round
Who wears it
Gender appeal votesInformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored
Ranking & credits
Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launchOverall rank#60,939
PerfumerNot listed
Launched—
Reviews0
Overall rank#955
PerfumerJean-Claude Ellena
Launched—
Reviews205
Category winnerFirstHigher overall rank
In a nutshell
Description & review snapshotThe Lover opens with a bright burst of mandarin orange and orange, immediately cut by the sharp bite of black pepper. As the initial citrus fizz settles on the skin, a soft peach note emerges, blending into a light floral heart of freesia and lily of the valley. It is a clean, fruity floral that feels tailored for war…
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.
Guided comparison
Ask about this matchup
Get a practical answer grounded in the fragrances currently selected.
Recent comparisons
Head-to-head activity from live history
Fancy NightsJessica SimpsonRUNNER-UP
vs
♛
Nino Cerruti Pour FemmeCerrutiWINNER
♛
Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER
vs
Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP
1 person compared this today
Sweet DreamsHouse Of SillageWINNER
vs
Safari ElixirAthoor Al AlamRUNNER-UP
♛
PrometheuNecalliWINNER
vs
Bruno ImperialAnfar LondonRUNNER-UP
1 person compared this today
PrometheuNecalliWINNER
vs
Bruno ImperialAnfar LondonRUNNER-UP
Super CedarByredoRUNNER-UP
vs
♛
NorthMendittorosaWINNER
Common questions
Straight answers from the data above.
Which is better, The Lover or First?
First takes 5 of 7 categories. The Lover is rated 3.60/5 from 25 votes; First is rated 3.98/5 from 3,483 votes. Choose The Lover for a white floral and citrus character. Wins on value for money and versatility. Best in spring, daytime wear. Choose First for a floral and green character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and longevity. Best in spring, daytime wear.
Which lasts longer, The Lover or First?
First lasts longest (First 72/100, The Lover 50/100), based on community performance votes.
Which projects more, The Lover or First?
First projects furthest (First 64/100, The Lover 44/100), based on community performance votes.
Do The Lover and First smell similar?
Some overlap: a 44% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share white floral, floral and fresh accords. Common notes include Peach, Mandarin Orange, Lily-of-the-Valley and Jasmine.
Is The Lover or First better for summer or winter?
For summer, The Lover is the stronger pick. For winter, First is the stronger pick. The Lover suits daytime wear; First suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.
What are the notes in The Lover and First?
The Lover has top notes of Peach, Mandarin Orange, Orange and Black Pepper, heart notes of Lily-of-the-Valley, Freesia, Jasmine and Ylang-Ylang, a base of Vanilla, Amber, Musk and Sandalwood. 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.
Popular fragrance comparisons
The matchups people have compared most on Fragranxe.
vs
Sauvage vs Bleu de Chanel
Dior · Chanel · 36 comparisons
vs
Paco Rabanne Pour Homme Rabanne for men vs Shiyaaka Shadow
Rabanne · Khadlaj Perfumes · 30 comparisons
vs
Baccarat Rouge 540 vs Khamrah
Maison Francis Kurkdjian · Lattafa Perfumes · 21 comparisons
vs
Birth of Venus vs Brioni Eau de Parfum Intense
Argos · Brioni · 17 comparisons
vs
Supremacy Not Only Intense vs Arabians Tonka
Afnan · Montale · 14 comparisons
vs
Secret De Venus Eau de Parfum vs # What Matters is Inside - Italy
Weil · Jovoy Paris · 14 comparisons