Fragrance comparison

Varens Original Patchouli Chic vs First Date

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

Updated 24 Oct 2026 140 ratings analysed

Varens Original Patchouli Chic

Ulric de Varens

4.0045 votes

Rank #35,667 PatchouliWoody

Full profile Similar & dupes

31%scent match

Clearly different

6 wins

First Date

Sphinx Fragrances

4.1795 votes

Rank #9,523 AmberVanilla

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

First Date takes 6 of 7 categories.

Varens Original Patchouli Chic
Choose it for a patchouli and woody character. Wins on community sentiment. Best in fall, daytime wear.
First Date
Choose it for a amber and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, evening wear.

Varens Original Patchouli Chic1/7

First Date6/7

Ratings & consensus: First Date
Community sentiment: Varens Original Patchouli Chic
Longevity: First Date
Sillage & projection: First Date
Value for money: Not scored
Versatility: First Date
Note pyramid (duration): First Date
Fragranxe ranking: First Date

Head-to-head breakdown

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

Fragrance

Varens Original Patchouli ChicUlric de Varens

First DateSphinx Fragrances

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

4.00/ 5 · 45 votes

Have 38%Had 26%Want 36%

4.17/ 5 · 95 votes

Have 90%Had 10%Want 0%

Category winnerFirst DateRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

22%Love

67%Like

0%Ok

11%Dislike

0%Hate

45 votes

52%Love

25%Like

15%Ok

5%Dislike

3%Hate

95 votes

Category winnerVarens Original Patchouli ChicMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity72

〰 Sillage60

♥ Love / hate75

⏱ Longevity78

〰 Sillage62

♥ Love / hate79

Category winners

LongevityFirst Date

SillageFirst Date

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price valueN/A

¤ Price value64

Category winnerNot enough dataBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

patchouli100%

woody92%

vanilla84%

warm spicy77%

caramel69%

balsamic61%

amber100%

vanilla92%

sweet84%

woody77%

coconut69%

powdery61%

Scent match31%Clearly different · both vanilla and woody

Note pyramid (duration)

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

Top15-30 mins

Bergamot

Heart2-3 hrs

PatchouliJasmineLily-of-the-Valley

Base4-6 hrs

VanillaCaramelVirginia CedarMusk

Top15-30 mins

CoconutAlmondBay LeafThymeOrangeLimeAmalfi Lemon

Heart2-4 hrs

Cashmere WoodSaffronSea SaltJasmineSandalwoodVirginia CedarCedarRose

Base6-8+ hrs

VanillaAmbergrisCaramelAmberMuskTonka Bean

Category winnerFirst DateLongest dry-down: 6-8+ hrs

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring32

Summer37

Fall100

Winter53

Day100

Night73

Spring100

Summer95

Fall98

Winter95

Day85

Night100

Category winnerFirst DateMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex100

Women0

Casual 41%Work 26%Date 21%Party 12%

Men30

Unisex56

Women14

Date 34%Casual 32%Work 18%Party 16%

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#35,667

PerfumerPierre Bourdon

Launched—

Reviews4

Overall rank#9,523

PerfumerNot listed

Launched—

Reviews9

Category winnerFirst DateHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Varens Original Patchouli Chic by Ulric de Varens delivers a gentle, sweet spin on traditional earthy notes. A bright flash of crisp bergamot introduces the scent before smoothing into warm Indonesian patchouli, sweet caramel, and soft vanilla. It skips the damp, dirty cellar facets often found in vintage blends, opti…

Reviews →

First Date by Sphinx Fragrances opens with a surprising splash of lime, sweet orange, and creamy coconut, backed immediately by an aromatic snap of crushed thyme and bay leaf. As the bright citrus settles, the scent turns into a smooth mix of warm amber, creamy almond, and cozy cashmere wood, with salted vanilla risin…

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, Varens Original Patchouli Chic or First Date?

First Date takes 6 of 7 categories. Varens Original Patchouli Chic is rated 4.00/5 from 45 votes; First Date is rated 4.17/5 from 95 votes. Choose Varens Original Patchouli Chic for a patchouli and woody character. Wins on community sentiment. Best in fall, daytime wear. Choose First Date for a amber and vanilla character. Wins on ratings & consensus, longevity and sillage & projection. Best in spring, evening wear.

Which lasts longer, Varens Original Patchouli Chic or First Date?

First Date lasts longest (First Date 78/100, Varens Original Patchouli Chic 72/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Varens Original Patchouli Chic or First Date?

Projection is very close: First Date 62/100, Varens Original Patchouli Chic 60/100 for sillage.

Do Varens Original Patchouli Chic and First Date smell similar?

Clearly different: a 31% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share vanilla and woody accords. Common notes include Jasmine, Vanilla, Caramel and Virginia Cedar.

Is Varens Original Patchouli Chic or First Date better for summer or winter?

For summer, First Date is the stronger pick. For winter, First Date is the stronger pick. Varens Original Patchouli Chic suits daytime wear; First Date suits evening wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Varens Original Patchouli Chic and First Date?

Varens Original Patchouli Chic has top notes of Bergamot, heart notes of Patchouli, Jasmine and Lily-of-the-Valley, a base of Vanilla, Caramel, Virginia Cedar and Musk. First Date has top notes of Coconut, Almond, Bay Leaf and Thyme, heart notes of Cashmere Wood, Saffron, Sea Salt and Jasmine, a base of Vanilla, Ambergris, Caramel and Amber.