First Love
Journal's First Love offers an intriguing blend of Earl Grey tea, fresh lavender, and sweet pear over a base of traditional agarwood and saffron. Launched in 2021, this unisex scent represents modern Thai perfumery, blending fruity freshness with deep, warm resins. It serves as an easygoing signature scent for warm climates.
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Performance Metrics
87 VOTESOpen Performance Breakdown 1 TAKE
The fragrance projects moderately for about two hours before settling close to the skin. It lasts for approximately six hours, making it a reliable option for warm daytime environments.
Notes Pyramid
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First Love is a light floral-fruity scent with a warm, resinous texture. It highlights notes of crisp pear, dry Earl Grey tea, and lavender, which gradually transition into a base of sweet benzoin, saffron, and clean agarwood.
Main Accords
10 MAPPEDThe dominant fruity and rose accords feel fresh and moist on the skin initially. As the scent warms up, the aromatic tea and warm spicy saffron accords create a dry, slightly powdery contrast that lingers in the background.
Community Data
244 TOTAL VOTESCOMMUNITY SENTIMENT
OWNERSHIP STATS
GENDER APPEAL
REVIEW SENTIMENT
When to Wear
TAP TO VOTETIME OF DAY · TAP TO VOTE
OCCASIONS · TAP TO VOTE
It looks easiest to wear in spring and summer. The vote picture leans most toward daytime.
Pros & Cons
Quick take before you sampleWHY PEOPLE MAY LIKE IT
Features an authentic and refreshing Earl Grey tea note.
The sweet pear opening feels crisp rather than syrupy.
Uses natural cane-sugar alcohol which feels gentle on skin.
Works beautifully in warm and humid summer weather.
A great entry point for people curious about light agarwood.
Stays close to the skin for a polite, office-friendly projection.
Unisex appeal that balances fruity, floral, and woody elements.
The saffron base gives it a unique warmth in the dry-down.
Avoids the harsh chemical screech found in cheap designer scents.
Easy to wear casually during daytime outings.
WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR
Fruity and tea notes fade within the first two hours.
The soapy rose middle note might not appeal to everyone.
Agarwood note is very light and might disappoint oud lovers.
Sillage becomes very quiet after the third hour of wear.
Requires frequent reapplication if worn in cold weather.
Sweet benzoin dry-down can feel a bit flat on dry skin.
Difficult to find in retail stores outside of Thailand.
Some wearers might find the rum note too subtle to notice.
Not suited for formal, cold-weather evening events.
The lavender opening can feel briefly medicinal on some skin.
Fragranxe Review
EDITORIAL“Journal First Love: An Unexpected Tea and Resin Blend”
First Love opens with a remarkably bright blast of pear. This is not a dark, baked fruit, but rather a crisp green pear sliced fresh in the morning. A dry, herbal lavender joins the fruit immediately, keeping the sweetness in check. Underneath this fruitiness, you will notice the distinct aroma of Earl Grey tea, which gives the top notes a slightly bitter, sophisticated edge.
After about thirty minutes, the initial brightness softens. The heart of the fragrance reveals a dusty rose and a pale lily. There is a splash of rum listed in the notes, which adds a warm, boozy texture, though it never dominates the florals. The transition from the fresh, cool opening to this warmer, floral phase happens smoothly on warm skin.
In the dry-down, the scent changes its character completely. The fresh tea and pear make way for a base of saffron and benzoin. A clean, polite agarwood provides a woody foundation, though it lacks the barnyard qualities of heavier oud oils. The frankincense used here acts as a fixative, anchoring the sweet, resinous warmth to your skin.
This perfume performs best in moderate heat. During spring and summer days, the warm air helps the tea and lavender notes project. In cold winter weather, the lighter top notes vanish too quickly, leaving you with a very quiet base of saffron and wood. It is an easy fragrance to wear casually, pairing well with a simple linen shirt or a sundress.
While marketed as unisex, the sweet fruit and floral heart might feel slightly feminine to those used to dry, woody scents. However, the herbal tea and the spicy saffron base provide enough balance to make it a great choice for anyone who enjoys modern, creative fresh scents. It is a friendly introduction to Thai niche perfumery.
If you are searching for a traditional heavy agarwood fragrance, you will want to skip this one. But if you want a fresh, slightly sweet tea fragrance with a warm, resinous background, it is a great choice. We recommend starting with a sample to see how the saffron base reacts with your skin chemistry.
FAQs
What does First Love smell like initially?+
The fragrance opens with a sharp burst of sweet pear and lavender. This bright fruity top is quickly joined by a dry, herbal note of Earl Grey tea, creating a refreshing and slightly fizzy tea-time feel.
How does the fragrance change during the dry-down?+
As the initial fruity tea notes fade, a soft rose and lily heart emerges with a splash of rum. The base settles into a warm, woodier tone of saffron, benzoin, and a very light, clean agarwood.
How long does First Love last on the skin?+
In warm weather, you can expect between five and seven hours of wear. The natural cane sugar alcohol base helps the lighter notes linger on skin, though the dry-down remains relatively close to the body.
What is the sillage and projection of this scent?+
This scent projects moderately, extending about an arm's length for the first two hours. It creates a subtle personal scent bubble rather than filling a whole room, making it suitable for close office environments.
Which season is best suited for wearing First Love?+
First Love shines brightest in spring and summer. The crisp pear and aromatic lavender notes feel refreshing in the daytime heat, while the subtle saffron and agarwood base keeps it from evaporating too quickly.
Is First Love suitable for formal or casual occasions?+
It fits casual daytime wear perfectly, such as weekend brunches, park walks, or relaxed office settings. The boozy rum and rose middle notes can also transition nicely into casual warm-weather evening dinners.
Does First Love lean more masculine or feminine?+
The fragrance is marketed as unisex. The strong fruity pear and floral rose elements give it a slight initial feminine lean, but the herbal lavender, dry saffron, and agarwood base ground it for masculine wearers.
What age group is this fragrance best for?+
This scent suits young adults and collectors looking for an unconventional tea fragrance. The mixture of sweet pear and deep olibanum makes it feel modern and interesting rather than stuffy or overly mature.
Can I layer First Love with other fragrances?+
Yes, it layers well with simple citrus colognes to boost its top-note brightness. Alternatively, adding a linear vanilla scent can highlight the sweet benzoin and rum in the heart, making it cozier for cool autumn days.
How does it compare to other tea-based perfumes?+
Unlike dry, green tea scents, this one is much sweeter and fruitier due to the pear. The addition of a traditional Thai agarwood and saffron base also gives it a heavier, more resinous finish.
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Dupes & Alternatives
COMMUNITY DUPESCOREFor a similar vibe, look at Vilhelm's Dear Polly for its tea note, or Juliette Has A Gun's Pear Inc. if you prefer a simpler focus on fresh pear.
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