Un Air de First
“Un Air de First by Van Cleef & Arpels is a Floral fragrance for women”
The Quick Read
Well loved by wearers — a white floral, green composition with a fresh undertone. Voted best for spring and summer wear, leaning feminine.
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Un Air de First, launched by Van Cleef & Arpels in 2011 and crafted by Jean-Claude Ellena, is a floral fragrance that balances freshness with subtle complexity. The composition opens with aldehydes and green notes like galbanum and currant buds, creating an invigorating yet delicate atmosphere. This freshness evolves into a heart of jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, and rose, all underscored by the fruity sweetness of white peach. The base notes of musk, vetiver, amber, and vanilla provide a warm foundation that is neither overpowering nor heavy.
Composition & Character
Notes Pyramid
Heart
The Soul
Base
Foundation
How It Wears
Application Tips
This fragrance is best applied lightly — a single spritz allows the delicate top notes to develop naturally into the warmer base. It performs well throughout the day without needing frequent re-application.
Jean-Claude Ellena
Founding perfumer · 104 fragrances · French
As a disciple and close friend of the legendary Edmond Roudnitska (creator of “Le Parfum de Thérèse”), Jean-Claude Ellena began his career with a minimalistic approach to perfumery. Since then, he has developed this approach into his own distinctive style, which is continually informed by his elegant and quiet way of being, and has been compared by his contemporaries to watercolor sketches and chamber music. Jean-Claude says that a perfume must be like “a soft caress; nothing must shock, nothing must shout”.Jean-Claude Ellena was born in Grasse into a family of perfumers. His training began at age 17, in the most prestigious laboratories – in Grasse, Paris, New York and Geneva – where he always saw himself as self-taught. Roudnitska’s minimalism never left him, however, and his compositions remain focused around a single ingredient, avoiding repetition.
Also created
Designer Van Cleef & Arpels
More from Van Cleef & Arpels
Edited by Scentsation Editorial
The story behind the bottle.
The crisp morning air in an urban garden, where the scent of fresh blooms mixes with the gentle warmth of the sun on your skin.
Fig. 01 — Un Air de First, Van Cleef & Arpels
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