Jean-Claude EllenaThe nose · 104 fragrances · also made Hermessence Ambre Narguile (2004)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Van Cleef & Arpels · Sold as feminine
First
The crisp, clean air of a fresh linen closet, where the subtle blend of aldehydes and florals evokes a sense of refined elegance.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
FirstPremium · $100–250
58%Similar accords, often for lessMadame Rochas · RochasMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 6 of its 24 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 1976 by Van Cleef & Arpels, First is a Floral Aldehyde fragrance crafted by the renowned perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena. This composition opens with aldehydes and citrus notes like bergamot and mandarin orange, creating an invigorating freshness that cuts through the air. As it develops, floral accords such as jasmine, lily-of-the-valley, and tuberose emerge, blending into a warm, powdery base of oakmoss, amber, and musk. This fragrance is neither loud nor understated; instead, it occupies an elegant middle ground that reflects the sophistication and refinement for which Van Cleef & Arpels is known.
Apply First with two sprays to allow the initial freshness to give way to its floral heart. The powdery base notes bloom after an hour, making it ideal for daytime or early evening wear.
Fig. 01 — First, Van Cleef & Arpels
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Jean-Claude Ellena
The perfumer of transparencyJean-Claude Ellena is widely regarded as the most intellectual perfumer of the modern era — a minimalist poet whose work redefined what fragrance could be.
“Cézanne's watercolours contain areas of wash that don't overlap. I proceed in a similar fashion.”
Jean-Claude Ellena · The Diary of a Nose (2011) / Frédéric Malle bio
The First line
13 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Van Cleef & Arpels
More from the house · France
You Might Also Like
Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $100–250 price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalFirstVan Cleef & Arpels · Premium · $100–250Rochas · 1960Madame RochasShares 6 of its 24 notes$40–100★ 4.08 (2,232)55%Match
Estée Lauder · 1978White LinenShares 6 of its 22 notes$40–100★ 3.73 (3,925)56%Match
Rochas · 1984Lumiere OriginalShares 6 of its 20 notes$40–100★ 4.14 (341)54%Match
Calvin Klein · 1978Calvin KleinShares 6 of its 15 notes$40–100★ 4.53 (95)
With Loewe Agua de Loewe Cala d Or
Adds citrus, fresh spicy and aromatic; shares bergamot and amber and 2 more notes.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 39%, disliked or hated by 18%.