BergamotOpens with
FrangipaniHeart
VanillaDries down to
Nathalie LorsonThe nose · 186 fragrances · also made Gentleman Eau de Parfum Reserve Privee (2022)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Van Cleef & Arpels · Sold as feminine
So First
The hiss of an espresso machine two seconds before the cup arrives, where a warm embrace of vanilla and woodsmoke envelop you amidst delicate florals.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
So FirstPremium · $100–250
54%Similar accords, often for lessJimmy Choo Rose Passion · Jimmy ChooMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 4 of its 6 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2016 by Van Cleef & Arpels, So First is a floral fragrance created by perfumer Nathalie Lorson. The composition opens with the brightness of bergamot, leading into a heart of magnolia and frangipani that evoke a lush tropical garden. Freesia and jasmine add layers of sweetness, while vanilla and sandalwood provide warmth and depth in the base notes.
Apply So First in light layers — the bergamot top note is bright but fleeting. The heart notes of magnolia and frangipani take center stage after about an hour, so it’s best to wait a bit before layering for a more balanced scent.
Fig. 01 — So 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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Nathalie Lorson
The fragrance chameleonNathalie Lorson is a master perfumer at Firmenich and one of the most versatile noses working today.
Designer Van Cleef & Arpels
More from the house · France
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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 originalSo FirstVan Cleef & Arpels · Premium · $100–250Jimmy Choo · 2023Jimmy Choo Rose PassionShares 4 of its 6 notes$40–100★ 3.78 (929)58%Match
Zara · 2011Black PeonyShares 4 of its 5 notesunder $40★ 4.04 (302)54%Match
Michael Kors · 2018Sparkling BlushShares 6 of its 13 notes$40–100★ 3.98 (399)52%Match
ALREHAB PERFUMES · 2021Glowing NightShares 4 of its 6 notesunder $40★ 3.93 (28)
With Van Cleef & Arpels Santal Blanc Le Parfum
Adds amber, aromatic and milky; shares sandalwood.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 28%, disliked or hated by 13%.