AldehydesOpens with
JasmineHeart
White MuskDries down to
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
Un Air de First
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.
Full bottle: Premium tier, typically $100–250. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Un Air de FirstPremium · $100–250
44%Similar accords, often for lessCalandre · RabanneMid-range tier, $40–100 · shares 6 of its 14 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
HeartThe Soul
BaseFoundation
The story behind the bottle.
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.
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.
Fig. 01 — Un Air de 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
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 originalUn Air de FirstVan Cleef & Arpels · Premium · $100–250Rabanne · 1969CalandreShares 6 of its 14 notes$40–100★ 4.20 (1,347)45%Match
Nina Ricci · 1973FaroucheShares 6 of its 20 notes$40–100★ 4.15 (430)49%Match
Donna Karan · 2016Liquid Cashmere BlushShares 5 of its 6 notes$40–100★ 4.14 (44)
With Filippo Sorcinelli ennui-noir
Adds vanilla, woody and powdery; shares vanilla and vetiver.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 40%, disliked or hated by 10%.