First (Eau de Parfum) by Van Cleef & Arpels

Bottle Design:
Jacques Llorente

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First Van Cleef & Arpels 1976 Eau de Parfum

8.2 / 10 57 Ratings

A popular perfume by Van Cleef & Arpels for women, released in 1976. The scent is floral-spicy. The longevity is above-average. It is being marketed by Interparfums.
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Main accords

Floral

Spicy

Chypre

Oriental

Powdery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Aldehydes

Blackcurrant Peach

Peach

Bergamot

Mandarin orange

Raspberry

Heart Notes

Narcissus

Carnation

Hyacinth

Jasmine

Lily of the valley Orchid

Orchid

Orris root

Tuberose

Turkish rose

Ylang-ylang

Base Notes

Civet

Honey

Musk

Oakmoss

Sandalwood Vanilla

Vanilla

Vetiver

Amber

Tonka bean

Perfumer

Jean-Claude Ellena

Ratings

Scent

8.257 Ratings

Longevity

8.252 Ratings

Sillage

7.850 Ratings

Bottle

8.256 Ratings

Value for money

7.619 Ratings

Submitted by Sniffer, last update on 09/05/2025.

Variant of the fragrance concentration

This is a variant of the perfume First (Eau de Toilette) by Van Cleef & Arpels, which differs in concentration.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

First Eau de Toilette

First Parfum

Dame d'Or

Sortilège (2014)

Ylang-Ylang

Miss Dior Extrait de Parfum Original

Reviews

5 in-depth fragrance descriptions

07/19/2025

10Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

Ringtale
132 Reviews

Ringtale

1

This First comes First

Wow! I had the EDT in the past, I liked it, but my sister loved it even more, so I gave it to her. But I remembered vaquely that I had tested the EDP in a perfumery once and being in awe. Don't know why and how I forgot about it, but I did...
Until a few days ago when I remembered- and ordered it. Got it in the mail this morning.
I sprayed it on and...oh...bliss! This is so much richer and versatile than the EDT which is already beautyful. The difference is not just about concentration, but foremost about depth and a touch (only a touch) of sweetness that I didn't find in the EDT, but which is in the EDP.
Aldehydes still are there (and no, no, no: despite those aldehydes, both the EDP and EDT are nothing like Chanel No 5 or Arpege), but less aloof, less 'strict' and less 'plain soapy' than in the EDT. Here the aldehydes just make the perfume sparkle, lifting the other notes (too many to analyze) to a next level. I also find it a bit more feminine than the EDT.
My boyfriend who never comments on my perfume without me asking until now, told me he loved it.
Batch says it's from december 2021. Very happy with my 100 ml which will last me a lifetime because only three modest sprays are enough to smell wonderful.

04/14/2025

10Scent 10Longevity 9Sillage

Medusa00
838 Reviews

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Medusa00

Top Review 27

Ladies First

Recently smelled again at a friend's place, where it lay unloved and dusty next to 3 other equally dusty and neglected bottles in the bathroom shelf. Attempts to negotiate, offering my soul, my last shirt, and material compensation, kneeling and kissing the hem of the smurf shirt were in vain.
Yes, First, how I loved you. The fragrance for true ladies and for those who sometimes feel that way. Besides, it is also said: women and children first. Even when the Titanic sank on April 15, 1912. I've seen James Cameron's film countless times and think every time: “Don't the fools see the iceberg?” or: “Jack could have fit on the door that Rose survived on.”
First was launched in 1976. Many perfume users were still just a twinkle in their parents' eyes back then. But what else happened that year?
In 1976, "Brust oder Keule" was released with Louis de Funès, whose films still make me laugh today. I just love his style of slapstick.
In 1976, Elvis Presley was still alive, but he was only making studio recordings, as he was already quite affected by his weight and pill addiction.
In 1976, David Bowie was living in Berlin.
In 1976, the first Space Shuttle Enterprise was introduced, without Mr. Spock and the crew.
In 1976, there were UFO sightings again, even over Germany, although the things usually hang out in the USA.
In 1976, our treasure hunter was 4 years old.
In 1976, as mentioned, First was released. After 3 years of preparation and testing by Jean-Claude Ellena. The first perfume from Varpels was meant to be something very special and thus rightly received the name First. Pierre Arpels said back then, “Every woman deserves to be the first.”
First is a fruity-floral chypre and, in my eyes, a true masterpiece of perfumery, as it has the typical progression of a chypre and not that of those “neo” chypres by eager creators, where all the ingredients hit you in the nose upon application.
Arpels could have also named his fragrance Aphrodite, the foam-bathed one, because aldehyde soap foam with citrus peels and a light peach note greets us at the beginning. It does not have the harsh cologne note like other buddies of its time.
Ellena plundered all the flower gardens and combined all the blossoms in such a way that none push forward, but all form an opulent, yet never overwhelming unity. Nestled on grass-green vetiver.
Yes, the base offers, in addition to moist oak moss, also a hint of animalic notes, as the powdered civet cat rubs against the sandalwood, its whiskers still a bit smeared with vanilla.
As our treasure hunter likes to say: “There used to be more tinsel.” He is right. When it comes to fragrances like First, I am also happy to be a nostalgic.

06/12/2019

8Scent 9Longevity 9Sillage

Alexandrea
8 Reviews

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Alexandrea

Top Review 12

Prince Edward Island in a Bottle

I became acquainted with "First" in February 1992 when my then-boyfriend took me to breakfast at his parents' house, where I discovered an impressive parade of bottles on the windowsill in the bathroom. I didn't sniff anything, after all, you don't just go around smelling other people's things. However, there was a delicate soapy scent in the air that I did not associate with the perfume.
Two weeks later, I realized that the bathroom scent clung to my boyfriend's mother - and in a significantly stronger concentration: we were driving together in a car to a birthday party. Wow, the sillage almost overwhelmed me back then, and I had to endure it for over an hour in the car. Madame had applied her perfume generously before leaving to ensure she still "smelled good" upon arrival. What can I say: the dose makes the poison, and after the car ride, my attitude towards First was: yuck!

Since then, many years have passed; the boyfriend of yesteryear is now my husband. At our wedding, all family celebrations, and other occasions, my mother-in-law wears "her perfume." Since then, the (empty) bottle collection has steadily grown, and I have made peace with "First."
In 1992, I was 18 years old and leaned towards softer perfumes, although these were not exactly age-appropriate, such as Lagerfeld's "Chloé" and "Paloma Picasso."
Today, the range of perfumes that catch my attention is much broader, and I can appreciate "First" as well. I received a sample from my mother-in-law and would now like to delve deeper into the scent.

"First" starts incredibly soapy-dry. I can't perceive any sweetness, and to be honest, I still find it breath-taking. I can't detect raspberry, mandarin, or peach, but I do notice aldehydes and bergamot. The blackcurrant likely enhances the impression of initial "dustiness." The garden clove also makes an appearance, leaving a strict, austere overall impression. However, after about 30 minutes, an exciting development begins, as the more feminine fragrance components start to emerge, and the top note gradually recedes. A spring bouquet of lily of the valley, roses, daffodils, and hyacinths unfolds its bouquet and gains smoothness through tuberose. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, vetiver pushes to the forefront for me. I don't like vetiver... this fragrance note unfortunately dominates every perfume my mother-in-law has gifted my husband in the past: Grey Flannel, Prada's Infusion d'Homme, or Elite by Floris. In "First," vetiver doesn't quite break through the surface as it does in men's fragrances, but it is still quite present. Vetiver is probably one of her favorites.
All the fragrance components that add softer accents remain very backgrounded: ylang-ylang, amber, sandalwood, vanilla, and honey... I can hardly make them out. Nevertheless, "First" becomes a bit softer and warmer over time.
The soapy spiciness combined with classic flowers remains consistent throughout.

Quite interesting, as I haven't perceived this progression with my mother-in-law before (though I don't constantly have my nose glued to her wrist or neck ;-))

The scent is definitely old school and transports me with its progression to a truly different time:
As a young teenager, I devoured the "Anne of Green Gables" novels by L.M. Montgomery: For me, the scent of Prince Edward Island (an idyllic island in Canada) fits the turn of the century: Women wore long skirts, ruffles, brooches, and artfully styled hair, and they would go to church festivals in a horse-drawn carriage. Suffragettes belong to England, but they also fit well into the picture: First, elegant, distant, and powerful. And for those of you who know the book series: I imagine "First" more on Marilla or Diana Barry's mother than on Diana or Anne ;-
There are days when a woman doesn't want to smell "lovely," be it floral, smooth, or overly sweet. Sometimes, it takes superior elegance, energy, and strength. "First" does that well!
Aside from the vetiver, which bothers me a bit in First, I don't want to smell like my husband's mother; I have other perfumes for such days. But unlike before, I can now understand why my mother-in-law discovered this scent for herself: She was nearly 50 when it came out, a mother of 6 children, and had been working full-time since the 50s and 60s "despite the kids," leading a generally busy life. But when she went out, even just to buy socks, she would (to the chagrin of my husband and his siblings in the past) only go to the city with a hat and gloves. She was and is a personality, and "First" fits our "Queen Mum" perfectly ;-)

04/01/2025

8.5Scent 8Longevity 8Sillage

Greenfan1701
188 Reviews

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Greenfan1701

Very helpful Review 13

A gift horse, etc. etc.

Once again, I have inherited such a gem, it's truly amazing what people give away, and this one is even a vintage version.

When people often talk about "radiant," this word fits FIRST perfectly.

Aldehydes as far as the nose can smell, flowers bloom in lush splendor. You can't even list them all, the fragrance is so floral.

I could also say that this perfume has everything I love to smell: green, floral, soapy, aldehydic, woody, mossy, and vanillic. Truly incredible and extraordinary.

I could actually conclude here, but the scent is so multifaceted, these white flowers impress right from the start, an elegance that you don't find too often anymore, the green speckles in between make me shine as well, it has completely captivated me.

I had FIRST once before, I gave it away. But back then, I guess I wasn't ready for this complex, yes, I almost want to say, intrusive, yet very feminine fragrance.

Yes, it asserts itself, it lasts forever, it wants to impress, it wants to seduce, it doesn't want to be overlooked, it gives the lady (or gentleman) wearing it an aura of elegance, in short: it is a true masterpiece of perfumery and worth every cent. - Oh, right, um, I received it as a gift.

04/02/2023

ElDiabloBZ
21 Reviews

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ElDiabloBZ

Helpful Review 3

A fragrance from my birth year ... it MUST be good ...

When I first smelled "First," I was immediately captivated by the soul and depth of this fragrance. The composition of floral and woody notes gives the scent a sensual and elegant nuance that deeply moved me. I could almost feel the craftsmanship and attention to detail that is infused in this fragrance.

Van Cleef Arpels is a perfume house known for its masterful creations and timeless classics. "First" is a perfect example of the high quality and commitment of this house. The perfumer Jean-Claude Ellena has created a composition that enchants the senses and touches the soul.

The top note of bergamot, hyacinth, and lily of the valley exudes a pleasant freshness and opens the fragrance in a very feminine way. The heart note of rose, jasmine, and ylang-ylang adds a romantic and sensual nuance that harmonizes perfectly with the base note of vanilla, sandalwood, and amber.

The longevity of "First" is impressive, and the sillage is strong enough to be noticed in a pleasant way. I love wearing this fragrance on special occasions, but I also feel particularly elegant and sensual with it in my everyday life.

Overall, "First" by Van Cleef Arpels is a timeless classic that has lost none of its beauty and elegance over the years. I am proud to have been born in the year this fragrance was created and can only recommend everyone to try it. It has a soul and depth that is often missing in many modern fragrances, and I am sure it will remain a beloved classic in the future.