Everytime I wear it I'm surprised just how good it is and faithful to its original form. The opening has nothing bombastic, it doesn't makes a statement, that's not the point. It was not built for speed, but comfort. Elegant, understated, you easily forget you're wearing it, but people around you feel its presence. There is something very intimate and undeniably sensual in its greasy flowers, touch of honey and that dear, dear civet. Or whatever does civet's job these days. I've never worn this myself, but it's been the signature of my grandmother for as long as I can remember. When aldehydes were a height of fashion, good number of women couldn't wear the most famous one, N°5, for numerous reasons. For example, it turns acid on my mother. It has also lost that touch of animalistic funk somewhere in reformulations that makes perfumes so addictive. This is majestic and regal. Trustworthy. Confident. This perfume shows leadership and maturity. Someone who is grounded enough to be graceful and elegant even under pressure. Someone who is cool headed, but with a warmth that allows you to know that they really "Care". This fragrance, like others in its class, feels like it has "movement" to it. First EDT is rolling and blustering one moment and calm and still the next - it's a "misty mountain floral". Aldehydes burst forth like warm sunshine and sweet narcisse stands right in the middle of the brightest ray. Lily-of-the-valley and hyacinth give First EDT the distinct green-oily scent that one might find in foothill foliage. Orris is the note of a cool breeze and oakmoss feels forest-like. The drydown is waxy and sweet on me - perhaps from the honey and anamalic notes. I detect the narcisse prominently throughout the duration of First EDT.

But requires more substance - it has a depth that can make it seem as if you are attempting to wear your mother's or grandmother's fragrance - unless you can step into the initial power of this one.Jean-Claude Ellena is one of my favourite perfumers, and for this reason, I was keen to sample First, the first (obviously) fragrance offered by Van Cleef & Arpels. And what an excellent start. First is a big, aldehylic floral, surprisingly different from M. Ellena's now-signature transparent watercolour style. I have a vintage miniature from the 1990s (I think). It pays tribute to vintage greats from decades earlier than its release. In particular, First reminds me a little of Arpège, Joy, No. 5 and Madame Rochas, but is a little less refined than the likes of Chanel. However, it is ultimately really good stuff. LUXUS + (15 October 2021). "A brief history of luxury: the crazy Richemont adventure". Mag Luxus+ . Retrieved 17 June 2023. Another thing I'd recommend is to first take a look at the EDP because it's much, much deeper and richer in the overall experience, and you also get the best oakmoss there. In 1966, Van Cleef & Arpels was charged with the task of making the crown of Empress Farah Pahlavi for her upcoming coronation in 1967. A team was sent to Iran to choose the major gems to use for the crown. After 11 months of work, [10] the company presented the empress with a crown made of emerald velvet set with 36 emeralds, 36 rubies, 105 pearls and 1,469 diamonds. [11]

Although this goes on rather strong like a full bodied 1980's perfume - I really enjoy this dry down - it is truly spectacular - a complete symphony and work of art! Shopping around for something unique? Try Van Cleef & Arpels' niche fragrance. Van Cleef & Arpels First This has a well formulated alto chord which becomes more alluring as this blends with the chemistry of the skin and the final phase of wear turns into a delicious broth -- an intoxicatingly beautiful scent that very few other perfumes arrive at. Smelling up close to skin is a bit nicer, i get a mature aroma (yesteryear's mothers and grandmothers floral sort). And not surprisingly I have smelled this on older ladies, which is a generational thing more than anything.

MULTIPLE PACKS

This is possibly the smell of classic tea, perhaps that is why it exudes such a sense of class and distinction.

Silage and longevity are formidable, I don't remember my granny reapplying it throughout the day even once. Van Cleef & Arpels is a French luxury jewelry company. [1] It was founded in 1896 by the Dutch diamond-cutter Alfred Van Cleef and his father-in-law Salomon Arpels in Paris. [2] Their pieces often feature flowers, animals, and fairies, and have been worn by style icons and royalty such as Grace Kelly, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Diana, Princess of Wales, Ava Gardner, [3] Farah Pahlavi, [4] Eva Perón, [5] Elizabeth Taylor, the Duchess of Windsor and Queen Nazli of Egypt. I believe first is one of prettiest classics I've ever tried,it's balanced,wearable and likable..it's soft,kind,fresh and clean also powerful and longlasting and oh I love classic bottles and their golden juices(it's not a golden scent for me,if scents had color this could be white or pale lemony yellow IMO) Also I understand the comparisons to Arpege. First has one major advantage over vintage Arpege though - it doesn't go off. All the vintage bottles of Arpege I've tried so far have been spoiled, which is heart-breaking - but I'm now on my third vintage First EdT and it's just as good as ever.

AUTHORITY PRESCRIPTION

It is a thoroughly beautiful fragrance for classy women. A Chanel for people who don't like the real Chanels (most Chanels don't agree with me and are too "stuffy" for my taste). This is a fragrance that requires more panache' to carry off. If you are drawn to the naive, girly, sugary sweet fragrances that line the walls of the Body Shop and Victoria's Secret-- you may find that this is NOT your thing. The current formulation, structure and dry down is similar to the vintage, but you just have to ride out the first 15 minutes. (bit harsh with the green and aldehydes but worth it) So its still an excellent buy for the complexity and opulence this one provides at the price point. I almost don't want to describe how this smells on me, because it's going to sound bad. After the somewhat obnoxious opening dies down, I smell raspberry, carnation, aldehydes and civet. But it's gorgeous! Spicy and animalic, but somehow still clean. Later, I get a hint of orris root. After all, this was the signature scent of the women in the GOP party during the early 1980s...kidding...kind of. Seriously this is the frag that I imagine the fictional character and one of my faves from Arrested Development, Lucille Bluth, to wear.

A very cozy soft, sweet but not sugary scent. It is approachable and smells comforting but not elegant. It’s a day scent and a cozy night at home scent, but not a night out. It’s a skin scent for me about an hour after spraying which is perfect for me as a teacher with an hour long commute. I like to smell comforting and approachable when a student comes right next to me, but don’t want to bother anyone who has fragrance sensitivities with an overbearing fragrance. This one fits the bill. When snuggling with my children at bedtime they comment about how good I smell, but I don’t hear anything about how I smell from anyone that’s not very close to me. This is the perfect silliage for a shy girl like myself. Chevalier, Michel; Mazzalovo, Gerald (18 May 2012). Luxury Brand Management. Singapore: John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-118-17176-9 . Retrieved 25 August 2014.The aldehydes are sparkling diamonds. The citrus notes of mandarin orange and bergamot orange are fresh and match up with the aldehydes, providing this scent with a sort of golden-yellow light. This fragrance is always shining! Not at all like Lady Million by Rabane which attempts to evoke gold. This is truly liquid gold. The scent has fruit notes early into it's performance with a peach scent (not a heavy peach) a currant or cassis, a raspberry but most of all citrus. Sweet and fresh upon that first spritz.