First (1976)
by Van Cleef & Arpels

OK ladies - remember this....if a perfume smells "old" to you...it's probably because you associate the fragrance with an older woman, and way more often than not, older women are more sophisticated and knowledgeable when it comes to scent than younger women. First is the kind of scent that men want to bury their faces in...believe me - I'm one of them...it is a scent that makes me want to nibble at and take deeply into myself. It's that kind of aromatic experience that is both motherly and sexually desirable at the same time. Try this...get a sample of some, dab some where your pulse points are....try to forget what your associations may be...then go about your business as usual but as a few men - not other women - what they think of your perfume.

I owned this as a teenager (so much for it being a scent for sophisticates!) and wore it infrequently-usually when I wanted something "grown up." First is a beautifully constructed work of perfume art; complex, interesting, perfectly balanced. Very powdery from the get-go--and there's the rub! Over the years the powder notes have evolved into "old lady" to me. I'm working hard to change that association, but there it is. Blue hair, orthopedic shoes and a walker, not Jeanne Moreau or Catherine Deneuve! I'll revisit this review if/when I stop associating very powdery scents with the Geritol crowd!

Several years ago I had the good fortune of being able to purchase a 1 fl. oz Parfum flacon of 'First'. I urge devotees of this classic fragrance to invest in the higher concentration, you will not be disappointed. A very complex blend of rich florals, fruit buds &, subdued greens. The aldehydic elements in this formulation seem less obvious when compared to a slight harshness in the other concentrations. This perfume is pure liquid gold and worthy of indulgence.
Very feminine & totally sophisticated !

I had a similar experience with Chanel 19, a friend presented me with a rare 2.5 fl.oz 'Parfum' spray many years ago as No.19 had been one of my all time favorites in the 'EDT'. After comparing both concentrations my love affair with this 'juice' was well and truly sealed. This particular friend owned a boutique perfumery and was aware of my preferences regarding fragrance. It's almost impossible to use the lower strengths now exclusively.
Layering is definitely the way to go.

Sadly Extrait's & Parfum's are becoming so much harder to source these days, 'First' is a great fragrance although it's not my Number One.
Patou 'Mille' ! ! ! ! ! Well that's another story . . . .

Parfum only(as with anything).

You have to know what stuff your made of;
if you do...
so does this.
French, Strong, Sophisticated, and a Platinum blonde bombshell.
If you think it's old... your old; and it's too late for you to do a damn thing about it. Too many men follow me
through parking lots for this to be an elderly scent. Make certain you have the self worth to pull it off.
Silage like non other.
NOT for soccer moms, or sellers of tupperware and argonne. Nor for 11th educations with lots of attitude, but nothing to back it up with.

The opening is harsh jasmine & aldehydes. The drydown is light, sparkling & aldehyldic. The black current tempers the sweet narcissus. It helps keep it fresh and doesn't let it get too heavily sweet. I don't find it complex, but it is pleasant and pretty. Slightly green floral.

I have tried to give this fragrance a chance off and on for two years now. I just cannot get over how mature it smells. The woman who suggested it to me must have been in her 60's and she was quite sophisticated so I took her word for it. Although, I believe fragrances are ageless it just seems like something I wont be able to pull of for another 10-20yrs. I do however think it is quite expensive smelling and should be worn in the evening.