First Instinct by Abercrombie & Fitch is one of the fragrances that this famous brand released for women in 2017. It is an amber floral fragrance for women created in Eau de Toilette concentration.
First Instinct is also the name of the whole collection of fragrances for men and women that Abercrombie & Fitch makes. First Instinct is their debut fragrance, which is also available in a version for men.
| Perfume Name | First Instinct Women |
| Brand | Abercrombie & Fitch |
| Year Released | 2017 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | Amber Floral |
| Gender | Women |
The creators of First Instinct for women explained how this fragrance is inspired by that first moment of attraction. This is why they felt like the First Instinct for women should be a fragrance that embodies the essence of that initial feeling. The formula also reflects the time when two people’s worlds collide and a spark is very visible between them.
The blend of aromas is created to interpret the excitement people feel when they first set eyes on someone they like and when the initial connection is created. The First Instinct, as the name says, is made for a woman who is sensual and not afraid to follow her inner self.
I recently received a sample of First Instinct for men and women. I had already had the opportunity to smell the note composition in the male version, which is quite interesting, so I decided to try First Instinct for women as well.
What does First Instinct by Abercrombie & Fitch smell like?
Passionfruit, magnolia, and grapefruit are a mix of citruses and flowers that make up the top notes of First Instinct. Butterfly orchid and orange blossom make up the middle note, which is mostly made up of flowers. Base notes of tonka beans and amber round out the scent.
| Top Notes | Passionfruit, Magnolia, Grapefruit |
| Middle Notes | Butterfly Orchid, Orange Blossom |
| Base Notes | Tonka Bean, Amber |
First Instinct is meant for that confident, self-aware woman who has an idea of how to express herself. This is shown by the fact that the fragrance has a simple mix of notes that balance out the different smells. So, the fruity notes of passionfruit and grapefruit go well with the smell of magnolia, orchids, and tonka beans.
My Experience
I really liked how the creators decided to combine several new aromas that I previously didn’t find in the Abercrombie & Fitch fragrances. However, compared to the version for men, I felt that the female version of the First Instinct lacked the same level of creativity as the male version.
As I said in First Instinct, the grapefruit notes, together with orange blossom, dominated the opening. This created a very pleasant, fruity aroma that stayed present for a while. The citrus-dominated initial scent made the fragrance very familiar. present
After a while, I noticed that the grapefruit notes had faded but the orange blossom had not. Even though I am not a fan of citrus, I cannot say that the scent was unpleasant. It was a bit heavier than I would have liked, but overall, the opening was quite good.
Once the fragrance sets on the skin, the middle notes become more present, especially amber. Weirdly, I could feel that the scent shifted from time to time from pleasantly sweet and floral to aromatic, honey-based, and heavy. Because of this, I felt like it was similar to Bvlgari Olympèa but without the salt note.
Speaking of notes, I missed out on the butterfly orchid in First Instinct, while the entire formula could have been differently concentrated. This would enhance the scent of First Instinct and completely transform it. Instead, the fragrance felt quite intense, and the combination of aromas started to lose the fresh and summery vibe that I think the creators were going for.
Because of all these factors, the fragrance also started to feel more masculine than feminine, and instead of the sensitive aroma of pink daily fragrance, First Instinct for women’s formula became very generic.
Silage & Projection
The First Instinct by Abercrombie & Fitch has very poor or even nonexistent silage compared to the First Instinct for men and other fragrances in the collection. I had to reapply it multiple times. In the beginning, I could feel that the projection was present, but it lost its intensity way sooner than I expected.
Longevity & Versatility
In terms of how long it lasts, First Instinct also disappointed me. It might be one of the worst performances by Abercrombie & Fitch’s fragrances. It disappeared from my skin in about an hour, and I could feel it for another thirty minutes on my clothes.
Because the aroma changed throughout the wear, I got the impression that the fragrance was meant for a sunny day and especially for a younger audience, as it lacks a more mature and feminine aroma.
Conclusion
I really didn’t enjoy using First Instinct for women by Abercrombie & Fitch. I used it a few times, and I tried to give it a fair chance, but every time I felt more disappointed than before.
Most of the time, the mix of scents was quite generic, and the notes absorbed one another in such a way that the fragrance changed completely over time. This ruined the initial good impression I had and completely made the fragrance lose a bit of the authenticity it had at the opening.
I felt like the concentration of notes was not good, and that impacted the aroma, which changed from being sweet to being very heavy and overwhelming. The intensity was also very problematic, while the performance only convinced me that this is definitely not worth my money.
Therefore, if I hadn’t received it as a gift, I wouldn’t have spent any money on this Abercrombie & Fitch fragrance, which now only serves as decor in my fragrance collection.