First Instinct Together is a woody aromatic fragrance from Abercrombie & Fitch’s the First Instinct collection. This Eau de Toilette was released in 2020. Both male and female versions of the Together series were released at the same time.
In addition to these two scents, the collection has a number of others that smell like the original First Instinct.
| Perfume Name | First Instinct Together |
| Brand | Abercrombie & Fitch |
| Year Released | 2020 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | Woody Aromatic |
| Gender | Men |
The creators behind First Instinct Together spoke about the inspiration for this fragrance. Mainly, the idea was to create a scent meant for those fearless individuals who seek an adrenaline rush.
The combination of notes in First Instinct Together reflected an electric, energizing, and spontaneous spirit that moves people. Aside from this, perfumers wanted to make a scent that captured the power that men and women had when they first met and all of their instincts. Because of this connection, which is equally important for both genders, the Together fragrance features versions for men and women.
I am really into outdoor activity, and for a while I have been searching for a great fragrance. Recently, I received a sample of Together in one of the promotions at the fragrance stores, and because of the idea behind the scent, I was really excited to try it.
What does First Instinct Together by Abercrombie & Fitch smell like?
The top notes in First Instinct Together include green apple, pineapple leaf, grapefruit, and cardamom. These top notes follow the floral middle notes of lavender and orange blossom, while the base notes of musk, sandalwood, and cedar complete the formula.
| Top Notes | Green Apple, Pineapple Leaf, Grapefruit, Cardamom |
| Middle Notes | Lavender, Orange Blossom |
| Base Notes | Musk, Sandalwood, Cedar |
The combination of aromas in First Instinct Together is traditionally used by fragrance brand Abercrombie & Fitch when creating male fragrances. Combining dominant citrusy top notes with flowery and woody notes balances out very intense top notes to create a fantastic blend.
My Experience
It is very difficult for me to find a scent that is best for the summer and that reflects my active lifestyle. Additionally, it is quite hard to get a fragrance that is airy and clean without being overly sweet. Sugar is usually present in all citrus-based fragrances, which can be overwhelming.
I really hoped that First Instinct Together would be different. But I was disappointed to find that the formula didn’t smell like the sweet summer scent I was hoping for. For some reason, I could only pick out the notes of pineapple and grapefruit.
At times, I got the impression that the sugary tones combined with the pineapple released a sharp alcoholic odor, which was something that I did not enjoy. In contrast to the smell of grapefruit, the apple was barely noticeable and didn’t change the overall aroma in any way. It felt like I applied a cheap female spring mist.
As the scent settled into the skin, it became softer and more moderate. Yet again, in my opinion, this is achieved with the wrong aromas. I could smell the lavender starting to come through, but also because I could feel the smoky base notes having an effect. The combination of citrus and lavender in the scent was not very pleasing to the senses.
I know that the scent is meant to be worn during the day and in the warm summer months. However, even if Together is meant for this time of the year, the overwhelming sweetness that sometimes reminded me of bubble gum seems like too much.
The First Instinct Together also didn’t have a strong transition. Abercrombie & Fitch did a much better job with other fragrances that have great transitions, such as First Instinct Blue or even Extreme.
All of these things made it so that First Instinct Together never gave off the impression that it was a fragrance for men. The primary aromas that could have helped the situation were musk, amber, and sandalwood; however, it seemed as though these aromas were really in the background and didn’t have as much of an impact as the mature, adventurist, and playful aroma creators promised.
Silage & Projection
First Instinct Together, contrary to its aroma, had a nice performance. I could feel the silage following me for a good hour, while the projection also lasted for quite some time and radiated off my skin.
Longevity & Versatility
This Abercrombie & Fitch fragrance had modest longevity. I could feel it for over 6 hours, after which it lost its intensity.
The entire aroma felt too youthful and even a bit unisex. I really expected a more mature scent, and instead, First Instinct Together feels more like a teenage fragrance. The combination of aromas was meant for summer, especially for daily activities.
Conclusion
I feel like First Instinct Together is not an adequate fragrance for me. The entire scent lacked a masculine aroma and uniqueness.
The fragrance was way too sweet for my taste, while the concentration of notes made it appear more feminine and not very nicely composed. I think the middle notes were picked wrong, but the intensity of the citrus top notes stayed the same as the perfume wore. Similarly, the base notes were not present enough to impact the entire scent.
Based on its inspiration, I thought the smell would be strong, last a long time, and not be overwhelming. Because of all these elements, I think there is much room for improvement, especially in reducing the harsh opening.
Therefore, I don’t feel that it is worth spending money on this fragrance, even though it is very affordable. I would much rather buy some of Abercrombie & Fitch’s other fragrances from the same collection.