Aqua Universalis (Eau de Toilette) by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Bottle Design:
Fred Rawyler

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Aqua

Aqua Universalis Maison Francis Kurkdjian 2009 Eau de Toilette

7.3 / 10 631 Ratings

A perfume by Maison Francis Kurkdjian for women and men, released in 2009. The scent is fresh-citrusy. It is being marketed by LVMH.
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Main accords

Fresh

Citrus

Floral

Woody

Green

Fragrance Notes

Lily of the valley

Sicilian lemon

Calabrian bergamot Musk

Musk

Mock-orange Woods

Woods

Perfumer

Francis Kurkdjian

Ratings

Scent

7.3631 Ratings

Longevity

6.3527 Ratings

Sillage

5.8506 Ratings

Bottle

7.8478 Ratings

Value for money

5.6228 Ratings

Submitted by Kankuro · last update on 09/23/2025.

Source-backed & verified

Interesting Facts

The fragrance is part of the Aqua collection.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Aqua Universalis Forte

Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte

Aqua Universalis Brume Cheveux

The Poplin Shirt

724 Eau de Parfum

Oceania

Reviews

26 in-depth fragrance descriptions

05/22/2013

4Scent 5Longevity 5Sillage

Flavorite
240 Reviews

Flavorite

Helpful Review 3

A Crisp Citrus & Lily

This begins with a mouth watering juicy zest of fresh squeezed lemon on vodka over ice. There is no trace of sugary sweetener, but I detect a fizzy note and a brief zest of orange- almost sparkling. Within about 5 minutes a very green Lily note- but so natural, I feel I have just clipped the stem of a lily from the garden and inhaled deeply. This lily note melts into the bergamot so smoothly, effortless and gently comes to rest on a very soft cashmeran bit of woods. After drydown, I find the citrus has become feather soft leaving the lily to dominant with the bergamot and woods in the background. This has a low sillage (approximately .25 meter), meaning I can't smell it unless I move or wave my arm, but when I do pick up a whiff it is so pleasant and sunny, I am charmed again. I think this is clean without a soapy note and very fresh in the base the woody note eventually becomes a little spicy, powdery on my skin- a little sultry up close and provides an extra 2 hours or so of longevity- for a total of about 6 hours very comfortable finish. I would call this a perfect summer unisex daytime business or casual scent, well-tailored and full of dynamic positive energy. I would reach for this daily in the warm Summer months.

03/07/2021

8Scent 8Longevity 5Sillage

Pollita
385 Reviews

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Pollita

Top Review 60

And he was right again!

„It doesn’t suit you at all! It reminds me of a men’s fragrance that some show-off types wear after sports and then want to impress in the office with their fragrant athleticism.” So were the disparaging words of my husband regarding Kurkdjian's Aqua Universalis last night. I’ve been circling around this delicate, Cologne-like scent for a while and quickly packed the sample when we went on vacation. The first skin tests were okay, but the spark just didn’t ignite. Well, then my husband sprayed it on paper yesterday and hit me with the above statement.

This morning I came back from running and caught a delightful floral scent in our bathroom. Aaah, the card from last night, I remembered and pressed my nose against it. Pah, I thought. I’ll show you! It’s really nice. The lily of the valley had developed beautifully, and I also caught a fine hint of musk, even though it’s not listed among the notes. But we know that noses don’t always want to reveal everything they brew up in their little chambers.

So I went ahead and sprayed the citrus water for everyone. After wearing it for a few hours now, however, the great enthusiasm is lacking. Yes, it’s a nice scent. It’s delicate, we have some citrus and musk, and the lily of the valley is peeking through. Gandix’s description of freshly washed bed linens comes to mind. But the big “Wow” just doesn’t happen with this fragrance. Because beneath all the floral notes and fluff, there’s a note that reminds me of laundry that has been sitting in the cupboard a bit too long. You know what I mean? A subtle hint of mustiness. Certainly not terrible, but no, my nose only partially appreciates it. It could be some Ambroxan causing this. Unfortunately, I always detect Ambroxan in fragrances, just like I do glutamate in food, which I also dislike and that evokes the association of a chlorinated taste for me.

I don’t smell the sporty success type, but the scent doesn’t make me truly happy either. So I’m going down from a rating of 9 to 8. It’s absolutely okay, no question about it. And I can understand why someone would love it, just like the highly esteemed Bastian does. But I don’t need it. And yes darling, you were right again! Even if I don’t like to admit it, hehe!

03/20/2019

8.5Scent 6Longevity 5Sillage

Pluto
353 Reviews

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Pluto

Top Review 29

This is how spring smells...and brides....

Aqua Universalis has been in my collection in the form of a decant for a while now. I tend to prefer green and floral chypre fragrances, and I like a good sillage, so it sometimes takes me a while to reach for Aqua Universalis. But when I do wear this scent, it brings me joy. And today, at the start of spring, this Aqua is the perfect companion.

Aqua Universalis opens with bergamot and lemon. Not too sour, rather sweet and friendly, with a light sweetness. The lily of the valley quickly joins in, chiming softly but audibly. I really like lily of the valley, but only when it behaves well and doesn’t bang on the door like Obelix. This blend of citrus notes and lily of the valley is soon supported by woody notes and musk, the latter not listed, but I’m sure it’s there. This is how spring smells, bright, neat, sunny, light, and carefree.

The scent lasts about 4 hours on me, the sillage is moderate, and this water is a wonderful companion in spring and summer. And although it is listed as unisex, whenever I sniff Aqua Universalis, I always picture a young bride in white in a flower meadow, for some reason… But guys, wear it too; I wear Devin or Black Masculin as well.

Addendum: Yesterday, 3 sprays in the morning, still noticeable after 6 hours, that was quite decent.

11/06/2015

9Scent

pudelbonzo
2405 Reviews

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pudelbonzo

Top Review 33

so lovely!

Today is my dear husband's birthday, which is unfortunately overshadowed by a headache.
He gratefully accepted my practical gifts - a fitting pair of jeans and special sports socks.
Boring? For a pragmatist like him, not at all; besides, he is relieved not to have to hop around in a cramped fitting room.
He prefers to trust my judgment.

Despite his headache, he hasn't forgotten our wedding anniversary tomorrow, and bravely drives with me to the perfume store.
The scent chaos there is a bit overwhelming for him, but he stoically endures it beside me.
Love indeed tolerates everything.
So lovely!

When I spray Aqua Universalis, he turns to me affectionately despite his throbbing head.
The friendly lightness of the fragrance is incredibly appealing.

The bergamot exudes a subtle freshness, over which a gentle wood note settles.
The orange is citrusy but not sour, just like the bright lemon.
And the white lily of the valley is utterly lovely!
The perfect scent for our anniversary.

I can still see myself in my simple white wedding dress, holding a charming bouquet of roses and lily of the valley.
My husband effortlessly carries me over the threshold of the house and assures me that I weigh no more than a cat.

We both remember that moment and can't help but smile.

Exactly this carefree spirit and kindness is what Aqua Universalis embodies, which we both find fitting for the occasion and gladly take with us.

Tomorrow I get to be a bride again - and I would say yes to my husband all over again.

05/06/2018

9Scent 7Longevity 8Sillage

Basti87
1095 Reviews

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Basti87

Top Review 21

Fresh Little Water

Yesterday, I already reported on Aqua Universalis forte. Today, it's the original Aqua Universalis. A fragrance I wanted to test for a while. Now I have a small sample here. With a rather modest rating of 7.3 for a scent from this brand. But that doesn't always have to mean anything.

The concept looks rather simple. A glance at the fragrance pyramid shows that only 5 notes are listed. This doesn't always hold true, but this scent is definitely kept rather simple, which is not always a disadvantage. Especially in spring and summer, something like this can bring good cheer. In my opinion, it does here as well. Fresh lemon & bergamot provide a pleasant freshness that is very present alongside the floral notes. The floral notes here are lily of the valley, which are very prominent from the start. They fit well into this beautiful citrus freshness. Added to this is the mock orange, also known as false jasmine or jasmine of the peasants. These two floral notes harmonize well and are not too heavy or cloying. The woods remain rather pale, as the floral-citrus freshness prevails. Great, harmonious, fresh, and not overwhelming for warmer days. Fragrance characteristics that should not be missing from any collection. Additionally, there is this well-groomed and clean appearance. I can only recommend it.
Performance is decent. The sillage is extremely good and strong for the first two hours, and there's always something wafting to the nose. Later, it becomes more subtle but not bad. Longevity is fine for a fresh scent. The price is reasonable. You can get 70ml for just over 100 euros, while the 200ml is available for just over 150 euros. Recommended, as you theoretically don't have to be too stingy with this lovely fresh scent.
In terms of gender, it leans more towards the feminine side due to the floral notes. Nevertheless, confident gentlemen can wear this fragrance. After all, it's a matter of taste. Definitely a really great scent for warm days.

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