Aqua Vitae

I’m wearing this as of writing and I shall be updating this review as the day goes on. FIRST HOUR: From the bottle, this is a beautiful, inoffensive, comforting perfume. This is perfectly unisex. First sniff, I already got a little bit of everything on the notes listed but most prominently the mandarin and woods. Upon spraying on my skin, I can already tell that it’s sitting pretty on my skin. The projection is the killer. I have to dig my nose to smell it again and I want to keep smelling it because this perfume’s got everything I love in fragrance: citruses, sandalwood, light florals, and tonka bean. I have A La Rose which is also an EDT just like this one but that one pulsates from my skin. It radiates like crazy. This one however is gentle but the sillage is great. I get whiffs of it as I move around. It’s definitely good for both summer and spring. FINAL VERDICT: This was a blind buy because I’m a fan of MFK so I felt safe but this was disappointing. Throughout the lifespan of this fragrance on my skin, it remained a skin scent with a light sillage with a lasting power up to 5-7hrs. To me, this is a very very beautiful fragrance but the performance is a killer. My previous MFK purchase before this was A La Rose and that had a surprisingly amazing performance for an EDT so this Aqua Vitae totally came from the left field for me. I’m yet to try the Forte version and I’m hoping that has better performance than this one.

'Aqua Vitae' opens with a sudden burst of Calabrian lemon and Sicilian mandarin. The effect is quite refreshing and is akin to gentle splash of cold water to the face, awakening to your senses. The vivid citrus notes are soon accompanied by the warm and embracing tonka bean and vanilla. It is here that the fragrance's sensual side is shown. Tonka bean with its coumarin qualities conjure up hints of warm tobacco and caramel overtones, melding deliciously with the included vanilla infusion. This vanilla is less gourmand and more seductive in tone. For me it evokes the feeling of dry, warm hay which has been baked by the sun. Throughout all of this, a shimmering effect is produced a synthetic note known as hedione. Its scent is vaguely familiar to jasmine, with a dense fatty floral odor. The outcome is as if sunlight is hitting a flower petal, producing a brilliant radiance and inner warmth. Guaiac wood anchors the base of the fragrance. It is a fitting finale to this fragrance opus, as one of its nicknames is "lignum vitae", meaning "wood of life". Guaiac wood's smokey facets are subtle but and a much needed to counterbalance the light and airy top notes. (Re review ) Read my in depth review at

Discretely fresh. This is not a grand experiment in perfumery, but it is commendable nonetheless for the suave with which it manages to pull off a run of the mill citrus. We are treated to a creamy citrus that always retains its citrus quality foremost. First, it is the guaiac that plays with the citrus and then it is an almost imperceptible whiff of slightly vanillic tonka. Under the direction of the guaiac note, the citrus is given a spicy yet distinctly creamy quality. As the guaiac fades the concoction becomes vaguely creamier. In the end, this seems to me for the most part a spicy fresh scent that doesn't take any risks (even smells very average and designer) but is nonetheless impeccably blended. The retail price MFK is charging for this is outrageous and the lack of uniqueness here makes me recommend you pass on it. That said, if you are looking for something that smells more sophisticated than a run of the mill designer citrus but not as outstandingly peculiar as a run of the mill niche fragrance this is a fantastic place to start. This fragrance is really only worth it if you are looking for a niche that plays it very safe and by the book.

This one introduce me to Maison Francis Kurkdjian as well as niche perfumes. The saleslady covered the bottle and wanted to surprise me when I told her that i need a versatile perfume. I already know the brand but i dont know we have a retailer in our country. My first impression was a really high quality unique type of perfume. Well blended that i could not determine the notes. My first impression to this perfume was creamy citrus carbonara. The sharp citrus notes is comforted by the softness of vanilla and the blunt gourmand smell of tonka bean. Well balanced. The subtle white floral will carry and lull the bluntness of tonka beans and the sharpness of citrus. Dont give this negative review just because you like heavy perfumes and this one is light. This is well blended and well refined. Definitely high quality. Worth owning. Smell this one and compare it to designer fragrances your mind will automatically categorize niche and designer scents.

Opens very brightly, with a fresh citrus accord. The addition of hedione gives a brilliant radiance to the fragrance, as if sunlight hitting a flower petal. Quickly things evolve, with the hesperidic opening quickly being replaced by the musky and denser guaiac wood and tonka bean in the base. The addition of vanilla here offers a creamy smoothness and sensual nature to the fragrance. Upon first impression, Aqua Vitae seemed strangely familiar to me. This similarity seemed to derive from Kurkdjian's Amyris Homme, which also includes both mandarin and tonka bean notes. I found the scent to be quite pleasing/satisfying, and can easily be enjoyed by both sexes. My only disappointment with this offering is in its very weak longevity and sillage. After an hour or two I found it nearly imperceptible. For those looking for an innocuous daytime scent for the office, this may fit the bill. (44)