Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris
Aqua Universalis Eau de toilette
Volume
11ml*3, 35ml, 70ml, 200ml
Perfume Story
A fresh and breezy scent.
A bright and sunny fragrance for both men and women,
a fragrance for everyone and everything.
Fresh and breezy, the Aqua Universalis Maison Francis Kurkdjian eau de toilette is a fragrance for every one and everything, with the same bright and sunny scent for men and for women. This unisex eau de toilette bonds with the skin to then move beyond the body to personify the art of perfume. This citrusy fragrance delicately releases its notes of bergamot, citron, white flowers and the subtle scent of light and musky wood.
Fragrance Notes
No official olfactory pyramid provided / Only ingredients listed
Musk, Calabrian bergamot, White flowers (Seringa), Lemon from Italy.
Musks
Initially extracted from Tibetan musk deers, natural musk has been banned in perfumery since 1973. Synthetic molecules designed to replace it appeared at the end of the 19th century, so today there is a wide selection of musky notes with an olfactory palette ranging from fruity, to woody to animal facets. Musks are very persistent and relatively non-volatile base notes. They have been extensively used in detergents and fabric softeners, and are commonly referred to as white musks because they evoke the scent of soft, fluffy clean linen, and conjure up a feeling of tenderness and comfort suitable for all kinds of fragrances. With their inimitable mellowness highly appreciated by the general public, today musky notes are present in the vast majority of women’s and men’s perfumes.
Bergamot
Known for its fruity edge in Earl Grey tea, Citrus Bergamia is widely used in perfumery because its fresh, sparkling top notes bring a kind of “smile” to the perfume. Its oil is obtained by cold expression of the fruit’s peel. Southern Italy specializes in the cultivation of this citrus fruit, used in the composition of eau de Cologne and of many women’s and men’s fragrances, with fresh, floral and aromatic facets unfolding and stretching all the way into the heart of the perfume.
Bouquet of fresh white flowers
It is a bouquet of aerial flowers, just picked and barely open, imagined by Francis Kurkdjian. To do this, he reconstituted a seringa, also called the poets’ jasmine, with a scent oscillating between orange blossom and fresh jasmine. Then he reproduced the effects of two other mute flowers, the luminous freesia and lily of the valley, and blended them together. The green lily of the valley note magnifies citrus fragrances and leaves an airy floral sensation.
Lemon
The lemon tree was introduced to the Mediterranean basin during the Crusades in the Middle Ages. Today, the regions of Calabria and Sicily in southern Italy are the main suppliers for perfumery. Its oil is obtained by cold expression of its peel using mechanical processes. Its bright color announces its joyful fragrance, with green, zesty, rising top notes. Its crisp, lively effect is often found in men’s colognes and eaux fraîches. It also gives a beautiful lift to floral sillages.
Scent & Wear Review
If you are a citrus lover looking for a “just stepped out of the shower” scent, you must buy this perfume.
If you want a cool, clean perfume that smells like your own natural skin scent, Aqua Universalis is the perfect match.
Overall, it is a very natural scent with a hint of aquatic notes. It doesn’t smell like generic shampoo or soap; rather, it smells like a beautifully fragrant skin scent.
When you first spray it, a burst of zest hits your nose like a lemon mist, but that’s only for a moment. It is immediately followed by a pleasantly refreshing and crisp citrus.
It doesn’t shout “I AM LEMON!!!!” playfully. Instead, it approaches gently, whispering “Ber~ga~mot~ Le~mon~”, leaving a calm yet refreshing citrus trail.
The “I’m so zesty!” vibe only lasts for the initial spray; it quickly turns into a “fresh and sparkling” sensation.
This tranquil vibe makes it feel like a definitive unisex fragrance.
However, it does feel slightly common. It has the vibe of a familiar scent with a touch of dewy moisture added to it.
As time passes, a fresh white floral scent subtly emerges, turning it into a crisp yet soft fragrance.
This naturally transitions into musk, creating a refreshing and soft skin-like scent.
I think the white floral heart is very crucial here. It is said to recreate the white floral bouquet imagined by Kurkdjian.
It features a sweet scent called Seringa, which is slightly similar to jasmine but sweeter, combined with notes of freesia and lily of the valley.
In short, Kurkdjian is a genius.
To connect citrus and musk with this refreshing floral scent!
It feels like a single drop of perfume perfectly engineered by Kurkdjian.
He wove citrus and musk together with a white bouquet, wrapped it in a thin watery membrane, and crafted it into a single drop of perfume. It is an incredibly well-crafted, natural fragrance.
You know how “no-makeup makeup” is actually harder to achieve? This scent gives off exactly that vibe.
White shirt, pure, clear—these are the keywords that come to mind.
It leans more toward “shower and purity” rather than “laundry and cleanliness.”
Images That Come to Mind
A drop of zest and a single white petal gently falling onto calm ripples.
And the ripples slowly settling back into calmness.
Celebrities That Come to Mind
*Rather than the celebrity herself, it matches the specific vibe of the images below
Actress Park Gyu-young
Clear and pure image.
She looks great with any hairstyle, but her short-hair image matches perfectly with Aqua Universalis.
It gives a clean water-like vibe, slightly refreshing, yet not too light, carrying a properly mature feel.
Someone with a clear face and an elegant, mature aura.
Since it’s a unisex perfume, if I had to pick a male celebrity, it would be Kim Jae-won.
Only in this specific picture though, haha.
Recommended Seasons
Summer
It’s quite versatile except for the dead of winter, but it fits summer the best.
It’s not overly zesty, but it has just the right amount of citrus and a cooling vibe, making it highly recommended for summer.
Why I Recommend It (Pros)
A must-recommend if you love citrus notes.
A fragrance that perfectly embodies the words “clean” and “clear”.
Actually, I’m a floral lover, but if I had to buy a perfume from a different fragrance family, I would definitely choose this one.
Above all, Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances are generally amazing across the board.
If you appreciate well-refined perfumes crafted by a genius, you will love all the scents from this house.
Anyway, it’s highly recommended because it’s a safe choice that isn’t largely affected by gender or personal preference.
Points of Caution (Cons)
When it’s not macerated, doesn’t match my body chemistry, I’m in a bad condition, or I sprayed it wrong.
First of all, it’s expensive. MFK perfumes are all great, but they are all pricey.
And Aqua Universalis has poor longevity compared to its price.
It’s an inevitable limitation of citrus perfumes so I can’t complain too much, but still, the cost-effectiveness is disappointing.
Also, depending on the person, it might be perceived as a somewhat common scent.
