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MrAlternativEnergy – :
Yin and yang playing thumb wars. Initial whiff was a burst of citrus, the orange scent was quick but it gave the opening a round or vibrant feel to it, then it smelled just masculine to me like there was tobacco even though there was none. I figured that was the tonka bean mixed with vanilla and cedar that made the smell masculine. So I smelled it again right away for the second time and it just smelled feminine floral with citrus undertones for two seconds followed by that masculine smell again. This is definitely different than what you would normally smell but the masculine contrast really takes away from this perfume for me to appreciate it as a citrus-flowery scent.
nash3818 – :
This is a risky and revolutionary citrus vanilla tonka perfume and has a lot of personality. If you like generic citrus smell then this is not for you because this is a modern scent. Many will copy this one after years and if its already been publicized. This will be an instant classic of the contemporary perfume industry. The ingredients MFK used is risky but is well done. Revolutionary. A big thumbs up to no signs of cheap ingredient smell. It doesnt scream. It whispers sophistication.
jaguar1971 – :
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.
djadjarey – :
First spray of this and I think I’m in for another of MFK’s citrus heavy and slightly edgy creations and I almost feel it’s heading towards (dare I even whisper it) CKOne territory but the warmth of vanilla, tonka and jasmine speedily enter to warm things up and dispel any notions of that association. Not that the opening notes are at all unpleasant, they’re lemony, fresh and quite lovely. And there is something eternally delightful (to me anyway) about the lemon and vanilla combo, it’s fresh yet comforting. But this is a gentle, warm and sensual perfume, not remotely harsh, this is up close and personal on me and very unisex. Like it a lot.
vika60619972009 – :
I don’t like writing bad reviews, and this is still a very good quality pleasant fragrance.
It reminded me of a very mute, Aqua Universalis, which has so much more pop and sparkle.
Aqua Vitae could work for someone who likes the MFK Aqua series but feels most of them are leaning too feminine, Aqua Vitae does not.
The woody notes and Tonka are imperceptible to me. I get citrus, then some white flowers, magnolia, lilly of the valley, and Neroli. Then I do pick up on a nuance of aldehydes.
Of the fresh fragrances from MFK that I would recomend over this one, that don’t lean feminine much are Petit Matin, Aqua Universalis, and APOM homme.
Rating: 7.5/10
God bless. John 3:16
Igull – :
Received as free sample.Very masculine. First spray reminds me of HQ men’s deodorant. Smells amazing, but not for me. I can still smell it on my clothes two days later. Good for the men in your life?
boss555777 – :
Among Francis Kurkdjian’s Aqua line of scents, Aqua Vitae is the most traditionally masculine. There’s a sweetness thanks to the Sicilian mandarin, but the honeyed aspect is more than offset by the mildly spicy, woody guaiac note. The guaiac and tonka accord in particular adds a depth that is lacking from the other Aqua scents, which are built upon lighter musk bases. The quality is, as usual, excellent, but the scent of Aqua Vitae itself is somewhat underwhelming. I’ll stick with MFK’s citrus-musks as my favourites from the line.
slan01 – :
So many things going on with this one, like a busy city street, everything and everyone clamoring for attention at once.
efq266bedyWelty – :
Shapeshifter, and I love every second of it, from initial spray to final form.
Agreed with reviewer Roge’, that the soft-spoken Jasmine /Hedione doesn’t in any way, detract from this gender-nonspecific aura. Also sensing a tiny pinch of spices (white pepper?) and rock rose in the background.
It’s winter right now (45 F), and the warm woodsy-Tonka dry down is en pointe. I didn’t even *like* Tonka til today, so what a shock this is! Sniffing the back of my hand like a crazy person on the drive home, collecting concerned looks from bystanders. Way to go MFK!
kbjamesi4 – :
Hold on…. I just sprayed it. Where did it go? You will spray 70ml in one month. These base notes should support this fragrance better than they do. Very fleeting hedione heavy frag with citrus and slightly sweet guiac wood. Rustic Italian countryside is what I imagine
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa – :
Nice citrus scent but too soft and poor sillage. At the beginning it does smell as Aqua Universalis Forte but the last one has a beter sillage and the drydown is also nicer on my skin. Aqua Vitae also has a bit of Chanel Chance Eau Fraiche. After 15 minutes it changes, the smell is still nice but I have to put my nose against my backhand to smell it. Don’t get me wrong Aqua Vitae smells really nice but if I have to choose between Aqua Vitae en Aqua Universalis Forte I would choose the second one.
igor915 – :
This is definitely a high class scent.
The base notes are all detectable and intertwined and delicious. especially the man and woman’s variant..Very interesting…I love it!
koerm – :
SOFT & WARM CITRUS
Almost seems like an oxymoron, no?
I never thought it was possible to use ‘soft/warm’ when describing a citrus based fragrance. But MFK has done it – and has done it beautifully.
As the fragrance unfolds, the warmth continues to blossom with elegance.
Yes, it is a skin scent. But that’s the beauty of it. Sometimes you just want something just for you.
pahan91 – :
Just when I was losing hope of finding a perfect blend I found Aqua Vitae.
Here is the moment when the aria brings tears to your eyes, your heart sings, breathing suspended then exhausted deeply so the next intake will be full of flavor. Yes, it’s that good.
The downside is that it’s fleeting as are all ephemeral, exquisite experiences, not sure if this is on purpose…
Aqua Vitae opens with a sweet, soft citrus tiny sweet oranges and their blossoms wrapped in a soft guaze of musk. The balance is perfect, no hard edges, not too warm nor too cold.
The entire composition is perceptible at the start, the perfect operatic olfactory overture, no Divas here, just the genius behind the curtain.
Aqua Vitae is the the quintessence of harmony. I absolutely adore this scent. Genius.
RainGirl – :
A gentle wave of citrus floral goodness, A very tranquil scent with tart and juicy notes all of which is bunched together delicately bitter and sweet. Overall one of the best most proportionate openings you will ever smell! From the moment you spray it on the skin, the feeling of Aqua Vitae is very soft and smooth from the beginning!! As time goes by, the drydown evokes a smell of soft jasmine. A very, very nice and unique fragrance…
psychologva – :
‘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
Fragranceemergency.blogspot.com
ромчик – :
I have tried it few days ago and I like it a lot. It’s start the bright citrus notes and continues like vanillic-jasmine creamy notes on the skin. Many people said for it that little bit mainstream but if you want to enjoy with your summer scent in the season I think you should look at this. Also, longevitiy is ok.
zverushka – :
Sadly, bitter on me to the point of being acrid.
gpc157elipseskism – :
Very delicate, light. Great work!
In the beginning hit my nose yuzu!
Silent citrus with well-balanced background.
Unfortunately not long lasting.
GIGBOY – :
First of, I really like Kurdjian’s work, it’s like art to me. Nose art. However (and I probably have this issue with most citrus scents) as bright, sparkly and natural-Prozac this is, it truly does not last on skin/clothes for more than an hour, no matter how liberally I spray. For the short span of time that I can smell it, it really is as enjoyable as a hike in fresh mountain air. Bright, sparkly, zesty and all other positive words come to mind when applying this. After it settles it becomes slightly more jasmine/woodsy…and then it’s gone. If there was a way this could be made a more tenacious scent, I would definitely not think twice about purchasing a bottle.
juryna – :
I’m usually not a fan of white florals but it was done right in this one. The Jasmine note in Aqua Vitae is surprisingly tight lipped. No loud citruses here; just a subtle lemon dripped to perfection onto a base of guaiac. Speaking of the guaiac, the jasmine and guaiac together is so harmonious you can easily mistake it for sandlewood. It’s like a Pegasus wing(only thing I can think of). This smells like a successful and well organized gentleman or a beautiful runway model. Don’t mean to confuse you with the left field contrast but no need to worry, this is safely unisex. Nice.
afteftRen – :
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.
klimdok – :
It’s very fresh, sparkling daytime scent. I’m sorry to say it, but as much I love FK creations, I do not love Aqua Vitae a lot. By the way, I adore Cologne Pour le Matin, which should be his sister… Aqua Vitae has the same vibe as Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme or Armani Acqua di Giò, IMO . Sporty, easy, summery, carefree – are the words coming to my mind with it. And for me it’s masculine, not unisex perfume.
kyky – :
I had high expectations for this one, as for every perfume from MFK.
Quite disappointing that he copied CK one so may years after.
wrewiquipse – :
This one needs to be worn generously. The lemon and tangerine pop and sizzle then fizzle. Then it went sharp and dusty for a few minutes It was down to a soft non-sweet vanilla and woody jasmine skin scent within an hour.
I love MFK’s scents, but this one is so light and fleeting that I cannot justify adding it to my collection. The smell of laundry detergent on my clothes lasts longer.
Gepwhersusene – :
Aqua Vitae is a very bright and refreshing summer perfume. A fizzy, citrusy fragrance that gradually turns into a tender skin scent… and soon it’s gone. Sillage and longevity are not too impressive.
solomahin1979 – :
It’s my favorite perfume from MFK right next to Absolue Pour le Matin. Aqua Vitae is very fresh, cripsy and citrusy but it also has some warm tenderness. It’s ideal for summer.
I reviewed it on my blog too.
hesowem – :
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)