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Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae
Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Aqua Vitae

Citrus
Fresh
Floral
Jasmine
White Floral
Woody
Vanilla
EDT · 2013 · unisex

Maison Francis Kurkdjian is known for refined, architectural fragrances that prioritize clarity and balance. Founded by the master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, the house has built a reputation for intelligent compositions that feel both modern and timeless.

Aqua Vitae opens with bright bergamot and lemon, immediately establishing a fresh citrus character. The heart introduces guaiac wood and jasmine alongside tonka bean, creating a warm floral core with subtle sweetness. The base settles into a comfortable blend of guaiac wood, tonka bean, and vanilla, rounding out the composition with woody-gourmand depth. The overall profile balances citrus brightness with creamy vanilla undertones, leaning gourmand without becoming cloying, while the guaiac wood provides structural support throughout.

This is an approachable fragrance for someone seeking something sweeter than a typical fresh scent but more grounded than pure gourmand. It works well as a daily wear option across seasons, though the vanilla-tonka sweetness and woody base give it particular appeal in cooler months. Aqua Vitae suits the sensibility of The Romantic, The Hedonist, and The Heirloom.

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ModerateLongevity
$110Best · 75ml
$15030d Avg
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Price Comparison7 retailers · updated daily
Size
Updated 569m ago
$110.17Save $382 (78% off retail)
at FragFlex
🔥 Lowest price in 33 days of tracking
$110 low$492 retail
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FragFlexTesterIn Stock$106.37−$386Buy
FragFlexIn Stock$110.17−$382Buy
Fragrance NevaehTesterIn Stock$155.00−$337Buy
ScentsAngelTesterIn Stock$165.00−$327Buy
Jomashop✓ PartnerIn Stock$182.99−$309Buy
Neiman Marcus✓ PartnerIn Stock$250.00−$242Buy
Papique✓ PartnerIn Stock$492.00Buy

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Price History · 75ml
Low
$110
Avg
$150
Now
$110.17
33 days tracked · 2026-04-21 – 2026-06-05
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Main Accordsreported by community
Citrus
100%
Fresh
47%
Floral
90%
Jasmine
80%
White Floral
26%
Woody
70%
Vanilla
100%
Sweet
100%
Gourmand
100%
Smoky
63%
Fragrance Notesbrand verified
Top · 0–30 min
Bergamot
Bergamot
A sun-ripened Italian citrus with a brightness that goes beyond lemon, simultaneously tart, floral, and slightly spicy. It's the defining note of Earl Grey tea and the backbone of countless fresh colognes. Perfumers love it as an opener because it lifts the entire composition without overpowering what follows.
Lemon
Lemon
Sharp, clean, and instantly familiar, the pure zest of fresh-cut lemon peel, not the sugary juice. In perfumery it reads as crisp and energising rather than sweet, and is often used to amplify other light notes. It fades quickly, so it's almost always a top note that makes a striking first impression.
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
Guaiac Wood
Guaiac Wood
Smoky, slightly rosy, and dry, guaiac wood has a gentle, transparent smokiness that doesn't overwhelm. It's often used to add a campfire-distant quality to woody or oriental fragrances without going full leather or incense. One of perfumery's more understated and quietly beautiful materials.
Jasmine
Jasmine
Intoxicating, heady, and slightly animalic, jasmine is one of the few flowers that smells as rich in a bottle as it does climbing a garden wall at dusk. It has an almost fleshy, indolic quality that stops it reading as purely 'clean.' Jasmine is a workhorse in both feminine and masculine perfumery, adding depth and soul.
Tonka Bean
Tonka Bean
Sweet, powdery, and almond-like with hay-like, slightly tobacco undertones, tonka bean is one of perfumery's most useful base notes. It shares coumarin with fresh hay and freshly cut grass, adding a warmth that feels nostalgic and comforting. Essential in gourmand and soft oriental fragrances.
Base · 3–12 hrs
Guaiac Wood
Guaiac Wood
Smoky, slightly rosy, and dry, guaiac wood has a gentle, transparent smokiness that doesn't overwhelm. It's often used to add a campfire-distant quality to woody or oriental fragrances without going full leather or incense. One of perfumery's more understated and quietly beautiful materials.
Tonka Bean
Tonka Bean
Sweet, powdery, and almond-like with hay-like, slightly tobacco undertones, tonka bean is one of perfumery's most useful base notes. It shares coumarin with fresh hay and freshly cut grass, adding a warmth that feels nostalgic and comforting. Essential in gourmand and soft oriental fragrances.
Vanilla
Vanilla
Warm, sweet, and universally appealing, vanilla is to fragrance what salt is to cooking. Real vanilla is complex and slightly smoky, though most perfumery vanilla is synthetic and reads as clean, sweet, and creamy. It slows the evaporation of other notes and is the reason certain fragrances feel like a second skin.
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
❤️
The RomanticBest match85% match
Your fragrance is a love letter you never stop writing.

Warm roses, vanilla, amber, creamy musks. Soft, evolving, intimate.

🍷
The Hedonist85% match
More is more. You've always known this.

Opulent, rich, long-lasting. Vanilla, amber, dense florals, gourmand warmth.

🏛️
The Heirloom83% match
You carry something beautiful that most people have forgotten.

Powdery, soft, classically sweet. Iris, aldehydes, gentle florals, quiet vintage warmth.

Based on this fragrance's accord profile · Find your Scent DNA →
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Rate this fragrance
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Most Popular with this Scent DNA Type?
❤️
The Romantic
Your fragrance is a love letter you never stop writing.
Warm roses, vanilla, amber, creamy musks. Soft, evolving, intimate.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
Citrus100%Fresh47%Floral90%Jasmine80%White Floral26%
Fragrance Family
Floral Woody
EDT
Decants Available
7
listings in stock
1ml$9.29/ml2ml$6.39/ml3ml$5.60/ml5ml$5.00/ml

Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: Aqua Vitae is $185.11. Without a coupon the lowest price is $185.11. Gush tracks 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.

Are grey market retailers authentic?

Yes. Jomashop, FragranceNet, and MaxAroma sell 100% authentic Maison Francis Kurkdjian fragrances through unofficial distribution channels. The fragrance is identical to department store stock. Grey market refers to the supply chain, not product quality. The price difference comes entirely from the distribution channel.

Frequently asked questions

Cheapest price for Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae? +
$185.11 at FragFlex. Gush compares 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.
Is $185.11 a good price for Aqua Vitae? +
Yes. The current best price is $185.11 and MSRP is $349.99. At $185.11 you save 47% vs retail.
What does Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae smell like? +
Maison Francis Kurkdjian is known for refined, architectural fragrances that prioritize clarity and balance. Founded by the master perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, the house has built a reputation for intelligent compositions that feel both modern and timeless. Aqua Vitae opens with bright bergamot and lemon, immediately establishing a fresh citrus character. The heart introduces guaiac wood and jasmine alongside tonka bean, creating a warm floral core with subtle sweetness. The base settles into a comfortable blend of guaiac wood, tonka bean, and vanilla, rounding out the composition with woody-gourmand depth. The overall profile balances citrus brightness with creamy vanilla undertones, leaning gourmand without becoming cloying, while the guaiac wood provides structural support throughout. This is an approachable fragrance for someone seeking something sweeter than a typical fresh scent but more grounded than pure gourmand. It works well as a daily wear option across seasons, though the vanilla-tonka sweetness and woody base give it particular appeal in cooler months. Aqua Vitae suits the sensibility of The Romantic, The Hedonist, and The Heirloom.
What are the notes in Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae? +
Top: Bergamot, Lemon. Heart: Guaiac Wood, Jasmine, Tonka Bean. Base: Guaiac Wood, Tonka Bean, Vanilla.
What fragrance family is Aqua Vitae? +
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae belongs to the Floral Woody fragrance family. It is an EDT.
What other fragrances smell like Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Vitae? +
Based on shared notes, Guerlain Petit Guerlain unisex (Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Jasmine, Bergamot), Mancera Fabulous Yuzu (Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Jasmine, Lemon), Parfums MDCI Promesse de l'Aube (Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Jasmine, Bergamot), anna-sui Fantasia Gold Edition for women (Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Jasmine, Bergamot), Maison Alhambra Candid (Tonka Bean, Vanilla, Jasmine, Bergamot) may smell similar to Aqua Vitae.
What is a grey market fragrance retailer? +
Grey market retailers sell authentic fragrances sourced through unofficial distribution -- typically excess inventory from authorized distributors. The product is real and identical to retail. FragranceNet (est. 1997), Jomashop, and MaxAroma are well-established with millions of verified reviews.

Gush earns a commission on purchases at no cost to you · Prices update every 2 hours · Coupon success rates based on affiliate feed data · Grey market = authentic, unofficial supply chain