Aqueous note in perfumery

The watery note: A touch of freshness for transparent floral scents!

There was once a time when perfumes weren't seasonal, and we wore the same fragrances all year round. However, in recent years, perfumers have recognized the demand for lighter, more refreshing scents during the warmer months, leading to the creation of airy and summery versions of their original fragrances. This evolution gave birth to the aqueous note, designed to bring lightness and a sensation of freshness to summer perfumes.

The aqueous note in perfumery: Creating fresh and light fragrances

Nowadays, we choose different perfumes for different seasons, seeking lighter, fresher scents during the hot summer months. This shift has led to the development of the watery note in perfumery. The watery note is aquatic without being overtly marine, and floral without being overly flowery. Its discreet presence serves to accentuate the other main notes of a perfume, often going unnoticed.

A splash of freshness: The aqueous note in our perfumes

The watery note is particularly present in summery floral and citrus scents. One of its first appearances was in the top note of Ralph Lauren's Ralph Cool in 2004. Paired with cucumber and kiwi, the watery note enhanced the white flowers and vetiver, giving the fragrance a lovely floral freshness. That same year, L'Eau de Ryokuei by Menard featured a green floral scent where the aqueous top note was balanced by floral notes as well as amber and sandalwood base notes.

Since then, the watery note has become a heart note, adding softness and transparency to both citrus and floral fragrances for men and women. For women, recent examples include CK2 by Calvin Klein, Muguet Porcelaine by Hermès, and Aqua Vitae Forte by Maison Francis Kurkdjian.

For citrus scents, the watery note is often used in the middle note to highlight the citrus fruits while providing an aquatic and lighter tone. For women's fragrances, the aqueous note can be found in Aqua Allegoria - Limon Verde by Guerlain, for example. For men, the aqueous note is featured in aromatic citrus scents like Un Jardin après la Mousson by Hermès and L'Eau by Kenzo Mirror Edition for Men.

The aqueous note brings a fresh, thirst-quenching, and transparent touch to fragrances designed for the warmth of summer. Often associated with florals and citrus, the aqueous note is also found in other olfactory families such as aromatic woods like Jangala from Parfumerie Générale or even spicy woods like Black Cedarwood &Juniper by Jo Malone. The aqueous note offers a vast range of possibilities for refreshing and invigorating our fragrances!