Water LilyOpens with
MagnoliaHeart
VetiverDries down to
Calice BeckerThe nose · 103 fragrances · also made Ambre Eccentrico (2015)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
By Kilian · Sold as unisex
Water Calligraphy
The hiss of an espresso machine two seconds before the cup arrives, where the aromatic tension between fresh citrus and warm florals is at its peak.
Full bottle: Luxury tier, typically $250+. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Water CalligraphyLuxury · $250+
46%Similar accords, often for lessN°03 Waterfall Brume · ZaraBudget tier, under $40 · shares grapefruit, magnolia and jasmine8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
The story behind the bottle.
Water Calligraphy by By Kilian was launched in 2012 and crafted by perfumer Calice Becker. This floral aquatic fragrance opens with a burst of grapefruit and water lily, creating an immediate freshness that feels both crisp and luminous. The heart of magnolia and jasmine adds depth without heaviness, while vetiver and cardamom ground the composition with earthy warmth. It is a scent caught between the clarity of water and the richness of florals — perfect for those who appreciate a balance of lightness and substance.
Water Calligraphy opens with a bright burst that fades within the first hour, so don’t hesitate to apply it liberally in the morning. The base notes of vetiver and cardamom will linger throughout the day, making this fragrance ideal for daytime wear.
Fig. 01 — Water Calligraphy, By Kilian
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Calice Becker
Flowers inside a bottle of eau de cologneCalice Becker (Asancheyev-Becker) is a French master perfumer and director of the Givaudan Perfumery School, whose fascination with perfume began as a child asking how flowers get inside a bottle of eau de cologne.
“I like to add a dose of intrigue because nothing catches the attention of a touch of something unexpected.”
Calice Becker · Fragrantica nose page bio (scraped into fragrantica_bio); primary not located
Designer By Kilian
More from the house · founded 2007 · Ireland
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the $250+ price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalWater CalligraphyBy Kilian · Luxury · $250+Zara · 2021N°03 Waterfall BrumeShares Grapefruit, Magnolia and Jasmineunder $40★ 3.93 (92)50%Match
Chanel · 2002Allure Eau Fraichissante Pour l'EteShares 5 of its 12 notes$100–250★ 3.97 (36)46%Match
Marc Jacobs · 2010Apple SplashShares 4 of its 8 notes$40–100★ 3.80 (69)48%Match
Victoria's Secret · 2025Blue Jasmine Water LilyAll 2 of its listed notes are in this oneunder $40★ 4.28 (40)
With By Kilian Angel s Share On The Rocks
Adds woody, warm spicy and sweet; shares grapefruit.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 23%, disliked or hated by 22%.