Francis KurkdjianThe nose · 234 fragrances · also made Rouge Trafalgar Esprit De Parfum (2024)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Maison Francis Kurkdjian · Sold as unisex
Aqua Universalis Forte
The hiss of an espresso machine two seconds before the cup arrives, where crisp citrus notes mingle with warm, enveloping florals and musky undertones.
Full bottle: Luxury tier, typically $250+. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Aqua Universalis ForteLuxury · $250+
78%Similar accords, often for lessKhashabi · Lattafa PerfumesBudget tier, under $40 · shares 6 of its 7 notes8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
The story behind the bottle.
Launched in 2011 by Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Aqua Universalis Forte is a Floral Woody Musk fragrance that captures the essence of crisp sophistication. Created by perfumer Francis Kurkdjian, this scent opens with bright citrus notes from Amalfi lemon and bergamot before transitioning into a heart of white flowers, jasmine, and rose. The base layers in musk, woody notes, and subtle animalic undertones to create a warm, enveloping finish that feels both modern and lasting.
One spray is enough to carry you through a day. The bright citrus top notes are fleeting, giving way quickly to the more enduring white floral and woody base. This fragrance reads best close to skin rather than in a room, making it ideal for daytime wear.
Fig. 01 — Aqua Universalis Forte, Maison Francis Kurkdjian
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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Francis Kurkdjian
The composer of lightFrancis Kurkdjian is among the most celebrated perfumers alive — a creative polymath whose work spans haute couture fragrance, contemporary art installations, and the founding of his own maison.
“It’s impossible to predict. Success doesn’t depend on you. It depends on the audience.”
Francis Kurkdjian · SLEEK, June 2026
The Aqua Universalis line
3 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Maison Francis Kurkdjian
More from the house · founded 2009 · France
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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 originalAqua Universalis ForteMaison Francis Kurkdjian · Luxury · $250+Lattafa Perfumes · 2020KhashabiShares 6 of its 7 notesunder $40★ 3.66 (202)56%Match
Penhaligon's · 1998CastileShares 4 of its 6 notes$100–250★ 4.18 (616)54%Match
RasasiArba WardatShares 4 of its 6 notesunder $40★ 3.79 (322)53%Match
Gucci · 2003Gucci Rush SummerShares 4 of its 6 notes$100–250★ 3.89 (132)
With Rasasi Attar Al Oudh Red
Adds floral, oud and vanilla; shares musk.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Respected, if divisive: loved by 41%, disliked or hated by 15%.