My boyfriend and I have a pretty egalitarian approach to fragrances. We're both big scent people, and neither of us has any qualms about using scents that aren't traditionally thought of as "masculine" or "feminine." Both our fragrance collections are pretty extensive. Together, we have nearly every type of fragrance in the book, so we freely share them.
Our one rule? We can't wear the same fragrance on the same day. Historically, that hasn't been a problem. Between the two of us, we have enough fragrances that we rarely want to wear the same scent at the same time. Recently, however, one particular fragrance has shaken up our routine.
The scent in question is Aqua Media, the latest launch from Maison Francis Kurkdjian. We've both been smitten with the fragrance since our first spritz. We're now constantly calling dibs on who gets to wear Aqua Media. Chances are, one of us is wearing it every day.
This is the house's fourth fragrance in their Cologne Forte collection. Like the other Cologne Forte fragrances, Aqua Media's top note is bergamot from Italy, which adds tons of freshness to the fragrance. The fragrance also has notes of verbena accord, sweet fennel, hedione, woody musks, matcha accord, and patchouli. These scent notes blend together for an aromatic citrus fragrance that reminds my boyfriend of the ocean and me of the Côte d'Azur.
"Aqua Media Cologne Forte smells like happiness and caring, vitality and energy, reassuring in its apparent simplicity," Francis Kurkdjian shared in a press release. "It puts me in a good mood, that's all. I have nothing else to add. Everything is already there, written in the formula."
Key notes: Italian bergamot oil, Italian mandarin oil, solar floral accord, sensual musky accord. This citrus-forward scent is taken to the next level thanks to musk and sandalwood.
Key notes: Sicilian lemon, bergamot, white flowers accord, absolute rose, absolute jasmine, light musk. This clean-smelling fragrance is meant to symbolize pure white.
Key notes: Italian bergamot oil, blackcurrant bud absolue, Egyptian jasmine absolue, French mimosa absolue, fruity musky accord. This is the most fruit-forward and juicy fragrance in the Cologne Forte collection.
Key notes: jasmine, saffron, cedar, ambergris. This is Tiktok's favorite Maison Francis Kurkdjian scent, and it's a favorite among our editors.
Key notes: aldehydes, bergamot oil from Italy, white floral accord, jasmine from Egypt, sandalwood accord, white musks. The 724 scent is the perfumer's homage to New York City.
Key notes: juniper berries, nutmeg, coriander, musk, ambery woods, vanilla. Gentle Fluidity comes in a gold and a silver version—the fragrances have the same notes but smell completely different. The gold version is more typically feminine.
Key notes: juniper berries, nutmeg, coriander, musk, ambery woods, vanilla. The silver version of Gentle Fluidity is a bit more stereotypically masculine.
Key notes: violet accord, damascena rose essence from Bulgaria, rose absolute from Turkey, natural oud from Laos, Benzoin from Siam, amber, vanilla accord. Infused with ingredients from the East, this scent brings the region to fruition in a fragrance.
The best way to find your favorite scents is through this discovery set.
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Key notes: lychee accord, damascena rose oil, peony accord, centifolia rose absolute, musks. For the floral fragrance lover.
