Water Calligraphy

Water Calligraphy, inspired by Kilian Paris Water Calligraphy (2012)

Water Calligraphy is an aquatic floral, so its flowers smell wet and translucent rather than heady. Grapefruit zest gives a bitter citrus lift at the start, and reseda (mignonette, a small garden flower with a green, faintly sweet scent) adds a leafy note. Water lily, jasmine sambac and magnolia form the dewy centre. Kilian compared the effect to water sliding over cardamom and vetiver like ink on rice paper.

About the original

By Kilian launched it in April 2012 alongside Bamboo Harmony as the first two Asian Tales fragrances, with the art of calligraphy as the theme. Calice Becker was the perfumer. Now Smell This found it mostly clean and aquatic with a slightly sugary edge, and quite mainstream, likening it to L'Eau d'Issey. Bamboo Harmony is still on sale, but Water Calligraphy no longer appears in Kilian's current range and we have found no statement from the brand about it.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Kilian Paris (formerly By Kilian) stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Admirers of transparent, watery florals in the L'Eau d'Issey mould are the natural audience. It is light and clean rather than deep, so anyone wanting resin or warmth will find little of either here. Its slight sugary edge is worth knowing about if you picture a strictly crisp aquatic.

Related scents

• By Kilian Bamboo Harmony
• Issey Miyake L'Eau d'Issey

Notes of the original fragrance, as given in the launch information.

Notes: Grapefruit Zest, Reseda Blossom, Water Lily, Jasmine Sambac, Magnolia, Cardamom, Vetiver

Grapefruit zest and reseda open it, bitter-fresh and green.

Water lily leads the heart, joined by jasmine sambac and magnolia, dewy and clean with a faint sweetness.

Cardamom adds a cool spice beneath the flowers, and vetiver gives the base a dry, grassy finish.

Is Water Calligraphy discontinued?

It is no longer in Kilian's current range, although we have found no official statement from the brand. Bamboo Harmony, which launched with it, is still sold.

Does it smell like L'Eau d'Issey?

Now Smell This drew that comparison, as both are clean, aquatic white florals. Water Calligraphy adds grapefruit at the top and a cardamom and vetiver base.

Is it unisex?

Yes, Kilian sells it as unisex. We list it under women's perfumes.

Is Kilian Paris (formerly By Kilian) Water Calligraphy coming back?

So far, we have found no announcement from Kilian Paris (formerly By Kilian) that it will return. Our version is an eau de parfum in 50 ml or 100 ml.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

By Kilian and Water Calligraphy are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to By Kilian in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.