Floral

Water Lily

Note Profile

Botanical 526 perfumes

Also Known As

Aqua Lily, waterlily

About

Water Lily in perfumery is a soft, aquatic floral note with a gentle sweetness and a touch of green freshness. It is reminiscent of dewy petals floating on a pond, combining subtle floral facets with clean, watery nuances. This note brings a serene, airy quality to fragrances, often used to evoke tranquility and lightness.

Scent Profile

Water lily smells aquatic first, more about the water beneath it than the petals above. A cool, clean floral sits over that water, transparent rather than heavy. A soft powderiness runs through the drydown, and a faint, almost cucumber-like green shows in the background. It finishes with a clean musk, skin-like softness.

ScentWheel

Breadthmedium

EnvelopeHeart · ~4h lasting

Family Fresh & Citrus, Floral

Read off the wheel, not a label applied to the note.

WorldSee it in Note Island

ScentArt

What is ScentArt?

What this is made of

Water Lily names no single substance

Reconstructed

No extract. A watery-floral reconstruction. A name match returns 'Watermelon distillate', which shares only the first five letters.

How the layers join

Origin

In perfumery, the water lily note is typically recreated using a blend of synthetic molecules, as natural extraction is not feasible due to the flower's low yield and high water content. Key aroma chemicals such as hydroxycitronellal and certain ozonic or green notes are combined to mimic the scent. The inspiration is drawn from the Nymphaea genus, commonly found in calm freshwater environments.

Usage in Perfumery

Perfumers use water lily primarily as a heart note to impart a sense of watery freshness and tranquility to floral or aquatic compositions. It blends well with other florals, green notes, and light musks, and is often paired with lotus, peony, or soft woods to enhance its airy character. Water lily is valued for its ability to add a luminous, serene quality without dominating the blend.