Spring has officially arrived, and so have a number of new fragrance in my perfume collection that share one delicate, airy, and watery note: water lily. Evoking imagery of serene ponds sprinkled with sun-soaked, floating florals and fragile lily pads, these perfumes leave me feeling refreshed and centered, which is exactly how I’d like to enter this new season of the year and my life. I’ve gotten into the practice of spritzing these before melting into my late-night vinyasa flows and candlelit bubble baths as a way to unwind but also to inspire creativity as I begin my busy workdays with energy and a level head.
Water lotus, like water lily, captures aquatic freshness with a hint of dewiness and a powdery dry-down that paints a similar picture. Why wouldn’t I mix and match my fragrance favorites to create unique blends? Below, I’m sharing every watery scent that’s captured my attention in the past few months, plus glowing reviews from customers who felt just as taken by them as I am.
The Best Water Lily and Lotus Fragrances
The 7 Virtues
Lotus Pear Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Fruity floral | Notes: Williams pear, mandarin, upcycled rose, upcycled orange flower, jasmine, lotus flower, gardenia, vanilla, sambac, geranium
Capture the fresh sweetness of a lotus flower with this fruity-floral favorite by The 7 Virtues. It opens with sparkling notes of Williams pear and lotus flower balanced with a creamy blend of garden and vanilla. While this light and effervescent scent is unmistakably fresh, sambac and geranium add delicious depth.
Customer Review: “The pear note is absolutely divine…you can actually smell the crispness of a fresh juicy Bartlett pear that has just barely ripened under the August sun. The best part? The pear note actually lasts throughout the life of the fragrance. I do get a hint of peach in the sweetness of the fragrance, but pear is definitely the star of the show. Gorgeous aquatic lotus lifts the pear and peach top notes, keeping them from leaning too syrupy sweet, lending a fresher take to traditionally more gourmand fruits.”
Lake & Skye
11 11 Azure Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Aquatic floral | Notes: Water accord, hyacinth, bergamot, dewy greens, lotus blossom, orris, Indian jasmine sambac, neroli, blue amber, oakmoss, Indonesian patchouli, musk
In my opinion, the best aquatic-floral fragrances can balanced dewy green notes with dry notes like oakmoss, and 11 11 Azure Eau de Parfum provides a dreamy blend of both. Its unique composition is a delicate take on Lake & Skye’s 11 11 with watery lotus blossom balanced by glowing Indonesian patchouli and a skin-like musk that wears beautifully and dries down to airy, soft florals.
Customer Review: “On my skin, 11 11 Azure instantly takes me back to being in my bedroom on a spring day in 1996—sunlight pouring in, a soft breeze moving the curtains, and Pearl Jam playing in the background. It’s deeply nostalgic without feeling dated. The water notes are crisp and prominent, supported by airy florals that keep it from feeling too sharp. There’s a fresh-spicy lift and a soft musk underneath that grounds everything, making it wearable and modern rather than purely retro. The overall effect is clean, refreshing, and emotionally evocative.”
Clean Reserve
H2Eau Water Lotus Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Fruity floral | Notes: Water lily, cucumber water, mandarin, muguet, apple blossom, peony, musk, amber, driftwood
When I think of which notes best capture the gentle serenity of a spa getaway, subtle water lily, bright mandarin, and lightly vegetal cucumber water all come to mind. Rather than offering a photorealistic take on the floral scent, this one takes its inspiration from the beauty of sun-soaked water lotus dancing across the surface of a pond with a dewy, sheer blend that features lush florals and skin-like musks against driftwood.
Customer Review: “I adore this scent, whenever lending it to others I tell them it’s what I think a freshwater mermaid would smell like. The perfect summer or spring scent, the lotus scent mixed with cucumber and marine notes is so perfect, it really paints an image in your head. It is definitely more feminine, but I could see anyone wearing it as well.”
Henry Rose
London 1983 Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Woody floral | Notes: Fig, black pepper, water lily, jasmine, musk, blonde woods, upcycled orcanox, sustainable vetiver bourbon
Inspired by the rebellious nature of London in the early 1980s, this Henry Rose perfume delivers intoxicating fig laced with a luminous blend of soft florals paired with velvety blonde woods, musk, and vetiver bourbon. Warm and sheer, London 1983 taps into the nostalgia of the era with a unique olfactory composition that takes wearers back to the vibrant blend of eclectic subcultures and romanticism that defined this era.
Customer Review: “I can already tell this is going to be my go-to spring and summer scent! London 1983 is an intimate fragrance, opening with a sweet (but not cloying) fig that dries down into a creamy musk, subdued, elegant, addictive, and just that little bit different. This is not a fragrance that shouts its presence. Rather, it compels people to lean in just that little bit closer. I was in London in 1983 and this is definitely the fragrance I would have worn as I strutted my stuff down Carnaby Street!”
Issey Miyake
L’Eau d’Issey Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Aromatic woods | Notes: Rose, lotus blossom, lily, white flowers, precious wood
If you’ve ever wished you could capture the early morning magic of water bathed in warm light, consider trying Issey Miyake’s L’Eau d’Issey Eau de Parfum. This classic perfume is aquatic and luminous with the sensuality of soft florals blended sunny woods and a sheer, skin-like musk housed in an elegant bottle. The perfume is minimalist and clean—just like its sharp, slender silhouette to evoke a suspended drop.
Customer Review: “I’m a florist, and happen to be picky about the floral scents that are easy ones to throw one, but this is magnificent for spring. Dew, clear and vibrant flowers, it smells like an idealized rainy day to me. Serene, like leaning against the window pane and watching your spring garden get watered. It’s not realistic in that sense, more an artistic expression of cool, wet and flowery.”
Kayali
Musk 12 Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Floral musk | Notes: Lotus flower, jasmine, freesia, musk, vanilla, sandalwood
Kayali’s website-exclusive Musk 12 Eau de Parfum is far from your classic lotus flower fragrance, but the delicate notes add an elegant, warm touch to the sheer and sensual composition. It’s balanced with fresh freesia and soft jasmine before giving way to the gentle second-skin mix of soft musk and creamy sandalwood. There’s something otherworldly about it that I can’t get enough of.
Customer Review: “Musk | 12 surprised me with it’s lightness; the lotus is the leading floral scent note, which provides a sweet and watery veil over the usually-heavy-on-me jasmine. The freesia note is very light on me; if I could change one thing about this fragrance, I would make the freesia a little bit richer. The airy & slightly powdered musk note is present immediately and lasts throughout the perfume’s wear-time. I think of a vanilla and sandalwood base as being a perfect combination—so creamy and calming.”
Bulgari
Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette
Scent Type: Aquatic floral | Notes: Nashi pear accord, bamboo accord, lotus accord, white peony accord, balsa wood accord, crystal musk accord
Inspired by the stunning purity and clarity of a crystal, Omnia Crystalline Eau de Toilette by master perfumer Alberto Morillas centers the aquatic transparency of the lotus flower, further enhancing it with white peony and the watery crispness of nashi pear. The perfume unfurls to reveal fresh bamboo accord warmed with balsa wood and soft crystal musk. Its bottle pays tribute to the Omnia’s shape and is fully refillable.
Customer Review: “This is what a fairy forest smells like first thing in the morning. This is such a pretty and charming scent. It pleases and calms the senses while remaining crisp and warm-sweet at the same time. You can wear it anywhere, and it floats around you like a gentle aura. Feels like there is something a little magical in it. Far from boring, there is a nip of woods that intrigues the senses and adds a sparkle.”
Dolce & Gabbana
Dolce Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Woody floral | Notes: Italian bergamot, petitgrain mandarin, orange, Indian sambac jasmine, magnolia, orange blossom, Indian mimosa, amyris, cedarwood
The crisp and fruity top notes of this Dolce & Gabbana classic are second to none thanks to a sensual blend of citrus, a dusting of creamy white florals, and warm woods. Somewhat transparent and elegantly floral, this perfume doesn’t list water lily or lotus as one of its key notes, but its blend is undeniably soft, watery, and romantic. I’m in love with the vintage-inspired design of its bottle, which is topped with a cap inspired by the picturesque marzipan sculptures created by Sicilian pastry chefs.
Customer Review: “It’s a very pleasant, fresh fragrance and it smells how the bottle looks; transparent, floral and pastel green. It is, however not a typical aquatic scent to my nose, I think because of the narcissus, it smells more like a humid aquatic, like being in a flower garden during a summer storm, the cashmere and musks give a soft, snuggly sort of feel to the overall scent.”
d’Annam
Princess of China Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Fruity floral | Notes: Peony, white lotus, silk, lychee, pear
D’Annam’s Princess of China found its inspiration in the noblewomen of ancient Chinese dynasties with luminous peony and white lotus petals enhanced by sweet lychee and crisp pear. The elegant blend is wrapped in smooth silk to create a memorable fragrance that celebrates China’s rich history with six to eight hours of wear. I recommend layering this one with another one of its elegant lotus-based scents, Mooncake.
Customer Review: “I discovered this fragrance in the [d’Annam] discovery box and completely fell in love with it! It’s an incredibly feminine scent, with a soft, fresh femininity. Delicately floral and extremely elegant, it’s gentle enough for everyday wear but also perfect for a date. The fragrance lasts beautifully on the skin, and by the end of the day it becomes more intimate—it projects less but leaves the skin delicately scented. In short, this perfume truly lives up to its name and makes you feel like a princess.”
Kismet Olfactive
Nymphéas Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Aquatic floral | Notes: Solar water lily, lily of the valley, jasmine, aquatic pond water, vetiver, oakmoss, maté
Nymphéas (Water Lilies) Eau de Parfum is a swirling olfactory interpretation of Claude Monet’s paintings of the garden ponds surrounding his home in Giverny, France. Described by Kismet Olfactive as “an extended study on the interplay of light, color, and reflection on water,” the floral fragrance combines solar water lily with lily of the valley, jasmine, and aquatic pond water. The perfume is grounded by the earthiness of vetiver, maté, and oakmoss.
Customer Review: “There’s real depth to this softness, which unfolds with time and the languid movement of molecules in space around you. The experience of wearing this scent is refreshing and transporting, perfect for a languorously hot and humid day. The reference to Monet’s Water Lilies in Nymphéas is palpable. When you first look at this series of paintings, you may get only the general impression of blue water or green lily pads, but the magic is in the splashes of shocking fuchsia, serene lavender, pastel yellow and rusty red.”
Diptyque
Lilyphéa Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Aquatic floral | Notes: Cardamom, lily of the valley, violet leaves, vanilla
Perhaps one of the most recognizable water lily–inspired fragrances since its release in 2024, Diptyque’s Lilyphéa Eau de Parfum celebrates the beauty of the floating floral with fresh notes of cardamom and violet slipping away to reveal sheer vanilla. Its minimalist, vintage-inspired bottle featuring a design echoing the gentle shapes of water lilies is enclosed in paper packaging embellished with Nigel Peake’s moody watercolors.
Customer Review: “Bottled Monet. A lily pond lullaby. The nectar that buds out of a fresh-cut stem. Its elements—cardamom, violet, vanilla—somehow meld into a impressionist’s garden. I don’t think ‘vegetal’ when I hear any of those scents, so Lilyphéa must have some clever perfumer’s sorcery behind it. If I strain, I can imagine their roles in the painting. The airiness of violet turns aquatic, the sweetness of vanilla a sappy green, and the buzz of cardamom something earthen and herbal. It’s an elegant, fey skin scent, which feels somewhat maternal.”
Discover More Water Lily and Lotus Fragrances
d’Annam
Mooncake Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Gourmand spices | Notes: Golden syrup, salted egg yolk, mung bean, lotus seed, honey, vanilla
Customer Review: “I was worried this would be too sweet or sickly but it is absolutely wonderful. It has a comforting nature to it and all the notes are incredibly balanced. For me, the saltiness really comes through and adds depth to the honey and vanilla. It is really chic and sophisticated. It also lasts for hours but is not overpowering at all. My first ever perfume that falls on the sweeter side and I adore it!”
Jo Malone London
Fig & Lotus Flower Cologne
Scent Type: Aquatic floral | Notes: Fig leave, lotus flower, neroli, vetiver
Customer Review: “A clean, earthy floral fragrance that uplifts instantly and then settles into a grounding aroma that wraps around you in comfort. The floral note is light and intoxicating without ever becoming heavy—nothing like wet lotus flowers dripping in dew. Instead, it’s airy, elegant, and quietly mysterious. It’s a transportive scent, shifting slightly as it wears but always maintaining a fresh clarity without drifting into soapy territory. It’s floral without being too floral, aquatic without being obnoxious, and somehow both simple and complex at the same time. There’s a uniqueness here that makes it easier to explain what it isn’t than what it is.”
Hermès
Un Jardin Sure Le Nil Eau de Toilette
Scent Type: Green woods | Notes: Green mango, lotus, calamus, sycamore wood
Customer Review: “A work of art. I own a small sample bottle gifted to me along with three other Hermès scents. The notes intrigued me so I was eager to try it first. So interesting, fresh, and natural. Expensive, but the best art is. This is a crafted perfume meant to take you on a journey. On my skin there’s a fresh combination of carrot, tomato, mango and grapefruit. Don’t be put off by the unique combo—the notes reveal themselves in such an elegant composition.”
Liis
Lucienne Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Aquatic floral | Notes: Pomelo, lemon zest, magnolia, dragon fruit, water lily, sea shells, marine accord
Customer Review: “First blast is a clean, almost aquatic, slightly soapy floral. There’s a fruity freshness up front from lemon zest and honey pomelo, with creamy florals underneath. This is very shampoo-y, fruity floral at heart, but the dragonfruit note makes it feel a little more interesting and less generic. I’m not a floral girl at heart, I prefer [floral gourmands], and this is not that. That said, it’s genuinely beautiful and very universally appealing. Clean, pretty, and easy to like.”
Zoologist
Dragonfly Eau de Parfum
Scent Type: Aquatic floral | Notes: Grapefruit, basil, angelica seed, ginger, rice, aquatic florals, geranium, jasmine sambac, mimosa, orris absolute, rose, violet leaves, rainwater, moss, patchouli, tonka, vetiver, benzoin, cashmeran
Customer Review: “I once heard someone describe Dragonfly as what Claude Monet’s, The Water Lily Pond would smell like. It’s a beautifully accurate way to describe this fragrance. The light and fragile wings of a dragonfly, the clear ponds teeming with green lush life. There’s hints of Earth, soil, and that comforting musky skin-like scent with a touch of bright breezy green that keeps it light and fresh. I do not get any hints of floral in this fragrance as the notes may state, but there’s plenty of life nonetheless. A delicate life—something that plays in between air and water.”
