Fragrance comparison

Apple Splash vs Water Calligraphy

Notes, accords, longevity, sillage, seasons and community ratings, side by side.

Updated 16 Oct 2026 691 ratings analysed

Apple Splash

Marc Jacobs

3.8070 votes

Rank #18,976 AromaticFruity

Full profile Similar & dupes

46%scent match

Some overlap

Water Calligraphy

By Kilian

3.37621 votes

Rank #9,987 FloralCitrus

Full profile Similar & dupes

Quick verdict

Which one should you pick?

No clear winner: the 7 categories split 3–3.

Apple Splash
Choose it for a aromatic and fruity character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and versatility. Best in summer, daytime wear.
Water Calligraphy
Choose it for a floral and citrus character. Wins on longevity, value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Apple Splash3/7

Water Calligraphy3/7

Ratings & consensus: Apple Splash
Community sentiment: Apple Splash
Longevity: Water Calligraphy
Sillage & projection: Tie
Value for money: Water Calligraphy
Versatility: Apple Splash
Note pyramid (duration): Not scored
Fragranxe ranking: Water Calligraphy

Head-to-head breakdown

Every category side by side, with the winner called out.

Fragrance

Apple SplashMarc Jacobs

Water CalligraphyBy Kilian

Winner

Ratings & consensus

Average rating and ownership split

3.80/ 5 · 70 votes

Have 22%Had 19%Want 59%

3.37/ 5 · 621 votes

Have 63%Had 38%Want 0%

Category winnerApple SplashRating weighted by vote count

Community sentiment

How voters split from love to hate

23%Love

53%Like

6%Ok

19%Dislike

0%Hate

70 votes

22%Love

52%Like

4%Ok

21%Dislike

0%Hate

499 votes

Category winnerApple SplashMost positive mix (25+ votes)

Longevity & sillage

0–100 community performance scores

⏱ Longevity48

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate70

⏱ Longevity62

〰 Sillage55

♥ Love / hate67

Category winners

LongevityWater Calligraphy

SillageTie

Value for money

How fairly priced voters find it

¤ Price value25

¤ Price value34

Category winnerWater CalligraphyBest value score

Main accords

Strength of each scent family · outlined = shared by both

aromatic100%

fruity90%

citrus80%

fresh spicy70%

floral60%

sweet50%

floral100%

citrus86%

aquatic72%

fresh58%

white floral44%

aromatic30%

Scent match46%Some overlap · both citrus, floral and aromatic

Note pyramid (duration)

Top, heart and base, with how long each lasts when known · gold = shared

Top15-30 mins

Red AppleAmalfi LemonGrapefruit

Heart1-2 hrs

RosemaryMagnoliaJasmine

Base2-3 hrs

CardamomCoriander

Top

Water LilyGrapefruit

Heart

MagnoliaJasmine

Base

VetiverCardamom

InformationalShared notesGrapefruit, Magnolia, Jasmine and Cardamom. Durations are only published for Apple Splash, so this is not scored.

Seasons & time of day

Relative to each fragrance's best season

Spring85

Summer100

Fall30

Winter15

Day100

Night9

Spring100

Summer0

Fall0

Winter8

Day–

Night–

Category winnerApple SplashMost year-round

Who wears it

Gender appeal votes

Men0

Unisex100

Women0

Casual 54%Work 31%Date 9%Party 6%

Men6

Unisex35

Women58

InformationalProfile onlyAudience is not scored

Ranking & credits

Fragranxe overall rank, nose and launch

Overall rank#18,976

PerfumerYann Vasnier

Launched—

Reviews9

Overall rank#9,987

PerfumerCalice Becker

Launched—

Reviews47

Category winnerWater CalligraphyHigher overall rank

In a nutshell

Description & review snapshot

Marc Jacobs Apple Splash delivers an immediate burst of chilled red apple, tart Amalfi lemon, and juicy grapefruit. The initial spritz feels intensely refreshing, like biting into a cold, crisp orchard fruit on a hot July morning. As the initial citrus sparkle settles over the first fifteen minutes, an aromatic heart …

Reviews →

Water Calligraphy by By Kilian is a Floral Aquatic fragrance for women and men. Water Calligraphy was launched in 2012. The nose behind this fragrance is Calice Becker. Top notes are Water Lily and Grapefruit; middle notes are Magnolia and Jasmine; base notes are Vetiver and Cardamom.

Reviews →

InformationalRead bothTaste is personal

How we score: ratings blend public fragrance ratings with Fragranxe member votes; longevity, sillage, value and sentiment are community vote scores, and season bars are relative to each fragrance's strongest season. Categories with too little data are shown but not scored. The scent match weighs accord overlap (60%) and shared notes (40%). More in the FAQ.

Common questions

Straight answers from the data above.

Which is better, Apple Splash or Water Calligraphy?

No clear winner: the 7 categories split 3–3. Apple Splash is rated 3.80/5 from 70 votes; Water Calligraphy is rated 3.37/5 from 621 votes. Choose Apple Splash for a aromatic and fruity character. Wins on ratings & consensus, community sentiment and versatility. Best in summer, daytime wear. Choose Water Calligraphy for a floral and citrus character. Wins on longevity, value for money and fragranxe ranking. Best in spring.

Which lasts longer, Apple Splash or Water Calligraphy?

Water Calligraphy lasts longest (Water Calligraphy 62/100, Apple Splash 48/100), based on community performance votes.

Which projects more, Apple Splash or Water Calligraphy?

Projection is very close: Apple Splash 55/100, Water Calligraphy 55/100 for sillage.

Do Apple Splash and Water Calligraphy smell similar?

Some overlap: a 46% scent match on Fragranxe. Both share citrus, floral and aromatic accords. Common notes include Grapefruit, Magnolia, Jasmine and Cardamom.

Is Apple Splash or Water Calligraphy better for summer or winter?

For summer, Apple Splash is the stronger pick. For winter, Apple Splash is the stronger pick. Apple Splash suits daytime wear. Based on community season votes.

What are the notes in Apple Splash and Water Calligraphy?

Apple Splash has top notes of Red Apple, Amalfi Lemon and Grapefruit, heart notes of Rosemary, Magnolia and Jasmine, a base of Cardamom and Coriander. Water Calligraphy has top notes of Water Lily and Grapefruit, heart notes of Magnolia and Jasmine, a base of Vetiver and Cardamom.