Quick answer: Mykonos Empire is inspired by two fragrances, and these three perfumes split along that line. Bujairami Drip and Dua Gone Swimming Extrait share the Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim side and are mostly citrus: Drip light and minimal, Gone Swimming a strong extrait with an ambergris base. Rayhaan Aquatica shares the Creed Virgin Island Water side and is the sweetest, with coconut milk, sugar cane and rum. Empire sits between them, with citrus and ginger next to coconut water, jasmine and tonka.
This guide answers the Mykonos Empire vs Bujairami Drip, Dua Gone Swimming and Rayhaan Aquatica question in one place. All four are citrus-led perfumes with a summer side to them, and all four are linked to the same pair of designer fragrances. What makes Empire unusual is that it is linked to both at once, while each of the other three leans to one side. We have already compared Empire one to one in Mykonos Empire vs Velixir Poseidon and Mykonos Empire vs Bujairami Ibiza; here we add three more names that come up alongside it. We sell Mykonos and none of the other three, so we are not neutral, and a note list on paper never tells you exactly how a perfume will wear on your skin.
What they have in common: Creed Virgin Island Water and Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim as the inspirations
Mykonos Empire is inspired by Creed Virgin Island Water and Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim. Both names appear in the inspiration line on its product page, and the composition sits between the two. Each of the other three shares one side only:
- Bujairami Drip: the Afternoon Swim side. Bujairami presents it as inspired by Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim; the reference is in Bujairami's own product name. Note that this is Drip, not Bujairami Drip No. 7, which is a separate perfume.
- Dua Gone Swimming Extrait: the Afternoon Swim side. Dua Fragrances presents it as inspired by Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim on its own product page.
- Rayhaan Aquatica: the Virgin Island Water side. It is widely described as inspired by Creed Virgin Island Water, in product listings and in reviews by people who know that fragrance.
So these are related perfumes, linked in two different ways, and each one is its own perfume. The split shows in the notes too. Drip and Gone Swimming share Empire's citrus: bergamot, mandarin and orange, and in Gone Swimming's case Sicilian orange specifically. Aquatica shares the citrus as well, but adds what those two lack and Empire has: lime, coconut, jasmine, musk, tonka and patchouli. Our explainer on what "inspired by" means on a perfume covers how to read an inspiration line, and why Empire's line names two.
Mykonos Empire vs Bujairami Drip, Dua Gone Swimming and Rayhaan Aquatica: the notes
Empire's notes come from the Mykonos brand handbook; the others come from their product descriptions. Drip's description names only its top notes and describes the rest as a clean, mineral finish, so we have written that down rather than guess.
| Mykonos Empire | Bujairami Drip | Dua Gone Swimming Extrait | Rayhaan Aquatica | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspiration side | Both | Afternoon Swim | Afternoon Swim | Virgin Island Water |
| Top notes | Lime, bergamot, mandarin orange, tropical fruits | Mandarin, orange, bergamot | Bergamot, mandarin | Lime, coconut milk, bergamot, mandarin |
| Heart notes | Sicilian orange, ginger, jasmine, coconut water | Not named; described as clean and mineral | Sicilian orange | Sugar cane, hibiscus, jasmine, gardenia |
| Base notes | Patchouli, white musk, tonka bean | Not named | Ambergris | Rum, musk, tonka bean, patchouli |
| Concentration | Extrait de parfum | Eau de parfum* | Extrait de parfum | Eau de parfum |
| Character | Citrus, tropical, woody | Citrus, fresh | Citrus with a light ambery undertone | Citrus gourmand, floral |
| Stated intensity | Moderate | Light | Strong | Moderate |
| Best season | All four seasons | Spring, summer | All four seasons | Summer |
| Best for | Daily wear, evenings, sport; in our For Him range | Daily wear, work, sport; unisex | Daily wear, evenings, special occasions; unisex | Daily wear, evenings; for men |
*Bujairami's own product title for Drip uses the word Extrait; the product data we work from lists it as an eau de parfum. Treat that cell as indicative.
Where they differ
- Sweetness. Aquatica is the sweetest on paper: coconut milk in the opening, sugar cane in the heart, rum and tonka in the base. Empire sits in the middle, with coconut water and tonka. Drip and Gone Swimming list no gourmand notes at all; what sweetness they have comes from mandarin and orange.
- How much is in the formula. Drip and Gone Swimming are short and citrus-centred: Drip names three top notes, Gone Swimming four notes in total. Empire and Aquatica are full three-tier pyramids with a floral, tropical middle.
- Strength. The stated intensities run from light (Drip) through moderate (Empire and Aquatica) to strong (Gone Swimming). Empire and Gone Swimming are both extraits; our guide to extrait de parfum vs eau de parfum explains what that label usually means.
- The drydown. Four different endings: Drip's clean, mineral finish, Gone Swimming's ambergris, Empire's patchouli, white musk and tonka, and Aquatica's rum, musk, tonka and patchouli.
- Seasons and occasions. Empire and Gone Swimming are both listed for all four seasons. Drip is a spring and summer scent tagged for work and sport; Aquatica is a summer scent tagged for daily wear and evenings.
Which one should you choose?
- The lightest option for the office or the gym: Drip, the only one with a light stated intensity and tags for both work and sport. Our guide to perfume for the gym and sport has tips on how much to wear.
- A citrus with more weight for evenings: Gone Swimming, a strong extrait with Sicilian orange and ambergris, tagged for evenings and special occasions.
- A sweet, holiday-style tropical: Aquatica, with coconut milk, hibiscus, sugar cane and rum.
- A bit of both sides in one bottle: Empire, whose citrus and ginger sit next to coconut water, jasmine and tonka.
- Still torn between the two sides: the two head-to-heads linked above go deeper, with Poseidon on the Afternoon Swim side and Ibiza on the Virgin Island Water side.
Empire in our store: bottle, sizes and wear
Empire is the Mykonos collaboration with RRQ, found in our collaborations collection, and it now ships in the new gold IMPERIUM bottle; the scent inside is unchanged. It comes in 50 ml and 100 ml. The handbook lists its intensity as Moderate, but rates sillage and projection as Strong and longevity at 12+ hours, so two sprays are usually enough, and one will do in heat or at close quarters.
It is tagged for daily wear, evenings and sport across all four seasons, which makes it an easy one-bottle choice. For the scent in detail, read our Mykonos Empire review. Mykonos also pairs it with Mykonos Monaco Royale in its official Golden Sunset layering combo, which we cover in Golden Sunset: how to layer Empire and Monaco Royale. For more fresh options from the range, browse the citrus collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is Mykonos Empire a version of Rayhaan Aquatica or Bujairami Drip?
No. Each is a separate perfume from a separate house. They are related through their inspirations: Empire shares the Virgin Island Water side with Aquatica and the Afternoon Swim side with Drip and Gone Swimming, but the note lists, concentrations and intensities differ.
Which of the three has the most notes in common with Empire?
On paper, Rayhaan Aquatica. Lime, bergamot, mandarin, jasmine, coconut, musk, tonka and patchouli appear in both, although Aquatica uses coconut milk rather than coconut water and adds sugar cane, hibiscus, gardenia and rum.
Is Bujairami Drip related to Drip No. 7?
Not in this context. Drip No. 7 is a separate Bujairami perfume with a different inspiration. The Drip compared here is the one Bujairami presents as inspired by Louis Vuitton Afternoon Swim.
Which one is best for summer?
All four are tagged for summer. For hot days at work or the gym, Drip's light intensity is the easiest; for summer evenings, Gone Swimming or Aquatica; for one bottle that carries on into autumn and winter, Empire or Gone Swimming.