Quick answer: Mykonos Nautilus and Velixir Icarus both take Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman as their inspiration and both open on pear, bergamot and mandarin. Nautilus is a strong extrait de parfum that carries the pear into its heart and dries down warm, on amber, vanilla and guaiac wood. Icarus is a moderate eau de parfum that turns drier and woodier, with cedar and Akigalawood, and is tagged for all four seasons.
Mykonos Nautilus vs Velixir Icarus is a comparison many people search for, and it is easy to see why. The two share an inspiration and a juicy pear opening, so on a note list they look like close relatives. They are still two different perfumes from two different houses, and the differences show once you look past the first few notes. Below we set out what they share, where they part ways and who we think each one suits. One thing to say plainly first: we sell Mykonos and not Velixir, so we are not neutral, and a list of notes on paper never tells you exactly how a scent will wear on your skin.
What they have in common
Mykonos Nautilus is inspired by Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman; that is the line printed on its product page. Velixir Icarus is widely described as inspired by the same fragrance. Reviewers on fragrance community sites such as Fragrantica and Parfumo regularly discuss Icarus in the same breath as Blue Talisman, and that is how the connection is generally known.
A shared inspiration means a shared direction, not a shared formula. On paper, the common ground is clear:
- A pear and citrus opening. Both start with pear, bergamot and mandarin.
- Orange blossom and ginger. Both carry these two notes, though, as you will see, in different places.
- A modern amber-musk finish. Nautilus uses ambroxan and Icarus uses Ambrofix, both amber-type molecules, and both list musk.
- Who and when. Both are unisex, and both are listed for daily wear and evenings.
What each perfumer built on that shared ground is where they separate. If you would like to know how we use inspiration lines in our store, and what they do not mean, read what "inspired by" means on a perfume. Icarus is also not the only perfume in this family: we compare Nautilus with three more in Mykonos Nautilus vs Bujairami Executor, Enforcer and Maison Asrar Legacy.
Mykonos Nautilus vs Velixir Icarus: notes side by side
The Nautilus pyramid comes from the Mykonos handbook. The Icarus pyramid is taken from its product description, which lists all three layers.
| Mykonos Nautilus | Velixir Icarus | |
|---|---|---|
| Top | Pear, bergamot, ginger, mandarin orange | Pear, Calabrian bergamot, mandarin |
| Heart | Pear, orange blossom, jasmine | Orange blossom, Georgywood, ginger |
| Base | Amber, musk, vanilla, guaiac wood, ambroxan | Musk, Ambrofix, Akigalawood, cedar |
| Concentration | Extrait de parfum | Eau de parfum |
| Character | Fruity, floral, woody; intensity strong | Woody aromatic, fresh citrus; intensity moderate |
| Best season | Summer | Tagged for all four seasons |
| Best for | Daily wear, evenings, special occasions | Daily wear, evenings, work |
Where they differ
- Strength on paper. Nautilus is an extrait de parfum with a stated intensity of strong; Icarus is an eau de parfum with a stated intensity of moderate. Concentration alone does not decide how a perfume performs, but it is the clearest difference in how the two are positioned. Our guide to extrait de parfum vs eau de parfum explains what the label does and does not tell you.
- How long the pear stays. Nautilus lists pear in the top and again in the heart, so the fruit is built to carry on past the opening, softened by orange blossom and jasmine. In Icarus, pear appears only at the top; the heart moves on to orange blossom, ginger and Georgywood, a woody aroma material, with no jasmine listed.
- Where the ginger sits. Nautilus puts ginger in the opening, beside the citrus, for a quick fresh bite. Icarus holds it back for the heart, where it meets the woods rather than the fruit.
- A warm base or a dry one. This is the biggest difference. Nautilus finishes on amber, vanilla and guaiac wood, which points to a warmer, slightly sweeter trail; the brand sums it up as fresh on the surface and powerful in the depths. Icarus finishes on cedar and Akigalawood, a peppery wood note, with musk and Ambrofix, which points to a drier, cleaner woody finish.
- Season and setting. Nautilus is listed for summer and for daily wear, evenings and special occasions. Icarus is tagged for all four seasons and for daily wear, evenings and work.
Which one should you choose?
- You want a summer scent with real presence. Choose Nautilus. A strong extrait with amber and vanilla under the pear is made for hot days that run on into the evening.
- Pear is the note you love. Nautilus keeps it going into the heart. Our guide to pear perfumes shows the other ways pear can be worn, from aquatic to praline.
- You prefer dry woods to sweetness. On paper, Icarus leans that way, with cedar and Akigalawood where Nautilus has vanilla and amber.
- You want one bottle for every month of the year and the office. Going by the tags, Icarus is the more all-season of the two; Nautilus is listed for summer only.
- You need something for a special occasion. Nautilus is the one of the two listed for special occasions, and its strength suits a night out.
Wearing Mykonos Nautilus
Nautilus is an extrait de parfum rated strong, so start with two sprays on the neck or chest and add a third only if you want more trail for an evening. Spraying straight after a shower, on skin you have just moisturised, helps the citrus opening last longer. It is unisex and listed for summer, and the brand describes it as an oceanic summer freshness dressed in blue and gold.
Nautilus belongs to the Sunforged collection, which is made in 100 ml only, so there is no 50 ml version. Browse the rest of that line in our Sunforged collection, or see the wider citrus collection. For a note-by-note look at how it develops, read our Mykonos Nautilus guide.
If you like to layer, Mykonos itself pairs Nautilus with Mykonos Inception in its official Deep Blue combo, and we explain the method in Deep Blue: how to layer Mykonos Inception and Nautilus.
Frequently asked questions
Are Mykonos Nautilus and Velixir Icarus the same perfume?
No. They share an inspiration, Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman, and a pear-and-bergamot opening, but they are separate formulas from separate houses, with different hearts, different bases and different concentrations. Related DNA, two distinct perfumes.
Which is stronger, Nautilus or Icarus?
On paper, Nautilus: it is an extrait de parfum with a stated intensity of strong, while Icarus is an eau de parfum listed as moderate. How strong either feels on you also depends on your skin, the weather and how many sprays you use.
Is Mykonos Nautilus inspired by Blue Talisman?
Yes. Its product page names Ex Nihilo Blue Talisman as the inspiration. That line describes the direction of the composition; Mykonos is not affiliated with Ex Nihilo.
Which is better for summer?
Nautilus is the one built around warm weather: it is listed for summer specifically. Icarus is tagged for all four seasons, which makes it the more flexible of the two on paper.
Does Mykonos Nautilus come in 50 ml?
No. Like the rest of the Sunforged collection, Nautilus is made in 100 ml only.