  The complex eikonal equation in $(3+1)$ dimensions is investigated. It is
shown that this equation generates many multi soliton configurations with
arbitrary value of the Hopf index. In general, these eikonal hopfions do not
have the toroidal symmetry. For example, a hopfion with topology of the trefoil
knot is found. Moreover, we argue that such solitons might be helpful in
construction of approximated analytical knotted solutions of the Faddeev-Niemi
model.
