Jean Paul Gaultier
EDT · Men's · 1995
Sweet-minty lavender-vanilla icon, evergreen crowd-pleaser
lavender · vanilla · warm spicy · fresh spicy · powdery · sweet
Top (first impression): Mint · Lavender · Bergamot · Cardamom
Heart (the character): Cinnamon · Orange Blossom · Cumin · Caraway
Base (the dry-down): Vanilla · Tonka Bean · Amber · Sandalwood
Season: fall, winter, spring · Occasion: night out, date night, everyday, special occasion
Longevity: long (8-10h) · Sillage: strong
Le Male launched in 1995, composed by a young Francis Kurkdjian, and quickly became a phenomenon that helped define the modern sweet-fougere genre. It marries a fresh mint-and-lavender opening with warm cinnamon and orange blossom, settling into a signature creamy vanilla, tonka and amber drydown. The torso-shaped bottle, a nod to Gaultier's sailor-stripe aesthetic, became as iconic as the juice itself. For decades it has ranked among the top-selling men's fragrances worldwide and inspired a large flanker family including Le Male Le Parfum, Ultra Male and many limited editions. Its influence on the wave of sweet, vanilla-forward men's scents that followed is widely acknowledged in the industry.
An instantly recognizable fougere built on cool mint and lavender over a creamy sweet vanilla-and-tonka base, sold in the famous sailor-torso bottle. Comforting, sweet and supremely easy to wear, it is one of the best-selling men's fragrances of all time.
Nose: Francis Kurkdjian
Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male · Azzaro Wanted by Night · Paco Rabanne 1 Million · Mont Blanc Legend Spirit