Jean Paul Gaultier
Eau de Parfum · Women's · 2017
Honeyed sweet-floral seductress, bold night-out feminine
honey · sweet · floral · patchouli · caramel · white floral
Top (first impression): Blood Orange · Mandarin Orange
Heart (the character): Honey · Gardenia · Orange Blossom
Base (the dry-down): Patchouli · Caramel · Beeswax · Licorice
Season: fall, winter, spring · Occasion: date night, night out, special occasion
Longevity: long (7-9h) · Sillage: strong
Scandal launched in 2017 as Jean Paul Gaultier's headline new women's pillar, the brand's biggest women's debut since the long-running Classique. It was presented in the brand's signature anatomical bottle reshaped as a pair of legs to play on its provocative name. The composition was developed by perfumers Daphne Bugey, Fabrice Pellegrin and Christophe Raynaud around an unusual honey-and-beeswax accord layered over patchouli and caramel, distinguishing it from the gourmand-floral crowd of the era. Gaultier positioned it as a bold, hedonistic statement fragrance aimed at younger women, supported by a high-profile advertising campaign. It quickly became a strong seller in European and North American department stores and spawned a series of flankers including Scandal Pour Homme and several limited editions. Its honey-led signature gave it a recognizable identity distinct from the heavier oriental-gourmands it competed with.
A rich honey-and-patchouli floral built around a sticky, almost edible sweetness that leans loud and seductive rather than subtle. It is a confident evening scent that announces itself, best in cooler weather where the warmth shines.
Nose: Daphne Bugey, Fabrice Pellegrin, Christophe Raynaud
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