The story of Jean Paul Gaultier
Trained at Pierre Cardin, Jean Paul Gaultier presented his first collection in 1976 and became the enfant terrible of Parisian fashion, famous for sailor stripes, corsets and a love of subversion. In fragrance, Classique, in 1993, introduced the bottle shaped like a corseted female torso. Le Mâle, launched in 1995 and composed by Francis Kurkdjian, turned the striped sailor into an icon: its vanilla oriental fougère became one of the best-selling men's fragrances of the following decades, sold in a metal tin can. Ultra Male, in 2015, offered a sweeter, more intense version. Scandal, in 2017, played on provocation with a bottle shaped like a pair of legs. The fragrances are now developed by the Puig group, which also owns the fashion house and has continued to expand both lines with new flankers.
An olfactory signature
The Gaultier style plays on the contrast between cleanliness and sensuality. Le Mâle pairs the lavender and mint of an aftershave with a heart of cinnamon, cumin and orange blossom, then an ambery vanilla: fresh soap meeting warm skin. Ultra Male adds pear and a sweeter black lavender. Scandal celebrates honey, gardenia and jasmine over caramel, tonka bean and patchouli. These are generous, highly recognisable fragrances that never try to be quiet or neutral.
Which Jean Paul Gaultier perfume to choose?
For an iconic masculine, Le Mâle remains the reference: a clean, sensual vanilla fougère that works almost anywhere. If you like sweeter, more powerful scents for nights out, Ultra Male is fruitier and more intense. For women, Scandal will appeal to lovers of honey and gourmand white flowers, especially in the evening. All three project strongly, so apply sparingly.