Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Aftershave Lotion - 125 ml

Product Information

I’ll go into more detail about each specific fragrance note next, but I want to first explain the mood of this Eau de Parfum.

Describe Le Male Parfum in more detail: “It’s very bold so you wouldn’t need to use much of it. For me, it has an aromatic tone. I think this is a fragrance for someone who is confident in themself.” When you first spray Le Male Le Parfum, it feels very masculine and intense: it’s a fragrance that wants to be noticed. It’s warm, spicy and strong. But it reveals a more elegant and sophisticated tone as it develops – and somehow, it does so without losing its strength. What do you think it smells similar to? “I can’t think of a perfume that it smells similar to. But it’s longevity reminds me of the moment when you step into a lift and someone’s wearing a confident perfume that fills the space – and you instantly want to know what it is!” Le Male Le Parfum’s predecessor is a bit of a cult male fragrance, so we were so excited to see a new addition to the range. Fragrance is a huge part of heritage – scent is even a part of our name – so we love being able to offer a full collection, so you can fall in love with a new fragrance from a brand that you might have grown up with, or find a new perfume from a name you’ve heard before and always wanted to try.

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The base note is vanilla; sweet, cosy and almost-edible, vanilla gives the fragrance its oriental classification. When vanilla warms on the skin, it creates a sensual mood; it’s a note that you’ll want to breathe in for hours on end. What do you think it smells similar to? “I can’t think of a specific fragrance that it reminds me of. But because it’s so intense, it reminds me of a confident professional.”

The name gives it away; it’s marketed as a fragrance for men. And the first time I tried it, I thought, ‘I wouldn’t wear this; it’s way too powerful and masculine’. But as it developed, I grew to love it and I definitely think I could wear it (even as someone who tends to go for typically sweet, fruity or floral perfumes!). I think that’s down to the delicious vanilla base. And I asked my Mum what she thought, and she would happily wear it because she likes to go for bolder perfumes that she can rely on. There’s a reason why Le Parfum has replaced the Eau de Toilette’s sailor’s outfit with an officer’s uniform: it’s dominant and in charge. Everyone I’ve spoken to about 2020’s Le Male has agreed that it’s bold and powerful, which is exactly what was intended. A special mention has to go the perfumers, Quentin Bisch & Natalie Garcia-Cetto. You might recognise their names; they’re behind a number of Jean Paul Gaultier’s well-loved Le Male fragrances. And here at Escentual, we think it’s important that you choose a fragrance that suits you and makes you feel confident, regardless of what the perfumer intended. Eau de Parfums generally last four to five hours. When I tested this fragrance out with my Mum and Dad, that was one thing they both took away from it: it’s very long-lasting. The longevity of a fragrance can admittedly vary from person to person, but we’ve certainly been impressed by it. It surpassed the four-hour test for me; when I wore it on my wrist, I could still smell a subdued, vanillary tone long after six hours. In fact, my Dad tried it at 2pm one afternoon and – after exercising and showering in the evening – could still smell it faintly on his wrist the next morning.This fragrance review will cover everything you’ll want to know about this elegant scent – from the notes to longevity. But I’m going to start with the smell! The heart notes are lavender and iris; this floral pairing adds a sense of vibrancy. Aromatic lavender is refreshed by iris, a powdery note that can be used to create a woody feel. I’ve made it clear by now that my Mum and Dad have kindly agreed to help test Le Male. They’re both in their 50s and self-confessed fragrance novices, so I was intrigued to find out what they thought… Where would you wear it? “It’s quite strong for me, but I can see men wearing it comfortably in the day and evening. However, I think it would be great for late afternoon and evening wear.”