Le Male

Le Male, inspired by Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male (1995)

Le Male turns on one contrast: cold mint and lavender against sweet vanilla. Gaultier compares the lavender to the familiar smell of shaving soap, and the opening does recall an old-fashioned barbershop, lifted by cardamom and bergamot. Cinnamon and orange blossom fill out the middle. Vanilla and tonka then take over, rounded by amber and sandalwood, and the scent becomes noticeably sweet.

About the original

Francis Kurkdjian composed Le Male for Jean Paul Gaultier in 1995 as a counterpart to the women's Classique (1993). Its torso-shaped bottle wears a striped sailor shirt and is sold in a metal can. Production moved from Shiseido's Beauté Prestige International to Puig in 2016. Flankers such as Ultra Male and Le Male Elixir came later; this page is based on the original eau de toilette.

Our version

Ours is an independent eau de parfum made to evoke the same character. It is not Jean Paul Gaultier stock, not an official relaunch and not the original formula.

Who it suits

Comfort is the point of Le Male: clean at the start and cosy by the end. Wearers who like lavender and vanilla together will recognise the style instantly, while anyone who finds vanilla cloying may struggle with the drydown.

Related scents

• Jean Paul Gaultier Classique
• Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum
• Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Elixir

Notes of the original fragrance, as listed in fragrance references.

Top notes: Lavender, Mint, Cardamom, Bergamot, Artemisia

Heart notes: Cinnamon, Orange Blossom, Cumin

Base notes: Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Amber, Sandalwood, Cedar

Mint and lavender open it, fresh and aromatic, with cardamom and bergamot in support.

Cinnamon and orange blossom give the heart a spiced, faintly floral tone.

The base is vanilla and tonka bean over amber and sandalwood, smooth and sweet.

Is this Le Male or Le Male Le Parfum?

This is the original Le Male eau de toilette from 1995. Le Male Le Parfum and Le Male Elixir are later flankers with their own pages in our range.

Is Le Male sweet?

Yes, once the mint fades. Vanilla and tonka bean carry the drydown, so it ends sweeter than its fresh opening suggests.

Is there a women's version?

Le Male was conceived as the counterpart to Gaultier's women's Classique (1993), which is a separate fragrance in our range.

Inside the EU, delivery is free on orders of €49 or more. Below that it is a flat €4.99. Outside the EU, delivery is a flat €4.99 on every order. We send every order in 1 to 2 working days. It arrives in 3 to 7 days across the EU and in 7 to 14 days outside the EU. You have 14 days to return an unopened bottle.

Jean Paul Gaultier and Le Male are trademarks of their respective owners, and all rights remain with them. Parfumour is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or connected to Jean Paul Gaultier in any way, and no business relationship of any kind is implied. Our product is an original interpretation created to evoke a similar scent profile, and the trademark names are used purely for honest, descriptive comparison, so that you can quickly identify the style and fragrance family you are looking for. We make no claim to sell the original product, and we do not use the same ingredients or formula. Any similarity lies in the overall impression of the scent as interpreted by our own perfumers, not in the source materials.