Le Mâle Le Parfum
Jean Paul Gaultier (2020)

I’m really confused about this scent. What is it trying to be and why is it rated so high on other sites like Parfumo where it is #4 overall?

Le Parfum is like the customized playlists Spotify or Apple Music give you that try to give you everything you like all in one but give you the worst songs from your favorite artists.

Le Parfum opens with the traditional 1995 Le Male opening minus the intense olfactory blast and dries down to a rubbery vanilla powder. Along the way you’re treated to some notes from the greats over the past fifteen years like the rubber / powder tonka from Play Intense, Luna Rossa black and Allure Eau Extreme, the white florals of the Gucci elixir and Myslf lines and ends up with a sweet vanilla scent that lasts and lasts and last.

In the end maybe I’m not confused, this is corporate artistry at its most basic. This is pleasant. However I would rather wear some of the scents this includes in the mixtape.

If there was a positive minus I would rate it that way.

I had to do a double take as it reminds me of YSL's La Nuit de l'homme Le Parfum. That's not a bad thing at all--maybe it's the cardamom and vanilla. Very sexy -- great for date night.

Definitely a smooth and well-blended fragrance that doesn't smell cheap, but is also very likely to give you diabetes!

The "Le Male accord" of lavender and vanilla is there, together with some spices, and the mint removed. However, the attractive top notes betray the fact that the base is just an average vanilla that can become cloying with repeated wearings or a heavy application. Definitely more suited to a younger demographic for casual evening wear.

In this vein I find Caron's Pour Un Homme Parfum to be a much better alternative, especially for men. Though unfortunately the Caron could be hard to find outside of France.



3/5

Probably my favorite Le Male flanker. It’s a toss up between this and elixir depending on my mood.

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum (isued along 2020 and performed by Quentin Bisch e Natalie Gracia-Cetto) is a recent intenser and more introvert flanker of the iconic and successful original super musky Francis Kurkdjian's Le Male EDT 1995. Personally I still consider the original Edt as the best and more innovative of the various versions today standing on the market. Whereas the original Edt used to push the accelerator over a super bombastic and freshly (minty/spicy/fluidy) intoxicating association of lavender and soapy muskiness Le Parfum smells basically as a less powerfully musky, more aromatic/assertive and finally more vanillic, sweeter, elegant and sophisticated contemporary version (with a more assertive and woody manly twist) which (despite could not properly be classified as an highly classy/elegant fragrance) plays better along the colder seasons (due to its more stressed, warm and restrained woody-oriental elegance) and in the course of special events (romantic dinners or more refined particular meetings) while Le Male Edt or the following Le Beau Male and Ultra Male were more daring, juvenile, more "brash/bully/salty" and unapologetic four seasons/more social/"eyes catching" olfactory beasts (parties, clubs, social events, summer holidays). Le Parfum includes a less uplifting fluidy lavender (a standout note in the original Edt) and a slightly downgraded cardamom (which is anyway standing out along the first stage) but more vanille, an enigmatic spicy iris (more intimate, dark and lyric) and a more featuring woody presence connected to oriental sweeter patterns. The latter, joined to spicy silky iris, provide a a quite smooth sweet trail. This one is slightly cozy, characterized by this powdery sweet dusty talkiness provided by iris and woods and more kind of warm and intimate and could probably appeal more those people looking for something sensual but romantic as same time. This version could be intended probably as a Jean Paul Gaultier's market answer to a more recent trend represented by spicy oriental and silky/nutty leathery fragrances a la Valentino Uomo, Dior Homme Parfum, Prada l'Homme Intense etc. The sillage of this Le Parfum version is kind of weaker on my skin (if this fragrance is compared to the original Le Male) while duration is more than performing on me.

Easily the best from JPG line. Instant love at first sniff! Very affordable and easily to find. Get yourself a bottle before it gets discontinued. Great performance as well.