5 Best Jean Paul Gaultier Colognes (2023) Full Review
Jean-Paul Gaultier.
The most provocative brand in perfumery.
This review will describe the five best Jean Paul Gaultier colognes for men. I will describe their smell, performance, and anything else you need to know.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Yet, we only endorse fragrances we’ve personally used or are highly recommended by trusted peers. You can learn more about our Disclaimer & Disclosure here.
Table of Contents
#5 – Le Male
The opening is led by a hefty dose of aromatics. The most prominent are floral lavender and spicy mint. Other green aromatics and herbals are in the background, but neither is prominent enough to be distinguishable. All opening notes are supported by a warm vanilla depth peaking up from the base.
In the mid, there is a transition. The intensity of the aromatics is replaced by warm and spicy cardamom. This is an excellent addition to the vanilla, amplifying its warmth. The vanilla never gets too sweet but does have a decent powdery accent.
It’s not until a few hours into the wear when the dry down starts. I smell amber, amplifying the warmth of the fragrance and a more prominent woody base. The aromatics have faded at this point.
The base is the better part of the fragrance and garners more attention. The overarching emphasis is warmth throughout the entire scent. The rest of the wear is a prominent vanilla and wood duo with spice and ambery nuances in the background.
Le Male lasts eight hours on the skin with above-average projection. It has a solid projection of an arm’s length or more for the first four hours. After this period, it slowly recedes but never becomes a skin scent.
This is fall, winter, and early spring wear. As for occasions, it is best for going out and casual events. It needs room to air out.
#4 – Le Male in the Navy
The opening is led by a cold and fresh mint note. It takes the forefront for the first few minutes of wear. In the background, it pairs well with a light water accord, which gives it a more marine nature. Within a few minutes, more vanilla and ambergris come through.
Mint fades in the mid, leaving room for a heavy dose of vanilla and ambergris. The marine accord loses its oceanic freshness from the initial opening but gets warmer and saltier.
The dry-down finishes with watery vanilla and amber. This is a close fragrance to Eros with an additional aquatic accord and no woody base.
This lasts six hours on the skin with moderate to light projection. The first one to two hours pushes out two to three feet. After this period, it recedes to a soft ambiance and eventually a skin scent. This is spring and summer wear for casual and going out.
#3 – Ultra Male
The opening is led by a prominent pair of sweet and fruity pear with a charming dose of vanilla. In the background, cinnamon and mint spice are present with a fleeting hint of citrus. The overarching emphasis in the opening is candy-like sweetness.
The scent gets warmer and smoother as the wear continues, retaining all previous notes. Pear is the focal point for the first 10-15 minutes, with vanilla a close second behind, then all other notes.
The mid adds a heavy dose of lavender that pairs equally with pear. The vanilla note remains present, playing second fiddle in the background. The main idea is still intense sweetness, but the lavender added a fresher faucet.
The dry-down finishes with the addition of warm amber. The rest of the wear is super fresh and sweet. There is vanilla, lavender, pear, amber, and lingering spices.
The longevity is in the ten-hour range with decent projection. The first three to four hours push out an arm’s length or more. After this period, it recedes to a mild ambiance for the rest of the wear. This is fall and winter, great for going out and dates.
#2 – Le Beau Le Parfum
Le Beau Le Parfum’s opening is all about its strong tropical vibe. Pineapple comes out strong, while coconut sits underneath. The accents are everything you’d envision from a tropical opening: juicy, creamy, and sweet. Lingering in the background is a light, spicy ginger kick.
Ginger was fleeting; within a few minutes, it dissipated. Not long after, pineapple and coconut share the same fate. Pretty much everything from the top dissipates. The sweetness is retained but not to the same degree as at first.
Sandalwood and tonka bean fill the void of the top notes. Developing into the dry down, it consistently gets woodier. Dominated mainly by sandalwood. Light, warm amber rounds off the woodiness. Adding excellent balance to the already smooth sandalwood.
In the background are glimpses of sweet coconut that survived til the end.
This definitely doesn’t deviate from the Jean Paul Gaultier style. This is a playful and youthful scent. Not that older men can’t wear it, but it’s more geared toward guys in their 20s and early 30s.
The performance is fantastic for a summer fragrance. The entire nine-hour wear never became a skin scent. The first few hours actually had outstanding projection. It’s definitely a fragrance that will get you noticed.
#1 – Le Male Le Parfum
I won’t lie; the opening slaps you in the face. Right off the bat, vanilla is present. It is the most dominant top note and will last for the rest of the wear. In the opening, it comes across as primarily sweet but with a touch of powderiness. The sweetness never gets “sticky,” but it is still strong.
Lavender is the second most prominent top note. It mixes with vanilla, and the two create a warm and sweet spiciness.
As the scent progresses, aromatic cardamom is present in equal parts with lavender. Nuances of iris appear in the background but don’t really add much. At this point, lavender starts to weaken, and the base notes slowly take over the scent.
Into the dry down, the scent has a toned-down sweetness and spicy feel, but it is all about the woody, ambery tone. The rest of the wear is just this warm and deep duo.
The projection and longevity are just as good as the smell and performance. JPG Le Male Le Parfum lasts 12+ hours on the skin with room-filling projection. Your scent bubble will be 5 – 6 feet for at least six hours.
This is spring, fall, and winter wear. As for occasions, it’s best for going out or running errands when you’ll be in an open setting so you don’t overwhelm anyone.
Final Words
Jean-Paul Gaultier colognes are worth it. All are quality and extremely attractive. If you enjoy wearing fragrances to grab attention, this is the brand for you. I recommend having at least one Jean Paul Gaultier cologne in your collection.
After you try a Jean Paul Gaultier cologne, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.