Le Mâle Jean Paul Gaultier 1995 Eau de Toilette
3
The Scent of Me
Oh, Le Male... One of the most recognizable bottles and unique scents ever created. I've been wearing this fragrance for upwards of a decade and don't see myself quitting any time soon.
My journey to Le Male is quite complicated. Before I wore this, I went through a short stint during middle school of Calvin Klein Eternity and Obsession. I liked both, but I preferred Obsession's balsamic cinnamon edge. I loved Obsession, and most everyone else loved it, except for one girl who said it smelled like old man. That did it for me; once my bottle of Obsession was used up, I started searching for a fragrance that I liked near as much that wouldn't give off any 'old man' vibe. As luck would have it, Le Male would be the first fragrance I picked up. I've always known about Le Male--mainly by its polarizing bottle and provocative ad campaigns, but had no idea what it smelled like. I was very impressed by the scent. For once, it wasn't some banal aquatic. It was fresh, yet spicy and youthful. I finally found a workable Obsession replacement.
I would describe this scent as a vanilla candle seasoned with mint, lavender, white florals, and Indian spices. Some powdery woody notes round the fragrance out. Out of all the fragrances I've smelled, this is the only fragrances that I can smell specific things specified in the scent pyramid. Although, the thing I would say Le Male smells like the most, would be Moroccan oil; my mom would use that oil, and while I always thought it it had a soft scent, I didn't think it was particularly feminine-smelling. Interestingly enough, a men's fragrance that exists that smells just like the aforementioned oil--Le Male.
There has been lots of talk on the forums about reformulations, and changes in projection. While I haven't smelled versions prior to 2010, I have tried two of the most recent ones--BPI and Puig. I had two BPI bottles and a Puig. The first two BPI bottles were about the same--smelled great, very spicy and decent longevity. I wouldn't say my BPI bottles were nuclear bombs of scent, and sillage was soft. My newer Puig bottle *may* be slightly less spicy and more on the fresh side, but still uniquely Le Male. Longevity is fantastic and I can still smell it wafting around me even 12 hours after application. It lasts eternity on fabric. I put a medium spray below each ear, and a small spray on each wrist, crook of the arm, and a nice big blast on the chest.
All the feedback that I have received on this fragrance has been overwhelmingly positive. I've had guys casually asking me what I'm wearing, girls saying I smell like devilishly sexy talc, and the like.
Le Male is my signiature scent during the more mild days of the cooler seasons and at night during the warmer seasons. Because it ventures cool and fresh, and woody and spicy, I believe it fits the following times in which I choose to apply this fragrance.
Due to Le Male's seductive, fresh, and carefree nature, I think anyone under 40 could pull this off; any older than 40, you'd have to be clean-cut and fine-featured like Tom Cruise, Mario Lopez, Jensen Ackles, or Brad Pitt when clean-shaven to pull this one off. This is not a scent that your bald father with a beer belly, that wears Tommy Bahama button-up shirts, cargo shrots and crocs, could pull off.
Le Male is one fragrance I highly suggest trying out if you're into really polarizing and iconic scents. It might not being everyone's cup of tea in the fragrance community, but it sure is a pleasant one to throw on before going out.
My journey to Le Male is quite complicated. Before I wore this, I went through a short stint during middle school of Calvin Klein Eternity and Obsession. I liked both, but I preferred Obsession's balsamic cinnamon edge. I loved Obsession, and most everyone else loved it, except for one girl who said it smelled like old man. That did it for me; once my bottle of Obsession was used up, I started searching for a fragrance that I liked near as much that wouldn't give off any 'old man' vibe. As luck would have it, Le Male would be the first fragrance I picked up. I've always known about Le Male--mainly by its polarizing bottle and provocative ad campaigns, but had no idea what it smelled like. I was very impressed by the scent. For once, it wasn't some banal aquatic. It was fresh, yet spicy and youthful. I finally found a workable Obsession replacement.
I would describe this scent as a vanilla candle seasoned with mint, lavender, white florals, and Indian spices. Some powdery woody notes round the fragrance out. Out of all the fragrances I've smelled, this is the only fragrances that I can smell specific things specified in the scent pyramid. Although, the thing I would say Le Male smells like the most, would be Moroccan oil; my mom would use that oil, and while I always thought it it had a soft scent, I didn't think it was particularly feminine-smelling. Interestingly enough, a men's fragrance that exists that smells just like the aforementioned oil--Le Male.
There has been lots of talk on the forums about reformulations, and changes in projection. While I haven't smelled versions prior to 2010, I have tried two of the most recent ones--BPI and Puig. I had two BPI bottles and a Puig. The first two BPI bottles were about the same--smelled great, very spicy and decent longevity. I wouldn't say my BPI bottles were nuclear bombs of scent, and sillage was soft. My newer Puig bottle *may* be slightly less spicy and more on the fresh side, but still uniquely Le Male. Longevity is fantastic and I can still smell it wafting around me even 12 hours after application. It lasts eternity on fabric. I put a medium spray below each ear, and a small spray on each wrist, crook of the arm, and a nice big blast on the chest.
All the feedback that I have received on this fragrance has been overwhelmingly positive. I've had guys casually asking me what I'm wearing, girls saying I smell like devilishly sexy talc, and the like.
Le Male is my signiature scent during the more mild days of the cooler seasons and at night during the warmer seasons. Because it ventures cool and fresh, and woody and spicy, I believe it fits the following times in which I choose to apply this fragrance.
Due to Le Male's seductive, fresh, and carefree nature, I think anyone under 40 could pull this off; any older than 40, you'd have to be clean-cut and fine-featured like Tom Cruise, Mario Lopez, Jensen Ackles, or Brad Pitt when clean-shaven to pull this one off. This is not a scent that your bald father with a beer belly, that wears Tommy Bahama button-up shirts, cargo shrots and crocs, could pull off.
Le Male is one fragrance I highly suggest trying out if you're into really polarizing and iconic scents. It might not being everyone's cup of tea in the fragrance community, but it sure is a pleasant one to throw on before going out.
HRNBY97