Le Mâle Elixir Jean Paul Gaultier 2023
1
JPG decided to take the clubbing scent throne back from 1 Million
Let's play a game. Look at the bottle. What other perfume does it remind you of, besides Le Male flankers? Hint: pay attention to the color. That's right. JPG said "this is how 1 Million should have been made", and they were right. It's the same sour, hot-and-cold archetype, but better fragrance.
The sourness is within acceptable limits, unlike in 1 Million, though I'd rather Elixir be less sour still. Another difference is that this is more lively, with a minty, sparkling top. This part reminds me of Versace Eros, but in Eros it's more controlled, and here it's bubbling and festive in an excessive way typical of the Le Male line. Another comparison that comes to my mind is with YSL Opium. Both scents are very uplifting, but while in Opium the golden cloud phase lasts 10 minutes, here it's a constant. And of course Elixir is similar to Le Male Le Parfum.
As for the criticisms, there are three: the initial sourness, that Elixir might be a little too sweet, and that it has a weird twist, a note that smells like a vegetable to me, espacially in the opening, but also detectable later. Maybe it's tobacco that creates this effect. Otherwise it's a very good perfume, though probably not 4.58 good, should be about 4.3 on Fragrantica. I enjoy this version of Le Male because it doesn't have cardamom.
Read more of my perfume reviews at The Scent Stories: thescentstories.substack.com
The sourness is within acceptable limits, unlike in 1 Million, though I'd rather Elixir be less sour still. Another difference is that this is more lively, with a minty, sparkling top. This part reminds me of Versace Eros, but in Eros it's more controlled, and here it's bubbling and festive in an excessive way typical of the Le Male line. Another comparison that comes to my mind is with YSL Opium. Both scents are very uplifting, but while in Opium the golden cloud phase lasts 10 minutes, here it's a constant. And of course Elixir is similar to Le Male Le Parfum.
As for the criticisms, there are three: the initial sourness, that Elixir might be a little too sweet, and that it has a weird twist, a note that smells like a vegetable to me, espacially in the opening, but also detectable later. Maybe it's tobacco that creates this effect. Otherwise it's a very good perfume, though probably not 4.58 good, should be about 4.3 on Fragrantica. I enjoy this version of Le Male because it doesn't have cardamom.
Read more of my perfume reviews at The Scent Stories: thescentstories.substack.com