Le Mâle Le Parfum Jean Paul Gaultier 2020

...I probably will never wear it, or at least not own it for a long time! Why? We'll get to that!

Scent:
So how does the next flanker in the Le Mâle universe smell? At least on my skin, the top note is really piercing for a short period! You can distinctly smell the cardamom - almost untreated and in no way sweet - although only for a few minutes.
The heart note is, unlike the top note, almost 1:1 borrowed from the original scent. While the fragrance can now smell fresh in a different way with iris instead of the previous mint: both versions go in this direction in the heart note, but "Le Parfum" has a "clean" note that has crept in, almost like what you might know from some Prada fragrances - and in no way similar to the lipstick-like iris from the Dior Homme fragrances!
It is the base note, however, that makes this fragrance something truly special for me. I have rarely experienced such a pleasant, yet understated and omnipresent vanilla note in a designer fragrance, accompanied by gentle wood accords - at least my nose leads me to conclude sandalwood among others - but never overshadowed.

Sillage & Longevity:
I don't think I'm exaggerating when I say that no fragrance on my skin has performed so outstandingly in both categories since "No. 02 - L'Air du Désert Marocain" - even though the two fragrances are of course in no way comparable. The sillage goes far beyond the usual arm's length, and the scent lingers long in the room after you've left.
In terms of longevity, we're talking about around 12 - 14 hours, although it should be noted that the fragrance itself "only" projects strongly in the first three to four hours. After the eighth hour, "Le Parfum" becomes a softly resonating but closely fitting scent on the skin, which is still perceived well above average.
It should also be mentioned that I have never applied more than two sprays of this fragrance on my skin, and even those were dosed quite sparingly.
Of course, these are just experiences on my skin and can vary from person to person.

Bottle:
If such a bottle had been released as a new product in recent years, it would probably have suffered the same kind of criticism as the gold bar from Paco Rabanne, the crown heads from the same house, or Dolce & Gabbana, or the recently shelf-disfiguring robot!? But as a flanker of the legendary Le Mâle - it fits, even in today's time!?
The color scheme is harmonious, the black and gray divided bottle with its semi-matte, semi-glossy surface subtly tells of the more serious, deeper, and darker tone that this flanker has taken on compared to the original. And I would like to imagine that the shiny golden spray head is meant to reference the defining vanilla in this fragrance!?

Price:
Now on the market for a good year, "Le Mâle Le Parfum" is easily available on relevant discount sites - and at a reasonable price! Aside from extra discounts, vouchers, and any seasonal price reductions, the small 75ml bottle is available for around 40 - 50€. Considering how little perfume you can apply to enjoy this scent, this represents a fantastic price-performance ratio!

Application Area:
"Le Mâle Le Parfum" can be loud, but it never falls into a penetrating scream like one of its predecessors - namely "Ultra Mâle"! If you see this for use in clubs or discotheques, "Le Parfum" is more suitable for a cozy and atmospheric lounge, bar, or a jazz club. If applied cautiously, it could even be used for work, provided the top and heart notes have already - or almost - faded upon entering the office.
Regarding the seasons, "Le Parfum" is generally wearable at any time except for warm summer days, although the application plays a significant role here.

So why would I probably not buy this fragrance? After all, what I've said above sounds excellent, right? Quite simply: Because I already own Armani's "Armani Code Eau de Parfum" from 2021!
And even if some might say that the fragrances are completely different at first glance based on the fragrance note pyramid, I must argue that - at least for my nose - these fragrances have a strong similarity: both in the scent itself and especially in terms of purpose and application!
Both have a quickly fleeting top note - albeit smelling different - which is thus not worth mentioning for me. Both heart notes remind me, in a more or less distant sense, of the original "Le Mâle" scent presence. And even in the base, both play with a wonderful vanilla note, although "Armani Code" differs a bit more strongly here due to the perfectly rounded tonka bean.
If I had to choose a note that most strongly separates these two fragrances: it would probably be the iris!?
So why "Armani Code Eau de Parfum" and not "Le Mâle Le Parfum," some might now ask: because "Armani Code" simply feels more rounded, better composed, and - for lack of a better word - smoother to me! While it may not last as long or project as much as "Le Parfum," it is much easier to wear on days and/or in places where I would be more thoughtful or hesitant before applying "Le Parfum."
Or, to put it another way and again, for lack of a better word: no matter which of the two fragrances I wear, they convey the same feeling from the top to the base note at all times!

Now this is my opinion, which probably wouldn't impress a collector anyway. And so I say: for anyone still looking for an elegant but still sufficiently playful and sweet fragrance for the cooler to biting cold days, "Le Mâle Le Parfum" comes highly recommended. Rarely does one find such a pleasant and long-lasting fragrance in the designer sector that - despite its striking bottle - can effortlessly appear elegant and captivating.

What a great fragrance that - if I didn't own and know the aforementioned alternative - would have definitely found its way into my collection!

Edit from 10.10.2021:
Now I have taken the comments to heart, tested the fragrance once or twice more, and must admit: I have no idea what trick my nose played on me back then!? The difference to "Armani Code Eau de Parfum" is indeed greater than I previously associated.
What can I say! Thank you for the constructive comments! Still the beautiful fragrance with the really very, very good H&S and ... now has found its place next to my other bottles.