History of Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume

Jean Paul Gaultier is a giant in the fashion world, and the brand's iconic silhouette perfume bottles are as synonymous with the brand as the CC logo is to Chanel. Whether you want to know what the best Jean Paul Gaultier perfume is, or you're simply interested in the history of the brand's fragrances, we're going to cover all that and more in the following blog. Let's take a look!

Who is Jean Paul Gaultier?

Jean Paul Gaultier is a French haute couture fashion house established in 1982 by Jean Paul Gaultier himself. Having grown up around the creative and fashion-forward influence of his grandmother, Jean Paul developed an affinity for the world of fashion from an early age, and is renowned for pushing boundaries and challenging conventions - even when it comes to perfumes and fragrances.

Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume: a history 

Jean Paul Gaultier has been creating iconic fragrances since 1993, when the brand's first scent, Classique, was released and made a splash in the fashion world. Classique has since become one of the most recognisable scents on the market - most notably due to its curvaceous silhouette bottle. Following its initial success, Jean Paul Gaultier has gone on to create 146 fragrances - including plenty of limited edition bottle designs of his signature Classique scent.

Over the years, Jean Paul Gaultier perfume has become increasingly daring to reflect his ever-evolving fashion designs: in 2009, he released an edgy unisex scent called Fleur duMale that combined notes of lavender and bergamot, and in 2012, he launched La Belle, a siren red perfume with amber, leather and vanilla notes. Most recently, in 2016, he released the gourmand, seductive Scandal scent, an intense honey-based fragrance with caramel, citrus, and white flower notes.

Just like Armani perfumes, Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances are often updated with the release of "Intense" or  "Eau Fraîche" variations of their originals, as well as limited editions. In 2019, the brand launched a limited release of Scandal À Paris, a lighter and more fruity version of the original Scandal scent, and followed this up with another limited edition release: Scandal by Night in 2018. In 2022, another Scandal fragrance - Scandal Intense - was released, with the new scent featuring added vanilla and powdery notes, making a switch from the original’s classic honey base.

What's the best Jean Paul Gaultier perfume?

There's nothing more personal than your own signature scent! When it comes to picking a fragrance, it's all about what you love the most; whether you love clean, classic fragrances or something more gourmand, here's our recommendations for finding the best Jean Paul Gaultier perfume for you:

Best sweet scent: So Scandal by Jean Paul Gaultier

With salted caramel, vanilla and jasmine notes, this fragrance is ideally suited to those who want sweet without the sugary or sickly undertones. Plus, with its gorgeous red packaging, it makes for a perfect gift for a loved one.

Best evening scent: Scandal original by Jean Paul Gaultier

The gourmand honey notes of this scent are recognisable from the very first spray, and its intensity is as powerful as its staying power; with warm, amber caramel notes, this indulgent perfume is the ideal scent for the woman who always gets what she wants.

Best male scent: Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier

This classic scent is a favourite of men everywhere, and its top notes of mint, lavender and bergamot give it an alluring yet unmistakably masculine vibe. Created in 1995 by Francis Kurkdjian, this men's fragrance is perfect for both daytime and nighttime.

Best fresh scent: Classique

For a crisp, fresh, and office-friendly scent, you can't go wrong with Jean Paul Gaultier's Classique. Sweet, powdery, with white and yellow floral tones, it's the ideal daytime scent; however, you might want to opt for La Belle or Scandal if you're looking for something more durable and long-lasting.