Which Is the Best Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume?

Jean Paul Gaultier is a name synonymous with haute couture and innovative fashion - however, the designer's influence extends beyond the realm of clothing. Gaultier’s eponymous brand has also made its mark when it comes to fragrances, with a range of feminine, masculine, and unisex scents that are as bold and unique as his creations on the runway.

But the question remains - what’s the best Jean Paul Gaultier perfume?

The truth is, it's hard to define what the “best” Jean Paul Gaultier perfume is - as everyone’s tastes and preferences are different. Nonetheless, in the following guide, we’re going to take a look at some of the fashion house’s most iconic scents, what they smell like, and who they’d best suit. Let’s take a look!

Who is Jean Paul Gaultier?

Jean Paul Gaultier is a French fashion designer known for his avant-garde designs, as well as the incorporation of pop culture and 80s street style into high fashion. Driven by his mantra of “different is beautiful,” Gaultier began his fashion career in the 1970s, working as an assistant to Pierre Cardin. 

Gaultier gained worldwide recognition in the 1980s and 1990s for his edgy and provocative fashion pieces, which often attracted both acclaim and criticism for challenging traditional gender roles and conventions. Over the years, Gaultier has become particularly known for his corsetry, which you’ll see featured as a motif throughout his fragrance collection. 

Best everyday Jean Paul Gaultier perfume

If you’re looking for something that can be worn whether you’re at the office, popping to the shops, or grabbing brunch with your friends, the 1993 debut Jean Paul Gaultier perfume Classique is your best bet. With notes of orange blossom, mandarin orange, star anise, pear, rose, and bergamot, Classique is at once floral, powdery, soft, and spicy, with a hit of citrus and vanilla. Classique also has remarkable lasting power for a fresh scent; you’ll enjoy around 8 hours of wear in moderate weather. 

Best male Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance 

Whether you’re shopping for the special man in your life, or you’re a man looking for a dependably everyday scent, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Le Male is a top contender. Launched in 1995, Le Male has become something of a staple in male grooming, and remains one of the brand's most popular scents. 

The scent itself is a fresh, oriental fragrance with notes of mint, lavender, vanilla, and sandalwood, making it a clean and masculine scent equally perfect for the office and after-work drinks. Just like Gaultier’s Classique bottle inspired by the feminine form, Le Male is housed in an equally distinctive bottle that resembles a sailor's torso, complete with a blue and white striped shirt and a red necktie. Perfect for jazzing up your bathroom cabinet collection!

Best nighttime Jean Paul Gaultier perfume

If you want to turn heads - or as one TikTok user put it, “have everyone buying your drinks for you”, Scandal by Jean Paul Gaultier is a trusty night time fragrance. Oozing with honey notes, jasmine, and patchouli, Scandal is a so-called “gourmande” fragrance, with a lasting scent that smells good enough to eat! 

Scandal has also spurred a number of limited editions and variations, including Scandal A Paris, a lighter, sweeter version of the original Scandal fragrance, made with pear and honey notes. The fashion house also released So Scandal in 2020, a fruitier version of the original scent, and in 2022, followed this up with Scandal Intense. Scandal Intense is undoubtedly the richest Scandal scent in the collection, with notes of salted caramel, vanilla, and jasmine, and perfect for third dates, nights out with the girls, or special occasions.

Best unisex Jean Paul Gaultier perfume

For those who prefer a unisex fragrance, Jean Paul Gaultier offers Kokorico, a woody, spicy scent with notes of fig leaf, cocoa bean, and patchouli. Kokorico has a rather unique and bold scent that makes it perfect for those who want something a little bit different from their next scent; while it isn’t overtly feminine nor entirely masculine, the fragrance is rather earthy and woody, making it both sensual and fresh at the same time. 

Which Jean Paul Gaultier perfume is best for summer?   

When it comes to those hotter months, one of the most popular Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances is Classique Eau Fraîche, a spin on the original classic. This perfume is a lighter and fresher version of the iconic Classique scent, with notes of ginger, lemon sorbet, and sugar cane juice. You can also detect a floral heart of jasmine and orange blossom, and its base of vanilla and musk makes it perfect for summer evenings spent at the beach or sitting.

When it comes to male fragrances for the warmer seasons, Le Male Summer fragrance is a limited edition scent that the brand releases every year. Le Male Summer fragrance has a light, fresh combination of mint, lavender, and vanilla, with a hint of cinnamon and sandalwood. The fragrance’s clean scent - combined with its great staying power - makes it perfect for humid summer days and warmer evenings.

Does Jean Paul Gaultier perfume last long?

Yes! Many of Jean Paul Gaultier’s perfumes are rich in gourmand, long-lasting notes, such as Scandal’s honey notes, or Scandal Intense rich salted caramel. You can expect any Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance to last for around 8 hours in moderate temperatures, and around 6 hours during the hotter months. You can also purchase many travel-sized versions of Jean Paul Gaultier’s perfumes, which can easily be stored in your handbag and spritzed on the go for extra staying power.