Comments on: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male ~ fragrance review

By: Subhuman

Subhuman — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:08:33 +0000

Unlike most of the commenters here (and the reviewer), I don’t smell Le Male anywhere – maybe it’s a symptom of my age group (early-mid 20s), which leans more towards the Lacoste/Armani Code/Sean John/Davidoff sector of the men’s fragrance market. Even few of my fellow gays wear Le Male. Must be a generational thing – we weren’t the target market when Le Male debuted and experienced its heyday. Regardless, Le Male smells wholly unlike any men’s fragrance I’ve worn or sampled. From the online reviews and comments I assumed it was in the same league as obnoxious power scents like Obsession or Aqua Velva, but after sampling Le Male it strikes me as gentle, powdery, and calming, like talcum mixed with shaving cream and a splash of lavender bubble bath. It does have a ludicrous amount of staying power and sillage, so I can see where a heavy hand would make it intolerable, but I only apply 1-2 sprays and it lasts all day – hints of it remain on my clothes and jacket as well, and I love catching random whiffs of it throughout the day. It’s a very pleasant scent; old-fashioned in a fresh-from-the-barber way, yet sharp and modern. And it’s a million times more interesting than most of the men’s fragrances taking up space on the department store shelves, the “woody, musky, citrusy” ones that don’t have any of the interesting qualities (or power) of classic woody, musky, citrusy fragrances but try to make up for it with celebrity faces and monstrous ad budgets. I hope this doesn’t get reformulated or discontinued, it’s a rare jewel in a mostly dull market.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 01:20:10 +0000

Thanks, HellsBells…AND glad you are expanding your perfume horizons! HA!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 11:52:17 +0000

I have to say that I've never been a fan of JPG – I love his flamboyance, but the women's fragrances have never really appealed to me (I'm more of an Annick Goutal/Donna Karen/Paul Smith/Serge Luten girl!). Having said this I hadn't really encountered JPG for men up close and personal. Undoubtedly I'd smelled it on the train and in clubs, but not up close against someone's skin.

Until now – recently I've started dating a guy who wears it – he's pretty light handed but he really does smell delicious. Having realised what the smell is I am somewhat dismayed that the fragrance is as popular as it is as I associate people by their scent – which means unfortunately I keep smelling my boyfriend around the office as there are a couple of chaps who wear it also. However I am willing to forgoe my usual abhorrence for mainstream fragrances (yes, call it snobbery!!) because this one is too good to give up.

Love your blogg by the way, please keep going!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:19:01 +0000

this scent is enjoyable on its own but also works well for those of us creative/brave enough to layer and blend our fragrance . my guy mixes his le male with a variety of other fragrances creating his own unique and utterly sexy scent and i often spray a more foody (or vanillaish) fragrance over top of my le male creating my own yummy scent with positive reviews. we both love fragrance and we have fun with it. our bthrm resembles a perfume factory! lol

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 23:19:04 +0000

Briffin: HA! I guess you'll have to start wearing Le Male in seclusion…. Everyone says ONE SPRAY will be all you need.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 13:34:05 +0000

Excellent report.

I finally bought Le Male this year after my boyfriend let me do a tester from his bottle.

It would have been nice if someone had told me that you have to use it s p a r i n g l y . First time I tried it just before picking up 3 colleagues to take to work. They had to roll the windows down.

It gives my wife migraines (she says that there must be synthetic aromas), but I am absolutely addicted to this original mixture of striking aromas and refuse to stop wearing it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 06:55:45 +0000

I tried this for the first time today. I oversprayed on my left arm, which led to my nose having a little nasal panic attack. On my right arm however it was sweet and spicy. Though it did remind me of my dad's aftershave when I was a kid, I totally agree that this is a unisex fragrance. I think I'll spray my hair since the scent is so strong.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 13:50:24 +0000

Hi K,

I've only smelled the Fleur du Male from a card, and I didn't like it at all. I haven't tried it on my skin, but I intend to. I'm looking forward to finding out what the new 2 will smell like! P

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 15:58:55 +0000

peteireland: the way you wear this, just one spray, is probably why you can bear it in the summer months. Did you ever try Fleur du Male?

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 13:48:33 +0000

I worked in a gay bar in London in 1995, and one of my regular customers was a certain JPG. He gave me a sample bottle of the scent which hadn't been released yet, and I was hooked from the go. I've been wearing it most days since, indeed when I use something else my friends notice immediately that I'm not wearing my 'signature scent'. To me it is not a winter/fall scent, more of a summer scent. One spray on the back of the neck [which is where I always spray scent as I have sensitive skin] is enough to last the day and I hope if they ever stop making this one, they will give plenty of notice so I can stockpile! I have a collection of the empty bottles, ranging from the standard striped t-shirt torso to a rubber clad torso. My favourite is the bottle with the JPG kilt. I'm glad that this scent is still a major seller, and is still being discussed. A true original, and a true success.