GrapefruitOpens with
LavenderHeart
VanilleDries down to
Aurélien GuichardThe nose · 162 fragrances · also made Intense Oud (2016)Portrait →Will you like it? Mark a few fragrances you own or love and we'll tell you.
Jean Paul Gaultier · Sold as masculine
Le Male Terrible
The hiss of an espresso machine two seconds before the cup arrives — a moment where sharp citrus and warm spices converge in the bustling energy of a city.
Full bottle: Mid-range tier, typically $40–100. Links open each seller's own page. We may earn a commission; it never changes the order.
Le Male TerribleMid-range · $40–100
50%Similar accords, often for lessVictorioso Victory · Maison AlhambraBudget tier, under $40 · shares pink pepper, lavender and amber8 matches →How it wears
From community votes · bars are each option's shareComposition & Character
Notes Pyramid
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
The story behind the bottle.
Le Male Terrible by Jean Paul Gaultier is a fragrance that captures the essence of irreverent elegance. Launched in 2010 and crafted by perfumer Aurélien Guichard, it marries bright citrus notes with aromatic lavender and spicy undertones. The opening burst of grapefruit and pink pepper gives way to a heart of lavender, which provides both freshness and complexity. As the scent settles, vetyver and vanilla offer a warm, comforting base that contrasts beautifully with the initial sharpness.
Apply Le Male Terrible with a light hand to avoid overpowering its delicate balance. The grapefruit and pink pepper top notes are particularly bright, so a single spritz is often enough for the first hour or two. Once the lavender and vetyver come into play, it will settle into a more comforting warmth throughout the day.
Fig. 01 — Le Male Terrible, Jean Paul Gaultier
Where to buy.
Wear it for a week first
A decant costs a fraction of a bottle and tells you how it lasts on your skin.
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Aurélien Guichard
Seven generations of Grasse perfumeryAurélien Guichard is a senior perfumer at Takasago, born and raised in Grasse into a family business growing roses and jasmine for major perfumers, and following his father into perfumery via the Givaudan Perfumery School.
The Le Male line
57 fragrances, compared side by side
Designer Jean Paul Gaultier
More from the house · founded 1992 · France
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Chosen from what wearers say it smells like, what its fans also love, and its notes
Love it, not the price?
Matched by accords and notes. Sample first, then decide.
The originalLe Male TerribleJean Paul Gaultier · Mid-range · $40–100Maison Alhambra · 2022Victorioso VictoryShares Pink pepper, Lavender and Amberunder $40★ 4.33 (374)
With Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Collector Edition 2018
Adds warm spicy, cinnamon and green; shares lavender and amber.
Suggested from accords and notes · not yet tried by wearers
What people
are saying.
Well loved by wearers: loved by 41%, disliked or hated by 13%.