Le Male
“Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier is a Oriental Fougere fragrance for men”
The Quick Read
Well loved by wearers — a aromatic, sponsored composition with a vanilla undertone. Voted best for year-round wear, leaning masculine.
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Le Male arrived in 1995 and promptly challenged expectations of what a masculine fragrance could be. Created by Francis Kurkdjian for Jean Paul Gaultier, it combined traditional barbershop freshness with sweetness, sensuality, and theatricality in a way that felt entirely new.
Lavender, mint, and bergamot create an opening rooted in classic masculine perfumery. Then comes the twist: cinnamon, orange blossom, vanilla, and tonka bean transform the fragrance into something warmer, softer, and more seductive. The contrast between fresh fougère structure and gourmand sweetness became its signature.
Its sailor-bottle presentation and playful marketing helped make it famous, but the fragrance endured because the formula itself was ahead of its time. Many of today's sweet masculine fragrances trace some part of their lineage back to Le Male. What once felt provocative now feels foundational, yet the original still retains a charm that countless successors have struggled to replicate.
Composition & Character
Notes Pyramid
Heart
The Soul
Base
Foundation
Main Accords
When to Wear
Who Wears It
How It Wears
Application Tips
Le Male is best applied lightly to let its layers unfold over time. The aromatic top notes are bright but brief, so don't be tempted to layer heavily at first. It's perfect for daytime wear, where its moderate longevity and sillage keep it close without overpowering.
Francis Kurkdjian
Founding perfumer · 234 fragrances · French
“My creations are an invitation to choose the scent that suits you daily, because I like the idea that each woman and man can express a part of themselves through perfume.”
Maison Francis Kurkdjian was born in 2009 from the encounter between Francis Kurkdjian, a renowned perfumer with scores of successful creations to his name, and Marc Chaya, Co-founder and President of the fragrance house. At only 24, Francis Kurkdjian composed his first perfume, "Le Male" by Jean Paul Gaultier, an international best-seller and game-changer of its time. Instead of relying on a very promising start to his career, he decided, as a precursor, to explore new possibilities and give olfactory creation a new artistic dimension. In keeping with his visionary outlook, in 2001 he set up his tailor-made perfume workshop, against the general tendency of perfume democratization, while constantly putting his know-how and sensibility at the service of the greatest fashion designers (Rick Owens, Hedi Slimane, Riccardo Tisci, Alber Elbaz or John Galliano), as well as the most iconic houses (Dior, Guerlain or Saint-Laurent). From 2003, artists like Sophie Calle, Christian Rizzo or Sarkis called on him to compose his first olfactory compositions - the starting point of his quest to break down the boundaries between different fields and the senses. In 2008, he was named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
Also created
Designer Jean Paul Gaultier
More from Jean Paul Gaultier
Edited by Scentsation Editorial
The story behind the bottle.
The quiet confidence of stepping into a new role — crisp in the morning with a hint of warmth as the day progresses.
Fig. 01 — Le Male, Jean Paul Gaultier
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