Since launching his very first clothing collection back in 1976, Jean Paul Gaultier has always been a name associated with luxury and undeniable elegance, with a slightly risqué edge (remember Madonna in that pointy bra?). Never one to shy away from taking risks with fashion, the brand has gone from strength to strength over the years. The fragrance collection is an embodiment of everything the Gaultier name stands for – class, romance, and a big dose of fun. The femme fatale and the handsome sailor are constant muses for the designer, and both influences are clear to see in the fragrance collection. Discover the full range of Perfumes and aftershaves.
Since launching his very first clothing collection back in 1976, Jean Paul Gaultier has always been a name associated with luxury and undeniable elegance, with a slightly risqué edge (remember Madonna in that pointy bra?). Never one to shy away from taking risks with fashion, the brand has gone from strength to strength over the years. The fragrance collection is an embodiment of everything the Gaultier name stands for – class, romance, and a big dose of fun. The femme fatale and the handsome sailor are constant muses for the designer, and both influences are clear to see in the fragrance collection.
When it comes to perfumes and aftershaves, the bottle design is as important as the scent itself. An item that is intended to stand out on any bathroom shelf or vanity unit, the sensual shape intends to echo that of the perfect human body. The overall effect is sexy and symbolic – you can identify a JPG fragrance through touch alone, as the famous curves are unmistakable in your hand.
The fragrances are split into two main categories: Classique for women, and Le Male for men. Both ranges offer now well-recognised scents that have stood the test of time, with the original fragrances still remaining two of the best-selling perfumes on the market. Jean Paul Gaultier uses contrasting essences to create completely unique and irresistible products to great effect.
The Classique range of perfumes for women includes the original scent which has altered very little since it was first released back in 1993, although Gaultier has had some fun redesigning the bottle from time to time. Although the curvy woman’s signature shape remains the same, the corset design has been revamped over the years, with a few limited edition bottles on sale. With a seductive, bold scent, the eau de toilette is a sweet combination of soft rose petal and orange blossom, balanced with vanilla and amber tones. Star anise adds a burst of freshness, while the sharp scent of ginger is said to be an aphrodisiac. The ultra-feminine fragrance is perfect for the evening, aiming to leave the wearer feeling irresistible and in control.
The original Classique scent comes in a range of essence concentrations and complementary toiletries that allow the wearer to layer the scent for long-lasting wear. Other scents in the Classique range include Classique Intense and Classique Essence.
Le Male is the aftershave range for men, launched two years after the Classique range, but equally strong and seductive, based on the man with a tough-guy image but a heart of gold. Where the Classique bottle echoes the voluptuous curves of a woman, the Le Male bottle boasts six pack abs and a well-proportioned package. The original sailor muse is apparent in the emblematic striped design, with the intention of promoting virility and sensitivity. Essences of lavender and vanilla mingle with mint, orange blossom and cedar for a truly modern, masculine fragrance that breaks all the rules of aftershaves, with a cheeky little nod to tradition.
Like the Classique range, the aftershave comes in a number of concentrations and is also available in body lotion, deodorant and shower gel form to allow the wearer to layer the fragrance. Other scents in the Le Male range include Le Male Essence and Ultra Male.
Despite launching a range of other scents, the original creations have remained firm favourites with fragrance-lovers, and many of the subsequent blends have disappeared off the shop shelves due to poor sales. One of the few other scents that has been popular for Gaultier is the Gaultier2 (pronounced Gaultier to the power of two). This unisex fragrance was launched in 2005 and has an oriental tone to it, with notes of vanilla, amber and musk, blurring the line between the genders to unite all with one scent. Unlike its predecessors, this eau de parfum doesn’t play with contrasts, instead combining the three complementary essences to create a scent that is rich and sweet, while still retaining the sensual experience. It smells just as amazing on men as it does on women.
Another key difference with this third fragrance is in the shape of the bottle. Gone is the enticing body shape, and in its place sits a fairly standard-looking rectangle bottle. The deceivingly ordinary bottle is actually magnetic, designed to attract other Gaultier2 bottles to increase the feeling of togetherness. The Gaultier2 range even includes a massage oil, so while the bottle may not look as though it promotes intimacy as much as its siblings, it is possibly even more erotic.
Jean Paul Gaultier is a designer who has always promoted gender fluidity and has often shocked with his against-the-grain catwalk shows. Shunning the conventional, in-demand models used by other designers, he has been known to show his clothes on older men, fuller-figured women, and models with extensive tattooing and piercings. Critics have both slammed and appraised him, yet his work remains admired by many for the creativity and talent shown.
Not satisfied with fame on the catwalk alone, Gaultier has often diversified his work, releasing a single called “How to do that”, and co-hosting the provocative television programme Eurotrash. He was also the first fashion designer to ever sit on the panel at the Cannes Film Festival. However, fashion has always been his main focus, and he has designed costumes for many films and evening wear for a number of celebrities. In 2015, he announced that he would no longer be designing a ready-to-wear collection, and now points his energies into his haute couture line of clothing. It has been a while since he last attempted to create another perfume to add to his catalogue, with the last one being Kokorico, launched in 2011. Perhaps 2017 could be the year that he works with his perfumers to make another iconic scent to delight our senses and arouse the mind.
