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Jean Paul GaultierEau de Toilette · EST. 1995

Le Male

An iconic sweet-fresh fougère that pairs cooling mint and lavender with a soft vanilla and tonka base. Housed in the famous torso bottle, it remains one of the best-selling masculine fragrances of all time.

NOSE: Francis KurkdjianRELEASED: 1995RETAIL: $70 - $110
The Quick Answer

Le Male opens on Mint and Lavender, moves through Cinnamon and Orange Blossom, and dries down to Vanilla and Tonka Bean. At $70 - $110 it is which sits at fair mid-range value, with moderate to long lasting (6h - 8h) on skin. A relatively safe blind buy for most wardrobes.

ADEGBE ANALYSIS SCORES

8.6
Expert
7.8
Longevity
7.8
Sillage
8.8
Versatility
9.8
Value

Scores are AdeGbe's editorial analysis based on composition, concentration and community-reported performance — not a single personal wear test.

Approx. $0.70/ml — Based on the lowest street price ($70) over an assumed 100ml bottle for this concentration.

OLFACTORY PYRAMID BREAKDOWN

TOP NOTESFirst impression · 15–30 min
  • Mint
  • Lavender
  • Bergamot
  • Cardamom
HEART NOTESCore character · 2–4 hours
  • Cinnamon
  • Orange Blossom
  • Cumin
BASE NOTESDry-down · 6–24+ hours
  • Vanilla
  • Tonka Bean
  • Amber
  • Sandalwood

EXPERT ANALYSIS — COMPOSITION & PERFORMANCE

AG
AdeGbe Fragrance Research Team Data-Driven Analysis
Olfactory composition & performance assessment
Updated Spring 2026Eau de ToiletteMethodology: note-pyramid analysis + community performance data + AdeGbe scoring model

Composed by Francis Kurkdjian for Jean Paul Gaultier in 1995, Le Male sits in the bright citrus space of modern perfumery. Below, our research team breaks down its olfactory structure, measured performance, and ideal wearer.

The Opening

The opening leads with bright citrus and green aromatic facets — Mint, Lavender, Bergamot set the first impression in the initial fifteen to thirty minutes.

The Heart

Beneath the opening, a bright citrus and floral heart of Cinnamon, Orange Blossom, Cumin forms the signature most people will recognise.

The Dry-Down

The dry-down anchors on a dry woods and golden amber base of Vanilla, Tonka Bean, Amber, the phase that clings closest to skin and lasts longest.

Projected Performance Timeline
Hour 1
Mint and Lavender opening. Strong, room-filling projection.
Hour 4
Cinnamon and Orange Blossom heart fully developed. Still projecting clearly.
Hour 8
Vanilla and Tonka Bean base emerges. Performance holding well.
Hour 10
Soft base notes still detectable close to skin.
Longevity
7.8/10
Sillage
7.8/10
Blind Buy
LOW–MEDIUM RISK
Final Score
8.9/10

Who Should Buy Le Male

Le Male leans masculine but is wearable by anyone who enjoys the style. Its season vector points strongest to spring, and its day/night balance makes it best suited to versatile day-to-night wear. If you gravitate toward bright citrus and green aromatic compositions and want strong longevity, it belongs on your shortlist.

One Honest Warning

No major red flags in the composition, but fragrance is personal — skin chemistry can shift the balance of notes, so a sample wear is always wiser than a blind purchase at this price.

Analysis based on composition, community-aggregated performance data, and the AdeGbe scoring model.A human skin-test review is added as our team tests each fragrance.

PERFORMANCE INDEX & SUITABILITY VECTORS

LONGEVITY FACTORModerate to Long Lasting (6h - 8h)
Weak (1h)Moderate (4-6h)Beast (24h+)
SILLAGE / PROJECTIONModerate to Strong
IntimateModerateEnormous
DAY · NIGHT SUITABILITY
DAY
50%
NIGHT
50%
GENDER INDEXMasculine
FEMININEUNISEXMASCULINE
SEASON SUITABILITY VECTOR
SPRING 🌸25%
SUMMER ☀️25%
AUTUMN 🍂25%
WINTER ❄️25%

PROJECTED PERFORMANCE TIMELINE

Projected from this fragrance's concentration, note structure and reported longevity — an analysis, not a single personal wear test.

Hour 1
Top burst

Mint and Lavender lead the opening before the volatile top notes burn off.

Projection: Strong
Hour 4
Heart in bloom

Cinnamon and Orange Blossom take over as the core character of the fragrance.

Projection: Strong
Hour 8
Early dry-down

Vanilla and Tonka Bean anchor the scent close to the skin.

Projection: Moderate
Hour 12
Base residue

A skin-scent of Vanilla and Tonka Bean is what typically remains by now.

Projection: Skin-close

Wear It

  • ✓Spring (25% seasonal fit)
  • ✓Summer (25% seasonal fit)
  • ✓Autumn / Fall (25% seasonal fit)
  • ✓Winter (25% seasonal fit)
  • ✓Flexible across day and night

Skip It

  • ✗Few hard limits — a fairly easy all-rounder

Blind-Buy Risk

61/100HIGHER RISK
Risk factors
  • • Contains polarising notes (cumin) that not everyone enjoys
  • • Strongly sweet/gourmand — can read as cloying to some wearers
In its favour
  • • Divisive, character-heavy notes mean reactions vary widely person to person.
  • • Dense sweetness is love-it-or-hate-it and can fatigue the wearer over a long day.

INGREDIENT SAFETY SNAPSHOT

Linalool / Limonene

Common EU-declarable allergens; can oxidise and irritate sensitive skin.

Coumarin

IFRA-restricted; coumarin sources carry a general pregnancy-caution flag.

Cinnamal / Hexyl Cinnamal / Eugenol

Spice aldehydes are EU-declarable and among the more common skin sensitisers.

Benzyl Benzoate (fixative)

Generally well-tolerated base/fixative materials with low sensitiser risk.

This snapshot is based on the published note list, not a full INCI ingredient breakdown. Always check the box for the official allergen declaration and patch-test if you have sensitive skin. See full ingredient-safety guides →

MOST COMPARED WITH

Same house — Jean Paul Gaultier
Le Male vs Ultra Male
Jean Paul GaultierShares Lavender & Bergamot
Le Male vs 9PM
AfnanShares Cinnamon & Bergamot
Le Male vs Rare Carbon
Afnan

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does Le Male last?
Le Male typically lasts 6 to 8 hours on skin, with the sweet vanilla and tonka base often lingering longer on clothing. It projects well in the first few hours before settling closer to the skin. Performance varies somewhat between batches, but overall it is a solid performer for an affordable, long-established designer EDT.
Is Le Male a versatile everyday fragrance?
Yes, it is one of the most versatile sweet fougères available. The cooling mint and lavender keep it fresh enough for daytime and warmer weather, while the vanilla base gives it warmth for evenings and cooler months. It suits casual, social, and date-night settings, though it leans slightly too sweet for very formal professional environments.
Why is Le Male so popular?
Le Male was groundbreaking in 1995 for combining barbershop freshness with a comforting, edible vanilla sweetness, and it spawned countless imitators. Its instantly recognisable torso-shaped bottle and broadly likeable scent made it a long-running best-seller. It remains a reliable, crowd-pleasing signature that smells clean, warm, and approachable to almost everyone.
Is Le Male worth buying?
For the money, Le Male ($70 - $110) is a fair buy. It projects at a moderate to strong level and lasts in the range of moderate to long lasting (6h - 8h), which puts its performance around the average mark. It is worth it if you connect with its Mint and Lavender character; if you want an all-occasion safe blind buy, sample first because it leans flexible but specific.
Can I wear Le Male to the office?
Yes, within reason. Le Male sits at a moderate moderate to strong projection, which is generally office-friendly with one to two sprays. Apply before you leave home rather than at your desk, and you should stay within polite, non-intrusive range through the working day.
Is Le Male good for summer?
Not really. Le Male scores only 25% for summer — heat tends to amplify its Vanilla and Tonka Bean base and push it toward cloying. It performs far better in winter, so save it for cooler months and reach for something lighter when it is hot.
How many sprays of Le Male should I use?
Two to four sprays suits most people. Le Male has moderate to strong projection, so you can apply a little more generously than a beast-mode scent without crowding others. Spread sprays across pulse points and let it settle; its moderate to long lasting (6h - 8h) longevity means you rarely need to reapply.
Is Le Male safe for sensitive skin?
Le Male is an alcohol-based eau de toilette and its note list includes materials such as Mint, Lavender and Bergamot, some of which fall under EU-declarable allergen rules (for example linalool, limonene or coumarin depending on the notes). That does not make it unsafe — most wearers have no reaction — but if your skin is reactive, spray onto clothing or patch-test on the inner arm first. This guidance is based on the published note list, not a full INCI breakdown.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Le Male.

INTERACTIVE FRAGRANCE TOOLS

Personalised calculators and scanners specific to Le Male.

TOP DUPES & AFFORDABLE ALTERNATIVES

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ADEGBEDRAFTING 3D PERSPECTIVE...
N° ENC-1995Le MaleANTI-GRAVITY CONTAINER VISUAL
4.9 RATED

EXPLORE LE MALE DEEPER

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