Jean Paul Gaultier launched his eponymous fashion line in 1982 and quickly established a reputation as fashion’s "enfant terrible". His signature creative style and championship of gender fluidity turned the industry on its head with dresses constructed out of rubbish bags, men’s skirts and the iconic cone bra released in quick succession.
It was the latter in particular that became synonymous with the designer, entering the pop culture hall of fame as part of Madonna’s Blonde Ambition tour in 1990. The design has spewed a thousand dupes even some 40 years later and as recently as Simone Rocha’s guest appearance for the label in the Couture AW24 season.
The JPG corset has continued to inspire beyond garments. Gaultier expanded into fragrance in 1993 with the Classique, a floral-oriental aroma that remains popular to this day and takes its design cues from the legendary cone bra.
More accessible than the high fashion collection, the seductive scent quickly found success and was closely followed by the masculine counterpart Le Male, an oriental fougere that was the top-selling men’s fragrance and was inspired by The Sailor, a recurring motif in the fashion line.
These two aromas remain stalwarts in the collection, alongside flanker fragrances of different intensity levels. They have also been joined by the La Belle, Scandal and more recently, Divine in the women’s category and Le Beau, Ultra Male and Scandal in men’s but remain the flagship aromas.
Find out more about the best smelling and selling Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances below.
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Eau de Toilette
Francis Kurkdjian – the nose behind the legendary Baccarat Rouge 540 fragrance – created this aroma in 1995 for Jean Paul Gaultier. It was designed as a counterpart to the Classique scent above as a masculine alternative to the distinctly feminine notes. But don’t for one minute think this is an ordinary male woody EDT, far from it. It takes a unique approach with the main accord of lavender that took inspiration from men’s hairdressers in the ‘50s and a sweet, deep vanilla base that makes it as popular with women as it is with men.
The muscular torso wearing a marinière bottle shape has become iconic as a trademark of the Gaultier universe, while acting as the precursor to the Le Male fragrance range with new iterations still developed by the brand.
Buy now £45.51, The Perfume Shop
Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Eau de Toilette
Don’t let the name fool you, this fragrance is anything from Classique. Launched in 1993 under the name JPGaultier Eau de Parfum and rebranded in 1995, it’s a dynamic, evolving and surprising scent where sweet orange is paired with rice powder and vanilla meets ginger. The floral amber combination is seductive and intoxicating.
The bottle, now a signature of the brand, resembles a curvaceous torso and was compared to the corset Madonna wore during her 1990 Blond Ambition World Tour which was designed by Gaultier.
Buy now £53.51, The Perfume Shop
Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal
Jean Paul Gaultier says that Scandal embodies the brand’s femininity, and love of sexy Paris. With notes of gardenia from the first spray, this perfume is light and fresh, with sweet heart and base notes of honey and patchouli, that are seductive yet light.
Creamy vanilla tones and blood orange linger on the skin for quite some time, making this perfume perfect for all-day wear.
Buy now £67.00, The Fragrance Shop
Jean Paul Gaultier Gaultier Divine Eau de Parfum
Jean Paul Gaultier’s signature bottle has been given a striking makeover, more closely resembling the iconic cone bra that Madonna wore on the first night of her Blond Ambition tour in 1990. The corset, however, comes in gold, matching the hue of the fragrance within and reflecting the warmth of its scent.
The notes take inspiration from the power of the sun. An opening of lily evolves into a white flower bouquet at the heart that has been given a sweet twist with meringue. It’s a marine floral that is light and fresh. The bottle is refillable.
Buy now £58.00, The Perfume Shop
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Beau Eau De Toilette 125ml
Le Beau is a popular scent that is challenging to find in stock. Much like the rest of the range, it has a sensual edge but is more subtle than its contemporaries with elements of bergamot, coconut wood and tonka bean that lean towards the more intense end of the spectrum. The woody scent retains a freshness with a transportive masculine scent trail.
Buy now £76.00, The Fragrance Shop
Jean Paul Gaultier Scandal Pour Homme Le Parfum 100ml
Scandal Pour Homme is, by the brand’s own admission, sex appeal in olfactory form. It’s an intense scent hit encased within a black lacquered flacon that is unmissable with its woody amber fragrance. Just one spritz is enough to send your senses into overdrive with its combination of sweet geranium, tonka bean and the sensual sandalwood finish. Irresistible.
Buy now £84.57, Boots
