Jean Paul Gaultier

Le Male Le Parfum by JPG

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Le Male Le Parfum is an entry from the long-running Jean Paul Gaultier series, that was released back in 2020. It’s already one that I’ve tried a few times before, enjoyed, but didn’t write a full review for.

I recently saw a mini bottle available for purchase and made it apart of my order, so I could further test it. How does Le Parfum smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a purchase?

What does Le Male Le Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: cardamom, iris, vanilla, lavender, woods, spices

Click here to try: Le Male Le Parfum

My Full Review

Here’s how Gaultier describes it: Dressed in a black and gold officer’s jacket, this intense eau de parfum is taking leadership of the Le Male range with great style and strength. An elegant woody amber trail capturing the charisma and power of a leader. Attention sailors! The captain has arrived and we’re about to set sail.

Update: Adding more to this review, since the initial splash mini that I got was really poorly mixed. I got a travel sprayer and Le Parfum is much more enjoyable to me.

Le Parfum opens up with a warm blend of its spicy notes and floral ingredients. The cardamom is the strongest up top. The same note found in Le Male Airlines, but Le Parfum isn’t as intense with it, nor is the overall scent as sweet.

That cardamom spice is joined by some vague spiced accord. I’m not sure what this actually consists of, but I’m pretty sure there is cinnamon in the mix.

The Le Male lavender, is of course in play here. That and the vanilla are two holdovers from the original Le Male formula. But, lavender gets a bit overshadowed early by the iris.

Iris with the emergent vanilla, gives this a powdery undertone that is most present on my skin through about the middle act.

The main difference between this and Le Male is the original had a fresher/crisper profile. This one actually is warmer (not heavy or enveloping) and the amber wood note really helps to smooth things out.

As we shift into the middle, the other spices aside from cardamom fade, and the iris will be less prominent.

What you get more of is the vanilla, lavender, and amber notes? Cardamom and lavender of course will hang around until close to the end. However, the dry down becomes more and more about vanilla and amber and a light generic woody aroma.

It’s kind of sweet, sort of spicy, with a good amount of vanilla.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Le Parfum definitely doesn’t have the same power as Ultra Male and is somewhere close to the original Le Male, in terms of its reach. It’s a bit above the average cologne with its sillage.

This isn’t a heavy cologne or one that’s going to project across the room and leave a scent trail. That opening 30 minutes can come close to that, with enough sprays, but this is straight moderate the rest of the way.

The longevity is better. 8 hours for sure, with the potential to hit 9. That’s seems to be its maximum during all the times that I’ve worn the scent. Better than most from the Le Male series, just not elite.

Seasonally, I’d mostly go autumn and winter with Le Parfum. It doesn’t have to stay there entirely and can indeed venture into the spring.

It’s not so heavy that’ll be melted in mild to moderately warm temperatures. Le Parfum just isn’t built for those hot and high humidity days.

This does have a refinement and simplicity about it, which sort of extends the age range versus many others in this series. It can been worn by teenagers or much older guys. No real problem there, as Gaultier’s copy says about it, Le Parfum is the ‘captain’ of this line.

I don’t think this one is restricted at all to the nightlife. Ultra Male pretty much is. But, Le Parfum is low key enough to be worn to work or casually during the day. While also, having the appeal for date nights or just hanging out around town.

Overall Impressions of Le Male Le Parfum

Overall, do I like Le Parfum? Yes. Personally, I still like Ultra Male more. That one is more difficult to wear often and can be too much, at times. So, Le Parfum is probably going to be a better fit for most guys.

gaultier le male

You definitely still get plenty of the Le Male DNA, but this is more refined. It is smoother for sure and the spiciness is different in this one and improved versus the EDT.

I do like that opening act a lot. The cardamom, other spices, and iris give this fragrance plenty of dynamism and Le Parfum has a great balance. The dry down goes more in the vanilla direction and is still plenty attractive.

I’ve seen this also compared to Armani Code EDP. I can sort of get the relation. However, this one is better. The vanilla and tonka in that one, aren’t super enjoyable.

The performance is good. Not a massive beast mode cologne, but it is one that’ll stick around for a good while.

Le Male Le Parfum is well worth trying out and might even become a signature or simply a favorite of many guys out there. I’m not totally in love with it, though, it is a very good fragrance.

Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier

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In today’s post, I am going to be taking a closer look at a cologne by Jean Paul Gaultier called, Ultra Male. This is a flanker fragrance to the now classic, Le Male. Ultra Male was released in 2015 and occupies a similar bottle to the original JPG scent. What does it smell like? How does it perform? When should it be worn? Is it better than Le Male? Please continue reading below for my impressions after a few wears.

Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce

What does Ultra Male by JPG Smell Like?

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Ultra Male is a meeting of the pear, vanilla, cinnamon, mint, and citrus notes that produces a candy-like sweetness that is akin to bubble gum. Now, this may not sound appealing for some folks but it quickly settles on my skin into something that is warm and smooth, and a scent that I find very appealing.

The pear note is the main attraction early on. Mint and cinnamon surround it and provide the composition with a definite spiciness. Ultra Male is intense straight out of the bottle, with a very captivating aroma.

Next up, the lavender and vanilla begin to move in. Lavender and pear share the spotlight, with an increasingly strong vanilla coming in more later.

The most noticeable difference between this and the famous, Le Male, is the complete lack of that powdery aroma that was so prevalent in that JPG cologne.

While there is a lot of overlap between these two scents, the strength of each note is different, and the inclusion of the pear makes Ultra Male a standalone scent from its progenitor.

I’m just going to say it right now, I am enjoying Ultra Male more than Le Male, which I also liked a lot.

During the dry down, it turns into a vanilla, lavender, and amber laden fragrance on my skin. It at times, reminds me of a more youthful and sweeter Luna Rossa Sport.

Not saying its the same, but the lavender and vanilla combo, are obviously going to deliver at least somewhat similar results.

Ultra Male is a super fresh and sweet kind of scent that is going to be a nice addition to any night life fragrance collection.

There is a slight spiciness provided by the cinnamon note which prevents the cologne from become a complete mess and that is further bolstered by the mint note, which seems to be more in the background than it was in Le Male.

Ultra Male sort of falls into the same category as a fragrance like, 1 Million, does. Smooth, candy-like sweetness, with enough staying power to be a night club favorite.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, I would rate it as a very strong starter that fades into something much more moderate. While it is in the same ‘family’, so to speak as 1 Million, it doesn’t have the same loud and bold projection.

It certainly isn’t weak and with enough sprays it is capable of overpowering, but with my 1-3 spray tests, Ultra Male was perfectly tolerable.

Update: with further wear, once I got a full bottle, this does project itself a lot more than you can tell. People will notice, so, go light when inside enclosed areas. It’s actually kind of massive with how it projects. I do have a bottle of the initial release, so, I don’t know if Ultra got weakened over the years.

It does have great longevity on my skin, 9-ish hours, maybe a little longer on some wears (depending on the weather or other environmental circumstances). It’s pretty excellent in that regard.

Update: I do get double digit hours of wear, fairly regularly with Ultra Male. It does depend greatly on the climate, see below.

Cold weather scent. Like Le Male, Ultra Male would turn to crap in the heat, so if your climate is warm year round, this probably isn’t the best bet.

On the other hand, if you plan on wearing it at night, I have done so effectively when the temperature was in the mid-70s Fahrenheit but it thrives in the cold.

Really, I would not wear this at all when it is hot out. It becomes a pretty big mess, so if you’re going to have this, also have a spring/summer scent to wear. In the cold, it is at its peak and can be a great wear.

You could wear this as a daytime scent, as it isn’t too loud (with light sprays), but I love it for nights out and party-type atmospheres. It’s an attractive, almost unisex kind of fragrance, with a sweet sexiness that women seem to enjoy.

I’ve mostly been wearing this on winter evenings out, just casually from time to time, and around the house. I’m not sure that I’d try to make this a daily wear. Especially for guys, who work in a professional setting. That’s not what this cologne does.

Ultra Male can come across as very sweet and has a youthful party vibe. I am older than the target demo of this cologne and like it a lot. Yet, I find myself not always wanting to indulge in it, with its candy-like aroma.

Overall Impressions of Ultra Male

Overall, would I recommend Ultra Male as a buy? Yes, provided you like this kind of scent. Some guys don’t like the sweets and if that’s you, pass on this cologne.

Otherwise, I find this to be a fun wear, and prefer it to the original Le Male…it just strikes me as better on the whole.  This is another great entry from Jean Paul Gaultier.

The performance is great and the smell is really nice. It can come across as unisex, at times, but for the nightlife it’s a great pick up. The uses for this can be limited, outside of that. So, one will need to assess exactly what you’re wanting it for.

Update: The longer that I’ve had this, the less I wear it. The pear note doesn’t really do it for me anymore and it’s super sweet/spicy mix, isn’t something that I always want to wear. It’s still something for younger guys to wear and not a fragrance that’s going to be a daily wear for most people.

I definitely don’t dislike it, but it’s more something that I wear on occasion. Ultra Male is still one of the better releases in the series, which has produced a lot of just ‘okay’ colognes over the years.

Le Beau Male by Jean Paul Gaultier

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I’ve got a ton of samples that I need to do write ups and reviews on. One of these samples, if the subject of today’s post, Le Beau Male. This is a flanker fragrance from Jean Paul Gaultier of the classic, ‘Le Male’. It was released in 2013. How does this one stack up? What does it smell like? Is it worth a buy?

What does Le Beau Male by JPG Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, lavender, wormwood, orange blossom, musk, sage

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Le Beau Male Spray, 6.8 Ounce

My Full Review

Jean Paul Gaultier has come out with more than a few flankers and special editions of the original ‘Le Male’ fragrance. This entry called, Le Beau Male, starts off with a very crisp and cool mint note. Actually, it takes a minute to really settle in, much like I experienced with Guerlain’s L’Eau Boisee.

Le Beau Male is wholly different from the original. Sure, it shares a few of the same notes but this is nothing like Le Male or Ultra Male. The mint note is the dominant player throughout, but the wormwood top note gives it a slightly herbal feel, which lends itself to Le Beau Male’s vibrant ‘greeness’.

Wormwood is used in absinthe, so, if you’re familiar with that aroma; it’s essentially what you’re getting with this JPG cologne. However, it is paired mostly with the sage note, at its peak.

It’s much less spicy than the other scents in this line. The mint and the sage are the only real spice to it and it’s further calmed by the lavender.

Overall, the composition is actually quite floral/herbal but it doesn’t ever take on a feminine quality. The orange blossom is a subtle touch and reminds me of L’Homme Intense.

The end of the wear is an herbal, floral, and somewhat musky finish. The musk is present mostly at this stage, but it doesn’t ever take on too much of a major role here. At least, on my skin it doesn’t.

Mint, wormwood, lavender, orange blossom, and musk; at varying degrees of strength.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I like the way it starts. It’s strong but it quickly becomes a skin scent, within a few hours, which is disappointing. It’s not entirely weak, but it has so much potential, if it only had that power behind it.

At first, I thought that I was getting something that sits in between Le Male and Ultra Male, in terms of sillage. It eventually drops below the original Le Male and doesn’t enjoy that long of a peak.

The longevity isn’t that great either, somewhere in the 5-7 hour range, and most of that is spent as a skin scent. Is that terrible? No, if it could maintain its sillage, I wouldn’t be disappointed by it at all really. Especially, if I could pick up a super cheap bottle.

The really cold mint seems like it’d be best on a warm day, just to break up the usual vibe of citrus and aquatic fragrances during that time. It’d be good as a casual scent in this scenario.

If it had better performance, I’d like to wear it as a summer evening cologne, because I really like the mint note here. Also, with the floral aspects it would sit well, in the humid night air.

I suppose, it still could be used then. However, I would probably still use it on those warm days, when I want something simple and non-offensive.

This one does skew younger and is a nice option for guys of high school and college age. Youthful vibe while not being completely immature.

Overall Impressions of Le Beau Male

Overall, would I recommend Le Beau Male? On clearance, maybe. I actually enjoy the aroma and even though it has little to do with the original Le Male, I think it could stand on it’s own. This is one of those where I’m let down by its performance, but like everything else about it.

The mint and orange blossom are the highlights for me. Wormwood adds some interesting elements to this one, but it never hits an absolute level of greatness. It’s all fine and quite wearable for what it is. Good freshie with enough substance to be useable.

I enjoy the Le Male lineup, so, Beau isn’t going to be a complete mess. It’s a cologne with plenty of potential, but doesn’t fully live up to it.

Update: Other options from this line, like Airlines are better. But for warmer weather options this is probably a better pick than In the Navy.

Though, Le Beau came out in 2013, and isn’t readily available in most places. So, it probably won’t be worth it for most guys nowadays. It’s a good scent, but was never going to be the best Jean Paul Gaultier cologne.

It’s not an amazing scent, but it is damn good and can be a nice change of pace for the summer. If you can get a cheap bottle, more sprays should help overcome the weakness, and make it a solid addition to a fragrance collection.

Le Male In The Navy by JPG

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In the Navy is one of the multitude of Le Male flankers to have been put out by JPG, over the years. It came out back in 2018 and I had come in contact with it back then. But, once I saw it again, I scooped up some samples in order to give it a proper review. How does it smell? How long does it last? Is In the Navy worth a try?

What does Le Male in the Navy Smell Like?

Notes include: vanilla, peppermint, oceanic accord, ambergris

Click here to try: Le Male in the Navy

My Full Review

Here’s how JPG describe it: An aquatic fougere. A splash of icy peppermint, invigorated by the salty freshness of an oceanic accord and contrasted with a vanilla note.

The opening is cold and fresh with that peppermint note leading the way. Right from the jump, you will notice the light and water accord running through the middle of In the Navy.

Actually, pretty nice. With the vanilla, mint, and ambergris notes; it can become easy to compare this to Eros. Sure, there’s some overlap, but they’re not the same fragrance by any means. Especially, sans citrus.

Once some of that peppermint has worn off, this becomes more about that vanilla and ambergris. Saltier and warm, with less of the initial oceanic freshness that defines the opening act.

Le Male In the Navy, isn’t a complicated scent. It’s pretty much a watery blend of vanilla and amber for the rest of the way. Basically, take three of the notes from the original and add an aquatic accord.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, I can say that this is at best, middle of the road. Maybe you’ll get a scent trail going with heavy sprays. But, past that first hour and this one is a light and intimate fragrance.

The longevity doesn’t help matters. On my skin, I get about 4.5 hours of wear. Even in that lighter state, it just doesn’t want to stick around.

Some of these Le Male flankers are pretty weak. In the Navy is one of the worst, in my experience.

That being said, it is a versatile fragrance. It’s fresh, non-offensive, and can work well from springtime through autumn in most places. I’d skip in winter, but this is at its best when it gets warm out.

Not really going to be a sexy nightlife beast. But, a daytime casual or semi-formal wear, when you want something light to put on in the heat. Not that it’s going to keep up the fight for long, but it’s a serviceable smell for that climate.

Overall Impressions of In the Navy

Overall, do I like In the Navy? Not particularly. I did think that this was one that I’d be more into, but this Le Male falls flat, and performs poorly. It sounded a lot better than it actually is.

The opening is the best part. Even then, the peppermint and oceanic accord aren’t all that amazing together. It’s a nice aroma, just nothing that really grabs my attention.

After that, In the Navy is a simplistic and linear experience, that smells okay enough. That alone would disqualify it from being a full bottle purchase for me. Throw in the fact that it only sticks around for a bit more than four hours and it’s a pass.

Most bottles that I’m seeing still floating around, aren’t heavily discounted. Seems like the stock that’s left is priced close to retail. No real value with In the Navy.

9 Best Smelling Mint Scented Colognes

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Mint is ubiquitous in foods, gums, fresheners, and the like. Whether you’re talking about peppermint or spearmint, everyone knows the smell, and it isn’t a difficult ingredient to parse out. In colognes, it isn’t used all the time, and is even more rarely the star of the show. But, there are some really good ones. Here is a review list of some of the top selections for men’s fragrances with a prominent mint note.

What are the Best Smelling Mint Colognes for Men?

Boozy Mint Fragrance

Guerlain Homme Eau De Parfum Spray for Men, 2.7 Ounce
The mint note in this one is a part of the mojito accord which gives it a fresh and boozy type of scent with a woodsy background. I wear this one on a pretty regular basis.

This one opens up with a strong blend of mint and lime, with the rum note hanging around in the background. The lime and mint are about equal at first, but the mint gains strength, as the wear moves along. It’s also got a sweet sugar note.

During the dry down, the mint is flanked by cedar and vetiver. It becomes woodier and much drier of a cologne. It’s not super heavy and will give you 7-8 hours of performance. My Guerlain Review

Best Smelling Mint

Kryptomint– Kryptomint is a great one, if you’re in the market for a gourmand mint fragrance with plenty of warmth. You get coffee, chocolate, and tonka bean. Pair that with mint and patchouli, giving this Thierry Mugler scent a distinct and delightful vibe.

The greatest part is, that Kryptomint, settles into its warmer state. The opening act is as cold as ice, with a brilliant use of mint. Super fresh and sweet with really nice performance.

Now, Kryptomint isn’t the best fragrance out there. It is getting the nod, as the best mint cologne, in my mind. If I wanted a mint based cologne it would be either this or Guerlain Homme.

Fresh Mint and Lavender

Prada Luna Rossa Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Ounce– I don’t usually care for bitter orange notes like in Terre d’Hermes (which I hate), but it quite simply works in Luna Rossa, and is by no means overpowering.

Plus, the citrus is only the main attraction at first. Then, there is an emergence of mint and lavender. What a great little scent. It is a bright citrus aroma with a cool demeanor thanks to the spearmint and calming lavender note.

The dry down does have a slight powdery/soapy feel, but it isn’t that much, and way less than what is in some of the others. The spearmint here, is utterly perfect.  Luna Rossa Full Review

The Best Seller with Mint

Versace Eros Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce
Versace Eros is very rich and layered, which helps to produce a heavy, warm, and gourmand aroma. The mint lends to this by playing beautifully off of notes such as tonka bean.

In the newer bottles, I definitely get more of the lemon note, versus a blend of mint and lemon. However, this still gives a great bold aroma, with our target ingredient playing a large role.

No, Eros isn’t a pure mint fragrance, but it provides the cooling freshness against the other warmer/thick notes. Versace Eros Review

An Autumn Minty Cologne

BURBERRY for Men Eau de Toilette, 3.3 fl.oz– Burberry cologne is the titular house fragrance from this design company. It also happens to be one of my favorite to wear on this list. Burberry for Men isn’t as in your face as many other colognes on the market, but it allows it’s striking and refined aroma speak for itself.

It features a cool mint note, that provides that familiar fresh spice on top of a smooth sandalwood, and embedded within a warm amber. It is an interesting play between warmth and cold, throughout the wear.

This is all solidified by a smooth trio of sandalwood, lavender, and cedar. This forms the base of Burberry for Men and adds that woody masculine layer.

This has a more mature character and a moderate sillage. I’ve always felt that I could wear Burberry anywhere and it be an appropriate cologne for that occasion. It’s woody, fresh, and an intriguing fragrance that I always love catching a whiff of. My review 

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Aromatic Mint

Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male By Jean Paul Gaultier For Men. Eau De Toilette Spray 4.2 Oz.
Warm, spicy, and vanilla. Le Male gets energized by the mint notes providing a fresh spice to its smooth fragrance.

Le Male is an absolute classic, at this point, and a fragrance that almost everyone has encountered. The mint and vanilla notes are so good together, with some added spices and the calming force of the lavender at the very heart.

The dry down, is more about the vanilla, but the mint hangs around the whole time. Plus, at the start, it really shines. This is an easy daily wear, with good performance, and suitable for younger guys. Le Male JPG Review

jean paul

Simple and Clean

Ralph Lauren Big Pony Green #3 Men By Ralph Lauren Eau de Toilette, 4.2-ounce
This is a soft and fresh and very straightforward fragrance by Ralph Lauren. The notes essentially consist of mint, ginger, bergamot, which gives #3 a green and spicy scent.

The interplay between the light ginger and mint is interesting. I am a big fan of ginger in colognes, though, it isn’t a huge factor in Big Pony #3. This scent has been discontinued, as it was a short-lived lineup.

However, if you can get a cheap bottle, this is a simple one worth checking out.

Classy Masculine Scent

Cartier Roadster 3.4 Fl. oz. Eau De Toilette Spray Men
Roadster is a fresh and prominent use of mint with some vetiver and vanilla to give it a smoother woodsy feel. However, the mint is the main attraction.

Roadster is a very ‘green’ type of fragrance, with mint as its main note. It’s got a smooth lightness from the vanilla note and the vetiver gives it a masculine quality.

Rather unique overall, but simple. The opening is the mint with a spritz of the bergamot citrus and vanilla sweetness hanging in the background. Top Cartier Fragrances

roadster

Another Guerlain Option

L’homme Ideal Cool by Guerlain– This one is a blend and it’s harder to find nowadays. But, this is a great fragrance with a large dose of mint in there.

Ideal Cool gives you the usual citrus start, like the EDT, but adds on a fresher and greener profile than the other iterations from Guerlain.

The interesting part of the fragrance to me, is when the mint note interacts with the almond. Sounds a bit strange, but it simply works. The sillage here is pretty light, but the performance in terms of longevity is solid.