As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means that if you click on an Amazon affiliate link on my pages, I receive a commission based on that qualified purchase. It doesn't cost you any more money and it helps keep the site running.
Gaultier’s Divine has already become a wildly popular perfume release. As such, they followed up the original eau de parfum version with a newer Le Parfum in 2024.
I recently received samples of both of these scents with my latest Gaultier order. How do each of these smell? How long do they last? Which of them is the better fragrance?
Tale of the Tape: Divine EDP vs Le Parfum
Divine EDP
Notes include: calypsone, lily, ylang-ylang, salty note, meringue, musk, patchouli
Click here to try: Gaultier Divine EDP
Le Parfum
Notes include: lily, frangipani, salt, solar notes, amber, benzoin
Click here to try: Divine Le Parfum
Opening
Divine EDP opens up with a salty aquatic accord, sitting on top of white floral notes. The calypsone gives it a watermelon sort of aroma that is paired with some other light fruit notes including bergamot.
It’s bright, cold, and has a sweetness to it that is an interesting play off of that saltiness. The meringue note is already adding a touch of powder to this blend, which I’ve really enjoyed catching whiffs of.
Personally, I don’t get the ‘egg’ sort of aroma that the meringue can put off. If it’s there, it’s sitting underneath enough of everything else for me to not pick up on. Though, just be aware that other people have talked about this being a factor.
Pressing my nose up close, there’s a lot going on here, a bit messy at times. However, in the air Divine EDP absolutely works well in this opening stage.
Le Parfum does away with much the aquatic accord and zeros in on that saltiness and lily note that is found in the original. At least early, the saltiness fades here much quicker on me than the EDP.
The melon like freshness is there to some extent, but the solar notes, and amber are already taking a large share of the attention early on.
After 10 minutes or so, it becomes sweeter and the frangipani becomes more apparent. Though, this isn’t a great frangipani note to me, nor one that truly stands out on its own.
It’s creamier and warmer than what you get with the eau de parfum version. But, it is still very much a tight blend of notes.
Which is better?
The similarities are there for sure and I actually like both of these perfumes quite a lot after testing them. Though, I think that I’ll give the opening act to Le Parfum.
Edge: Le Parfum
Projection
The eau de parfum will leave a nice scent trail in your wake. It’s not a super heavy feeling fragrance, it’s fresh and aquatic with how it presents, but the projection is good. I’d say it’s above average but not massive.
Le Parfum has a ‘thicker’ feeling to wear, but it still retains some of that fresher aspect of Divine EDP. It’s the sweeter of the two fragrances and also has a larger reach than the original.
It’s strong, and at times, very strong if you give it a few too many sprays. Le Parfum will moderate, but it easily takes this category.
Edge: Le Parfum
Longevity
Again, this is another category that I don’t think will really disappoint anyone purchasing either of these perfumes.
The EDP will last somewhere in the 8 hour range, on my skin. Maybe it can go an extra hour or so, but that seems to be about it.
Le Parfum will last for over 10 hours. I’m not sure exactly when it quits, I’d guess in the 12 hour timeframe on skin.
So, both of these are performers, but Le Parfum takes it to a higher level than does the original.
Edge: Le Parfum
Versatility
With the EDP, it is more of use in the spring and summer months. Or, when it is moderate to warmer out.
Le Parfum has it edged, however. It can pretty much go year round. I don’t think it’ll hold up quite as well in the higher heat versus Divine EDP, but it should do well in the warmer weather, and can
Neither of these is a formal sort of scent. The EDP can feel pretty casual and has that beachy sort of vibe to it. That’s more of a daytime wear, while Divine Le Parfum can fit in day or night, a bit better.
Edge: Le Parfum
Overall Scent
Overall, which Gaultier Divine perfume do I enjoy more?
This is a tough call for me, since I really do like each of these scents. As far as mass appealing perfumes go, these are both unique enough from the field and have great performance.
It’s actually closer than it looks based on how the categories each played out.
With Divine EDP, I like the kind of salty watermelon aroma that I get in the beginning and that meringue actually works well on my skin. The florals and musk are nice enough when they begin to come out more in the mid of this perfume.
I lean more towards Le Parfum with how it smells. I like the amber and benzoin combination in the dry down. Furthermore, the extra performance that I can get from this perfume and the versatility, really solidifies my pick between them.
That being said, it might be a good idea to try either of these before you buy, if you’re someone unfamiliar. I think they’re pretty safe blind buys, but there does seem to be somewhat sizeable contingent of people who don’t like these formulations.
Winner: Le Parfum
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.
User Review
( votes)
Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with the different fragrances that I’ve owned, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, that new hobby grew into a consistent passion, helping millions of readers along the way. I have personally written reviews for well over 800 perfumes and colognes for both men and women. This is along with writing hundreds of other in-depth fragrance guides.