jean paul gaultier

Ultra Male vs Paco Rabanne 1 Million Comparison

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There are a lot of popular men’s fragrances out there, which get heavy use in the night life scene. Two of the more well known colognes are Ultra Male by Jean Paul Gaultier and 1 Million by Paco Rabanne.

1 Million EDT has been going strong for nearly two decades, as a best-seller. Meanwhile, Ultra Male once looked as if it was going to be on the chopping block, but then got a new lease on life with its growing popularity.

The question is, which of these scents is the better option? In this post, I’m going to do a full head to head breakdown and declare a winner, in this contest.

Tale of the Tape

Ultra Male

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

Read my original Review: Ultra Male

1 Million

Notes include: grapefruit, blood orange, rose, mint, cinnamon, amber, leather, patchouli, and more

Click here to try: Paco Rabanne 1 Million Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 3.4 Fluid Ounce

Read my original review: 1 Million Cologne Review

Opening

Ultra Male opens up with a sweet candy-like intensity, with pear, mint, vanilla, and cinnamon. It also has a nice spice in addition to all of that is both bold and at the same time, smooth. Unlike the original Le Male, it lacks that powdery aroma.

Meanwhile, 1 Million also opens up sweet with citrus, rose, mint, and leather accords running through it. This composition gives off the effect of smelling like grape bubblegum, but is actually quite nuanced when smelled up close.

To me, the spices in the newer bottle seem a bit more prominent. The cinnamon especially warms up the 1 Million aroma. Still smooth and something I enjoy.

The overlaps between the top are apparent in their use of mint and cinnamon, but the outcomes of each is fairly different.

Which one is better? Eh, I like both a lot, but I lean toward how 1 Million opens because there is so much going on and I can catch a different aspect each time. Is it way better than how the Jean Paul Gautier cologne opens? No, but I’ll give it the edge.

Edge: 1 Million

Projection

Both of these fragrances are pretty well known as, ‘club beasts’, which means they are the loud and bold type of scents you can wear at a night club. As such, the sillage on both is going to be very good, and that is indeed the case.

Sometimes, I feel that 1 Million projects itself better, but I don’t think that’s entirely the case. In fact, I sprayed Ultra Male twice on a shirt across the room, and can smell it from my sofa. There isn’t really a clear winner here.

Update: Newer bottles of 1 Million don’t have the same power, that they once did. Ultra Male has been discontinued, so any bottle you get will be the same. As such, I’m switching this category from a tie to Ultra Male.

Edge: Ultra Male

Longevity

I usually get 8-9 hours of wear from Ultra Male. Sometimes, it can go an hour or two longer. However, I consistently get 10+ hours out of 1 Million when I wear it.

Edit: Again, 1 Million doesn’t have that same power. However, I still get 8-9 hours from it. But, now this category is a tie.

Edge: Push

Versatility

Due to the strength of both, neither is usually thought of as an everyday wear. You can wear them during the day, just go easy with both. However, each is much more suited to the nightlife than anything else.

Also, they are cold weather performers, but 1 Million can venture into warmer weather while Ultra Male doesn’t do so well. I’d avoid both during the summer but 1 Million, can take the heat better, and takes this category.

Edge: 1 Million

Overall Scent

I wear both of these colognes at times, so, I can say that both are enjoyable to wear in my mind. It’s not an either/or question for me, but more along the lines of what I’m in the mood for.

That being said, I think that I’ll give the edge to 1 Million here. It’s not a blow out and I love Ultra Male, but I think that the Paco Rabanne has a slightly better smell, more versatility, longevity, and will fit better for most guys.

In fact, I don’t smell 1 Million everywhere like I used to, so I don’t even believe that it is still overused.

Ultra Male is great and it’s a nice choice on cold nights out during the wintertime, but it is just a notch below 1 Million. I used to like it more than I currently do, but I’m not sure that it ever surpassed 1 Million for me. Close though.

Note: Even with the reduction in strength, I would still rather wear 1 Million more often than not. Actually, in some ways it makes 1 Million more wearable, to be toned down some.

Winner: 1 Million

7 Best Smelling Jean Paul Gaultier Colognes

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Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances have enjoyed massive commercial success for both its men’s and women’s line. While now, Le Male is almost ubiquitous in its usage, when it was released in 1995 it became popular because of its great scent, even if now it trades based on its reputation.

For this list, I have selected seven scents from Jean Paul Gaultier which I feel represent a best of their men’s cologne collection. Update: Some of these may be more difficult to find now, as there are discontinued options on the list. But, still plenty of scents to enjoy.

Key Takeaways

I go into detail about all of these fragrances, below. Though, here is a quick list for those in a hurry to find the best Gaultier scents.

What are the Best Smelling JPG Fragrances for Men?

The Nightlife Star

Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male Eau de Toilette Intense 40ml Spray– This is the best choice in my opinion and the Gaultier fragrance that I keep a full bottle of for myself.

Ultra Male was introduced as another flanker fragrance to the original Le Male (listed below) and has surpassed its predecessor in terms of quality, smell, and performance.

I will say, this won’t be the best option for those who are looking for a daily wear. This isn’t an office scent, is limited to colder climates, and skews to a younger audience.

It’s sweet, powerful, and spicy with notes of vanilla, cinnamon, pear, amber, mint, lavender, among others. Ultra Male has great longevity and a bold sillage, that works well for the nightlife during the colder months of the year.

Pear, cinnamon, and mint are really strong early in the wear. The pear and cinnamon give it a distinct vibe from Le Male.

It’s got a candy-like presence while maintaining a masculine vibe throughout. Read my full review: Ultra Male Review

All Around Classic

Le Male by Jean Paul Gaultier for Men – 4.2 Ounce EDT Spray– One of the most popular and widely used fragrances in the world. Le Male blends orange blossom, mint, lavender, and woods to create a fragrance that is sexy and wholly masculine.

The vanilla note is paired early on with the orange blossom, bergamot, cinnamon, mint, and lavender. The cinnamon and minty fresh spice aroma, is at its peak during this time.

The bergamot does give it a slight citrus note up top, to break things up a bit. Then, the cinnamon will begin to fade and it becomes a creamy/powdery kind of scent.

Things end with amber, vanilla, tonka bean, and woods enveloping the floral heart.

It’s been around for decades and is still going strong. This one is more vanilla and mint than Ultra Male and doesn’t have to same bold projection. However, Le Male is still a very nice option for an everyday scent, particularly for younger men. Le Male Full Review

le male jpg review

Sweet New Entry

Le Male Elixir- This has been one of the hottest releases in men’s fragrances in 2023. While Le Male Elixir, may not be for everyone, I think that it deserves much of the recognition that it receives.

Elixir opens with a blend of cold mint, tonka bean, lavender, and vanilla. It’s a fresh and sweet mix, with a heavy sillage at this early stage of the wear.

Then, we start to warm things up with a mix of honey, benzoin, and amber coming up as a heavier part of the composition. In the end, you get plenty of the original Le Male DNA (lavender, mint, vanilla), along with a bold infusion of notes like tobacco and honey.

This is one that I have been enjoying wearing, since I purchased Elixir, a few months back. If you don’t like sweet and heavier scents, skip it. But, it’s worth a try for anyone else. Le Male Elixir Review

The Bold JPG

Gaultier 2 By Jean Paul Gaultier For Men and Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 4 Ounces– Not as heralded as Le Male, however, Gaultier 2 is a winner. It brings together a triumvirate of notes including, musk, amber, and vanilla to create a sweet, warm, and memorable fragrance.

This is a unisex fragrance, that is also quite simple, and very appealing. Gaultier 2 is bold and heavy on the amber and vanilla, which generates a seductive cloud of inviting heat around the wearer.

It’s been discontinued, but you can still pick up a bottle on the secondary market. If you live in a warmer climate or if it’s summertime, this is one to avoid. However, it can be an absolute gem in the cold and crisp weather.

The Herbal/Floral Cologne

Fleur Du Male by Jean Paul Gaultier 4.2oz 125ml EDT Spray– Fleur du Male scales back the masculinity for something a little more androgynous but still quite appealing. A very nice scent for the right man, that mixes floral notes like neroli with herbal notes like basil.

It has a floral sweet opening, then moves into a more spiced powdery, sort of smoky dry down. Great projection and longevity.

This is really a different kind of men’s fragrance, as you get some traditional herbal elements, with a great neroli and almost vanilla undertones. Fleur du Male is quite fresh and clean and a joy to wear in the daytime.

Update: This is now discontinued.

Different Take on the Classic Style

Le Male Terrible– This is another flanker of Le Male, which opens up as a close clone of the original, but with slight differences that get more distinct over time. Noticeably, the mint note is missing from the mix.

The pink pepper and grapefruit notes, set it apart, and give it a warmer vibe. It is lighter than the original, but has a good 6-7 hours of wear, and can be worn pretty much year round.

The dry down becomes about the amber, vanilla, lavender, and pink pepper. It’s really quite attractive. This wouldn’t be my first choice, but I think it’s a good option at the right price. Le Male Terrible Review

Update: Also discontinued.

Best New Release

Le Male Le Parfum– The latest popular iteration of the Le Male series and it’s a really good one. A nice amount of cardamom and soft powder from the iris note. Very nice with the appealing DNA of the original Le Male, especially coming from the lavender in the beginning.

However, it also gives you hints of Ultra Male, without the same powerful sillage (though, performance is still very good). Very warm with spicy punches throughout and wrapped up in that familiar JPG vanilla note.

It’s a more mature fragrance than either of the others. Not super high-end and formal, but it does give a nice update to the classic formula.

Le Parfum is another solid entry from this line and I prefer it versus something like In the Navy, in comparison. This is one if you want something beyond Le Male, but not the same level as Ultra Male. Le Male Le Parfum Review

gaultier le male

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.

La Belle EDP by Jean Paul Gaultier

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JPG’s La Belle is a sample that I received by mistake, when I was supposed to get different men’s fragrances and received women’s instead. But, not a big deal, since I have to do writeups for this site anyway. I’d encountered this one a few times before, but never spent that much time with it. How does La Belle EDP smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a buy?

What does La Belle by JPG Smell Like?

Notes include: pear, vanilla, bergamot, leather, floral notes, amber, musk, vetiver

Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier La Belle for Women Eau De Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how JPG describes this scent: Jean Paul Gaultier created La Belle in his own image, an ultra sensual feminine fragrance with an addictive sillage. A green oriental perfume born of the encounter between addictive vanilla pod, fresh bergamot and a burst of pear.

Upon first spraying La Belle EDP, I immediately think that this is the female version of Ultra Male, by this designer. Two different scents, with overlaps, and really the same concept.

Juicy pear and bergamot kick things off here. The background is warm and a bit spicy, but the overall aroma is one that is sweet, somewhat thick, but retaining a light and watery freshness about it. I get amber early on, as well.

The sweetness has a gourmand caramelization going on. The bergamot note will subside and that’s when the vanilla note really starts to come into its own. The vetiver note comes in towards the middle act, with a general impression of floral notes.

But, this isn’t really a floral fragrance, just a sweet fruity one. The leather, if it is there, must be hidden underneath the layers of the rest.

In the end, it’s about the vanilla, amber, musk, and vetiver notes. That’s what it dries down to. The pear and bergamot are pretty much just an impression of sweetness later on.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This stuff is pretty massive. The ability that it has to project is very far reaching, much like Ultra Male. Literally, only need a spray or two. I can catch whiffs of it from a shirt that I sprayed from 10 feet away.

So, you know, don’t go crazy with this stuff.

The longevity is pretty top notch. Well over 11 hours, on my skin, during testing. La Belle is an absolute beast and workhorse that isn’t just going to quit. This is a perfume that is bold and commands attention for a long time.

Seasonally, autumn and winter. Maybe, the early part of spring. I wouldn’t wear this when it is too warm out, but it does hang very nicely in the cold air, here in January.

The versatility is probably the biggest weakness. Not a formal scent. Not for work. Probably not for many daytime situations. However, it is a nightlife gem. This can be worn to a bar, club, and out on a date.

It does have a sexiness and attractive qualities to lure someone in. Provided you don’t over-spray and choke them out first.

Overall Impressions of La Belle

Overall, do I like La Belle EDP? I do like it. It’s not a complete love for me, because it is very sweet and kind of overwhelming at times.

Nonetheless, it is a fragrance that smells very nice and it’s a solid gourmand. The bergamot and pear opening is great. It does quickly get wrapped up in that vanilla embrace.

It can be cloying, and frankly, it does wear on my nerves after a while. The vetiver and amber and vanilla dry down, isn’t my favorite…but still pretty good, on the whole.

If you want a monstrous sillage and love sweet gourmand fragrances, this is one to check out. Understand, it isn’t for everyone or one that you’d necessarily want to wear on many occasions. But, it is a perfume that can for sure have its place within a rotation.