Le Mâle Essence de Parfum (2016)
by Jean Paul Gaultier

ssence (sometimes referred to as "Gaultier Premium Cologne) is of the warm/spicy/sweet variety a la Spicebomb, Bulgari Man in Black, CH Men, La Nuit, etc. It's mostly a blend of cardamom, cinnamon, tonka, some vanilla, lavender, and leather. What's nice about it is that all the notes are doled out in the proper proportions. It's well-balanced and nothing seems to dominate to the point where it becomes overbearing or annoying, and it doesn't feel like anything's missing either. The addition of costus to the composition has worked well here, adding a nice musky warmth underneath everything, which makes the fragrance sit well, blending it with the body's natural heat and creating a very cozy kind of "second skin." What Le Male Essence reminds me of most is a blend of two Parfums de Marly scents, Habdan and Layton. While Habdan is the darker of the two, possessing a sort of leathery myrrh made sweet through the addition of caramel, Layton relies on cardamom and lavender to generate its spicy heart, which is also a central accord in Essence. So while LME isn't wildly original, it's original enough for the mainstream market and actually smells really good, especially up close. And up-close is how you'll have to smell it because unfortunately Essence doesn't project more than a few inches off the body. That's my one serious gripe with this one--its performance is significantly lacking. Anyone expecting to wear this and have others notice it will surely be let down, as it seems designed (whether intentional or not) for intimate situations only. Personally, I'd like to see its projection beefed up quite a bit. While I generally don't complain about projection, its reservedness in this case feels like more of a mistake or the effect of cutting corners rather than any kind of intentionally calibrated subtlety. Longevity is nothing great either, clocking in around 4 to 5 hours. Overall, I'm giving Le Male Essence a neutral because of its below average performance, though it smells nice for the most part. So definitely sample it first if that concerns you.

EDIT: I just read another review where the reviewer said this smells like Carven Homme. That nails it! A big part of Essence reminded me exactly of something else and I couldn't put my finger on it. Carven Homme it is.

I get a fragrance that has a bit much oily-leather in the beginning for me but then calms down to a sophisticated, sexy cardamom scent in the drydown. Good for date nights.

Good projection to start with but then it goes to skin scent if not sprayed enough. Wear on clothes to increase performance.

Average longevity.

Pretty disappointing with this. The best thing I have to say about this is the bottle looks nice. The perfume is forgettable and very boring and plain to me. Very average in performance and would not buy. I prefer the original le male over this any day of the week.

Le Mâle Essence de Parfum feels like a refined retake of the original Le Mâle, without being overdone and too loud like the Ultra Male edition. It is wearable both for formal and everyday casual, although - like Ultra Male - overapplication is not recommended.

As several reviewers have opined, there is a woody dimension present here that reminds me of what Gucci Pour Homme II and Givenchy Pi Air do, incorporating a cedar quality that I really can get into. It elevates that legendary vanilla mint sweetness of the original Le Mâle to a sophisticated direction, which is greatly hinted at by the design of that gorgeous clear bottle!

Not sure where one can go to get a test spritz of this scent nowadays, but if you're able, go and spray some on your wrists and see how it relates to you. Else, if you're up to it, get a sample online and see for yourself how JPG's creation is.

had high hopes but its just not good in performance or sillage.CH men prive is a better buy and a similar smell but the winner here.too bad.The bottle is cool and for a parfum its just not that great.