If you know the original Le Male Eau de Toilette well, then you’ll notice a lot of the same notes – the bases both use vanilla. But where the 1995 edition offers a fresher start as it opens with mint, this fragrance opts for a hotter alternative and adds a dash of iris to revitalise the heart. Where would you wear it? “It’s quite strong for me, but I can see men wearing it comfortably in the day and evening. However, I think it would be great for late afternoon and evening wear.” A special mention has to go the perfumers, Quentin Bisch & Natalie Garcia-Cetto. You might recognise their names; they’re behind a number of Jean Paul Gaultier’s well-loved Le Male fragrances.

I’ve made it clear by now that my Mum and Dad have kindly agreed to help test Le Male. They’re both in their 50s and self-confessed fragrance novices, so I was intrigued to find out what they thought…What do you think it smells similar to? “I can’t think of a specific fragrance that it reminds me of. But because it’s so intense, it reminds me of a confident professional.” I’ll go into more detail about each specific fragrance note next, but I want to first explain the mood of this Eau de Parfum.

When you first spray Le Male Le Parfum, it feels very masculine and intense: it’s a fragrance that wants to be noticed. It’s warm, spicy and strong. But it reveals a more elegant and sophisticated tone as it develops – and somehow, it does so without losing its strength. You may be familiar with the original Le Male Eau de Toilette, whether you know it for its oriental-aromatic scent or its iconic bottle. 25 years later, Jean Paul Gaultier have added another full-bodied fragrance into the mix: Le Male Le Parfum. And it’s been given a bold, intense and woody-oriental revamp. The top note is cardamom; this spice gives the Eau de Parfum its power and strength thanks to its hot, almost aromatic tone. Describe Le Male Parfum in more detail: “It’s very bold so you wouldn’t need to use much of it. For me, it has an aromatic tone. I think this is a fragrance for someone who is confident in themself.”Eau de Parfums generally last four to five hours. When I tested this fragrance out with my Mum and Dad, that was one thing they both took away from it: it’s very long-lasting. The longevity of a fragrance can admittedly vary from person to person, but we’ve certainly been impressed by it. It surpassed the four-hour test for me; when I wore it on my wrist, I could still smell a subdued, vanillary tone long after six hours. In fact, my Dad tried it at 2pm one afternoon and – after exercising and showering in the evening – could still smell it faintly on his wrist the next morning. And here at Escentual, we think it’s important that you choose a fragrance that suits you and makes you feel confident, regardless of what the perfumer intended.