by Jean Paul Gaultier
Fleur du Mâle is a powerful, unisex floral fragrance that stands out for its bold combination of fresh green, sweet white floral, and herbal notes. It opens with an intense burst of neroli and chamomile, giving it a clean, slightly soapy quality that feels both refreshing and distinctive. This initial sharpness is followed by a persistent floral heart dominated by orange blossom and white florals, simmering with a subtle sweetness reminiscent of green apricot and coumarin. The drydown reveals a warm, slightly musky base with a faint animalic note, evoking the intimacy of a well-worn linen shirt and leaving a long trail in the air. It is not an everyday scent — its presence is overwhelming and polarizing. For those willing to embrace its confessional nature, it is a deeply personal and iconic experience. Despite its discontinuation, its legacy endures through hard-fought availability and heated debate over whether its daring floral character is truly masculine or a defiantly ungendered statement.