Férfi illat
Le Male by Jean-Paul Gaultier is one of the classics of men's fragrance. Without its accent, this iconic fragrance leaves ambiguity in its wake about the word itself: a male or evil?
But the lines of Gaultier's bottles, dressed in the sailor's strip for which the couturier is famous, suggest that he is exploring masculinity. Sometimes in sleek, modern lines for muskules cut from rough stone, faceted in precious gems; sometimes decorated in the colors of SuperMan, another paragon of virility.
In a range of perfumes for men, Jean-Paul Gaultier reveals the French man through fragrances with recognizable marine and woody accents. "Kokorico", an eau de toilette intended as an absolute juice of virility, unsettles our senses. Raw cocoa beans collide with fig leaves, evoking the South of France and strong characters. This character is symbolized by the bottle: its face representing what can only be described as "a mouth". Olfactory surprise mingles with visual surprise: seen in profile, the bottle's lines blend together to draw not a face, but a muscular torso, reminiscent of "Male".
A very subtle and terribly sensual way of inviting us to observe man from every angle, both body and mind, and to be seduced by his secrets and carnal thirst. Erotic semantics have always been present in Jean-Paul Gaultier's work, whether it's his textile creations or, it's impossible to miss, his invisible works.