- Jean Paul Gaultier’s latest fragrance is made in an Eau de Parfum concentration, available in 50ml and 100ml formats.
- Falls into the wood gourmand family of perfumes, built around notes of chestnut, sandalwood and mirabelle plum.
- Available to purchase now via Myer and David Jones. Prices range between $155-$210.
Trailblazers both, Jean Paul Gaultier’s eponymous fragrance range also happens to reflect American author Susan Sontag’s sentiment that “what is most beautiful in men is something feminine”. The newest iteration of Scandal Pour Homme Absolu is no exception.
A creamy, nutty fragrance which persists for hours on the cuff, it’s the latest in a string of new releases that have contributed to Jean Paul Gaultier’s enduring popularity among fragrance nerds.
Following the recent release of Le Male Lover, a seaweed-tinged citrus number, Scandal Absolu delivers the follow-up punch in a knockout one-two combination. Built around caramelly woods, we’d describe it as a real bad boy of a fragrance: crowd-pleasing but iconoclastic, free-spirited yet cynical.
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This latest JPG scent has been created by a trio of powerhouse perfumers including Natalie Gracia-Cetto (Tom Ford Soleil Blanc), Christophe Raynaud (Rabanne 1 Million), and Quentin Bisch (Le Sel D’Issey).
Notably, each has previously also worked on at least one scent in the Gaultier fragrance universe. That shared experience is evident here, with the Scandal hallmark of boozy caramel and tonka bean butting up against Le Male’s notes of vanillin aftershave.
Cast in JPG’s iconic crown stopper, the three listed notes for Scandal Pour Homme Abosolu are mirabelle (a type of sweet plum), chestnut, and sandalwood.
The honeyed plum shines through on this beast performer, which dries down to a nutty shaved wood. Nevertheless, it is Absolu’s masculine gourmand character which elevates it to one of the brand’s most exciting new releases.
Where Le Male emulates that Sontag quip with citrussy lavenders, Scandal Absolu leans into a buttery sweet chestnut that is, in no uncertain terms, fit for the modern man.
In the wake of increasing JPG sales, attributable in large part to the introduction of a younger, TikTok-centric clientele, Scandal Absolu shows the house isn’t resting on its laurels.
Avoiding the pitfalls of similar fashion houses that first rose to prominence during the early ’80s, JPG’s clever elevation of nostalgia and consistent punk sentiment continue to give the brand relevance in an industry rife with sequel-itis.
If Gaultier’s muscly mesh tees are a touch too scandalous for your tastes, this new Eau de Parfum is the next best thing.
