Jean Paul Gaultier Fragrances

Anyone who is looking for the finest in perfumes and fragrances has to look no further than the Gaultier brand. Although far better known for his work as a designer of outrageously cutting-edge fashion wear, the distinctive individual for whom the brand is named after–Jean Paul Gaultier–is also one of the most noted figures in the world of scents and perfumes, due in large part to the exquisite collection of Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances.

Interestingly enough, Gaultier was never formally trained as a clothing designer. He began his remarkable career as an assistant to Pierre Cardin in the 70s, after impressing the already world-famous senior designer with his brilliant sketches. Gaultier then went on to work with a succession of other high profile stylists, before managing Cardin's boutique in the Philippines in 1974.

Success for Jean Paul Gaultier was quick to come with the development of his ready-to-wear line, which set the standards in cutting edge popular fashion. It was in 1988 that he expanded his already successful clothing line to include a line of lower-priced clothing with a decidedly nautical motif. Called Junior Gaultier, the clothing line was a huge success, and the rapidly rising young designer began to adopt a similar nautical style in many of his own subsequent collections.

Although not nearly as famous for his line of perfumes, a Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance nevertheless bears the same distinctive attraction as all the products that bear the Gaultier name. Gaultier's first release in this field was called Classique. The floral scented women's perfume was brought out to almost universal acclaim in 1993, and was an impressive debut for clothing designer-turned-perfume stylist.

Gaultier would follow up this success with the release of Le Mâle two years later, which was intended for the male market. This new product was just as well received as Classique, and further cemented Gaultier's reputation is one of the fastest rising stars in the perfume industry. Even today, Le Mâle remains quite popular in many parts of Europe, Australia, and even the United States.

Jean Paul Gaultier follow up perfume wasn't quite as popular as his initial releases. Called Fragile, the scent was released in 2000, and simply did not live up to the widespread acclaim of its predecessors. Nevertheless, Fragile did enjoy enough of a favorable reputation to warrant a limited distribution being released to this very day.

More successful was Gaultier's next foray into fragrances, which was intended for both men and women. Called Gaultier², the scent was billed as a "fragrance for humanity", and was released in Europe to widespread acclaim in 2005. Similarly favorable reactions came from the Canadian and American markets where the perfume was launched in January 2006 and August 2006 respectively.

Today, the Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances line is as strong as ever, with the latest products promising to offer even more of the outrageous and cutting edge aesthetic of the Gaultier name. Time will only tell what other fragrances will result from the fertile imagination of this remarkable style maker, but you can bet that they will be unique.