Classique by Jean Paul Gaultier

This fragrance is the essence of the 90s. It’s an anchor bridge in memory that unites present and past, awakening the desire to relive those times. Seductive, elegant, like the memory of things and people that no longer exist, it exudes warmth. Spiced, sensual, romantic, elegant and clean at the same time. Classique is a great perfume for every woman who knows who she is and what she wants. Always up to date, a true classic that we can still appreciate today, enveloping and hard to forget. Delicate but decisive, very feminine, a sexy symbiosis between an evening gown and the sensuality of letting it fall at the right moment. Sweet, but without comparison to today’s caramel bombs; wild when it needs to be, classic yet timeless for sensual women. The femininity it exudes is very intriguing. Classique offers the golden mean of orange blossom, vanilla, and musk; it looks mature and never boring or rigid. It opens with a fresh note, I’d say neroli, accompanied by orange blossom that makes me think of sunscreen. Then, a powdery vanilla turns it into a summer day, to which are added a fibrous, spiced ginger, a full-bodied, slightly soft pear, and a mandarin that donates aquatic and fruity freshness, buffered by iris and orchid. A good scent is sometimes the best makeup. But be careful, because you have to be prepared for this subtle and feminine violence that floods you after spraying it. (Review based on a 2019 decant)

I had a real grudge against this perfume because someone who didn’t go down well with me used to wear it; I always thought it was a cloying and sugary aroma. Years have passed, I no longer see that person and the antipathy has dissipated until I’ve become curious again. I’ve gone to try it several times and what a surprise, I love it! Who would have thought. On my skin, it smells very different from how I remembered. I’ve been surprised to distinguish notes I like: anise in the opening, ginger in the heart and cinnamon in the dry down. I also perceive the flowers, but what a curiosity that on my skin the spicy notes stand out so much. How interesting how different a perfume smells on each person. Curiously, in other reviews they say it’s soapy, but for me it isn’t at all; I would define it as sensual. In short, try it!

It’s interesting because they say it represents the 90s and is a period jewel. It is quite the opposite of Leau de Dissey. It’s suitable for special or formal occasions where you want to leave a trail. For me, it’s not a lady’s scent: it’s intense, spiced, and fills the nose with complexity. The flowers give sensuality and sweetness, while the spices provide body and depth. It’s an identity; you smell it and recognise it instantly. There is no dominant note; it’s the whole combination. I wouldn’t recommend it if you prefer soft or fruity floral fragrances. It’s not discreet; it’s the exact opposite. I also don’t think it’s for ladies or teenagers. It suits men, although it is clearly feminine.

It reminded me of Alien by Mugler, although they don’t share any notes. Ironic, because I read reviews for Alien saying it smelled like fly spray, and with Classique, I finally understood what they meant. Alien is more common than Ccori Passion by Yanbal, which has anise and orchid, but I can’t quite work out which note gives off that insecticide scent. I remember smelling it differently when trying it in a shop and think I got it wrong that day with other JPG perfumes. Perhaps my poor taste for sandalwood and ylang-ylang brought me the problem. I recognise it smells like fine soap, but nothing else, I just couldn’t cope with it.

A legendary scent I discovered late and it has fallen in love with me. Those sparkling notes of bitter orange with star anise make it addictive. It’s refreshing yet at the same time dense and enveloping. On me, the vanilla and ylang-ylang don’t stand out much, so I see it as ideal for the shoulder seasons. It’s not excessively warm or fresh, it stays at an intermediate point. I feel it’s citrusy but a resinous citrus due to the amber note, surely… certainly talc-like but not powdery. I love it; it seems like a little jewel that needs to be known at least once in a lifetime if you have a passion for perfumery

I LIKED IT BUT MEH. I feel I’d buy many others before this one, but to be honest, I quite liked it, although it wasn’t love at first sniff. There are notes that feel very much like an older person, but because of the classic nature of the perfume, not for any other reason. Something I didn’t like is that I put it on a few hours ago and it lost much of its magic; that brings it down a lot; I don’t feel it’s very long-lasting. There’s something that doesn’t quite close for me, something I can’t decipher, beyond its longevity. I don’t love it and wouldn’t rush to buy it, but it’s a solid like.

Classique is floral, citrusy, and ambered, formal and sober, long-lasting, outside the current caramelised gourmand concept. I think it’s suitable for all year round; it has presence, it’s elegant and classic. In my case, the slightly bitter or greenish neroli is too noticeable; if you’re looking for the bubblegum sweetness of L’Interdit or My Way, this isn’t your option; these go more in the direction of Ralph Lauren Woman, very green but without sweetness. A low-cost alternative is Avon Today. Who will like it: obviously, lovers of classics.

It was my first Classique, love at first sniff. Ginger, orange blossom, vanilla, neroli, and anise. It’s soapy, sweet citrus, powdery floral, versatile, and a beast in longevity and projection. Many compare it to Poeme by Lancome, but I don’t see them as similar at all. It has a vintage air (it’s from the 90s). It stole my heart! Now I understand why I like JPG so much; they’re all fantastic perfumes, you don’t know which one to choose. I love it; it will always be with me. Would I buy it again? A thousand times yes!

A prism of sparkling floral and sweet notes that reminds me of my favourite: Poême. It has that timeless and classic feminine thread thanks to the plum (very much of the 80s and 90s), the neroli and the ylang ylang. It has the beauty of diverse notes flowing at once, with generosity. From start to finish there is a great evolution and the final trail is a reflection of Poême. For noses that appreciate creations from that era: Amarige, Loulou, Poison… It’s a classic as its name indicates.

It brings back memories of the 90s, both in quality and trail. At first, it smells like Poême from back then: cloying, very ambered, velvety and sweet. Nowadays, the original Poême is not so sweet or velvety. To me, it smells of ripe fruit, exquisite, feminine and of such quality that it fascinates me. It’s high-end, fun and playful. The fragrance arrives earlier and lingers longer. It’s a delight, full of nuances and sensations that unfold. A marvel, I recommend it 100%.

What an interesting perfume, it’s a little bar of sweet and intensely soapy orange blossom. It smells more youthful than the classic eau de parfum or the Lace Del, but it remains classic: a delicious vintage aroma. Smelling clean with such a clear soap is simple, unlike the Lace Del which has rum and makes you blush, vulgar in the best sense. Modernised but not improved. I understand the people who hate the reformulation.

Some say it smells of clean soap, but not for me. It only works in winter on very cold, dry days (where it smells of soft floral soap). In humid weather, it takes on a baby wipe note that I dislike. On hot days, it’s dense, appearing innocent when it isn’t. I must say it doesn’t sting or overpower, and having bought it a long time ago, it always retains the same scent, faithful.

A white floral opening with that explosive touch of musk, which after half an hour leaves an incredible sweetness with orange blossom and orchids. Then comes the vanilla and sandalwood, super soft and elegant. It’s not for a normal day, but to stand out at important events, especially at night with a dress or on autumn afternoons. In my opinion, better for those over 25.

One of my absolute favourites, giving it 10/10. I hope they don’t run out because I love them so much. It’s absolutely delicious; I think it’s the best in the Classic line and I’m fascinated by it. It has good projection and longevity, smells of white flowers, I wear it every day and it’s one of my most cherished perfumes

It’s a feminine energy perfume, clean and sweet. It has a strong presence of orange blossom, anise and vanilla. It’s very hard to find in imitations, you won’t go unnoticed with it, watch out for buying it blindly as it doesn’t suit every personality.