Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Summer 2014 Review: A Discontinued Treasure
We dissect this rare summer flanker to see if it's worth hunting down on the collector's market.
Each year, the fragrance world anticipates the seasonal flankers from major design houses. Jean Paul Gaultier's Le Male, a pillar of modern men's perfumery since 1995, is no exception. The brand has a long-standing tradition of releasing limited-edition summer versions, each housed in a uniquely decorated version of its iconic torso bottle. Today, we're examining a ghost from summers past: the 2014 edition. This isn't a fragrance you'll find on department store shelves. It's a discontinued relic, a snapshot of a specific moment in time, now living exclusively on the secondary market where collectors hunt for rare bottles.
Launched in 2014, Le Male Summer 2014 was positioned as a lighter, greener, and more refreshing interpretation of the classic vanilla-and-lavender DNA that made the original a global phenomenon. While the original Le Male is a powerhouse best suited for cooler weather and evening wear, the summer editions aim to make the scent profile wearable in high heat. They strip back the heavy sweetness, amplify the freshness, and introduce new notes appropriate for sun-drenched days. The 2014 version, with its vibrant green and yellow parrot-themed bottle, promised an olfactory trip to a tropical jungle.
The concept was simple: Le Male goes on a tropical vacation. The marketing and bottle design leaned heavily into an exotic, vibrant, and slightly wild aesthetic. The fragrance inside was meant to match this theme, blending the familiar comfort of the original's core with a blast of crisp, natural-smelling green notes. This was a departure from other summer flankers that might rely solely on citrus or aquatic accords. The inclusion of grass and green leaves gave the 2014 edition a distinct character that set it apart from its predecessors and successors.
In the fragrance community, Le Male Summer 2014 is regarded with a mix of nostalgia and practicality. For collectors, the unique bottle design and the finite nature of the release make it a desirable piece. For casual wearers, its legacy is more complicated. It's remembered as a well-executed summer scent that successfully translated the Le Male DNA for warm weather. However, its poor performance and discontinued status make it more of a curiosity than a practical recommendation. Our job is to break down the facts: what does it smell like, how does it perform, and is it worth hunting down today?
The Nose Behind the Scent
The original Le Male was created by Francis Kurkdjian. The 2014 summer flanker was likely developed by the in-house perfumery team at Puig, who holds the fragrance license for Jean Paul Gaultier. These teams are skilled at reinterpreting iconic scents for seasonal releases, though their names are rarely credited.
Accords
Notes Pyramid
Scent Journey
The first 15-30 minutes are a bright, airy version of the Le Male opening. Cool mint and clean lavender dominate, lifted by a touch of cardamom. It's instantly recognizable but much lighter and fresher than the original.
From 30 minutes to the 2-hour mark, the heart reveals itself. This is the green phase, characterized by realistic notes of freshly cut grass and crushed green leaves. It's a vegetal, crisp, and clean accord that defines this specific flanker.
After 3-4 hours, the scent settles into a soft skin scent. The base is a gentle combination of a light, non-syrupy vanilla, clean white musk, and a subtle, creamy sandalwood. It's a whisper of the original's famous drydown.
Performance Dashboard
Lasts 4-6 hours on skin. It is a skin scent for the second half of its life. Typical for a summer Eau de Toilette.
Projects moderately for the first hour, creating a pleasant but not overwhelming scent bubble. It sits very close to the skin after that.
A soft scent trail that is only noticeable up close. It will not announce your arrival or leave a heavy trail.
When to Wear
Community Verdict
Receives positive attention in close encounters. People often comment that it smells 'clean' and 'fresh'. It's pleasant and inoffensive, but not a massive compliment magnet due to its soft projection.
Pros & Cons
- ✅ A unique and refreshing green take on the classic Le Male DNA.
- ✅ Excellent for high heat and humid weather.
- ✅ The 2014 bottle with the parrot design is a fantastic collector's item.
- ✅ Smells natural and not overly synthetic.
- ❌ Discontinued and extremely difficult to find.
- ❌ Secondary market prices are inflated, offering poor value for money.
- ❌ Below-average performance in both longevity and projection.
Price & Value
“Not worth the price for casual use. The cost is justifiable only for serious collectors who value the rarity and unique bottle design over the fragrance's performance.”
📜 Reformulation History
As a single-year, limited edition release, there are no known reformulations or significant batch variations for the 2014 version.
Who It's For
✅ Ideal For
- Collectors of Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances
- Fans of the original Le Male seeking a summer version
- Men aged 20-35 who prefer fresh, green, aromatic scents
⚠️ Not Recommended For
- Anyone seeking a long-lasting, powerful fragrance
- Those on a budget (due to high reseller prices)
- Formal occasions or office environments where a more traditional scent is preferred
The Family
A darker, spicier, and more intense version with added cardamom and iris.
A potent, sweet, and resinous version with honey and tonka bean.
A tropical, coconut-forward flanker from a different sub-line.
A much sweeter, fruitier (pear) version designed for clubs and nightlife.
Explore More
🔍 Similar Fragrances
Shares a similar fresh, green, and minty profile with a woody base.
Features a prominent green, soapy, and fresh character perfect for summer.
Offers a different kind of green freshness, focusing on fig leaf, but captures the same Mediterranean summer vibe.
💡 Clone Alternatives
This was a one-off, limited edition from 2014, making it an unlikely target for clone houses. Your best bet is to find a clone of the original Le Male and layer it with a simple green scent.
❤️ You May Also Enjoy
Fans of simple, elegant, and refreshing summer scents will appreciate its clean bergamot and grapefruit blossom profile.
A classic aquatic and woody summer fragrance that is widely available and performs well in heat.
A creamy lemon and vetiver scent that offers a sophisticated and fresh summer experience.
More from Jean Paul Gaultier
🧪 Layering Ideas
- Molecule 01 (Iso E Super) to enhance the woody base and improve longevity.
- A simple citrus fragrance (like 4711) to amplify the initial freshness.
- A light vanilla fragrance to bring the base notes forward for evening wear.
🏆 Final Verdict
Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Summer 2014 is a ghost of summers past—a well-executed, refreshingly green take on an iconic masculine fragrance. For the brief time it's on your skin, it's an absolute delight, perfectly capturing the essence of a carefree, sun-soaked day. The blend of classic Le Male lavender with crisp grass and leaves is masterful.
However, this is a product that exists in two realities. In one, it is a fantastic scent. In the other, it is an impractical and overpriced collector's item. Its fleeting performance and exorbitant reseller price make it impossible to recommend for anyone simply looking for a good summer fragrance. You should buy this fragrance for one reason only: you are a dedicated collector of the Le Male line. For that purpose, the unique bottle and the nostalgic scent profile make it a worthy addition to your shelf. For everyone else, your money is far better spent on a readily available, better-performing alternative.