I wore Scandal on a packed train: first impressions of Jean Paul Gaultier’s new Elixirs

I had no business turning the quiet carriage into a test chamber, but curiosity wins. Two wrists, two fresh launches from Jean Paul Gaultier. Left wrist, the femme-leaning Scandal Elixir. Right wrist, the brawnier Scandal Pour Homme Elixir. You can judge me, but at least my row smelled expensive.

Scandal Elixir: this one starts like lacquered honey poured over hot orange blossom, thick and radiant, with a floral pulse that feels more grown than the original Scandal. Less candy shop, more night silk. There’s a resinous glow that reads ambered and slightly leathery, the kind of density that sticks to skin and scarf. On movement it pushed waves, not spikes, which matters when you’re shoulder to shoulder with strangers. If the OG was heels-on-cobblestone, the Elixir is velvet boots and a closed door. It’s sweet, yes, but there’s bite and a shadow that keeps it from going juvenile.

Scandal Pour Homme Elixir: the house’s caramel-tonka swagger is intact, but polished. Think darker syrup, toasted and smoky, with the herbal edge dialed down and a benzoin-amber undertow that adds depth. It wears smoother than the club-kid original, less neon, more grown man who still likes a mirrorball. On my skin it was a hum of warmth rather than a shout, then four stops later it muscled up, clinging to knitwear like a pro.

Performance check from public transport purgatory: two sprays each, and I could track both trails as I walked the aisle. Projection is confident for the first three hours, then an intimate thrum. Longevity on me was 8 to 10 hours, with the fabric hangover the next morning. Not office-friendly unless your office is a DJ booth. Cold weather loves both.

Verdict. I’d buy Scandal Elixir for the sticky honey-floral tension, the hint of leather mood, the way it makes a train feel like a back room. Scandal Pour Homme Elixir is a safe bet for fans of sweet woods who want depth without losing the gourmand grin. If you wrote off Scandal as a sugar bomb, sniff these with fresh eyes. If you already love the line, these are the after-hours versions you were waiting for.