When it comes to scents, I have never really experimented that much. I know what I like when I smell it on a tester, but I am not brave enough to splash out usually on a whole bottle unless I am pretty sure I like it. I don't even wear it that often, but I have two that I like, one of which I am happy to wear as a daytime perfume into nightime, which is the Jean Paul Gaultier Classique perfume, which I first bought in 2005 as a duty free purchase while on a honeymoon break in France.

Because I bought it at such a significant time in my life, and I only really wear it on special days like when we go to a family event, or on Christmas Day, I do have strong feelings when wearing this perfume. It makes me feel very relaxed, and confident at the same time. My other perfume I wear is Coco Chanel, and that is something for a night out, and makes me feel fully dressed and powerful. This is merely a bit flirty for me in comparison, and it is a powerful mood lifter, as if I spray it when I am feeling a bit down, it does cheer me up immediately.

I had a friend as a teenager who wore the male scent, so I was familiar with the style of packaging being a dress on a body, but I wasn't aware that the pattern of the dress changes each year, and these designs are not only beautiful, but extremely collectable. Empty ones can be seen trading hands on ebay quite frequently, though I don't think I would want to part with my bottle.

The bottle is sat inside a pink metal can. It is attached firmly to the base, and the sides and top of the can lift off to reveal the beautiful mannequin inside. This is great for keeping the perfume from going off because light can't get in, but also means I am most likely to take this perfume with me when we go away somewhere as I know that the bottle is completely protected inside this packaging.

My bottle has a dress design which is mostly a black lacey pattern, and while less pretty than some of the dresses in other years, it is definitely a classic design. The bottle is a spray bottle, and the shape of it means that it sits really nicely in your hand while you use it. It feels safe.


Using the Perfume

I don't have the world's best nose for what something smells of, but I will try my best here. Initially spraying the perfume on, the scent is straight away quite a sweet and sophisticated smell. This smell is long lasting and seem to stay pretty constant on my skin. I can be confident that if I spray it before an event starts, I will still be smelling just as sweet hours later, without the need to reapply. This suits me, as I usually have enough stuff to take for the kids, without carting my own stuff around.

I find if I wear a scarf when wearing this, then the scent remains on my scarf for a long time afterwards. I can still detect it if I sniff hard months later. Maybe because you don't wash it quite as frequently as your other clothes, and the scent builds up because of repeated use.


What is in it?

Looking online, as I can't detect this myself, the perfume contains top notes of rose and star anise, middle notes of orange blossom and ginger, and base notes of vanilla and amber wood.

This does not smell that floral to me at all. Maybe a little spicy from the ginger, and mostly sweet from the vanilla. That probably is why I don't notice much change to the scent for the duration of wearing it.


How much is it?

I honestly can't remember how much we paid for my own bottle in Duty Free, as it was 6 years ago, but a bottle now like mine (100ml) could set you back anywhere from £46.99 at cheap smells, up to £68 on the Gaultier website. While this is quite a lot, it does seem to last a long time. I am still on the original bottle with no deterioration of the quality of the scent over that time.

Smaller bottles of 20ml or 50ml are available on cheap smells, for £26, and £46.55.

It is a classic scent that is not likely to go out of fashion, made from a reputable brand, so to me, is completely worth the price.