Best Scandal by Jean Paul Gaultier Alternatives & Similar Perfumes
Scandal by Jean Paul Gaultier is a vibrant chypre floral fragrance characterised by juicy blood orange and mandarin top notes balanced with rich honey and caramel sweetness. Its floral heart features gardenia, jasmine and orange blossom, layered with beeswax warmth and a subtle licorice twist. Patchouli adds depth to the base, creating a complex scent that is at once fresh, sweet and slightly animalic. Those drawn to Scandal’s blend of citrus, honeyed floral and warm gourmand facets will find nuances to explore in fragrances sharing these elements.
Aube Lumineuse by Reserve en Afrique 1934 £150.00
- Key notes:
- blood orange
- cedarwood
- ginger
- orange blossom
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- green
The sun rises, flooding the great expanses of the plains, gracing the wilderness with a wash of pure light. The sky is clear. The air is fresh.
The fragrance opens with a luminous burst of citrus: tangerine (South Africa) and blood orange (South Africa). A bright heart of enveloping orange flower (Morocco) and zesty ginger (Nigeria) is supported by a woody base of cedarwood Atlas (Morocco).
Réserve en Afrique eaux de parfum feature responsibly sourced naturals, and are free from parabens, phthalates, UV filters and colorants. Their natural alcohol base is derived from beetroots, and they are a PETA-listed vegan & cruelty-free brand.
L'OR DE LOUIS by Arquiste £235.00
- Key notes:
- bergamot
- chypre
- honey
- jasmine
- orange blossom
- orris (iris root)
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- vintage/old school
Olfactory opulance conjures the Palace of Versailles in its heyday when Louis XIV and his Court would amble the Grand Orangery to delight in the flowering orange trees warmed by bonfires. This is a bright orange blossom with a warm, woody background, with notes of orange blossom absolute, pomegranate, honey and firewood smoke.
Thumbsucker by Stora Skuggan £130.00
- Key notes:
- beeswax
- cherry
- honey
- narcissus
- violet
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- vintage/old school
- woody
An ancient king named Yuvanaswa had great wealth, good fortune and many queens. But no children, which he wanted more than anything. So the sages prepared a magic potion to bestow a mighty son upon whomever drank it, which awkwardly turned out to be the thirsty king, instead of the queens it was intended for. The baby was delivered by cutting a hole through the king’s thigh, and the breastfeeding conundrum was solved by the god Indra, who slit his own thumb to feed the child with life-giving nectar. And that’s why babies, born with the memory of their divine ancestors, still suck their thumbs.
Thumbsucker illuminates this legend with the narcotic flower power of narcissus, melding its dirty floral appeal with animalic honey. A vintage violet drifts through a comforting cloud of leathery styrax balsam and candle wax.
Perilla Peach & Ginger by NuWilds £80.00
- Key notes:
- cumin
- gardenia
- ginger
- lime
- milky nuance
- peach
- Aromagroups:
- floral
- leather
- vintage/old school
Perilla Peach & Ginger is inspired by a Hunan summer drink of lime, herbs and honeyed fruit, served in a green glass jar as a little ritual against the heat. This vivid EdP opens on a lively burst of Thai lime and aromatic perilla leaf (shiso), layered with warm ginger and ripe peach. Gentle gardenia melts into a clean trail of white musk and warm labdanum.
Perfumer: Liu Yang
Kajal I by Kajal £195.00
- Key notes:
- cashmeran
- gaiac / guaiac wood
- mandarin
- orange blossom
- patchouli
- tonka beans
- Aromagroups:
- spicy
Spiritually, number one represents beginnings, focus and determination. Kajal l, with its fresh, engaging warmth, has been crafted to underscore one’s innate dignity and charisma. Cassis, grapefruit and mandarin provide the big “hello!”. Guaiac wood, cardamom, orange blossom and cashmeran draw people in, while a soft vanillic cloud of sandalwood and oud extend the allure.
Perfumer: Christian Carbonnel
Arancia di Sicilia by Perris Monte Carlo £160.00
- Key notes:
- blood orange
- orris (iris root)
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- woody
A delectable candied orange perfume featuring blood orange sourced from Sicily, coffee absolute and amber.
As always, Perris go for the best materials they can source from around the world.
For Arancia de Sicilia, they picked the iconic citrus of Sicily: orange sanguinella (the blood orange). Normally, the essential oil from bitter oranges is more valued than oil of the common, sweeter varieties. However, the sanguinella orange cultivated on the slopes of Mount Etna is the exception to this rule because of its complex, refined aroma. Blood oranges in this perfume have been extracted by a family-run company in Capua, who have been operating since 1880. They use two traditional methods of extraction. One is to obtain the brown-coloured essential oil from the rind, without touching the fruit pulp which will be used for drinks. The second method takes place when the growing season draws to a close. The entire fruit is passed through a press, blending oil from its peel with the juice. Then a sfumatorchio extractor is used to separate the juice from the pulp, and finally a centrifuge separates the oil from the juice.
Perris blends essential oils from both methods to magically recreate the summer in Sicily with its oranges, strong coffee and sweet patisserie treats.
Beso Pasión by Beso Beach £145.00
- Key notes:
- amber
- blood orange
- cardamom
- fig
- ginger
- musk
- vetiver
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- green
- woody
Perfumer: Jordi Fernández (the nose behind the white floral wonder of Latin Lover).
Beso Pasion is like a sweet summer breeze caressing a Mediterranean island. A breeze infused with sea salt, the delicious aroma of fig trees, and fragrant grass cured by the hot sun.
In This World by Liis £160.00
- Key notes:
- blood orange
- fig
- sage
- Aromagroups:
- fruity
- green
- transparent
- woody
A fig that you feel, rather than smell. In This World is a wisp of clean green fig, supported by aromatic notes of lavender and sage. Tonka adds hay-like warmth, and violet lends tender sweetness.
- Key notes:
- blood orange
- incense
- musk
- musk al ghazal
- neroli
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- spicy
A sunny and vibrant scent that summons the energy of Mumbai. Juicy blood orange sparkles across the floral sweetness of neroli. Al ghazal musk cushions the composition with an enveloping velvet softness.
The cologne range has a perfume concentration of around 20%, making them longer-lasting than traditional colognes, while retaining the freshness and lightness that define this type of creation.
PG30 Alphaora by Pierre Guillaume - Parfumerie Générale £140.00
- Key notes:
- albizia
- ambergris
- blood orange
- candied fruit
- hedione
- hinoki
- Aromagroups:
- citrusy
- woody
Opening a new trend? A trend of happy hyper-pleasant gentle but super-diffusive perfumes to indulge the senses and notify the world of the wearer’s presence in a friendly jolly way.
PG30 Alphaora (rhyming with aura) is tenderly sweet and extremely far-reaching fragrant fantasy inspired by the albizia tree in bloom, with imaginary caramel smelling green moss that might grow on that tree.
About Scandal by Jean Paul Gaultier
- What makes Scandal by Jean Paul Gaultier distinctive?
- Scandal combines blood orange and honey with floral notes like gardenia and jasmine, layered over beeswax and caramel to create a unique chypre floral with gourmand warmth and a licorice twist.
- How do these fragrances compare to Scandal in terms of sweetness?
- Some fragrances here, like Thumbsucker and PG30 Alphaora, emphasise sweet elements such as honey and candied fruit, while others like Mumbai Cologne and Tiger Rouge focus more on smoky or animalic notes, resulting in varying sweetness levels.








