Jean Paul Gaultier • Fragile • Fragrances

Where To Buy?

blahblahh on 8/13/2011 7:19:00 AM more reviews by blahblahh

Age: 25-29   Skin: Sensitive, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Black   Eyes: Black    

Packaging: the best I've ever seen
Longevity: whole day
Smell: Heavy, musky, very warm. I know each person has different sense of smell, but this one is headache inducing for me
Verdict: I'll gaze on the beautiful bottle and let my sister use it up

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* prettykitty1 on 10/12/2010 7:33:00 PM more reviews by prettykitty1

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Other    

I bought Jean Paul Gaultier Fragile EDP unsniffed because I was absolutely enthralled with the creativity and charm of the snowglobe bottle. On the basis of the bottle alone, I just knew this one was going to be a keeper, even if I didn't care for the scent. But since we're all about scent here at Makeup Alley, let's talk about that first, shall we?


Fragile is a transparent tuberose fragrance that wears well during the day, making it perfect for casual and professional work settings. It's not overpoweringly strong, sweet, buttery, or over-the-top sexy the way Fracas or Poison can be, so if those fragrances are anathema to you, then please consider trying Fragile because it's not that kind of tuberose. It's far more sedate than that, but still beautiful in its own right. I also detect a bitter citrus note that reminds me very much of Hugo Boss Woman, believe it or not. In fact, if I smelled Fragile on a complete stranger, I'd very likely mistake it for that.


Getting back to the charms of the snowglobe bottle, the lady trapped inside is dressed in a black cocktail gown and matching elbow-length gloves, which makes her look exactly like the iconic Taittinger L'Instant champagne poster. (Do a google search for "taittinger l'instant" if you don't know what I mean, and you'll see the resemblance right away.) Could it be just a coincidence? I don't know, but I think it's a fitting homage if indeed the intent was there. There's something about the playfulness of the bottle design that lifts my spirits every time I look at it. It's festive, glamorous, and ultra-feminine in mood, even if the fragrance inside is a bit too demure to match. Personally, I would have loved to see YSL Champagne or Yvresse in this bottle. Now THAT would have been ideal! Then again, maybe Jean Paul Gaultier was being deliberately ironic when he bottled this rather demure juice in such an elaborate tchotchke. This is, after all, a fragrance called "Fragile," so he must have been aiming for a lighter, less tenacious, more modern type of fragrance all along, even if the packaging suggests a serious, old-school fragrance with the glamor of 1940s Hollywood.


Maybe I'm giving him too much credit, but I think what we have here is a philosophical statement on the ephemeral and vulnerable nature of beauty and the equally ephemeral and vulnerable nature of the artifice that enhances it. Perfume bottles, wine bottles, and glass snowglobes are decorative objects designed to protect and preserve their contents, but because they are made of glass, they themselves are poignantly fragile, much like the liquid within.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

matissia on 7/21/2010 7:03:00 PM more reviews by matissia

Age: 36-43   Skin: Dry   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Green    

Wow! I hate tuberose and gardenia and Fragile is just full of these flowers! Never more for me.

Beautiful bottle but hard to spray when it's almost empty.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

AllAboutBeauty on 7/16/2010 6:54:00 PM more reviews by AllAboutBeauty

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium, Cool   Hair: Red, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Brown    

This fragrance is heaven to me! I just wish the bottle was designed better - that's why I took off 1 lipee. Years ago some of the gold flakes got stuck in the tube, so it's been pretty hard getting any of the fragrance to squirt out. It is really beatiful to look at. The staying power on this perfume is amazing. I used to smell it on my clothes and in my hair the next day! I am so disappointed that they discontinued it. I would love to have a new one in my collection. It really is a sexy fragrance and makes you feel sexy. I agree with some of the others that this is a winter fragrance.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

micronesa29 on 2/8/2010 10:54:00 PM more reviews by micronesa29

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination, Olive   Hair: Black   Eyes: Brown    

Favorite perfume! So disappointed it has been discontinued in Australia. It's very delicate, youthful, and feminine without being to girl or flowery... My favorite part is the undertones of gardenia. the only thing is the scent doesn't last too long unless you get the eau de parfum which is a bit powerful at first. for best value and a subtle scent you can add before leaving your house, I'd still go for the eau de toilette.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

iloveshoesandcoffee on 11/3/2009 8:25:00 PM more reviews by iloveshoesandcoffee

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

This gets my vote for the coolest perfume bottle EVER! I purchased this many moons ago at an airport duty free shop solely on the merits of the bottle. The actual perfume is forgettable. But the bottle is a true work of art.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Casafras on 8/19/2008 12:27:00 PM more reviews by Casafras

Age: 36-43   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Blue    

Fragile starts off strong, but dries down to be quite comforting and sexy....spicy, warm, and creamy floral. The tuberose isn't too strong--just right. This makes me want to put on cozy sweaters and sit by the fireplace.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

liloca on 4/13/2008 1:09:00 PM more reviews by liloca

Age: 25-29   Skin: Oily   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

One word: Sexy!!!!!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

crystaltear on 2/5/2008 4:18:00 PM more reviews by crystaltear

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Brown    

One of my very favorite tuberose that is only second to Fracas. While Fracas is potent and retrospective, this one is glamorous and streamline. It never really becomes cloying as it seems to have some fruity & green freshness playing under the intense floral for a subtle balance. But still it is definitely a winter scent.I love its aphrodisiac but intimate sensuality. It is very inviting. The snowglobe packing is absolutely adorable! I will re-purchase.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

1975Crumpet on 2/4/2008 11:47:00 PM more reviews by 1975Crumpet

Age: 30-35   Skin: Sensitive, Fair   Hair: Black   Eyes: Blue    

I was put off JPG perfume after his signature fragrance, which, after wearing for a time many years ago, began to make me feel sick whenever I whiffed it. I was given Fragile as a gift and my heart sank thinking I'd be in for yet another overly-cloying scent - how wrong I was!. Fragile is simply beautiful and to my untrained nose has an intoxicating blend of orange blossom and peach, very subtly fruity, warm and enveloping. I can't wait until the weather warms up to utilise this to the full. I adore this perfume and I will repurchase as soon as I get through this oh-so-adorably decadent bottle.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* tessture on 9/8/2007 6:44:00 PM more reviews by tessture

Age: 36-43   Skin: Combination, Fair-Medium   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Brown    

A strong white tuberose scent that's nothing special. It's lovely and delicate and the bottle is hilarious and wonderful, but it's just not one I'll ever wear on purpose. Oh, well. I got to shake up the snow globe, anyway.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* lipglossjunkee on 7/31/2006 5:08:00 PM more reviews by lipglossjunkee

Age: 30-35   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Brunette, Straight, Medium   Eyes: Blue    

I find it amusing that a previous reviewer described this as being for a 'goth chick with red lips and jet black hair blunt bangs' or something like that. Anyway, thats a pretty darn close description of me on certain days! :-) I love this fragrance for its successful mix of floral notes and the pink pepper (I love pink pepper in fragrances!). And I think the bottle is unique and beautiful. I would purchase this again, although it is too heady for a hot summer day. Definitely a cooler weather scent.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

flamenco on 4/19/2006 10:56:00 PM more reviews by flamenco

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination   Hair: Red   Eyes: Hazel    

A very modern, feminine, and sensual fragrance. Floral, but not sweet, slightly spicy but not "foody." It dries down wonderfully, but can be overpowering if you apply too much. As with all Gaultier fragrances, it lasts a long time.
Chic and lovely!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

PsykoBitch on 3/27/2006 2:21:00 PM more reviews by PsykoBitch

Age: 25-29   Skin: Combination, Fair, Neutral   Hair: Red, Straight, Fine   Eyes: Blue    

One of my favourite perfumes. The packaging is beautiful and decorative. Mainly for night time use.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* Sherrie11 on 2/19/2006 2:55:00 PM more reviews by Sherrie11

Age: 44-55   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Blue    

I love this fragrance. I bought it for my mother in the dutyfree shop at CDG airport a number of years ago. It smells great on her -- all tuberose scents seem to. I would buy it for myself, too, but Fracas is my tuberose frag of choice, and I don't need more than one. But I think the fragrance is great and the bottle is adorable. By the way, a bit of triva: the lady in the snowglobe is based on an old Tattinger's champagne ad for whom Grace Kelly was the model (before she was "Princess" Grace), that's what I was told anyway.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* monicako on 1/19/2006 4:55:00 AM more reviews by monicako

Age: 19-24   Skin: Combination   Hair: Brunette   Eyes: Hazel    

It's sort of sweet, industrial and bitter, together.. not exactly... i can't place it. It's not fragile.. it's cloying. I have the gold shimmer perfume and it sometimes clogs in the nozzle. (some of you may ask why the heck i have it if i don't like it.. summer sales and they had no tester) I love JPG.. am devoted to classique. This isn't a favourite. It's wearable and urban.. maybe better suited to a gothic/city chick with red lips, black hair and a blunt fringe before the eyebrows. Not a sexy librarian type either... it's just not sensual enough. If you've seen the ad for it in magazines.. it's for that kind of chick. Dramatic but shollow. I mix it up with others but it's not something i pick up when i want to be comfortable, confident and myself.
To conclude.. it tries to be special, but on me it has no character at all.

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

*TOP REVIEWER* doree_001 on 1/16/2006 1:53:00 AM more reviews by doree_001

Age: 44-55   Skin: Dry, Fair   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Hazel    

I found this scent too strong, cloying and overly sweet when it came out few years ago and I thought I would never wear it... But now I love it. The turning point was probably when I tried it in a very cold weather and then realised that it could be a great 'hot' winter fragrance. It is sexy, warm, ultra-feminine floral-oriental...a good mix: not too floral, not too spicy... I'm not exactly a tuberose fan but I think it is not too cloying here, just playful and alluring, really sexy... Just don't overdo it (1-2 sprays are more than enough!). Great winter fragrance! EdT seems softer and more pleasant at first but it has not such a good staying power like EdP. EdP has somehow sharp initial note but it fades very soon and all that remains is a warm, comforting floral-semioriental scent.
(I must say that I'm not crazy about the packaging!).

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.     Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Zeljana on 12/27/2005 8:02:00 AM more reviews by Zeljana

Age: 19-24   Skin: Normal, Fair   Hair: Red   Eyes: Blue    

I gave it three lippies because of the nice bottle. the fragrance is not very original, no lasting power at all. this smells a little bit like a bathroom cleaner, but a nice one ;).

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

ClaudiFab on 1/10/2005 10:24:00 PM more reviews by ClaudiFab

Age: 19-24   Skin: Other   Hair: Blond   Eyes: Brown    

Like so many others have noted, this is the prettiest perfume bottle on my dresser! The snowglobe with gold flakes and elegant woman inside is a very timeless piece. I find the scent itself is rather strong for the daytime, but in all, this is a sophisticated and classy scent!

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No

Yogagirlie on 12/9/2004 12:44:00 PM more reviews by Yogagirlie

Age: 30-35   Skin: Acne-prone   Hair: Brown   Eyes: Green    

I thought this smelt vile. The words "bathroom cleaner" spring to mind. Ugh

    Was this review helpful to you? Yes   No