Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant

This just arrived and I’m so stoked! It’s been on my wish list forever! I knew that I enjoyed this scent a long time ago when trying it in store not too long after it came out (!), at the time it was a bit too mature and powerful to my taste. These days it’s not widely available in physical stores here, so it was a semi blind buy. I knew I would likely enjoy it, as I adore spicy scents, but it was still a bit of a gamble. I found it online for under €60 for 100ml, which is more expensive than my usual maximum price for blind buys of €35-€40, but a solid deal in a fragrance family that is safe for my tastes. Let me start with the bottle. Since I haven’t really looked at this bottle since the late 90s or early 00s, I didn’t really remember what the bottle looks like exactly. From pictures I assumed that the glass bottle was a simple rectangle, but this is not the case. The bottle makes a beautiful, subtle wave, making it more playful and elegant. The matte gold cap is made of real metal and it’s quite heavy. It fits very tightly on the bottle. I think the design is stylish and elegant, but to nee the matte gold makes it look like it’s plastic when it’s not. I think brushed gold, brushed stainless steel or silver/chrome might have made it look more sophisticated, although it’s possible that they’ve tripped those options and the matte gold worked best with this design. **THE JUICE** As soon as I spray it, I recognise the scent, I don’t know from who or where, but I know I’ve smelled it many times before, and I instantly love it. The opening mainly revolves around cardamom supported by cloves and cumin. It transports me to markets in India, with the scent of spices in the air. I don’t perceive it as particularly christmassy or wintery, probably because there’s no cinnamon, which is the main holiday spice imo. In the heart the ylang and heliotrope come forward along with the licorice and the scent becomes softer. The longer it develops on my skin the more the vanilla and amber come forward as well, making it softer and softer. This is not sweet, but it’s warm and soft. It’s like the hug of an Indian aunt who spends most of the day cooking all kinds of wonderful Indian dishes. It doesn’t smell so much as a perfume, but as an experience. It takes you to a place, an Indian spice market. While not listed in the notes I keep thinking I smell Anise, which I think is an illusion of the liquorice mixing with the other spices. It also has an incense-like quality. Not a smoky incense, but something like nag champa sticks fresh from the box, also triggering visions of India. While this scent is wonderful for fall and winter, I believe it can easily be worn in summer too. To me this scent is more reminiscent of the hot bustling spice markets in India or the Middle East, than of the holiday season, and because there’s very little sweetness, it’s not as likely to become cloying as some other scents. I’ve only received this about two hours ago, so this truly is my very first impression. I might come back to expand on this review if my opinion changes (or the scent once it settles a bit), or when I’m testing it in different seasons/weather (it is winter now). ETA: The scent is not nearly as powerful as I expected, I’ve applied twice now to experience the opening again, and it’s not overwhelming at all. However I believe this is because the bottle was very cold when I received it earlier today. I suspect the scent will become much stronger once the bottle settles and warms up more. Other things I’ve noticed.. the vanilla and spices together remind me of cookies once the vanilla comes through more.. not your typical sweet gourmand perfume cookies, but some sort of more hearty spicy cookie that only has a hint of sweetness. The vanilla is quite fluffy and very creamy, and really fills your nose, similar to the vanilla note in Mancera Vanille Exclusive (just the vanilla not the perfume), albeit less prominent and slightly less dense. When I breathe in and out on the wrist I’ve applied this on it releases more of the mango and green notes, which does give it more of a jungle vibe. I am guessing that with added humidity and warmth in summer it may well turn into a simmering subtropical rainforest. There’s also something pine like and herbal this way. ETA2: After reapplying liberally multiple times, and turning up the heating more in the evening, I finally get the holiday season connotations. It now smells like gingerbread! I’m not sure if other people overspray, of if the juice will become a lot more intense over time, but this was definitely not a one spray result. I also still feel like the scent is more exotic rather than Christmassy, but the gingerbread is there. I’m surprised at how gourmand this actually is. While I did expect it to smell spicy, I didn’t expect it to smell this edible. I expected a spicy oriental in a seductive and sexy way rather than a soft, fluffy, comforting way.

My signature, my favourite, my endless love. Since the moment l first smelled this perfume l fell in love. Its intoxicating. This perfume is a savage beast it takes no prisoners. This perfume is not for everyone. This perfume is not subtle at all. This perfume will wake up your senses and blow your damn socks off! It's a powerhouse scent. This is probably one of the most powerful potions ever made, it's concentration is outstanding. She stands alone. There is no other like her. Literally no other. Maybe Estee Lauder Cinnabar or Youth dew comes the closest out of any other on the market or in history but they are more bitter scratchy spicy where this is creamy spicy. I get why this perfume was given the Elephant as its animal. If you imagine a fragrance as a jungle animal the elephant is the largest and most awe inspiring force there is. Everything runs from the stampeding elephant its a force to be reckoned with like this perfume. This oriental spicy dream is so strong l advise you test it on something you can throw away if you dont like it. If you spray its powerful scent on your skin be prepared for it to stick around for at least 24hrs even after a bath and on your clothes even after they've been washed. Oh and don't spray it on your neck straight after a bath, it's so strong it burns, not literally, but stings so bad your skin feels like it's burning! Many a time I've forgotten this rule in a rush and ran for the bathroom to fill my facecloth with cold water to hold against my throat and been left with bright red skin for an hour. A paper trial is a must for a first time tester. It's the middle east in a bottle, like walking through a spice market and all the spice fragrances pull your senses from one direction to another. The cloves are like a throat punch and the cumin and cardamom are prominent. The heliotrope Amber vanilla and floral composition turn the spice harshness to a soft sweet creamy spicy. I've heard others describe it as a "Christmas candle scent" erm its quite a bit more complex and exciting than that huns! Way to turn a beautiful world class groundbreaking scent into a basic bitch. 😆 🤣 😂 As I've heard many say its one of those perfumes where even if you're not into heavy or spicy scents you can't help but like this. For many it's instant love. I must praise the master / genius who created this Mr Dominic Ropion. I thank you sir for my favourite perfume. God bless you and your amazing nose and will to take risks potency and scentwise. Also to Kenzo for marketing it as it was and not asking Ropion to make it weaker to appeal to more sensitive noses. ❤️ This perfume will make you stand out from every other fruity flowery sweet and powdery woman around you. It's unique, nobody will know what it is and everyone will ask you. I've had strangers chase me down the street to ask what it is I'm wearing and where can they get it from? Only 1 person in 30 yrs has ever guessed what it was because their wife used to wear it. When you know, you know! I will never be without a bottle of this ever, in fact l may demand that I'm sprayed with it for my funeral. I bet strangers will be gathered round my grave enjoying the Kenzo Jungle waft coming up through the soil and filling the air years after ive gone. 😆 🤣 😂 I used to wear this to college in the 90's and the students would know when I was in the building as soon as they walked into the place. They could smell this in the reception area all the way up the stairs and up 3 floors all the way down the corridors getting stronger the closer they got to our class, and l used to arrive much earlier than them. Its that strong. Sooo... in conclusion this is amazing, if your not afraid of a savage beast perfume. It's also a beautiful bottle and it lasts a long time because with this, one spray really is enough. I use way more though, because I'm fearless like that. 😆 It gets sprayed all over my neck, shoulders, hair, wrists, clothes, l spray heavy because its so awesome and l dont care if it spices peoples brains out. I like to be wrapped in a cloud of expensive perfume and for those around me to smell a trail of my perfume, or what the hell am l spending all this money for, so l can hardly even smell myself? Hell no! I never understand why people think it's such a bad thing to have a trail of lovely perfume left in a room after you've left it. It's better than smelling people's farts, breath, dirty hair and sweaty bodies. Yes indeed smell me London, inhale my fabulousness, you're welcome. 😆 🤣 😂 I give this perfume a 10/10.

Never underestimate the power of scent. Bear with me here, I promise the following entry circles back to a review. —On a late afternoon/early evening in November 1997, I was driving home on a Tuesday from college for Thanksgiving break. For anyone here who may not be savvy to this American holiday, it’s typical for schools and most businesses to close for four days beginning on the last Thursday of November (Thanksgiving) and returning to work and school the following Monday. My folks live off of a two way state highway in rural Colorado. When I came to a stop and signaled left to turn into my parents’ driveway, I heard a loud horn and less than a second later, a semi truck crashed into me from behind going about 55 miles an hour. The impact turned my car around almost 360 degrees, and four of the semi truck’s rear tires actually went up and over the ceiling of my car, effectively “sandwiching” me inside. I had to be literally cut out of my car with a large heavy mechanical device us Americans call “the jaws of life.” Long story short, it turns out that seatbelts really can save lives. I was wearing mine, so I lived. But my right (dominant) hand and forearm had smashed completely through the car’s dashboard on impact, dislocating my right shoulder, breaking four fingers, severing three ligaments and causing multiple fractures in my lower arm from the wrist to elbow. Due to the severity of whiplash, my neck needed a brace for four months. After 15 total months involving surgeries and physical/occupational therapy, I finally healed and —believe it or not— I had full use of my right arm and hand. Still do. I can still do pushups, planks and lift weights. It astonishes me what I’m still able to do, though I admit these days, especially in cold weather, it all aches quite fiercely sometimes. But although it will certainly never look like the hand and wrist of a hand model, I have full use of everything, so absolutely no complaints here! It’ll never be a pretty hand again, but bodily scars can have their own strange beauty, I think. Now I’m not a church going woman, kind reader, not by a mile...but I do believe in a creator, a force, if you will, that exists. Many times when I’m using my right hand (like now), I pause, point my right index finger to the sky, and say “Thank You.” When I look at the picture my parents took of the mangled mess that was my car, it’s humbling. It still amazes me that I actually walked away from that heap of mangled metal... or well, no...I didn’t WALK away from it, I was driven away at high speed to the jangly tune of sirens, haha. But ykwim. Kenzo Elephant was gifted to me on a frosty Colorado Christmas morning 5 weeks after that accident. Never underestimate the healing power of scent. I was tired. I hurt everywhere. I felt ugly, defeated and depressed. But when I smelled that first spritz, a cornucopia of fruit and warm christmasy spices, it just lifted me up. It was the perfect antidote. Now, when I wear it, I feel comforted, I feel thankful, and I feel hope. It reminds me of just how much crap a person can overcome, and it was this fragrance’s ability to lift me up from a dark place that started my passion for perfume that continues to this day. I keep this in a tight rotation in the holiday season with Serge Lutens Arabie and Fille en Aiguilles. While Kenzo Elephant certainly smells like late autumn and winter festivities in a bottle, I actually like to wear it occasionally in summer too. Oddly enough, I have found that Kenzo Elephant blossoms best in the heat. Or maybe it’s not so odd...after all, many spicy fragrances like this hail from hot desert lands. Try wearing it outside of colder temperatures. Applied to the skin with restraint, it actually radiates beautifully in summer heat.

i’m marrying this perfume y’all to tell u i was so scared at first bc everyone went batsh8t crazy with the reviews saying “indian spice market, STRONG SILLAGE, BEAST PROJECTION, SPICY, SCARY, witchy” and all. Ofc with reviews like that, you’ll think you’ll smell like a spicy lunch but babes, no, I’m grateful that despite the “spicy” comments some people said chai latte (my favorite drink), pumpkin spice, carrot cake, candles, and cookies—which gave me a spark of hope that maybe this beast is just a gentle giant. god where do i even begin bc i’m sniffing my wrists every second. I love you l’elephant. OKKKAYYYYYYYYY it’s crazy how I smelled this from the package when it came (kinda pissed that i got spoiled for that surprise umph) L’elephant is everything I wish for in a spiced gourmand fragrance, it filled that void I’ve been longing for which khamrah never gave, teriaq just left me disappointed with a chicken fried rice accord, nomade naturelle was a tad bit too fruity with a disappointing longevity, and lalique le parfum was more spiced cola than spiced vanilla. To put it simply, I’ve been on the hunt for a perfect sweet-spiced vanilla and the search is over !! I was a bit hesistant of L’elephant at first bc of the mango note bc BABES I DON’T ENJOY FRUITY NOTESSSSS 😭 BUT NOOOO MANGO WAS NON-EXISTENT, MANGO WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. THANK GOODNESS. It’s also probably bc it’s extremely macerated like it should be lightly golden but mine came in DARK BROWN VANILLA ESSENCE SHADE 🪵 like a richly macerated kayali vanilla 28 L’elephant starts off with the sweet and slightly mentholated aroma of cinnamon sweets that instantly reminded me of cinnamon gum, omg GUMDROPSSSS!!! and crushed hot tamales candy, after which, it quickly develops into a sweet, Sweet, SWEEET, ambery, caramelized cinnamon-sugar and cardamom dessert or basically any spicy-sweet food and drinks. I’m talking: eggnog, chai, pumpkin spice, carrot cake, horchata, gingersnaps, snickerdoodle, gingerbread, banana bread, pecan pie, fruit cake with dates, and other more lovely, festive, homey, comforting and autumn + winter desserts. There’s also this lovely, thick, and honey-like aroma in the mid dry-down, quite waxy and balmy, which adds more to that warm-hug-like comforting feeling. Lastly, the dry-down ties it all up to perfection. Once you’ve indulged all the spiced desserts you can think of, l’elephant washes it all down with a cup of milk and slightly woody licorice. I totally get why people call it a beast because it indeed has a beast performance, but scent-wise? It’s a tamed beast, it’s not as scary as how people are making it look like. TOTALLY NOT OLD-FASHIONED OR RETRO DESPITE IT BEING A FRAGRANCE FROM THE 90s. It’s a lovely spiced gourmand that’s impossible to dislike, otherwise it would be denial, if not, you lack appreciation. (jk ur preference is urs whatever i’m just biased LMAO) I know people would totally hate scents like this at specific time, occasions, and seasons but I AM SO READY TO BE OBNOXIOUS AND WEAR THIS IN MY DAILY ROTATION. because who wouldn’t wanna feel like a little gingerbread princess wearing a spicy gumdrop scented perfume !! 🍪 It needs more love and appreciation, this is a misunderstood beast. And I mean by VERY misunderstood. PLEASE STOP SAYING L’ELEPHANT IS SCARY BC SHE IS LOVELY 😡 GOURMAND LOVERS BETTER GET THIS BC PEOPLE PROBABLY SAY IT’S SCARY TO GATEKEEP IT FROM YALL. I REPEAT, GOURMAND LOVERS BETTER GET THIS !!

Been eyeing Kenzo L'Elephant for a few months now, but didnt wanna pull the trigger and spend $70 on blind buying a frag that may lean way too feminine, most of my frags are unisex, and I use some feminine leaning scents, just not completely feminine leaning. After the initial purchase, but before I'd recieved it, I'd read somewhere that it'd been reformulated (much weaker) and that the cap was now plastic, I became so upset as so many brands do that crap and then I find out the hard way. And YES, presentation does matter to me, most frags I blind buy are bc of notes list and the beautiful bottles at times. L'Elephant is one of those instances. I'm happy to report that the cap is still metal and beautifully detailed, but while the opening is still quite potent, Im not too sure about the longevity or sillage, I sprayed some on my shirt and while I can still smell it a good amount a few hours later, Its REALLY calmed down quite a bit, so according to many reviews here on fragrantica, I have to wonder if "the reformulation monster" got to this? Bc I just wouldn't call this "beast mode" like described here on fragrantica. Im hoping the fragrance just needs to open up some more after air is introduced into the bottle like it happens with so many of my new frags. Also, I was REALLY surprised at how much L'Elephant smells a lot like Cacharel's Eden, another, floral/fruity (mango) 90's powerhouse, except L'Elephant has a (little bit) of added spicyness. And Eden has no spice as far as I can tell. Beautiful, fruity, spicey fragrance, and I definately say it's more feminine than masculine, yet confident men can still pull off wearing L'Elephant due to the slight spicyness... 8 outta 10 scent and Im so stoked that I hadn't yet read that bs about reformulations and re-packaging as I would never have gotten it...... Thanks to whomever took the time to read my review! ----------------UPDATE------------------ So, my bottle of L'Elephant has been maturing for about 6 weeks, and WOAH! Now I get what they mean by "Strong Cinnamon and Clove" what a CRAZY difference! This "maceration" thing is no myth I guess huh? I've now had a few different fragrances change after letting them sit for a spell, but this one had a pretty drastic change. This just went from "unisex leaning feminine" to straight up UNISEX bc of the very strong spiciness. yYAYy!😁 I LOVE spicey frags! Oh, and that strong Mango note that made this smell just like Cacharel's Eden, has now been tempered by the delicious spices which make Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant it's own thing!.. Smells really yummy now! But, If wearing this thing to work or office setting, maybe 2-3 sprays max now fo sho!

A love, will always be in my top 10 for creative genius, alone. There is something intriguing and addictive about Kenzo L’Elephant. There’s simply no fragrance quite like it. Powerful yet gentle, multifaceted, contradictory yet integrated and rich. Firstly, there are perfectly measured spices with anise - blending and transitioning with/into creamy gardenia, heliotrope with what my nose detects as a dirty, raw ylang-ylang combining with green mango. All this on a bed of barely gourmand vanilla, masterfully balanced with amber and what I smell, as a slightly metallic, damp earthy note (must be the patchouli). L’Elephant is more than a soothing, spiced pudding fragrance though. More a whole escapade and journey. She is coarse and rough around the edges, without being disjointed or vulgar. Taking you through winding, rugged terrain with dry, dusty clouds of dirt, interspersed with damp earth and fallen banana leaves afoot. The journey is impressively smooth, given the environment she’s treading in. Flexing her incredible strength and gentle, stoic nature. A perfume balancing her yin-yang feminine and masculine energies with effortless grace and dexterity. She could be perceived as androgynous to some. She refuses to conform to restricting labels that don’t define her. Bold, intuitive and unapologetic for who she is. She gets that some don’t get her and remains totally unbothered by anyone’s opinion. She quietly considers she was born ahead of her time and that, well after all the seasonal changes, she’ll still remain valid, enduring and talked about. A masterpiece. 2 sprays is all the wearer needs to get fair demonstration of her endurance and enveloping sillage, as the journey weaves on. Vintage lasts til the next day, albeit as a skin scent on me. Latest formulation has been reigned in considerably but still gorgeous to wear. I also love to wear a dupe perfume oil of this with a touch of Dior Addict. L’Elephant’s spices adds another facet and the vanilla in both beast-mode faves, marries harmoniously. I hope this iconic perfume is never discontinued like Tiger was. My Mum used to wear this, then I began wearing since late 90’s and my daughter also loves this scent. That’s 3 generations already💕

EDIT: (MACERATION IS A MUST!) So I recieved my bottle of Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant on 09/06/2024, I was honestly quite dissapointed when Id initially sprayed it on because it smelled almost 1 to 1 like Cacharel's Eden which I love, but already own. L'Elephant had virtually NO spice and smelled almost one to one like Eden by Cacharel, the predominant Mango note is pretty much used in the same way in both which made them smell almost identical. Also, the spices were way, WAY too subdued in L'Elephant, and after having heard/read so many reviews stating that this was a very spicey fragrances (which is why I wanted L'Elephant to begin with) I was VERY dissapointed to say the least. Fast forward 6 weeks or so, after letting this sit and "macerate", during that time, Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant has DRASTICALLY CHANGED for the better, I now see what everyone was talking about when they said this was uber spicey. Also, the performance has gone from good 6-7 hours to "Beast Mode". For example, I'd done about 4-5 sprays before bed last night, and then this morning, after I'd just woken up, my niece's mother visited me and said "wWOWw you smell gooood, whatchoo wearin'!?". This fragrance and a couple of others have made me a total believer in the maceration process! It's kinda crazy bc Id never noticed a fragrance do that before I started really getting into collecting. Kenzo Jungle L'Elephant is still a great buy, and YES! It still has that beautiful METAL, heavy cap, so don't believe some sources that claim the cap is now a cheap plastic! Id also like to mention that this fragrance was quite feminine leaning when I'd first tried it back in September, but with the strong spices opening up like they did, this fragrance is now 100% unisex/genderless imo, and I don't get why ANYONE would be bothered by that "OPINION".. Anyhow, Go get ya'll dis Kenzo L'Elephant before it gets horribly reformulated or worse... DISCINTINUED😮!... Thank you to whomever took the time to read my thoughts on this hidden 💎! 🫠

If this be the beast, than I am the self proclaimed beauty that goes along with it hand in hand. This is such a unique fragrance. I initially bought a new tester of Kenzo's Jungle expecting to be engulfed with a powerful punch of scent, but it was not the case. You see, I was going by the reviews on here that many were refering to it as a powerhouse scent. But alas, no powerhouse, no punch, but I could smell the potential lurking just around the corner that it did have. So I did what any scent love minded individual would do and bought a vintage version. Oh my, here was the beast the others were talking about. Here was the most obvious elephant in the room I had been on the prowl for. At first spritz, you are enveloped in the warmth of cardamom, clove, and cumin, than the magnolia, licorice, and ylang ylang make center stage so alive and wild. Finally, with this exotic blend of spices comes the earthy patchouli and musk that just lingers keeping the whole rigmaroll forever planted in the minds of everyone around you. It's been about 2 hours now since I last sprayed Kenzo's Jungle Elephant and it still smells as though I just sprayed it. I am absolutely pleased with this purchase. I do want to add, as others have said, there is something so merry and bright about it. Yes, it's not wrong in saying, this is Christmas in a bottle. It's as alive as the Yuletide. When I first got a whiff of it, nostalgia hit me. I was 5 again holding one of those vintage candles that are frosted on the outside with a white glitter substance, I was sniffing in with all my might the absolute deliousness of the holiday. I definitely get the same cardamom, vanilla, clove and other spices coming through. It's so awesome that Dominique Ropion has been able to capture so much in this prolific perfume. A wild beast, an elephant in an earthy jungle of vibrant exotic scents as well as an in depth olfactory snapshot of many peoples favorite holiday season.

Got this for my girlfriend as a blind buy for her birthday. She's been wanting it for a while. Got it for a great price on FragranceNet, $45. It smells like a Christmas scented, spiced, incense stick. In a good way. Very warm with a sweetness to it like candy. Love at first sniff. It's also very unisex. I sprayed some on me and it smelled a little more masculine mixing with my body scent. Smells great, very spicy, some cinnamon, cardamom, I think nutmeg maybe? I'm not smelling that clove top note everyone talks about. But the drydown is amazing. Still retains that Christmas spice but takes on a patchouli bottom note over time that reminds me of incense. The bottle is very high quality. It's a little cumbersome, very wide. But a solid glass bottle a heavy aluminum cap is very nice to have these days. I think they might've reformulated it over time because it doesn't have that insane longevity and projection other people talk about. It definitely radiates, I'll admit that. As for filling entire floors of buildings with scent like some people claim? Definitely not. It fills a room for the first few hours for sure, but nothing crazy. The longevity is a bit lacking as well. Coming from someone who uses performance beasts like Y EDP and Savauge elixir, I expected a lot more after seeing the ratings here. It still lasts for a good part of the day, and projects decently enough... That's a lot better than 90% of women's perfume. But I was expecting something like Y EDP that you can tell on clothes after they wash and on your skin after you shower. All in all, Kenzo has a great fragrance here. A timeless classic that I hope never gets discontinued. If you want to smell like a Christmas scented incense stick, this one's for you.

We have been dealing with home renovations here and I was feeling sorry for myself because of the disruptions to my routine, so I splurged on Kenzo Jungle Elephant. It arrived yesterday and I just spritzed some on, un-showered, still in pajamas. I am Elephant! Hear me roar! This fragrance is me. It might be more me than I have ever been. On first sniff, Kenzo is spicy and there is a bite of patchouli. The patchouli seems to burn off within the first 30 minutes or so. I smell cinnamon, clove, vanilla and amber. There is an almost smoky accord that reminds me of Shalimar EDP. I can see myself wearing this scent a lot this fall and winter to parties, formal dinners, holiday celebrations ... and anywhere I want to give folks the message: stand back and do not hug me. (Not a hugger. It's very invasive if you don't like to be hugged). However, I also plan to enjoy it inside in air conditioning while I am sitting at my desk, working, or even just puttering around, reading, or watching tv. Please don't put your fancy bottles away, ladies, or save them for special occasions. Tomorrow isn't promised to any of us. Wear them. Own them. Be audacious. Let them hear you ROAR! If you would like to try Kenzo Elephant, I found it for a great price on Ebay. I paid under $60 US including shipping. Yes, this is a bold scent but right now it is available relatively inexpensively. If you like Obsession (the original), Youth Dew, Shalimar, Cinnabar, Opium, or Estee Lauder's Spellbound (which has a lot of clove also), I believe you will find a spot in your heart for this Elephant. The bottle is beautiful too.

A couple of years ago (around 2016) I tried L'Elephant and that was some experience for sure! I loved the vanilla base but, at that time, I couldn't handle the strong clove note. It was very strong and the sleeve of my coat smelled of it for at least 4 weeks... What a beast!! I am into strong perfumes but this was too much for me. Fast forward to 2024. For some reason cloves really grew on me to the point I find myself loving the smell. I really like (vintage) CoCo and (vintage) Chamade. So I had to try this Elephant again. And now, it is gorgeous!! Probably thank to those horrific reformulations, it is softer, sillage is moderate instead of strong/enormous and longevity is a decent 10 hours (after about 5-6 hours it is a skin scent of lovely vanilla). I can smell mandarin orange and a very noticable 'dirt and wet leaves' patchouli, cloves obviously, cardamom , some licorice and lots of vanilla. It's sweet, soft, 'milky'. The other notes don't play a big role on my skin. I am describing my, according to the batchcode, august 2023 bottle. So, in short, it's lovely and actually suitable for office wear. But, it is not a beast anymore. So I did order an older formula from eBay. Because now that I can appreciate cloves, I want the real deal of an Elephant stomping across the room! And I'll save my 2023 bottle for the office :-) Edit: I have been wearing the 2023 version for a couple of days in a row now and sillage is definately intimate. I sprayed at least 8 times but I did not turn into a perfume cloud(bomb) and my husband could only smell it up close. It does last all day.

This is worth every penny! There are more expensive perfumes out there that are nowhere near as original and strong as this one! So far, I have 3 of Kenzo's masterpieces - this beauty, "World Power" and "Ikebana Indigo". I may be a fan already. They have some of the best bottles in my opinion. Even without the cap (mine is a tester), the bottle is pretty. A little difficult to hold, but I love the curved shape. The scent inside, however, is the real star. Milky spice cabinet it is. It slightly reminds me of Omnia by Bvlgari (the 2003 release in the auburn bottle). The latter is a spicy nutty tea while the former is a spicy milk. The clove note is super strong and, to my surprise, I really like it. The cumin, cardamom and whatever else is inside provide more spiciness. The vanilla and ylang-ylang make the fragrance wearable by creating a creamy base for the spices. There is a subtle touch of patchouli in there as well. Much like Omnia, it has unisex potential. Not a typically feminine scent. Guys should also treat themselves to a bottle of this gorgeous perfume if they are into this scent category. It performs like a beast. 2 sprays on my nape and 2 on my chest give me more than 7 hours of decent sillage. I have more expensive bottles that cannot even touch this performance. The scent can survive a washing machine and is almost difficult to wash off your body. Be careful when applying it! Other than that, "Jungle l'elephant" is an impressive spicy perfume. It is ideal for autumn and winter, and not that expensive for its high quality! I love the cozy feeling it gives me.

looks like I only comment for the ultimates: either absolute bests or total abominations. Having fallen in love with it in a fragrance, on my pursuit of finding cardamom-dominant fragrances I came across this. I immediately remembered seeing the bottle of it somewhere in a list and feeling sad because of the categorization in the "female" section, thinking it was just another lady perfume. I checked neither the notes, nor the perfumer, I sprayed on my arm and took a sniff. There's no denying that there are definitely some things in this world you can't comprehend until the moment you try it or it happens to you firsthand. My sweet child., here I am, again struggling to find appropriate vocabulary to explain this ethereal beauty without being repetitive. Utterly unbelievable fragrance, a masterful craftsmanship, exquisite blend, fantastic composition. Mr. Ropion is a bizarre magician for sure. I love this so much that I want to hug and kiss it as long as it's with me but of course, I am awkwardly hugging myself instead. It's so splendid that you can even see or peep to the glimpse of the meaning of life for a short period of time. I believe that during its launch, there was no such a big deal as 'unisex", and as for the florals, it had to be put in the women's fragrances. Men can easily pull this off with confidence not only because of the piquant spices , but also because there is nothing to imply that. Maybe a little bit exaggerating, but I am so happy that I was able to experience this invigorating piece of art in this short lifespan of a human.

A well-known classic that I finally got to try thanks to a friend! First of all, not too sure about this being a "beast mode" scent. It is strong, but not uncomfortably long-lasting and does disappear completely after about 12 hours - on my skin, anyway. The scent itself really does almost paint a picture of an arid savanna at sunset, silhouettes of elephants swaying in the distance. But I also get where the Christmas association comes from. The spices are definitely the most prominent thing about this fragrance - especially the cardamom and cloves, which I smell throughout the scent's entire transformation. The patchouli is also very noticeable pretty much the entire time. It starts out as aromatic, unisex spicy with a citrusy tang, which seems to be the part that evokes the most winter holiday associations - then becomes sweeter and fruitier as ylang-ylang gives it that tropical feel, and mango seems to contribute to a zingy greenish note, almost like mango peels as opposed to the pulp. As it settles, it gets softer and sweeter until it dries down into the vanilla-amber base with the spiciness and patchouli still present. It's definitely ahead of its time, and definitely not for everyone. If you don't like strong spices in anything, you're not going to like them here as well. This is now my "happy" scent - I'm not a fan of fruit-only fragrances and the fact they're so commonly recommended for an elevated mood, so Elephant is a perfect option for me when I'm feeling optimistic. Love it!

Man oh man! So when I got this about a year ago, I really liked it but was NOT all that Impressed with the longevity/performance. Well I must say that the "Maturation Process" has struck again! Whereas initially I was having to spray about 6 times to get good performance, now after that year of "Maturation" has made L'Elephant much more potent and nuanced. Now I cant do more that 2 spritzes on my shirt and 2 on my neck and thats probably too much! Now, it probably did t take a whole year for this scent to reach it's peak performance, but it being as hot in Florida as it is, I'd stored it away and finally pulled it back out after about 7 or 8 months of not wearing it (Since January 2025) so it probably reached it peak performance before wearing it again yesterday and today. Also, YES! Im sure this fragrance has been reformulated and is a bit weaker than it was initially, buuuuut it is STIL ehat if consider a "Beastmode fragrance" and well worth the purchase ESPECIALLY if ya have patience and let this thing Maturate. Its super beautiful, unisex and so much better than Spice Bomb or Spice Bomb Extreme in my book! I compare these bc imo the spices wear a bit similar, except that L'Elephant had Mango and is just PHENOMENAL! A 9 outta 10 spicey BEAUTY!

I apologize, but comparing Jungle E. to 'Christmas, tea and cinnamon cookies' is a textbook example of a sterile, closed-minded, and overly 'European' perspective on fragrances. It is a desperate attempt to tame something wild, raw, and exotic, shoving it into a kitchen drawer in some cold European city. This is either a complete misunderstanding of Kenzo’s artistic vision, or simply parosmia (in which case, I would understand). Let’s be clear: the Jungle E. is definitely not a kitchen! With all due responsibility, I believe there is absolutely nothing domestic, tame, or festive about it. This is the scent of damp earth, sun-drenched skin, sweat, succulent tropical fruit rotting under the blazing sun, and wild spices burning in the air... And finally, as a man who wears this masterpiece exclusively during extreme, sultry summer afternoons -with just two distant sprays, one on my hairy chest and the second on the back of the neck -I am instantly transported into the jungle of my most primal instincts and freedom. That is the exact equatorial freedom that inspired Maestro Kenzo. Not the North. Thank you for your understanding!

La fragranza nella versione anni 96 si apre con un soffio di canfora fredda e pungente,spezie esotiche di cardamomo e varie che rotolano su un cuore denso e cremoso di elitropina,gardenie e patchouli caldo. Al primo impatto si presentano tutte assieme come un preludio di quello che sarà. Pian piano si sviluppa il bouquet avvolgente,solare,voluttuoso,fatto di contrasti amari e dolci. Il suo mese migliore è dicembre,l'atmosfera natalizia,il freddo fuori e le luci colorate trovano il migliore momento per questo profumo. Mi suona strano che ancora oggi si parli di prestazioni "bestia" di questo profumo dal momento che oggi sono tutti intrugli chimici che puzzano a kilomettri di distanza, (gli oudh e la vie est belle regnano sovrani),questo ha una normale potenza,sviluppa in modo abbastanza intenso ma niente di tragico. Si sente per molto tempo la scia di eliotropio,vaniglia e cashmeran. Ma per me resta un buon profumo.

My love affair with this perfume began over twenty years ago, when I smelled it from a distance, on a burlesque dancer. I was totally out of my element, but I asked her what perfume she was wearing. I had to know. The clove, licorice, and warm, mulled spices do evoke the feeling of a (very high end) holiday candle, but that’s part of why I love it. The drydown on me is the warmest honeyed patchouli I’ve ever smelled. Strangely, I feel that, despite its powerhouse projection and overall warmth, this would smell lovely on humid, summer days as well as in icy winter. It does not blend well with strong food scents, be warned, and too much can knock birds from the trees. Be gentle with the sprayer! Not for everyone, but for the few who love it, it’s a masterpiece. And to the guy who wouldn’t “want to smell it on a woman...EVER”...dude. That just makes me want to wear it every day for the rest of my life. 💋💄

I was born in '95 and this perfume was released in '96. I remember this clearly from my early childhood but haven't smelled it since then, not in stores and not on any person. Not until I recently bought an old bottle. It's certainly not one of the known or popular perfumes, neither with the young people nor the community of more niche-oriented perfume enthusiasts I know. However I wish that any lover of softly spicy gourmands would check this out. To my nose it's a warm bitter-almond cookie with soft chai spices, very similar to Italica by Xerjoff (really expensive) and also reminiscent of the eggnog inspired Lush perfume Yog Nog. Somehow this is both reminiscent of frangipani sunscreen in the summer and Christmas cookies in winter. A lovely gourmand, somewhat tropical to my nose. I cannot recommend this enough, it is a fantastic scent and not "vintage" smelling at all.

FULL BOTTLE WORTHY. My first blind-buy purchase of this perfume was a very adorable mini. Admittedly, due in part to the bottle cap. But after one wear I knew I wanted a full bottle. In the biggest size. It’s right up my alley. Brings one of my favorites to mind: JHAG Moon Dance. The two aren’t entirely the same; I’d say if Moon Dance was sourdough bread, Jungle could be its starter mix. Jungle is somewhat floral seeming, just not a high-octane floral like Moon Dance is. Jungle is fruitier, more exotic. They’re similarly vintage-chypre - which is like catnip to me. Jungle is a bold, sumptuous, intoxicating, warm, sweet, spicy-vanilla. Enormous, heavenly spices. A hint tropical. Masterfully balanced, beautifully blended. An incensey cashmeran drydown. BEST drydown of them all. It’s exceptional! A multi-faceted, everlasting, beastmode gem. MASTERPIECE