How to Open a Jean Paul Gaultier Perfume Can

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Learn the right way to open a JPG fragrance (no can opener needed)

Co-authored by Mason Hainey and Bailey Bujnosek, BA

Last Updated: June 8, 2025 Fact Checked

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Opening a Jean Paul Gaultier Can

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Storing Your Fragrance

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FAQs

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Video

Wondering how to break into your new Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance? The luxury brand’s unique tin can packaging may look intimidating, but it’s actually quite easy to open. You don’t need a can opener—just the proper grip and a little force. Read on for an easy step-by-step guide to opening a Jean Paul Gaultier can without damaging it, so you can enjoy your perfume.

Easy Way to Open Jean Paul Gaultier Fragrance

Peel or cut the cellophane that seals the perfume can packaging.
Place the can on a flat surface.
Grip the top and bottom of the can securely with one hand at each end.
Gently pull the can away from the base until it separates.
Remove the perfume bottle from the base.

Section 1 of 3:

Opening a Jean Paul Gaultier Can

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Remove the cellophane seal around the perfume can. Inspect the top of the can for a small tab sticking out of a perforated seam. Grab this tab and pull it down, away from the can. Once this seam is removed, peel the remaining cellophane away from the can.^{[1]
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- If you can’t find the tab or the tab rips, use scissors to snip away at the cellophane and create a tear. Peel it off the can.
- The cellophane is recyclable.^{[2]
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To avoid damaging the fragrance bottle that’s inside the can when you open it, open it on a flat surface. This could be a table, your bed, or the floor. Make sure it’s right-side up, meaning the labels are readable and not upside-down.^{[3]
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Place your left hand as close to the bottom of the can as possible, with your thumb and pointer finger wrapped around the bottom lid (the circular edge) of the can. Wrap your right hand around the middle of the can and firmly grasp it.
While maintaining your grips with both hands, pull upward with your right hand like you’re lifting the can up. You may need to apply gentle pressure. Keep pulling until the top of the can separates from the base and lift it completely up off the base.^{[4]
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Remove the perfume bottle from the base. The bottle is secured in a holder attached to the bottom lid of the can. Gently lift it from this base. If you’d like, you can place the can back over the base to re-close it and put it to the side.^{[5]
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- Press down on the atomizer (nozzle) to spray the fragrance.
- While you can put the perfume bottle back on the base and in the can, for daily use, it’s best to leave it out so you can quickly grab and apply it.

Section 2 of 3:

Storing a Jean Paul Gaultier Fragrance

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Keep your perfume in a dry, dark place. One option is to put the fragrance bottle back on the base and close the can when you’re not using it. This will keep it dark and protect it somewhat from humidity. Another option is to store it in a cabinet in your bedroom or keep it in your closet.^{[6]
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- Exposure to light and moisture can evaporate the fragrance or alter the perfume’s scent.
Sometimes, people transfer perfumes into decorative bottles to match their design aesthetic. However, the original perfume bottles are made to seal the perfume in an airtight environment. The original atomizer is also designed to disperse the right amount of fragrance. Preserve the fragrance by leaving it in the bottle it came in.^{[7]
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While you likely keep most of your toiletries on the bathroom counter or in a cabinet in the bathroom, make an exception for perfume. If you store it in a bathroom, humidity from showering or bathing can change the scent by oxidizing delicate ingredients in the fragrance.^{[8]
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Instead of bringing your entire perfume bottle, which could break or leak during travel, purchase a travel size. The miniature container will be easier to travel with, and if you lose it or it’s damaged, you’ll still have your full-size bottle at home.^{[9]
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Section 3 of 3:

Frequently Asked Questions

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Why are Jean Paul Gaultier colognes in soup cans? The designer Jean Paul Gaultier introduced the tin can motif in his 1980 collection, High-Tech, which featured can-shaped bracelets.^{[10]
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Research source} He soon incorporated it into JPG fragrance packaging as a way to transform the humble object.^{[11]
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- Because the can design is unique, it has become an iconic element of JPG branding, helping it stand out from other fragrances.
No, you don’t need a can opener to open a Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance can. While some videos jokingly demonstrate this method, using a can opener may damage the packaging and the perfume bottle inside. The proper way to open a fragrance can is by pulling it apart.
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Which Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances come in cans? Many Jean Paul Gaultier fragrances come in tin cans, including La Belle, Le Male, Classique, Divine, and Le Beau. The can has been a signature of the brand since the 1980s.^{[12]
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Research source} Other perfumes come in both boxes and cans, such as Scandal.^{[13]
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- Travel-size fragrances or gift sets don’t come in cans.
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How do you fix a Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance atomizer? If the atomizer appears clogged, use a needle to gently poke the spray hole and unclog it. Or, run the nozzle under hot water to dissolve clogging particles. If the issue is a loss of pressure, hold the bottle upside down and press the atomizer a few times. Gently shake it to fix the pressure issue.^{[14]
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- If you received a defective bottle with a broken atomizer, contact Jean Paul Gaultier’s customer support or the customer support of the retailer you purchased the fragrance from.
Yes, you can recycle or upcycle Jean Paul Gaultier fragrance cans. The cans are made of 100% recyclable metal.^{[15]
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Research source} If you’d rather upcycle the can, the brand suggests using it as a vase for a plant or turning it into a candle holder.