The invention relates to the field of manual applicators, and in particular a manual applicator for applying a material on a substrate such as a sheet of paper. The manual applicator comprises a housing, an applicator endpiece projecting beyond a front opening of the housing, and a C-shaped handle. In a first section plane and in at least one section plane different from the first section plane and not parallel with the first section plane, the housing presents the same external outline adapted to be pressed into an internal outline of the handle, thereby enabling the handle to be fastened in a first orientation and alternatively in at least one second orientation different from the first orientation, the handle being oriented in the first section plane in the first orientation and in the second section plane in the second orientation. The first and second section planes are substantially in alignment with a longitudinal axis of the housing.