By Designer

10 Best Mugler Perfumes for Women

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French fashion designer Thierry Mugler has had long success producing a haute couture line of clothing and lifestyle items. Perhaps his most successful and most popular contribution to the world of fashion is his fragrance line. Two of his perfumes, Alien and Angel, are seemingly always among the top sellers for women.

Why? They are well-made with unique notes and they of course also smell great. For this list, I want to present to you the best smelling fragrances from the Thierry Mugler line and the top variants of the Alien and Angel names.

Note: This brand goes through a lot of flankers, some perfumes may be discontinued between updates. But, you can usually find them at discounters.

What are the Best Mugler Perfumes?

Best Seller

Thierry Mugler Alien Refillable Eau de Parfum Spray, 3 Ounce– Alien is an interesting fragrance for women, as the name itself suggests, there is something exotic. foreign, or even other worldly about this scent. Floral and woody notes blend together and top it off with a kick of spice.

It’s sweet and loud and a perfume that really shines in the wintertime. Alien is led by jasmine as the floral, surrounded by warm amber, and with a woody base. This fragrance lets itself be known, can overwhelm some, but others swear by its power and cannot do without this Mugler creation.

This is the most popular Mugler fragrance, along with Angel, so it’s likely the one that you already know. While it has become widely used, Alien is still a very good fragrance, and has its place on this list without question.

If Alien is too much for you, you could also try the much more tolerable Alien Fusion. It’s too similar for me to give it, it’s own entry on the list, but Fusion is excellent.

alien

Classic Powerhouse

Thierry Mugler Angel Eau De Parfum Spray, 1.7 Ounce– A strong, daytime fragrance that has been one of the best selling perfumes for quite a long while. Angel is fresh and intriguing.

However, it does bring the power, and the longevity is incredible. The opening is sweet with coconut, a dark chocolate, and fruit notes (mainly melon).

It dries down with a lot of patchouli. Very gourmand in the beginning, a highly famous scent. Not really one for those who want something light or need a perfume for a warmer climate.

The aroma has become very familiar, but it’s still a great wear in the right situation. Notes include: vanilla, sandalwood, and patchouli,  fresh citrus, melons, peaches, and plums. 

angel

Top Newer Release

Aura EDT– This is another interesting fragrance from Mugler, that won’t have universal appeal, but is still a really good scent. There is an EDT and EDP version. I actually liked the EDT version better for a long while, but testing out the EDP again for the site…I’ve come to prefer it.

Aura is not only unique but it performs very well, also. The EDP opens with orange blossom, a dewy forest aroma, and plenty of rhubarb. Yes, this one is different and surprisingly awesome.

It comes across as a bit minty, green fresh, with orange blossom and vanilla. It can fit in during a variety of seasons, and is one that is weird enough to stand apart. Aura EDP Review

A Top Goddess

Alien Goddess Intense– Ok, the Alien Goddess series has been a focus for Mugler over the past few years. To me, Goddess Intense still has the top spot out of the bunch.

I should say that it isn’t far and away better than the original or Supra Florale, in terms of how much I like each. So, preference is really going to play a role when choosing from these perfumes.

This one is heavier, with a bigger dose of vanilla to pair up top with a coconut note and a light spritzing of bergamot. The first two notes will be the main attractions with Goddess Intense, alongside, jasmine.

Vanilla, jasmine, and benzoin will be more of the tail end of the wear, as the coconut fades. Really good performance and a deeper version of the original. Alien Goddess Intense review

Pina ColAngel

Angel Phantasm– This is a warm and beachy version of the familiar Angel DNA. What did Mugler add? A helping of coconut, that is especially prevalent early on in the mix.

The effect is that Phantasm puts out the energy of tanning on the shore while sipping a pina colada. Yet, it still does have the patchouli note which becomes more prominent in the dry down.

Also, joining is a light pineapple note in the early stages and a tiare flower in the mid, to help further sell the tropical kind of vibe. Still, it’s actually kind of dark with how it presents at times. Maybe that’s representing the black bottle? Nice performance.

 

Summertime Wear

Angel Sunessence by Thierry Mugler Light Eau-de-toilette Spray for Women, 1.70-Ounce– A bright and sweet smelling fruity patchouli perfume, which settles down beautifully, with a bit of time. Bergamot and red berries give, this Angel a different and less intense feel than the original.

It can start out somewhat tart, but it doesn’t ever have a super heavy sillage to it. There is a great honey note and blackberry, which begins to emerge later in the dry down. Still, a great performance, just not as loud as Angel.

angel sunessence

Most Unique Mugler

Womanity by Thierry Mugler for Women, Eau de Parfum Refillable Spray, 2.7 Ounce– A wholly feminine and utterly unique fragrance from Thierry Mugler. Womanity has its sweet and woodsy moments which creates something almost unforgettable. 

You probably gotta love fig, to truly appreciate this one, because it is full of the stuff from wood to fruit.

Beyond that, is a salty caviar note…which yeah, I said this one was unique. It is another strong scent from Mugler, however, this one, is going to be much more niche in terms of how many folks will enjoy it. 

Fresh with a woody, marine dry down. Very hit or miss with people, but I appreciate the brand taking chances and putting this on the market.

womanity

 

 

Light and Sweet

Thierry Mugler Angel Innocent Eau de Parfum Spray, 2.6 Ounce– Subtle, light, and airy. This perfume lives up to the Innocent moniker with notes of pure mandarin, honey,  almond, exotic fruits,  rich musk, and amber.

It’s citrus notes lead the top, but is flanked by berries, and a semi-tart black currant. It’s sweet and nutty and an overall beautiful wear. 

Kind of a departure for Mugler, when they are known for bold scents. Innocent takes the opposite tact and does it well. I think that this has been discontinued, but bottles are still around online.

angel innocent

The Explosive Angel

Angel Nova– I’m adding Nova to the list after trying it in 2021. Now, from the jump, it’s probably not a fragrance that everyone will enjoy. 

The raspberry and litchi notes are juicy and bold. To my nose, it also seemed like there was mango in the mix as well. Up top, it is all about these juicy fruit notes. However, it will get drier, floral, and a bit spicy.

The Damask rose is the leader in the final stages. The tropical aroma is nearly gone and Nova has an earthy quality to it. Rose, benzoin, and a earthy/dirtiness. I really dug it. Angel Nova Review

Fun, Tropical Option

Angel Iced Star– Angel Iced Star isn’t a super complicated fragrance, but it is one that is enjoyable, with a somewhat pina colada-like aroma. The pineapple note is the lead here, but there is also a good deal of coconut in the mix.

Then, there is the patchouli and vanilla notes, giving this one a full sweet and tropical gourmand profile. It’s delicious and a really nice option for standing out in the warmer months.

The pineapple kicks things off with a great juiciness, before it is more evenly split with the vanilla and coconut. This is just a fun and youthful sort of perfume, not serious or anything at all formal.

10 Best Smelling Armani Perfumes for Her

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Giorgio Armani has been a powerhouse in the fashion world for decades now. It’s fragrance line has smash hits on both the men’s and the women’s side of the equation and it’s really no surprise as they produce some great and universally appealing perfumes.

On the ladies’ side of things, Armani has a whole variety of scents to fit with different styles and even seasons of the year to capture a certain mood or attitude.

What are the Best Armani Perfumes for Her?

Best for Summer

Giorgio Armani Acqua Di Gioia Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 Ounce
An aquatic citrus infused fragrance that really shines during the warmer months of the year. Notes include: lemon, sugar, mint, cedar, and jasmine.

Acqua di Gioia is a pretty straightforward fragrance with a crisp and aquatic aroma led by lemon citrus.

Then, there is the cooling sensation of a spicy green mint note, which gives Gioia a refreshing summery air about it. The fragrance gets some added floral depth with light jasmine, which starts to come through a few minutes in.

An extremely good choice for those who want a daily wear for warm weather and like a citrus perfume that isn’t overbearing.

Woody and Sweet

Giorgio Armani Si Eau de Parfum Spray for Women, 3.4 Ounce
Sensual and complex perfume that has a sweet, woodsy, and mysterious vibe to it. Very well balanced and striking. It opens with a blend of vanilla, black currant, and rose.

Si is sweet and candy-like, at this stage, with rose leading the way.

Then, patchouli comes in, to add an earthy spice underneath the now dominant black currant note. Finally, you get powdery floral and woody dry down.

Si has a moderate sillage, nice performance, and smells great. This is a fragrance that hits so many chords and is versatile, as well.  Si Full Review

An Armani Prive

Rouge Malachite– A selection from Les Terres Precieuses collection of the more upscale Armani Prive line. Rouge Malachite is an interesting white floral fragrance, that is led by its tuberose.

However, you also get a fresh sage top, benzoin and amber in the base, along with other floral notes like jasmine. It’s sweet, with spiciness up top, and then more of an ambery/benzoin finish and touches of being creamy.

It is a strong floral fragrance, but has a surprising amount of depth, which should keep one catching new facets of its aroma. Again, this is an expensive one, so you might want to find a sample before committing to a full bottle.

Classic Clean

Emporio Armani By Giorgio Armani For Women. Eau De Parfum Spray 3.4 Ounces
A feminine fragrance with vanilla and sandalwood sitting at the top of the composition.

Emporio Armani is warm with a powdery scent and citrus notes coming through the aroma, ever so gently.

It is a clean classic sort of scent that has solid longevity and an attractive smell, while being safe to wear in daily situations. I’m going to keep this one on the list, even though it is becoming more difficult to find, as of late.

Your Way?

My Way by Giorgio Armani– My Way is a newer entry to the list, but a really nice easy to wear floral perfume, that enjoys mass appeal. Tuberose and jasmine are the two main floral ingredients, however, they will emerge fully later on in the wear.

First, it has a sweeter and fairly citrus profile with orange blossom and bergamot. That lasts into the first hour or so, before the tuberose really starts to come through.

My Way is fairly fresh with a really pleasant fruity opening act. The performance is solid, but not insane in terms of its sillage or staying power.

The Other Armani Si

Giorgio Armani Si Fiori Eau de Parfum Spray, 50 ml– This might be the best of the Si series. Although, I actually do like the original and Passione, as well. But, I think I may be in the minority.

It opens up with a bright citrus and currant blend, that is supported by floral notes and an underlying patchouli note. Yet, Si Fiori doesn’t go into full on heavy gourmand category, and is very wearable in warm weather (just not the hottest days).

The real star of the show is going to be the vanilla note. The fruity notes take a back seat to the floral notes (I get rose, but neroli is also there), and then, the vanilla comes in full swing. It actually does have an overall freshness to it that is great.

Creamy, sweet, nice performance and enough of that Si DNA to be enjoyable…but also a different take.

Parfum Way

My Way Parfum– Obviously, this is going to have at least some overlap with the original perfume in this series. However, My Way Parfum really is a distinct perfume that stands on its own.

Iris and tuberose take their turns in the mix. The opening does have the sparkling quality from the bergamot citrus up top. It has that bubble gum like tuberose aroma at times, powdery aspects from the iris, and muskier aroma in the dry down.

Definitely darker, heavier, and more intense versus the original My Way. I don’t think that this will be the best bet for everyone, but some people will absolutely love Parfum.

Most Popular/Best Seller

Armani Code By Giorgio Armani For Women. Eau De Parfume Spray 2.5 oz
Sweet, warm, and spicy take on the Code name. Citrus, honey, vanilla, and jasmine. Sexy and sophisticated scent, that is versatile enough to be worn on a night out on the town, as well as during the day.

Code has a creaminess provided by the jasmine and orange blossom notes, while maintaining a vanilla and musk combination. Code for Women is the type of scent that envelops the wearer in a cozy cloud of warmth and captivates those around her.

The opening has a good deal of citrus with some additional ginger freshness/bite. It gets smoother, as it moves along, but always stays attractive and bold.

Aquatic for Warmer Weather

Acqua di Gio by Giorgio Armani for women Eau De Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounces
Simple, fresh, and straightforward aquatic and floral scent that screams to be used in the summertime. This one dates back to the 1990s and has a light and clean dry down period, with peony and lily of the valley.

The opening is interesting, because it uses a vodka note, which you really don’t see often in fragrances (especially for women). It is interesting because this women’s version doesn’t have the same level of citrus and salty sea air as the men’s.

Acqua di Gio isn’t really oceanic, as it is more like a refreshingly cold drink, with watery elements. Great freshness and an interesting depth for a warmer weather fragrance.

Another Summer

My Way Ylang- This one is a tropical take on the My Way formula. Does have some similarities to Fame (but better) and better than the Parfum version of that Rabanne scent.

Anyway, Ylang is a softer and lighter summertime blend of My Way. Opening with coconut and mango, to go along with the usual bergamot note.

Yes, one difference is the inclusion of the ylang-ylang as a floral highlight, but it is still sharing the stage with the tuberose in the middle. Plus, there’s still the presence of orange blossom throughout.

This is juicy and bright up top. Quite sweet, but doesn’t get bogged down and has a nice fresh element to its aroma.

D&G Devotion vs Burberry Goddess

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Devotion from D&G is their latest hit series of fragrances that will probably be expanded upon many times in the coming years. The EDP often gets compared to the original Goddess EDP from Burberry.

While both of these scents have already spun off newer versions of their original formulas, I wanted to compare both of these first editions, as they are still the most popular. Which smells better? Lasts longer? Which should you buy Goddess or Devotion?

Tale of the Tape: Devotion vs. Burberry Goddess

Devotion

Notes include: candied citrus, orange blossom, rum, pana cotta, vanilla

Click here to try: Devotion EDP

Read my review: Devotion EDP

Burberry Goddess

Notes include: lavender, vanilla, cacao, ginger, vanilla absolute, vanilla caviar

Click here to try: Goddess by Burberry

Read my review: Goddess

Opening

After first spraying of Devotion EDP, lemon dominates but it settles into a more balanced supporting role as we move forward.

Orange blossom provides the floral element, while there’s also what seems like a distinct orange note. To me, it’s more like fresh zest or peel.

The top is bright with a touch of spice and carries a slightly juicy feel, though the lemon leans more toward having that candied, synthetic quality.

This Dolce & Gabbana fragrance is essentially a straightforward sweet gourmand, but it does evolve through distinct stages.

The next phase brings together lemon cake vibes with the orange blossom. The spice notes retreat as vanilla starts making its presence known.

Goddess leans into its sweetness rather than tartness, leaving the fruity notes behind. Vanilla shows up early alongside cacao, but ginger brings this nice fresh lift right from the opening.

Even though vanilla leads the way, the fragrance feels surprisingly light and cool compared to what you’d normally expect from vanilla-heavy perfumes.

Which is better?

It’s a close call, but I think I’ll go with the D&G scent. The lemon, spice, and how it ultimately moves into its lemon cake phase is just a tad more interesting to me. Sugary? Sure, but Devotion is very likeable.

Edge: Devotion

Projection

Neither of these is a massive projector nor a super heavy fragrance. Devotion is substantial and has a good reach. It doesn’t bog you down, even though it is a gourmand scent. There is a freshness underneath that prevents it from being a thick cloud.

I’d say that the D&G perfume is on the upper end of what could be considered moderate, if not crossing over into ‘strong’ territory. Not a beast, but very solid.

With Goddess, it’s also a moderate, but a step down from what I get with Devotion eau de parfum. The first few hours are good, still more of an intimate scent bubble, and then devolves into a skin scent.

Pretty good, but Devotion easily takes this category.

Edge: Devotion

Longevity

With Goddess, I’ve only been able to ever get somewhere in the 6-7 hour range, while wearing it. Not great, but fairly decent.

Does Devotion outdo the Burberry? Yep. I can get around 9 hours of wear from the Dolce & Gabbana fragrance. It’s also nothing too crazy, but does the job well for the needs of most people.

Edge: Devotion

Versatility

Seasonally, both of these are autumn through springtime wears. If it’s too warm out, I’d probably opt for something else. Outside of that however, these will work quite well.

Neither goes too heavy and maintain a lightness that can move beyond just a standard winter gourmand fragrance.

Neither of them are a formal perfume either. They’re mainly going to fit into more of a daytime wear role, casual, and maybe some nightlife. I think either could be a potential signature scent, most like for a younger woman, or those who love the sweeter fragrances.

Not much of a difference here, as they really do overlap in terms of use case.

Edge: Push

Overall Scent

Overall, which of these two perfumes do I actually prefer more?

With Burberry Goddess, it’s a very pleasant mainstream fragrance. Nothing too bold or unique about it, but I like the use of vanilla and that light easy to wear feeling that I get while wearing it.

I never have thought that the name Goddess actually fit with what the scent actually is, but it’s a nice fragrance overall.

However, I like Devotion by D&G more than the Burberry option.

It’s not a massive preference for me, but I lean more towards Devotion being the better perfume. It does have better performance, so, that is another notch on its belt.

Devotion EDP isn’t as reliant on its vanilla notes and I think that the lemony baked goods and spice is just more interesting and smells a bit better, in my opinion.

You actually might prefer Devotion Intense versus either of these (I do). It’s not way ahead of either of these but the sugary citrus doesn’t have the same grip over the formula as it does in the EDP version.

Winner: Devotion

Devotion Intense Pour Femme by D&G

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Devotion Intense is the first follow up in the newer Devotion series by Dolce & Gabbana. This Intense version obviously has a lot of similarities to the eau de parfum, but what about it makes the perfume different and how does it stack up in comparison?

I recently grabbed samples of both of these fragrances in order to test out and review each. What does Devotion Intense smell like? How long does it last? Is it ultimately worth a try?

Devotion Intense Pour Femme Review

Notes include: hazelnut, orange blossom, vanilla

Click here to try: Devotion Intense

My Take

The opening does still share some of the brightness of the original and the citrus, but it’s toned way down. In place of the rummy sort of glaze aroma you get a hazelnut note, giving this a really nice almost roasted nuttiness.

It’s a bit denser, though, still not completely heavy or thick with how it sits on the skin. The orange blossom is also very prominent in comparison to the Devotion EDP, especially at this entry stage.

So, if you take the original formulation ramp up the vanilla and orange blossom while reducing everything else, you get this…with added hazelnut. Earthy, smooth, and again that toasty sort of smell coming off of it. Less like a lemony cake.

Pretty much the same thing throughout the entire wear. Though, its basically just a mixture of the hazelnut, vanilla, and orange blossom. The rest of the original’s DNA seems to fade almost entirely for me.

The ultimate dry down is a very vanilla dominant fragrance with nutty touches and I guess some vague hints of the orange blossom still hanging about.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Devotion Intense is somewhat thicker and heavier feeling than its predecessor. Again though, it  doesn’t actually bog you down or feel completely cloying when you’re wear it.

The projection is actually better, strong without being overwhelming, and not a fragrance that is going to dominate a room with a normal amount of sprays. However, it is still well above average with its reach and scent trail creation.

The longevity here is also a bit better than the EDP. Not by a whole lot, but 9 hours seems to be a comfortable floor for what to expect with Devotion Intense. Maybe a bit further into the 10-ish hour range, but not much beyond that for a peak.

Seasonally, this one is autumn through early springtime. Neither of the first two Devotion releases are built for the warmer weather specifically, but I think that the EDP holds up better than Devotion Intense.

Like EDP, this could be a daily wear for some people. For those who enjoy mainstream designer gourmand scents, Devotion Intense can fit the bill very well.

It’s not a formal fragrance and is more of a cozy kind of wear versus being some kind of sexy club beast. I think it’s put together more maturely than is the EDP. The hazelnut versus the candied citrus, gives it that vibe. Yet, this one still isn’t a formal wear.

Overall Impressions of Devotion Intense

Overall, do I like Devotion Intense? I do. But, I also really enjoyed the original. I think this one is a bit better. If the lemon note in Devotion EDP was too bothersome for you (but you liked the rest), this one should work quite well.

It’s really pretty close in terms of the style, just remixed somewhat. So, I’m not greatly favoring this option versus the original, it’s more of a slight lean towards it.

I do like the glaze effect that it has here in the opening. Sure, not as much of the citrus and it is a darker formula, but it works well. The hazelnut is really most prominent in the front half of the wear, before it turns into a vanilla and orange blossom dominant scent.

As such, comparing this and the Eau de Parfum version, is really going to come down to your preference of style. Sometimes these flanker fragrances are either way worse or way better than their original, this one is more refined, but mostly just an alteration moving away from the candied citrus.

Nonetheless, I like what Dolce & Gabbana are doing with this series. Very mass appealing and crowd pleasing sort of scents, but one of the better current options in this style category.

Devotion Pour Femme by D&G

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Devotion Pour Femme is the first release in what will seemingly be a further long-running series of scents from Dolce & Gabbana. This one came out back in 2023, but I recently received samples of both it, the men’s edition, and the Intense version of this perfume.

So, what does Devotion eau de parfum smell like? Does it last long? Is this D&G perfume actually worth a try?

Devotion EDP Pour Femme Review

Notes include: candied citrus, orange blossom, rum, pana cotta, vanilla

Click here to try: Devotion EDP

My Take

Devotion EDP opens with a sugary candied lemon note, which sits like a glaze mixed with rum on top of a warm cake. 

Initially, the lemon will be the strongest note in the mix, but it does calm down into something that highlights the blend. We have orange blossom as a flower here, but there also seems to be a separate orange note too. Just a zest or peel of orange.

Up top, things are bright and a bit spiced. It does have a slight juicy quality, but again, this is more of a candied or artificial lemon aroma. 

This Dolce & Gabbana perfume is a sweet gourmand and one which isn’t overly complicated. However, there are a few phases.

The next is the blended lemon cake with orange blossom. The spice fades and the vanilla really starts to move in. Paired with the orange blossom and pana cotta, the vanilla sometimes smells powdery, and creates a ‘fluffy’ near marshmallow kind of effect.

The final dry down is mostly a lemony vanilla, with the remnants of the other notes playing the background and keeping the warmer aspects of this fragrance alive.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

While this is a gourmand scent, it isn’t too heavy and actually does have a good deal of freshness to it. It’s light enough, that it never felt cloying to me, but it does also have the projection power to make it never feel weak.

The longevity is also pretty good, just not elite. It will last somewhere around 9 hours or so, on my skin. You get plenty of time with it, but it wasn’t a double digit hours long wear for me.

Seasonally, this one is good to go from autumn through the springtime. I’d probably only avoid wearing it on the hottest days of the year. Outside of that, Devotion will almost certainly work well and without much issue.

This could be a daily wear for some people. For those who love these sorts of delicious and mainstream gourmand scents, this is a good example of that type and very likeable.

It’s not a formal fragrance and is more of a cozy kind of wear versus being some kind of sexy club beast. More delectable versus being sultry and attention grabbing. For most casual or daily wear situations, Devotion EDP probably isn’t going to be too out of place.

Overall Impressions of Devotion Pour Femme

Overall, do I like Devotion EDP? I do. To be fair, I have always enjoyed gourmands, especially scents that have a lemon note mixed with some kind of baked good vibe.

With the lemon note, a lot of people will say that it smells like ‘cleaner’, no matter what perfume that it’s in. I don’t think that’s the case here at all. But, maybe you go with Devotion Intense instead, the citrus influence isn’t as much in that one.

I think that this one gets associated with Burberry Goddess, also. I think I slightly prefer Devotion, but it’s not a strong preference, either way. That has a heavier vanilla influence, even if both of them, greatly rely on that note.

The performance is good for this sort of scent, just nothing amazing. It’s one that can easily slot into a fragrance rotation, because if you like the way it smells, there will be plenty of opportunities to wear it.  Very much a crowd pleaser.

Is it anything too groundbreaking? No, not really. It’s pleasant and has an easy to wear sweet aroma. If that sounds like your type, check this one out. If not, you basically already know what to expect with this one, and can look elsewhere for a perfume.