mugler

Alien Goddess Intense by Mugler

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Alien Goddess Intense is the follow up the very successful, Alien Goddess by Mugler. This flanker was released in 2022. I recently bought a sample of this perfume in order to test it out and see how it compares to the original. How does Intense smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Alien Goddess Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: coconut, bergamot, jasmine, jasmine tea, benzoin, vanilla, cashmere

Click here to try: Intense at Sephora

My Full Review

Here’s how Mugler describes it: Dazzling bergamot, a glorious infusion of jasmine and mesmerizing benzoin. When intensity meets extraordinary.

Goddess Intense has a more substantial feel from the start, than the lighter original. In that, coconut water and bergamot were the top.

Here, it is more of a regular coconut, that’s thickened by a substantial vanilla not and a touch of the bergamot. Neither editions, have much of the citrus, but it really doesn’t stand out here.

While the vanilla is around for the entire wear, it feels like it has more strength later on.

What it does have, is plenty of jasmine. Coconut, jasmine, and vanilla are the main trio in Goddess Intense. With the latter two, taking over the coconut influence as we move deeper.

Outside of that, benzoin. Sort of fuzzy and ambery coming through the base. There is a light wood, from the cashmere. Just not too massive.

Finally, this is a vanilla and amber blend with a somewhat soapy quality from the remaining jasmine note. Not really any coconut towards the end, on me.

Doesn’t have the same powdery heliotrope like the original Alien Goddess. Actually, comes across like the original Alien quite a bit. Not the same, but the similarities are very apparent.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The original was a lighter fragrance than this newer Intense version, but it still had above average projection. Alien Goddess Intense is somewhat thicker/heavy and has an improved projection radius.

However, it’s not that much stronger than the original. Again, certainly above average, but nothing that’s going to absolutely dominate a room for hours.

The longevity is borderline great. For a mainstream designer fragrance, it delivers plenty and more than what you get from many others. On my skin, it lasts at least 9 hours, with 10+ not being out of the question.

I don’t think it’s going to be a 12 hour performer, but it can come close.

Seasonally, this could probably work at any time. I might suggest using something else during the hottest days of summer, but Intense could probably work in the evenings then, too.

Really, it’s best when it’s slightly chilly out to slightly warm. Very versatile with the climates, that it can work well in. Personally, I liked it best on the colder testing day, that I tried this one out on.

It’s good as a daily wear perfume. Intense isn’t something that’s going to be totally formal or anything, but it’s put together enough to not feel childish or juvenile at all. Don’t expect some sophisticated masterpiece, just a nice smelling fragrance.

My Overall Impressions of Alien Goddess Intense

Overall, do I like this fragrance? Yes, I think that it is quite good and somewhat better than the original Alien Goddess release. Not miles better, but I do prefer this edition to the first.

This isn’t a complete 180 degree change from the original, but it is different enough to warrant a try, if you liked that one. The vanilla notes here are substantial, as is some jasmine and amber influence in the base.

The performance is good and what you should expect from most Mugler releases. I’m not at all blown away by this.

I do like the coconut note, with its more substantial aroma. The vanilla, benzoin, and amber are nice. Kind of basic, but fairly enjoyable throughout.

I don’t have too many complaints with Goddess Intense and think that it is a good release from Mugler. If you didn’t like the original, I wouldn’t bet on this version changing your mind, though.

To me, it’s a slight improvement versus that, and a nice scent on the whole.

Angel Nova by Mugler

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Angel Nova was released in 2020 as yet another flanker fragrance in the popular Angel series. Yet, it really doesn’t have much of anything in common with the original. Which, made me fairly interested in giving Nova a try. How does it smell? How does Nova perform? Is it at all worth a try?

What does Angel Nova Smell Like?

Notes include: litchi, raspberry, benzoin, Damask rose, akigala wood

Click here to try: Angel Nova

My Full Review

Before I get into my review, let’s see what Mugler has to say about Nova: A new star. A new heroine. A new fragrance. Make your dreams a reality and reality a dream.

Raspberry. Wow. That’s a ton of raspberry in the opening and it’s quite juicy and paired with litchi. It feels quite bold and there’s also something tropical here. Possibly mango? It’s short lived, but it’s there and a part of that sweet/sour mix up top.

A few minutes after I sprayed this, I could already tell that this won’t be for everyone. But, I’m curiously drawn to Angel Nova.

It’s not just the intense raspberry here. The background notes in the opening are intriguing and they will become more pronounced as Nova develops. Firstly, a dry and slightly spicy akigalawood, think patchouli-like smell.

Secondly, the benzoin note. A bit sweet, though, it is difficult to pick out behind the fruity explosion. A nice, somewhat medicinal resinous aroma, that’s just lurking in the background.

As we get further along, it becomes less of a fruity fragrance, a more fruity floral. Damask rose comes in and the tropical element seems to fade entirely. The scent becomes earthier and dirtier, with out the super sweet/sour mix that punched through the opening act.

The raspberry is the star in the beginning, but that changes to the rose, and it never gives up the spot thereafter. The final dry down is rose, some fresh spice, earthiness, benzoin and the remaining raspberry note.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

To me, there are two phases. The opening sillage is a near bomb, but it settles into something that is pretty moderate, in the second act. It’s more of a function of the notes. Those fruits are just amped up in the beginning, which is fine, but it can come across as being a monster…it’s not really.

That opening projection is the type that can reach across a room, while the rest of the wear is going to be still noticeable but not taking over much beyond your personal space.

The longevity is great. Over 9 hours both times, I wore it. Probably 11, at the max. So, another Mugler with awesome performance, which is one of the best things about this designer. Great consistency.

Seasonally, I’d stick to warmer weather. I can’t imagine how sharp this would feel in colder air, but it’s nice in the warmth of spring. Honestly, I could see this being a summertime wear, also. Nights out, mostly. Though, I don’t think the humidity would mess Nova up at all.

Angel Nova probably skews younger in its target audience. Though, I wouldn’t say that it’s strictly for teenagers. It’s kind of got that youthful and fruity opening, with a more mature dry down scent. Maybe that extends the age range for this one?

If you go light, you could probably wear it to work. It’s more of a casual wear around town versus anything formal, however.

Overall Impressions of Angel Nova

Overall, do I like Angel Nova? Yes, I do. Will everyone else? Probably not.

It’s not quite a niche fragrance, because it does have some mass appeal. It just won’t be everyone’s favorite daily wear.

To me, the raspberry and litchi combination is great. The rose heart comes across well and the base of akigala and benzoin really ties it all together. It fakes like it’s just going to give you a fruity bomb, but then really develops some depth and nuance.

Lots of sweetness with Nova, with tart and sour aspects popping up, especially in the early stages. I’m not completely sold on the earthier rose dry down, but it’s fine.

Performance wise, you get the goods. Yes, it’s a rose based fragrance, but it separates itself from many others on the market. At the very least, you get something somewhat different than other best sellers being pushed nowadays.

Update: There’s been more releases that are sort of like this one with the same litchi and/or raspberry notes. Yet, I still personally like Nova quite a bit. Not incredible, but still very worth a try at a good price.

A*Men Ultra Zest by Thierry Mugler

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In this review, I am going to take a closer look at another Thierry Mugler men’s fragrance, this one from the Angel Men lineup: A*Men Ultra Zest. How does this cologne smell? What are its notes? WHen should it be worn? Is it even worth giving a try?

What does A* Men Ultra Zest Smell Like?

Notes include: tangerine, red orange, cinnamon, tonka bean, patchouli, vanilla, coffee, ginger, mint, black pepper

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler A Men Ultra Zest Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Ultra Zest Review

Ultra Zest opens up with a great juicy citrus blend of the orange and tangerine notes. I can also detect a very light patchouli note and coffee in the background.

When I first read the notes and saw that it contained both citrus and coffee, I figured that it might be close to Polo Red Extreme, but that’s not the case as the coffee isn’t heavy enough and the citrus is much more intense here.

After a few minutes, the orange is still very strong but I start to detect the emergence of vanilla, mint, and tonka bean. It is a cool and creamy sensation, which I think works very well with the orange and tangerine.

Honestly, if you can’t stand those two notes, you’re more than likely not going to enjoy Ultra Zest but I am totally digging a pure men’s scent with those two juicy notes.

Further along in the wear, Ultra Zest becomes a warmer fragrance. It does still have a bit of a minty cool air about it, but the patchouli, cinnamon, and coffee really start to properly surround the orange and tangerine. It’s a smooth and light spice, not overbearing at all.

What it dries down to is citrus, patchouli, coffee, and the tonka bean/vanilla combination. There is still a very light spice, but again, it’s nothing too powerful. It all blends together extremely well and is definitely a balanced fragrance.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, I’d say that Zest has moderate sillage. It will be noticeable throughout the wear and can project itself well for the first few hours, before pulling back closer to the skin. I wish it stayed powerful throughout, because I really enjoy this scent.

The longevity is pretty good though, I can get 7 hours out of the wear. Not the best of the best, but it’s decent enough for most purposes.

Seasonally, it’s another one that is good for year round. Unlike many of the other Mugler colognes, this one can venture into summertime and thrive there.

Meanwhile, it is also good in the cold. The citrus, mint, and ginger let it go into summer while the rest of the notes beef it up a bit for winter wear.

It is a versatile fragrance, not too powerful to not be able to wear it at work or school, but also attractive enough to wear it during the nightlife. It’s sweet and creamy disposition seems enjoyable for women, and it is for sure something that I loved to smell on me during the day.

Overall Impressions of Ultra Zest

Overall, do I like A*Men Ultra Zest? Yes, I like this a lot. I know that it has been discontinued, but that’s a shame, because it is a very good cologne. Yes, I wish it had slightly better performance, because that would take it into greatness territory.

You can of course, still find bottles online, and if you love orange but want to take them into another direction from most men’s fragrances, Ultra Zest is what you should be looking for.

Update: You can get a fragrance from the Dua Brand, that is inspired by this, called simply, Zest. I had a hybrid version of this blended with their version of Pure Havane.

The tangerine and orange notes here are awesome. They have the right juiciness and refreshing quality that the name calls for. Beyond that the supporting notes like: vanilla, tonka bean, coffee, and patchouli help to give this one even more substance and depth that is really pleasant.

Ultra Zest flew a little too under the radar the be continued beyond its limited run. It really is a nice cologne and checks all of the marks of an fantastic citrus-based scent.

Alien Aqua Chic by Thierry Mugler

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Beyond getting a sample of Pure Malt to review, I also picked up a fragrance for the ladies by Thierry Mugler, Alien Aqua Chic. Now, this is a flanker fragrance to the ever popular, Alien, and while they do share some similarities, Aqua Chic is quite a different perfume. In this post, I want to give my full impressions of this scent, on how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if it is worth a purchase.

Alien Aqua Chic Overview

alien aqua chic

Notes include: freesia, wood, ginger, amber, lemon verbena

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Alien Aqua Chic Light Eau de Toilette Spray for Women, 2 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Alien Aqua Chic is somewhat reminiscent of the original Alien perfume but this one is decidedly more floral/aquatic with a slight spiciness provided by that ginger note.

I actually like the way the freesia and lemon verbena blend together to create a fairly unique floral fragrance and a welcome departure from the usual rose or violet that many perfumes have.

I would say that the aqua name fits as the floral notes do seem ‘juicy’ in that watery sort of way. I like this perfume but am not overwhelmed or really wowed by it.

The ginger note does feel like the highlight of this fragrance. It is a very fresh and crisp aroma, that comes across as being confident without being gaudy.

There isn’t too much development with this one. More freesia, less spice, some amber, and light woods in the base. As it moves along, it also loses some of that initial freshness. Basically a floral/aquatic/spicy/citrus blend to one that is more floral/amber.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on this one is pretty good. Aqua Chic is a moderate fragrance in my opinion and I don’t think there will be a problem with choking people out while wearing it, unless you really go overboard with the sprays.

It has a lighter and fresh tone, rather than being heavy. But, that projection does hold up, without overwhelming. I think the initial strength is above average and then gradually decays into something more middle of the road.

The longevity is very good and lasted on my skin for 6-7 hours before I washed it off…it was still going strong, so my guess is this one will hit 8+ hours pretty easily. It wouldn’t shock me if some can get to 10 hours with Aqua Chic.

Alien Aqua Chic isn’t really a nighttime or sexy kind of scent. I would say, that it is best for casual wear during the spring or summer months of the year. I think that it is an interesting contrast versus most of the summery type of perfumes out there.

Overall Impressions of Aqua Chic

Overall, I think that this Thierry Mugler perfume is pretty good. The performance is exactly what you would want from a perfume. The smell is pleasant, but it isn’t really mind blowing to me.

It’s quite similar to Alien, but with a fresh ginger note, and and aquatic aroma. Less woody, smooth, and vanilla overall. Pretty simple and linear without too much development. Basically, you like Alien but want something more wearable in the heat.

That’s not a bad thing for a spring and summer wear, because you do at least get solid performance from this one. Which, is pretty much the case with every Mugler perfume, and this doesn’t mess up the Alien namesake with poor performance.

If you need a solid casual scent, like slightly spicy florals, and can get a good price on a bottle, I’d say go for it.

Update: It’s not as available as it once was, but I’ve seen bottles of Aqua Chic still floating around, just much more sparingly. I don’t think you’ll be able to get it at a cheap price any longer.

Alien Man by Mugler

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Alien Man was released in 2018, named after the long-running and popular ladies’ Alien line of perfumes. It’s kind of surprising that they waited literal decades after the women’s fragrances had been released to put out a men’s counterpart, but whatever. I recently grabbed a sample of the stuff, to put it through its paces, and see if I liked it. 

What does Alien Man Smell Like?

Notes include: anise, dill, leather, mint, lavender, pepper, thyme, lemon, vanilla, amber, and more

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Alien Man, 3.4 Oz, Multi color

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Mugler describes this one: Alien Man EDT, a vibration of aromatic freshness, mysterious woody and sensual leather notes.

So, the Alien name becomes quite clear from the jump, because this one does smell pretty different. I think that it dries down fairly conventional, but it does start out with a weird sort of blend, that I’m not sure how to feel about.

First, there is a blend of smoky woods and the ever-present leather. However, along with that is a dill note and also thyme. Oh, also a cooling mint and fresh anise. Yes, indeed the dill does give it a slight pickle juice aroma. It’s not too noticeable on my skin, but it is there. Kinda strange.

Thyme and dill aren’t included in too many fragrances out there, even the women’s Alien went with being a jasmine bomb, and not venturing into odd notes. 

Alien Man is at least interesting. You get cool herbal freshness, sweetness (dare I say powdery), smokiness, and the usual leather and woods. Plenty of depth and the notes don’t always stand out individually.

I won’t say that it smells like Drakkar Noir or Passion by Elizabeth Taylor, but at times it definitely has that same kind of style. That classic style sitting underneath a different sort of opening act.

The middle will be a transition, loss of the dill and thyme influence, more of the herbal cool freshness. That will lead the way to the woods and leather’s growing influence.

The final dry down to my nose, is a fresh blend of woods (with surprisingly less smoke than it had before), with leather, herbal notes, and an amber/vanilla thickness. It’s deep and dark with its presentation.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here is somewhat strong, though, I’d say that it’s in the upper range of moderate. It does have a thick/heavy kind of aroma and can be over-sprayed. Though, with a few sprays, it’s very tolerable. 

That opening can come off as kind of aggressive. I don’t think that it is massive or a slap you across the room sort of cologne. However, with the early note structure it does ‘feel’ stronger than it actually is.

The longevity is excellent. On my skin, this stuff can go 9-10.5 hours while holding on to much of its power. Mugler definitely comes out with some unique fragrances, but they are usually always awesome performers.

Seasonally, I’d stick to autumn and winter with this one. It’d be a mess in the heat of summer. Especially, that start. It really needs the crisp and cold air to be fully appreciated.

To me, this has a classic sort of smell, and can totally be worn at the office. That initial period of time, provides the futuristic aroma, before falling back into a leathery aromatic/barbershop scent. It fits well for all age ranges, really.

Alien Man is an anytime kind of fragrance, during those cooler months. Maybe go with something else for romantic or nightlife, but it can sort of fit in anywhere.

 

 

Overall Impressions of Alien Man

Overall do I like this fragrance? Not too much, but I don’t hate it either. I gave it several tries and I can appreciate aspects of it, just not the entire thing.

The opening is pretty strange to smell on my skin. Then, the smoky woods come in, with leather, and some sweet vanilla. When that happens, it feels a lot more familiar, while still maintaining some level of uniqueness.

It’s just an okay smell to me, overall. The dry down is basically a modern take on an old-school style that’s been done a thousand times. It’s fine, I like it enough to wear on occasion, but not for a full bottle. 

The performance and the uniqueness are all pretty top notch. That’s to be expected with pretty much all Mugler fragrances. They provide you at least something different and are bold with how they come across.

As such, if you dig the scent itself, it does present a very nice buying opportunity. I don’t fall into that camp, personally, but plenty of you very well may.