mugler

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.

What does Alien Aqua Chic Smell Like?

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. 

Aura EDP by Mugler

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Aura was released by Thierry Mugler in 2017. Mugler is a fragrance house that I really enjoy, as they usually come out with something that is a bit different and also bold. Aura is definitely a prime example. In this post, I want to relay my experience with Aura, how it smells, performs, and whether or not it is worth a buy.

What does Aura by Mugler Smell Like?

Notes include: fresh leaves, rhubarb, bourbon vanilla, orange blossom, wood

Click here to try: Aura MUGLER 90 ml refillable Spray EDP

My Full Wear Review 

How Mugler describes it: Aura exudes a wild blend of botanical freshness and feline sensuality.

Wow, what an odd duck this is. The opening of aura brings me a dewy aroma of forest, a big dose of rhubarb, sort of sour, and orange blossom.  Sounds weird? It is, but I kind of like it.

Another note that Mugler lists on its website for Aura is almond, specifically a vanilla-covered almond. Personally, I don’t pick up much nuttiness, as it is subdued by that initial botanical (fresh leaves) aroma. However, it is there just a touch.

That opening act can seem somewhat medicinal (think mint), but once that initial phase passes, the vanilla and orange blossom really make this one pleasant. The phase is much more along the lines of other traditional perfumes, while still retaining a unique style.

The final stage for me, is a greenish blend of orange blossom and vanilla with a slightly woody base. I don’t get much more development beyond that. It has its sweetness, but it comes across as a denser and darker kind of perfume.

Sillage, Longevity, and When to Wear

Projection wise, Aura doesn’t require too many sprays to be effective. It’ll give you a nice radius of aroma around you. Not the strongest scent out there, but this one is plenty powerful.

For that first hour or two, I would call it strong. Aura has a great ability to project and leave a scent trail. After that, it remains above average, declining until it disappears entirely. 

Another plus for Aura is the longevity. It fell somewhere in the 9-10 hour range on my skin. This is what I’ve come to expect from most Mugler fragrances, they usually all bring great performance.

Aura EDP hits that rather high level, but doesn’t venture very far into the double digit hour territory like some of the other Mugler fragrances, though.

 

Seasonally, I could see this being worn anytime, except maybe the hottest days. However, a moderate spring day, maybe a little rainy out would be perfect. In the extreme heat, I think this one would be tested to still continue to hold up. Not ideal.

Casual or romantic wear. Doesn’t strike me as anything formal. It is sexy, in its own unique way. Aura is one that is going to depend greatly on your body chemistry, as to how it presents itself. On the right person, this could be captivating.

Overall Impressions of Aura

Do I like this perfume? I do enjoy it a lot. Obviously, as a man, this isn’t going to be one I’m going to wearing around. But, there is plenty here to enjoy. I’m a big fan or orange blossom and vanilla. Here, they are wrapped up in that green botanical aroma, and it is very interesting.

Aura isn’t a fragrance for everyone. This is one you’ll want to test out beforehand and give it multiple tries. That initial ‘weirdness’ may throw you off, but you could end up really liking it with another chance.

The performance is great, it gives you something unique, and is attractive. If you can vibe with it, Aura is well worth a shot. Personally, this is one of my favorite women’s Mugler releases over the past handful of years. Yes, it might not get the same level of attention in the sea of Alien and Angel flankers, but this one is across the board wonderful.

Alien Fusion by Mugler

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Alien Fusion is yet another flanker version from the best selling Alien series by Thierry Mugler. This perfume was released in 2019 and has enjoyed some success since then. In this post, I am going to share my experience with Fusion. How does it smell, how long does it lasts, and is it actually worth a try.

What does Alien Fusion Smell Like?

Notes include: ginger, cinnamon, vanilla, orange blossom, tuberose, and amber

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Alien Fusion Women 2 oz EDP Spray

Full Wear Review

Here’s what Mugler says about Alien Fusion: At the heart of the desert an eclipse is revealed. Alien Fusion, a flamboyant Eau de Parfum that unveils a sensual trail with a vibrant depth.

Fusion opens up with a fresh spice combination and the citrus hints of the orange blossom. It’s warm with the early stages of amber and vanilla. 

After a few minutes, it begins to shift and the tuberose takes hold as the main note within the composition. Tuberose, cinnamon, and orange blossom. I’d say it becomes a 70/30 split between the tuberose and orange blossom. 

It’s got that nice bubblegum type smell from that tuberose note, similar to what you find in L’Interdit by Givenchy. Different fragrances, but that strikes me as a close comparison. Funny enough, this has ginger too, like L’Interdit Rouge. Except it’s pretty weak in Alien Fusion.

It stays pretty much the same until the final dry down, where there is more amber and vanilla. So, it’s a white floral with amber, vanilla, and some remaining light spices. The cinnamon hangs around longer than does the ginger note, which is usually short-lived in many perfumes.

Fusion has plenty of overlap with the original Alien, just more spice and a lighter aroma overall.

 

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Alien Fusion is very strong, not elite but it’s got plenty of power behind it. You don’t need to go crazy with the sprays to make it noticeable. If you’re familiar with the original Alien, this isn’t as powerful nor is it as heavy. 

Still, it does rise above most of the mainstream offerings out there, and will leave a distinct scent trail behind. 

The longevity is also good. Enough for a full workday, though, not really a double digit wear. 7-9 hours is about what it would last during testing. 

It has that strong start, is moderate by the third or forth hour, and then slowly fades away until you get to that eighth or ninth. 

Seasonally, this would be a good bet for the spring and summer months. While it has plenty of notes that work well in the colder weather, also. Honestly, could be fine almost year round.

I’d probably avoid the hottest days of summer. But, I have to say that I didn’t hate it when it was warm. It wasn’t too cloying or overwhelming. Ideally, a more moderate day in spring or even autumn would be a nice time to apply Fusion. 

 

Fusion has plenty of versatility for wear. Casual, semi-formal, work, and has enough attractiveness for dates or nightlife. It’s not the most formal or completely ‘serious’ scent, but it doesn’t strike me as being too immature. 

Overall Impressions of Alien Fusion

Overall, do I like Alien Fusion? I do. This is a great flanker scent. It smells great, you get plenty of overlap with the original, and it has solid performance.

I like the opening act especially. The freshness and orange blossom smells wonderful. It’s not that complex of a perfume, it just does everything very well.

The cinnamon, amber, and tuberose middle act is still quite attractive and I was never bored with this Mugler perfume. It’s got a good mix of spiciness, sweetness, warmth, and floral notes.

It’s pretty and gives you plenty of opportunity to wear it in a variety of climates or outings. If you didn’t like Alien, this one might be more tolerable for you, so it’s worth a try. It’s not as in your face or harsh as the original can be sometimes. 

If you liked Alien and want something slightly different and not as heavy, this is a great option, that you’ll probably enjoy.