mugler

Angel Muse EDP by Thierry Mugler

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Moving right along through these ladies perfume reviews, I have one today for another Thierry Mugler perfume: Angel Muse. Obviously, this is a flanker to the original Angel that was released back in the early 1990s, and has been a best seller ever since. Is this one worth it? How does it smell? Does it actually perform well?

What does Angel Muse Smell Like?

Notes include: patchouli, vetiver, hazelnut cream, pink pepper, wood

Click here to try: Thierry Mugler Angel Muse Eau de Parfum spray, 1.0 oz

My Full Muse Review

Angel Muse is a very interesting scent for me, as patchouli usually represents a wildcard for my nose, as to whether or not I’ll enjoy a fragrance. The opening is a blast of patchouli with sugary sweetness of the hazelnut cream and a fruit note in there as well.

Grapefruit is the citrus fruit note and has that sparkling sharp brightness to it. Mixed with the patchouli and pink pepper note up top, this one can start out pretty earthy, with a level of dirtiness to it. The opening isn’t all that fantastic, but this gets way better to my nose.

It reminds me of  I Love NY for Holidays by Bond No. 9, as it has that same sweet baked goods feeling mixed with patchouli. Of course, it also shares so much DNA with the original Angel, too.

However, I will say that Angel Muse does it better and ultimately differentiates itself from the Bond No. 9 fragrance. I think the inclusion of the vetiver note was a great choice, as it adds an earthy/woodsy aroma, for depth.

Angel Muse is so smooth while maintaining that unique earthy smell and it’s quite fantastic.

During the dry down, I get more of the vetiver and hazelnut. There is of course a creamy quality to the fragrance from the hazelnut cream, but I also think there might be some tonka bean in there. I

t’s warm and enveloping with a bit of spice from pink pepper and the dominant patchouli.

The dry down is really where it’s at with Angel Muse. Once the grapefruit has faded away, the whole composition fits together better. The hazelnut cream note, is the absolute highlight of the fragrance for me.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, Angel Muse never strikes me as too loud or heavy, and I’d call the sillage moderate. Maybe, upper end of that rang. You won’t have to spray a lot and you won’t choke out the room. Mugler did a great job of balancing both the notes and the performance.

The projection itself will at least be a few feet from the skin for a vast majority of the wear before it finally tapers off.

Longevity is also awesome, it will last all day no problem. I’d say at its max, it hung around for 10 hours. Usually, falling into that 8-10 hour range, closer to the lower numbers most of the time. Yet, it still delivers plenty.

Climate wise, this one is for the autumn/winter, and probably won’t be great in the high heat of summer. One could wear Angel Muse casually, romantically, or even out in a night club scenario. It’s a very versatile fragrance.

Though, it’s not really a formal kind of wear. But, with some lighter application, it would be just fine at work or something along those lines.

Muse is warm, inviting, and has a certain sexiness to it. It is kept from being too sweet and overwhelming by the vetiver and patchouli, which makes this much more appealing and mature.

Overall Impressions of Angel Muse

Overall, would I recommend Angel Muse by Thierry Mugler? Yes. I like it a whole lot. I actually just now figured out what I like about the dry down and that hazelnut/cocoa aroma. It’s because of its resemblance to the opening of Dior Homme Intense, due to the shared vetiver note.

Angel Muse is much more feminine and sweeter, but there is a similarity there and I dig it. Ultimately, Angel Muse is dry and warm and sweet and great.

Some may not care for the opening act (I don’t really either). Also, patchouli and vetiver can be a turn off for other folks. That woody/earthiness works well, in my view. Others, may find it to be too much.

The good news is, that this perfume gets better as the wear moves along. It’s got solid strength and staying power. The creaminess is fantastic and this one gives you a crowd pleasing yet pretty unique experience. This is one of the better Angel perfumes and an awesome gourmand.

Alien Goddess EDP by Mugler

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Alien Goddess is a 2021 release from Mugler’s long running Alien line of perfumes for women. I got a sample of this from a bundle of various scents and have been giving it a try, as of late. How does it smell? When should it be worn? Is it worth getting?

What does Alien Goddess Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, coconut water, jasmine, vanilla, heliotrope, cashmeran wood

Click here to try: Alien Goddess at Macy’s

alien goddess review

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Mugler describes Goddess: At a time when people seek light in the darkness, a solar goddess is paving the way to a miraculous but true destiny.

In perfect harmony with body and soul, she is ready to magnify the world around her with glory, generosity and benevolence.

Bringing her life-giving power and beauty to a barren planet with her golden flower as a healing gift to the world and universal call to all women.

Goddess opens up with it’s watery coconut aroma that is paired with jasmine and the initial burst of the Bourbon vanilla. The bergamot citrus is pretty darn light here, in comparison with the rest of the composition.

It is a bright, sweet, and creamy concoction. Very much in the same sort of lotion-y floral design as something like, Soleil Blanc by Tom Ford (maybe, eau de Soleil?). Though, these aren’t the same as one another at all, just that kind of style.

The fragrance is light and the floral notes will begin to take center stage, as we move on. Vanilla and the coconut will stay, but mainly as background players. Jasmine and heliotrope sort of split duties here, though I’d say jasmine is a tad stronger.

However, the dry down heliotrope adds more of a powdery aroma versus that initial creaminess.

The final phase will be jasmine, vanilla, and the cashmeran wood. It’s all coming together like a total summertime beachy wear. Not overly tropical, but for sure something to spray on during a warm day.

The coconut not does linger around when it’s sprayed on clothing, more so than it does on my skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it’s in the moderate camp. Not a monster like many other Mugler scents, especially from the Alien line, but it isn’t a skin scent for me either.

It’ll stick around in the 4-6 foot range for much of the wear and it does leave a decent scent trail. I guess in comparison to other Mugler perfumes this is ‘weak’, but compared to other scents on the market, it definitely isn’t.

I actually get a very good longevity on my skin with Goddess. It fell somewhere in the 8-9 range. Which, is pretty darn good, just not elite.

On clothing, this one stayed on a t-shirt for a long time after application. The performance is solid, it just never screams for attention.

Seasonally, this is spring through summer mostly. Though, it wouldn’t be out of place on a warmer autumn day.

Alien Goddess isn’t a formal fragrance or a sexy club scent. More casual or a daily wear. It’s not going to blow the doors off with its power, with normal application. So, it’s pretty safe to wear in many situations.

Overall Impressions of Alien Goddess

Overall, do I like Alien Goddess? Yes, I think that it’s a nice spring and summer perfume. It’s a nice and different take on the Alien name.

Is it absolutely amazing? No, but it’s certainly above average and solid all around. Goddess just isn’t quite as loud as other Mugler scents can be. But, it still delivers a good performance and a great smell.

I like the mix of the coconut, vanilla, and particularly the heliotrope. Goddess gives you bursts of creaminess and a powdery finish. Not too complex, but it is bright, beach, and a fun experience overall.

Very much in the same vein as fragrances like Bronze, Soleil Blanc, and Bronze Goddess by Estee Lauder. Not an exact replica of any, but they all fit within this summertime creamy/beachy category.

I kind of wish that Alien Goddess had a stronger use of the bergamot up top, than it actually does. Aside from that, I don’t have many complaints about how it smells.

I like that it has a sweet quality to it, but not overly sugary and enough of a floral presence to keep it interesting…not devolving into pure vanilla and coconut. It’s worth a shot, if this sort of perfume sounds intriguing to you. Though, it isn’t a must have for most folks.

Angel Men (A*Men) Pure Tonka by Mugler

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This will be the second of my one time wear, cologne reviews, of scents I’ve tried out while traveling. Today, is a Thierry Mugler cologne, that I sampled while walking around the airport in Ibiza…Angel Men Pure Tonka. Now, I’ve smelled this before and love tonka, so I was excited to give it a full wear and my impressions on this scent. As usual, I’m going to cover what’s in it, how it smells, performs, and whether or not I think that it is worth a buy.

What does Pure Tonka by Thierry Mugler Smell Like?

Notes include: tonka bean, lavender, coffee, rosemary, patchouli, vanilla

Click here to try: AMen Pure Tonka Eau De Toilette 100ml

My Full Review

Admittedly, this may not have been the best time to test out, Pure Tonka. This is a fall/winter cologne and I was testing it in late spring, in Ibiza, so it was pretty warm. Not too awful but around 75 degrees F, which is probably the max I would wear this one around in.

Tonka bean is probably one of my favorite ingredients in men’s fragrances, as it is really smooth and creamy, when done right.

The opening of Pure Tonka doesn’t disappoint, there is a noticeable burnt roast aroma provided by the coffee note that pairs quite beautifully with the tonka bean.

There seems to be at least some resemblance, in my mind, to Pure Havane. The latter is much heavier with tobacco and honey, but I do get a bit of the same sweetness for some period of time.

During the initial stages, there is a minty coolness which peaks through, as well.

Upon my second testing of this, a few years after the initial review, I get way more coffee than I remember. It’s dark, roasted, with that cocoa finish.

Very well done and I really adore its pairing with tonka bean. I think that the sweet notes, don’t smell refined like in a sugary sense, closer to the raw and unrefined ingredients.

Pure Tonka is of course very sweet but not in a girlish way. It retains it sense of masculinity, with a darker, warm, and almost brooding appeal.

The lavender note is there and seems to give Pure Tonka some grounding and prevents it from becoming an overly sweet mess.

This is a very gourmand fragrance, the trio of tonka, coffee, and vanilla create a chocolate-like aroma that is very rich and as if you were walking into a bakery.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The projection on Pure Tonka, like the other A*Men flankers, is fantastic. You really only need a few sprays and the job will be done. No weakness here.

Longevity wise, it is also a beast, I’ve gotten over 8 hours on a warm day, so I figure it should be 10+ during winter wear.

Update: Coming back to this one, in cooler temperatures, and it did go above 9 hours.

Pure Tonka has the appeal of being able to be worn casually, while pulling double duty for romantic wear. Again, you don’t need to spray very much, but this is a great winter scent to get closer to someone.

It’s fairly unisex in its presentation, more masculine, but it could be worn by anyone without much trouble. It’s wearable in most any situation, just avoid the high heat, and stick to the autumn and winter months.

Overall Impression of Pure Tonka

Overall, is Pure Tonka worth a buy? Yes, provided you know what you’re getting. To me, it almost seemed like too much of a good thing, at times. I really do enjoy it but it began to drag on my nerves a bit.

Maybe that was only due to me traveling and not being in a great mood, but I thought that I would point that out. I actually think, that I might like it better than Pure Havane, but I don’t know if I like it more than Pure Malt…but I’d have to do more testing.

The A*Men series of scents are pretty much great across the board and Pure Tonka is no exception.

Update: Coming back to Pure Tonka for another time, it is about on par with my enjoyment of Pure Havane and not as good as Pure Malt. It has a lot of elements that I really enjoy, but I have to be in the mood for a gourmand scent.

This will have some mass appeal, but it is going to one for either tonka bean fans or those who like sweeter scents. It’s really good overall.

Update Again: This has been discontinued, as far as I can tell. That’s unfortunate, as this was a fun one.

Ice Men by Thierry Mugler

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Here we are with another Thierry Mugler fragrance review, which has become one of my favorite line of colognes out there, today. I received a sample of the 2007 release, Ice Men, which provides that cooling energy, but does it smell and perform well enough to make a full purchase out of it? In this post, I’m going to go over how it smells, performs, when it should be worn, and if I think that it is ultimately worth it.

What does Angel Ice Men Smell Like?

Notes include: mint, patchouli, nutmeg, musk

Click here to try: Angel Ice Men By Thierry Mugler For Men Eau De Toilette Spray, 1.7-Ounces

My Full Wear Review

The opening of Ice Men is a blast of crisp mint and patchouli that does as the names suggests and creates and icy aroma.

I think this cologne has an interesting dynamic from some of the other ‘Ice’ scents that I’ve smelled before. In that, it doesn’t rely on a citrus note like lemon and utilizes mint and nutmeg as some of the main players.

I’m not the biggest fan of the opening 20 minutes or so, as it has a bit too much patchouli for my tastes.

As it moves along, the nutmeg and the musk develop more and give Ice Men a rather unique scent. The patchouli settles down into its rightful place, as a backup player in this mix.

It’s quite fresh with a spicy kick to it but retains it’s chilled personality throughout. Honestly, it’s a pretty linear fragrance after the initial burst.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, it’s okay, Ice Men starts out loud but quiets down a whole lot within an hour of application. From then on, it’s somewhat noticeable but mostly stays in the background.

Longevity, seems to be in the 4-5 hour range, which isn’t impressive at all. The scent is already pretty thin with development and then it also just quits earlier.

I think that’d I’d only use this stuff as a casual scent, maybe to wear at the gym or something like that. It’s not really a stand out fragrance but could be decent on a warmer day, just as a change of pace.

Overall Impressions of Angel Ice Men

Overall, this cologne smells pretty good, but it just strikes me as completely average. Not great, but not terrible in almost every respect. It’s definitely a step below the other Thierry Mugler colognes that I’ve reviewed on the site.

Pure Shot and Kryptomint by Mugler, have a similar style while being much better.

In that way, it’s kind of a disappointment, that it doesn’t live up to how good the others have been. I don’t see much use for Ice Men cologne, in my collection, but I don’t hate it either.

I do like the nutmeg and the icy aroma. There’s just not much else to this.

Update: This one is discontinued. You can still find it around online, but I wouldn’t pick it up unless you’re getting a massive discount on it. Certainly don’t overpay to acquire.