“If you don’t like jasmine then you are probably going to need to put on your Space Suit, a Close Encounter of the Third Kind with this Alien may leave you feeling completely overwhelmed.”
I remember Alien’s release well, in 2005 I had just started my love affair with perfumes and one perfume I had fallen for big time was Angel by Thierry Mugler, so the news of a brand new Mugler release was big news for me. My excitement grew even more when I heard the perfume was to be named ‘Alien’, has there ever been a more perfect name for a fragrance? I think not!
Alien also holds a special resonance with me because it was that year I met my lovely boyfriend (technically he’s my fiancée but I don’t like the word) and Alien was the perfume I wore when we first met. He probably doesn’t remember the perfume that I wore, but I do and that makes it all the more special to me.
On Thursday I will be reviewing the latest incarnation of Alien, ‘Alien Le Goût du Parfum‘ so I feel it’s only fitting to give the original a proper review, after all Alien is one of my all time favourites.
“Alien resonates like a shockwave, strange and mysterious, emanating from the origins of the world and the extremes of the future.” [1]
Thierry Mugler Alien Perfume Review
The Notes
Top: Sambac Jasmine
Heart: Cashmeran and Solar Notes
Base: White Amber [2]
How Does it Smell?
Regular readers will know that I like my perfumes loud and ‘showy’ and Alien most certainly falls into that category, it is loud, proud, and utterly beautiful. Alien opens with a huge, no gigantic, make that ‘EPIC jasmine note’, a note that is so strong and so loud that it can be smelled from space. It is the hugeness of the jasmine that has caused it to be described as an ‘Intergalactic Jasmine’ by the lovely Sheila of Scent Less Sensibilities, and she couldn’t be more on the mark. If you don’t like jasmine then you are probably going to need to put on your Spacesuit, a Close Encounter of the Third Kind with this Alien may leave you feeling completely overwhelmed.
As well as being loud the jasmine is sharp and sour, there is a good deal of bright, sparkly citrus notes in the opening that bolster the jasmine, and whilst amping it up they add a sweetness that stops it from becoming too green.
After a while, the jasmine decides that she is going to let the other notes get a look in and that’s when the cashmeran comes through. Cashmeran is a synthetic ingredient created by IFF (International Flavours and Fragrances) that smells, woody-spicy and musky. In Alien the cashmeran is used to add a soft, hazy, and woody aspect that acts as a support for the hyper-spaced jasmine. The cashmeran also gives Alien an earthy quality, almost like patchouli but not quite as bold.
Alien dries down to wonderful woody vanilla, which feels sweet yet dry, thankfully the jasmine stays throughout Alien’s half-life but it does get quieter and it joins the vanilla, amber, woods, and musk which work together to create a glorious aura, a glowing light of fragrance that surrounds and envelops the wearer.
I’ve always thought that Alien is one of those perfumes that suit being over-applied, now I know most of you will disagree with me on that point, after all, it isn’t always the most socially polite thing to do, but sometimes a fragrance is so good you just have to bask in its glory, and for me, Alien is one of those fragrances.
Alien that can abduct me anytime.
Like a semi-precious stone mined on some far away planet the bottle perfectly fits the dramatic fragrance inside.
Golden claws hold the precious amethyst coloured stone in place and the sharp, diamond cut facets reflect the light in hues of deep purple.
The pure parfum bottle comes complete with a golden claw applicator.
Availability
Alien is available in 15ml, 30ml, 60ml and 90ml refillable Eau de Parfum. A 30ml non-refillable spray, Eau de Toilette, Pure Parfum and various Limited Editions are also available.
Alien also comes in a variety of body products including; shower gel, body lotion, perfumed gold wax, and perfumed gel.
Disclaimer
This review is based on a bottle of Alien Eau de Parfum for my own collection.
Other posts :
How to Pick the Right Cologne/Perfume For You
What’s the Difference Between Cologne/Perfume, Eau de Toilette, and Eau de Parfum?
I know, it’s seems super complicated and, to be honest, it doesn’t really need to be. Here’s a top-level breakdown so you know the real difference and can now choose the right fragrance option for you.
What are Top Notes, Base Notes, and Medium Notes?
Top Notes: These are typically lighter scents and what you’ll smell first.
Base Notes: These are typically bolder and stronger scents that you’re left with after applying the cologne.
Medium Notes: These are typically your more fruity notes that combine with your top and bottom notes. It pretty much ties everything together.
Overall, the notes are the notes (if that makes sense), but the overall smell is going to differ person to person and how they truly interact with your own body’s chemistry. The notes are a good overall guide so you know what you’re getting out of the cologne, but don’t be afraid if you see a note that you may not love, it doesn’t mean the entire cologne will smell like that. It’s just how they all work together.
Base Notes: These are typically bolder and stronger scents that you’re left with after applying the cologne.
Medium Notes: These are typically your more fruity notes that combine with your top and bottom notes. It pretty much ties everything together.
Overall, the notes are the notes (if that makes sense), but the overall smell is going to differ person to person and how they truly interact with your own body’s chemistry. The notes are a good overall guide so you know what you’re getting out of the cologne, but don’t be afraid if you see a note that you may not love, it doesn’t mean the entire cologne will smell like that. It’s just how they all work together.
