Best Smelling Thierry Mugler Perfumes

When it comes to gourmand, iconic fragrances, it’s difficult to go wrong with a scent by Thierry Mugler. Known as the pioneer of the “gourmand” fragrance, Thierry Mugler has dominated the perfume industry with classic offerings such as Angel, Alien, and Aura.

But which of these is the best smelling Thierry Mugler perfume? In the following guide, we’re going to compare and contrast Mugler’s iconic range of women’s scents, and give you our own personal recommendations when it comes to picking one that best suits you. Let’s take a look!

Angel by Thierry Mugler

Without a doubt the definitive Mugler fragrance, Angel is a love-it-or-hate concoction of jasmine, caramel, vanilla, patchouli, chocolate, and more. Released in 1992, the crystal-shaped perfume bottle is perhaps the perfume that has inspired the most heated debate in the fragrance community.

The downsides are simple: it’s incredibly sweet and sugar - and almost good enough to eat! That’s great if you love gourmand fragrances, but if you prefer warm, musky, or floral scents, there’s a good chance that Angel might turn into a demon.

On the other hand, for those who love sweet fragrances - and aren’t afraid to turn a few heads on the street - Angel offers incredible sillage and staying power, and will certainly be noticeable to those around you. Just be warned - Angel is certainly the marmite of Mugler fragrances!

Best suited to: Younger fragrance enthusiasts, nighttime wear, special events.
Best worn during: Summer, but it could easily be worn all year round.

Alien by Thierry Mugler

Released in 2005, Alien is a much less controversial offering from the haut fashion brand, and is a woody, floral scent that combines mandarin orange, bergamot, and blackcurrant, giving the fragrance a fruity and slightly tart opening. The heart of the fragrance also features a floral bouquet of jasmine, and tuberose, which adds to the feminine and sensual feel of the fragrance. 

We’d describe Alien as a warm, spicy and amber fragrance, which is perfect for spritzing onto cashmere jumpers and polo-covered necks during the autumn and winter months. We also can’t discuss Alien without giving a nod to the gorgeous purple bottle design, which would look lucious on any dressing table’s perfume collection. 

Best suited to: Those who prefer amber, woody and floral fragrances.
Best worn during: Autumn and winter.

Alien Goddess by Thierry Mugler

Alien Goddess is the perfect combination between fruity and spicy, with opening notes of bergamot and pear, as well as a divine mix of vanilla, cashmere, and white amber as base notes. The vanilla in this scent isn’t too strong nor too sweet, and the white amber doesn’t overpower the fragrance in the way that it can with other scents. The pear adds a fruity and sweet dimension to the musky base notes, making it a versatile fragrance that could easily be worn at the office as well as the bar.

Alien Goddess is also perhaps the safest Thierry Mugler perfume, especially if you’re looking for an everyday fragrance that can be worn at work and at home. While it does have excellent sillage and staying power, it isn’t overtly intense in the way that Alien original or Angel is; it’s simply warm, sensual, and sweet.

Best suited to: Everyday wear.

Best worn during: All year round.

Aura by Thierry Mugler

Described by some as Mugler’s attempt to woo millennials, Aura was released in 2017, and has since become one of the most popular fragrances by the fashion brand - although admittedly not as popular as Alien or Angel. Created by Daphné Bugey, Amandine Clerc-Marie, Christophe Raynaud, Marie Salamagne and Olivier Cresp, this perfume can be categorised as a warm, gourmand floral, thanks to its mix of green notes (such as ylang ylang), fruity notes (such as pear), as well as its warm notes of amberwood and bourbon vanilla.

While we’re not sure that we entirely agree with the categorisation of Aura as a "millennial" scent, it does have a very youthful feel to it; the fruity pear adds a touch of light sweetness, while the bourbon vanilla might remind you of those vanilla body sprays you wore as a teenager - but in positive, nostalgic way. Ultimately, what sets this fragrance apart is the green notes, but these aren’t for everyone; we’d recommend testing this scent out rather than opting for a blind buy.

Best suited to: Evening wear, special occasions.

Best worn during: Spring and summer.

Angel Eau Croisière by Thierry Mugler

A new addition to the Angel family was launched in 2020; Angel Eau Croisiere is another gourmand fragrance, this time featuring unique notes of praline and fig - and yes, this one really does smell good enough to eat too! Ideally suited to younger women, this fragrance is light, fruity, sweet, but also has a woody undertone that makes it last longer on the skin. Just like the original Angel Eau de Parfum, Angel Eau Croisière comes in a gorgeous crystal-shaped bottle, making it a beautiful addition to your dressing table or bathroom cabinet.

We’d stipulate that this Mugler fragrance is ideal for summer; with great sillage and staying power, you can expect it to last for a good 8-12 hours, even in warmer weather. And unlike the original Angel fragrance, Angel Eau Croisère isn’t as controversial; the base notes and top notes complement each other perfectly, resulting in a fresh yet gourmand, sweet but not sugary, feminine fragrance.

Best suited to: Everyday wear.

Best worn during: Spring and summer.