Review of Angel Perfume by Thierry Mugler

While Angel by Mugler was released over 20 years ago in 1992, the fragrance continues to be a popular choice amongst women of all ages, with many choosing Angel as their signature scent. And it's not hard to see why - with its caramel-rich tones blended with patchouli, honey, vanilla, and chocolate, it's an indulgent sweet treat without the calories!

But what does Angel by Mugler smell like? In this comprehensive review, we're going to take a look at both the original Angel eau de Parfum, as well as Angel Nova: what they smell like, their lasting power, and when to wear them for maximum impact. Let's take a look!

Who is Thierry Mugler?

Born in 1945, Thierry Mugler was a French fashion designer, photographer and perfumer best known for his boundary-pushing designs and architectural design style. He also produces fragrances under the brand name "Mugler", with his most famous fragrance being the iconic star-shaped Angel Perfume, released in 1992. The scent was so popular that it has spawned several other lines such as Angel Muse, Angel Innocent, and Angel Aquamarine. While Mugler himself sadly passed away in 2022, his fashion house - and its values - live on.

Angel by Mugler: everything you need to know

Angel is the most known and most iconic Thierry Mugler perfume, instantly recognisable due to its blue, crystal star-shaped bottle and sweet scent. Not only did Angel mark the Mugler brand's foray into perfume making, but it also spun a genre of fragrances known as the "gourmand"; the addictive, almost-good-enough-to-eat scent. While Angel was the first of its kind, popular examples that followed include Jean Paul Gaultier's honey-based Scandal perfume and the caramel-coffee delight that is The Only One by Dolce and Gabbana.

What does Angel perfume smell like?

Indulgent, playful and sweet, Angel by Mugler smells like a trip to the sweet shop, but its sweetness is balanced out by the presence of the warmer jasmine, patchouli, and amber notes. We wouldn't recommend Angel by Mugler as a blind buy; the scent can be overpowering for those who prefer lighter, fresher or more classic (non-gourmand) fragrances, so it’s best to test a sample first.

Does Angel by Mugler last on the skin?

In general, Angel by Thierry Mugler has great lasting power and you can still expect to detect the scent on your skin and clothes for up to 8 hours after application, weather-permitting. The scent is strong and does tend to easily linger on clothing, but you may need to re-apply the fragrance on the skin during hot or humid weather.

Is Angel by Mugler very sweet?

Angel by Mugler is an incredibly sweet scent, and its sweetness has often been a point of controversy and contention in the perfume world - even for long-term lovers of the Mugler brand. After all, you only need to glance at the ingredients to understand that its gourmand notes might be too sugary and sweet for some! With chocolate, vanilla, caramel, melon, honey, cotton candy, amber and pineapple, this fragrance does pack a sugar-coated punch!

When should I wear Angel by Thierry Mugler?

Due to its sweet and gourmand scent, Angel is best suited for evening occasions or colder weather during the winter months. While it can be worn as a daytime fragrance, it is quite an intense - and divisive - scent, so you might want to only give yourself a spritz here and there rather than overdoing it.

If you prefer more amber, fruity, or muted fragrances, you might prefer Angel Nova, which has top notes of raspberry, litchi, Akigalawood, damask rose and benzoin, making it a warmer fragrance, and more fruity and spicy than sugary and sweet.

What are Angel eau de Parfum's top notes?

Angel's top notes include cotton candy (that's candy floss for us Brits), coconut, melon, jasmine, bergamot, Pineapple and Mandarin Orange. Its middle notes include honey, red berries, plum, apricot, and Orchid, and the scent's base notes include patchouli, chocolate, caramel, vanilla, tonka bean, and musk.

How to wear Angel by Mugler

You don't need a lot of this scent to make it go far; spray the fragrance once or twice onto your wrists and neck and pat into the skin for a long-lasting sweet scent that lingers all day.