Out of this world (Thierry Mugler: Alien, Eau de Parfum)

Member Name: Dooyaa

Product:	Thierry Mugler: Alien, Eau de Parfum
Date:	18/12/07 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Unique, stands out

Disadvantages: Tad pricey

This is my first ever perfume review, mostly because I'd been unsure about the idea as it doesn't seem possible to me to review perfume, its such a personal thing. However, one smell of this out of this world scent and I was hooked and I feel this is the right scent to share my experiences of!
Thierry Mugler are the fairly avant-garde company in the perume world, they don't knock out endless fruity florals (ie a license to print money) that are going to be an instant commerical success. What they do do is put time and effort into a few select products, working hard on the design and using the finest ingredients to produce something truly spectacular. They have created a buzz in the perume worls with many critics describing their work as a return to the good old days of perfume before celebrity collaborations and before sales overtook artistry in terms of importance.

Originally, Thierry Mugler were a cult brand, however their most famous perfume Angel changed all of that, bringing massive mainstream success with its heavenly yet unusual smell and gorgeous star shaped bottle. Alien, its follow up, had an awful lot to live up to, and I wouldn't have been surprised if Thierry Mugler had felt the pressure and sold out, yet here is their next knockout perfume, which I doubt will ever reach the massive heights of Angel, but which I prefer by far.
It all starts with the bottle, and its a goodun! The gorgeous purple bottle is shaped to look like an ancient gemstone, while the odd shapes and angles and the golden sprayer give it an alien 'out of this world' feel and bring to mind images of spaceships. The name 'alien' is blazened vertically down the bottle in mirror images, a nice finishing touch. It really is one of the most spectacular and original bottles I have ever seen, one that seems to have had real thought and artistry go into its design. This is one bottle that is displayed proudly in my room and I would feel oh so sophisticated to carry this round in my bag.

If we want to talk practically about the packaging, it comes in a 30ml and a 50ml refillable bottle, and you can also buy the refills separately. in terms of value for money, the 50ml is better in the long run as it is refillable, but for a one of fpurchase I picked up the 30ml, simply because I didnt have the money for the 50ml! One bottle has lasted me since february and is about one sixth empty (very precise I know) and I think this is really good seeing as I use this every day, it has become my signature scent. Gripwise, it gives a good hold for a nice spritz that sends ut plenty of the perfume in a nice fine cloud (perfect for those 'walk into the perfume cloud' moments!) and distributes the scent nice and evenly over the skin. The propeller is smooth and not stiff at all, overall its just faultless so far.
But of course the smell is what counts, not the propeller! So whats it like? In advertisments, it promises 'you will never be the same again' and while it may be a slight exaggeration, this is simply amazing. It won't be to everyone's tastes, as it isn't a simple inoffensive floral, it has deep notes and will get everyone asking 'what is that perfume?' this will definately get you noticed and stand out amongst boring perfumes.

The initial notes are fairly floral, which comes from the jasmine and violet ingredients. It does however fade from jasmine to a woody, oriental amber infusion that is deep and sexy, not a girly perfume but a WOMANLY perfume. If you could describe the 'mood' of this perfume it would be deeeep and thoughtful. Definately works as an evening scent although some may find it a little heavy for day.
The scent is definately strong, it takes one or two spritzes to give an obvious scent that lasts all day. To make it more subtle I suggest spraying it in a fine mist on your hair and brushing it through-people will get the hint of the scent but won't be overpowered by it.

Overall I cannot fault this perfume, I absolutely love it. I will continue to buy it for its impeccable design and smell, and the overall excellent ideas behind it. Well done Thierry Mugler!
Availability is a bit trickier than for Angel, which is sold EVERYWHERE. Try larger Boots stores and department stores, otherwise the internet or duty free which is where I bought my bottle from.

One downside is that this stuff is a LITTLE pricey, especially for teenagers with little disposable income. Prices range from about £30 for the smallest bottles to about £45 for the larger bottles.

Summary: A phenomenal perfume