Alien perfume has long been known for its impressive staying power, bottom-heavy notes, and olfactory novelty in the form of effervescent top notes that dry down to a more sophisticated experience.
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Are you prepared for an otherworldly experience? Check out our Alien perfume reviews for our top 6 picks for the Alien perfume line.
Our Top Picks For Best Mugler Alien Perfume
If you’re unsure whether Alien perfume notes are right for you, we’ve got you covered! From the winter-ready original formulation to the summery scent of Alien Goddess, read on to find your new favorite fragrance.
Best for Romantic Winter Date Night
Alien by Mugler is a classic early noughties perfume, so it isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, especially at first sniff.
The top floral notes are heavy with jasmine, almost overwhelmingly so, to the point of feeling cloying. Like many of the best things in life, though, a little patience pays off.
The true allure comes from the dry down, as the base notes of amber have a chance to shine. The rich earthiness wraps you in a soft, cashmere robe of warm fragrance that lasts long past the date night dessert course of strawberries and champagne.
PROS: Base notes are warm and intimate, multi-faceted
CONS: Fragrance can be overwhelming; top notes are cloyingly floral
- Sillage: Powerful
- Longevity: Long-lasting
- Scent Potency/ Appropriate For: Date night, intimate occasions
Best for Warm Spring Days
Ideal for sunny outdoor adventures, Alien Extraordinaire, launched in 2014, is the more timid sibling of the original Alien, with citrus tea top notes that fade down into cozy floral vanilla.
It’s an easy-to-wear option for running errands, brunch with friends, or just enjoying around the house.
Because it’s an eau de toilette rather than an Eau de Parfum, it fades out a bit fast for our tastes, but it’s a signature scent worth experimenting with if you’re willing to commit to spritzing in the afternoon.
PROS: Great starter scent from the Alien line; citrusy top notes are energizing.
CONS: Green tea notes can come off a little bitter; the scent doesn’t last as long as we’d like.
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Moderate
- Scent Potency/ Appropriate for: Daytime wear, at the office
Best for Your Daily Go-To
Alien Fusion’s name is quite literal, as it harmoniously combines the original scent’s white florals with spicy top notes of ginger and cinnamon.
As it transitions to the base notes of vanilla and amber, it’s reminiscent of a bakery specializing in sweet rolls, but without ever being overbearing.
Fusion is an excellent pick for those who need an easy, everyday scent. It boasts up to eight hours of wear, but the more conservative sillage won’t linger once you leave a room. Overall, it’s an eclectic fragrance that offers sensuality and sassiness in abundance.
PROS: Unique and vibrant scent that never leaves you bored.
CONS: The spicy top notes may be too heavy on hot summer days.
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Long-lasting
- Scent Potency/ Appropriate For: All-year wear, everyday favorite
Best for an Ultra-Feminine Fragrance
For those who spent their teen years in a powdery cloud of Love’s Babysoft, Alien Flora Futura delivers a similarly tender and delicate scent that’s sophisticated enough to wear as an adult.
Rather than relying on the depth and density of earlier iterations of the Alien line, this 2018 addition brings a top note burst of citrus with Buddha wood and citron, followed by middle floral notes for balance.
The dry down is an inoffensive breath of fresh, airy white amber and sandalwood that reminds us of clean laundry without soapiness.
PROS: Clean, fresh, and subtle.
CONS: Long-time Alien fans may find the scent underwhelming.
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Moderate
- Scent Potency/ Appropriate For: Spring and summer
Best for an Avant-Guard Alien Experience
Alien has always been a divisive scent, known for its heavy base notes that tend to weigh down even the most effervescent top notes.
However, Mugler’s 2021 release, Alien Goddess, might just be the scent that changes your mind, thanks to an uber-creamy formula grounded in bourbon vanilla and cashmere wood.
At first spray, you’ll fall in love with the top notes of bergamot and coconut, a ubiquitously tropical mix that works best on the warmer days of spring and autumn. Next, floral fragrance connoisseurs will find the elegant middle notes of jasmine and heliotrope ground the youthful, fruity sweetness.
PROS: A fun new way to experience Alien; effervescent top notes are energizing.
CONS: Can smell like sunscreen; older users may find the scent too “young.”
- Sillage: Moderate
- Longevity: Moderate
- Scent Potency/ Appropriate For: Daytime dates, poolside
Best for Fans Who Find Goddess Lacking the Line’s Trademark Depth
Launched just one year after Goddess, the new Alien perfume, Goddess Intense, abandons subtlety.
Instead, it favors a more medicinal, floral scent profile thanks to center notes of jasmine and jasmine tea, followed by a dry down heavy in vanilla, benzoin, and cashmere wood.
While the blend is similar to Alien Goddess, the Intense iteration lacks the sweet airiness. Still, it makes up for it with a smooth, otherworldly fragrance that would be best saved for chillier days, when the musky headiness of the bottom notes won’t overwhelm your senses.
PROS: Combines Goddess and the original Alien into one exotic scent.
CONS: Headache-inducing complexity if worn in warmer weather.
- Sillage: High
- Longevity: Long-lasting
- Scent Potency/ Appropriate For: Special occasions, winter weather
About the Alien Fragrance Series From Mugler
Since the release of the praline-forward Angel fragrance in 1992, Thierry Mugler has strived to take classic scents and turn them upside down, with a Alien perfume 60 mL bottle that ranges from sweet and tender to spicy and sensual.
His knack for creating perfumes that inspire intrigue and derision is best seen in his woodsy-floral Alien line, first launched in 2002.
Final Thoughts
While Alien is not the best choice for everyone, its staying power, complexity, and unique ingredient blends are a force to be reckoned with.
Our Alien perfume reviews may not have changed your ideas about Mugler’s fragrance offerings based on his earlier scents. In that case, we encourage you to try more contemporary options, as they bring an irresistible delicacy too good to pass up.
Selena Marc is a fragrance enthusiast, freelance writer, and dog mom living in Houston, Texas. When she's not writing about her favorite new perfumes, you can find her enjoying yoga or a morning hike.