Angel by Mugler

I’m a man and I’ve been smelling this since I was a kid; it used to overwhelm me, but after 30, it’s one of the sexiest things out there. Potent, striking, and mysterious, it smells like licorice caramel with a lot of synthetic patchouli. No princess vibes here—it’s for a mature, confident woman with Femme Fatale energy.

When I started in perfumery with a beginner’s nose, I HATED this perfume because my favorites were sweet scents. Now, with more experience, I say Mugler’s Angel is a gem. If you give it a chance, you’ll discover the opening is potent, almost mentholated, and pushes you away, but it softens gradually. Notes of fruit, honey, cotton candy, dark chocolate, and a dirty but sexy patchouli emerge. It’s not for everyone—it’s UNIQUE, different, sexy, imposing, almost carnal, a misunderstood work of art.

Honestly, it’s one of the most unpleasant perfumes I’ve ever tried. I was curious about its notes, but on my skin, which highlights the patchouli, it just smells horrible. The opening is unbearable; I had to wash my hands several times. Later, it wasn’t that sharp scent (which many describe as cat pee), but something mentholated, earthy, and more digestible. On my skin, I didn’t sense any sweet accord or the rest, just a strong, unpleasant patchouli. I don’t doubt it works for others, but it’s not for me.

Angel… what an extra-sensory work of art; I’ve been a total fan since 2019. I’m reviewing it again because it’s a new year, and this scent, beyond being my personal signature, enhances my festive seasons. As I write, I smell the bottle: years pass, and I keep refilling bottles; I can’t let go, it’s my iconic scent. It’s a dimensional portal; I feel the 90s or 2050, with no middle ground. I understand this sense of time and space comes from my chronic anxiety and the sheer number of notes; it’s unique. I understand the negative reviews—it’s perfect. Since 1992, it was created for complex, atypical, and rare noses. I’m grateful not everyone likes it; it was never for low-key personalities; it lets others know the elevated vibe you have thanks to the resinous and sweet notes. My circle knows I’m wearing it, and they always come close to my neck; it must be that my vibe creates chemistry with these notes. Recommendations: wear it at night after 6 PM, not during the day. In summer, use it moderately unless it’s the EDT. For people over 30. In winter, it goes with everything; at night, it’s magic, like having wine with chocolate and friends. High personality, guaranteed character, and no fear of success; literally, it’s an Angel accompanying you.

I tried it in the perfumery, and I literally smelled goat on it. I washed my arm twice, and it wouldn’t go away. I have the Angel Elixir, which is beautiful, but I wish it had the same longevity as the classic.

My personal signature perfume from 1999 to 2016. Since it left the Clarins group, it’s been sinking… A year ago, I refilled my bottle and noticed the chocolate note was gone and almost no honey; the milky notes in the middle have lost half their impact, and that sensual essence that lasted 10 hours is no longer there. In the new formulation, is there some coconut? Still, the raspberry is noticeable with lots of vanilla, and the patchouli feels like nail polish. Approximate longevity is 3 hours, maybe 6 or 7 on clothes. Nothing like the old Thierry Mugler. I found a clone that lasts 8 hours, and the old formula, without coconut, was very similar to the wonderful body oil and hair mist. RIP Angel 2025!

Got it in 2025, tested the 25ml to see if it would work… and zass, chocolate with praline, cocoa, coconut, and something magical. So potent, my goodness, it doesn’t fade and the Angel takes over. What a powerhouse, what a buzz. It’s not for everyone, it’s original and out of this world. If you can’t handle the strength, don’t buy it, but give it a try because it doesn’t work for everyone, but it works for me (in winter or cold weather).

It’s a complicated perfume. I find it bizarre and tender at the same time. It’s potent but friendly. It transports me to childhood, I smell it and my brain says it’s Christmas and they’re bringing me gifts, haha, I’m sure I’d use it then, like an aunt. At first it didn’t convince me, it seemed too strong, like chemical melon, but an hour later on my wrist I like it too much. I smell the cotton candy and mentholated, earthy patchouli that makes me think of a rainy day, but it’s so creamy it gives a warm cuddle sensation. It has a very strange, sparkling magic that attracts me, it’s cheerful, original, and strong-willed. The notes I feel the most are honey, cotton candy (or burnt sugar), amber, and patchouli. I wouldn’t use it in the heat, haha, but I imagine it for gray winter days to lift my spirits. Edit: I love it, haha, how good it smells when it’s fresh. How great that it has the name, I feel it like an angel accompanying and caring for you, a kind presence but with power and that otherworldly air.

I tested it at Ulta Beauty, gave it a sniff on my wrist, and the opening was horrible, I didn’t even want to keep smelling it. It’s too strange, it smells like sweat or rancid liquids. I understand that the concept of Angel is supernatural and otherworldly, but I don’t think an Angel should smell like that. 🤨

Juasier216, I think we have the same batch and I share your feeling, it smells like pure patchouli to me. I bought it in a fragrance group and apart from testers, I went to an official store and it’s the same: green, pasty. I thought it was already rancid but no, my skin with the new formula didn’t click. But in dry down it does smell like rich chocolate with coconut. I don’t know what’s going on, what a pity, try it on skin before buying the new formulas.

I don’t know what’s going on with this perfume, it’s one I love and adore, I’ve been using it for 2 years since I fell in love with it, but lately the new batches I’m trying smell disgusting. It didn’t smell this bad before, I don’t feel the sweet notes anymore, the chocolate, the fruits, just a very dense and dirty patchouli, and a bitter honey that makes it smell old, like it’s been years. My mom tried it and even she said it smelled horrible. Angel always gives me compliments, I have a bottle from the 2022 batch and even that one smells incredible until that year, but the new batches I tried smell way too bad, no one gives me compliments, like they went overboard with the patchouli. I don’t know if it’s bad luck, but it’s sad because it was my favorite. I got excited buying a large 100ml bottle from 2024, at first I didn’t notice, but after smelling it several times I liked it less. It’s sad to know they ruined one of the world’s prettiest perfumes. I compared it with a 10ml travelsize from the 2023 batch and it smells just as bad. I think they changed it starting in 2023, because it doesn’t feel like the same perfume anymore, it seems like a bad imitation. It really hurts me because Angel was never a bad perfume, just that some liked it more, but these new batches smell very bad.

My story with this perfume: A friend used to wear it years ago; when she applied it in front of me, I asked to smell it directly from the bottle, but my nose rejected it immediately, smelling like bad armpit sweat 😅. It was a timeless perfume back then (I was wearing florals like Amarige or Tréssor…). Years passed, and I recently received a sample of Angel as a gift. When I smelled it with skepticism, magic happened 💫; it seemed interesting, perhaps my nose has matured to understand it. I decided to take the risk and buy the large 100ml presentation. Every time I wear it, something typical of Mugler happens: I feel they are from another world, special, rare, eccentric, mysterious, and unique, just like with Alien and Aura. I definitely love their bottles! 😍 Note: They say Angel was the first gourmand perfume; I don’t feel it that way, but it’s a great creation by Olivier Cresp with beastly longevity. In short: I hated it and now I love it! ❤️

Yes, I like it, but it reminds me of an auntie who wears it. Also, I sprayed it on my arm yesterday, took a shower, and it’s been a whole day, yet it’s still there. Personally, I get a very sweet patchouli vibe; it’s rich, but I wouldn’t wear it.

You either love it or hate it. I’ve noticed many people voted ‘don’t like it’. I think being indifferent doesn’t leave room for much. On paper, I’m one of those who doesn’t like it; it smells like a sharp spice from an Indian dish that you know will upset your stomach (and I like Indian food quite a bit, but there are things that notably disgust me). Like an Indian spice sauce. Maybe a chutney. That would make sense with all those supposed fruit notes. But I don’t smell it sweet or fruity; only a spicy note stands out that I dislike. This perfume has many notes, and I think it depends on your skin, your pH, and the specific day; certain notes can stand out and vary the experience quite a bit. I’ll try it again.

I gave it many chances, but it just doesn’t work for me. It smells overwhelmingly of olive with a sour edge; I can’t detect any of the promised notes.