Alien Eau Extraordinaire Gold Shimmer

I hate to to say this, I know it will make some of my fellow Fragrantians stress and search, but this is not quite the same scent as the original. Wearing them side-by-side, on opposite wrists, the difference is very noticeable. This has a much greener opening. It's more wet/juicy, and not as rounded/smooth, slightly less sweet. I guess this could just be a variation due to different batches or storage conditions, but I'm on my 2nd bottle of the original and it always opens sweet, citrusy, smooth. I was surprised this is so markedly different. At the 2 hour mark they are almost identical but I can still smell that green quailty that makes it slightly fresher than the original. I doubt most people could tell the difference after a couple hours, unless you were intimately familiar with Alien Eau Extraordinaire already or wearing them side-by-side. NOTE ON SHIMMER I must say that the superfine, talc-like shimmer is quite delightful! It gives the impression of ultra moisturized skin rather than makeup. The fine consistency and dispersion are probably responsible for this effect. Frankly, I'm wishing more of my favorite fragrances were made with this feature! I wonder if any of my loose highlighters have small enough particulate that they could be successfully used in a perfume without damaging the sprayer? I'd love to replicate this experience. Review of full bottle blind-buy. I'm not upset at the high price I paid for this, it's worth it, I'm just annoyed I liked it so much and it's discontinued. Why do I do this to myself?! I'm just too damn curious!

Warning. Contains vile opinion about original Alien. OK straight up, I hate the original Alien. I don't like any of Mugler's best sellers. I thought this one is gonna be an eye rolling disappointment too but I was wrong. I absolutely adore this. The reason I hated Alien was because of it's attention screaming enormous sillage, the heavy amber, and the sticky artificial grape juice smell you get overall. Alien Eau Extraordinaire Gold Shimmer is a warm and rich powdery scent. It projects at a civilized radius. It's not grape juicy. The fresh citrus note balances out the sweetness. I kinda get that underlying classic Alien amber going on, but it's way low key. The opening and middle citrus/floral development is a total pleasure to smell. The base is a bit of an ambery boozy scent. The drydown is nowhere near as loud as the original Alien. I'd wear this in the autumn and winter. I see this not as a fragrance to wear in the warm weather, but more of fragrance to remind yourself of warmth. The glitter is a subtle shimmer. It rubs onto clothes but I don't mind it. My only concern is the possibility of the glitter accumulating over time and clogging up the nozzle. The bottle is a spectacle. I'm mesmerized by the gold shimmer swirling and marbling around in its little alien incubator pod. I've never had a perfume that I can wear AND play with. Alien Eau Extraordinaire Gold Shimmer has captivated my Alien-hating salty heart at first sight and first spray.

I got the shimmer version quite by accident when I thought I was ordering a bottle of Alien Eau Extraordinaire without the sparkle. To my good fortune, I love this golden elixir better than the other as it is a little different to my recollection when sampling it over two years ago (see review). AEE Gold Shimmer seems somehow smoother, less heliotrope, more lush bergamot tea, but still the same glow of amber and cozy cashmere and subtle musk. It also presents bushels of plush orange blossom and some velvety tiare. The golden mica is hypnotic to watch too after gently shaking the bottle, like fresh spiraling honey warmed and illuminated by iridescent sunlight. The delicate microns are also subtle and pretty on the skin. The performance for an EDT is impressive too. This is a versatile and charmingly alluring fragrance that would be suitable for a most seasons and occasions. Alien Eau Extraordinaire Gold Shimmer takes me to a place of joyful serenity!

I am a lover of so many Thierry Mugler scents! I didn't see that coming, as I didn't like the original alien all that much nor the original angel. This golden beauty is amazing!! I actually am able to wear this all year around. However, I seem to get the most compliments during the colder months. It smells so very feminine, bright, and yet very rich and luxurious in its own way. I have the 3oz bottle and as most of Thierry Mugler's scents are strong and last quite a long time (this scent has great longevity 5hours and sillage that is decent), I know this bottle will last me a while. However, I feel the need to keep a back up of this flanker too as they are getting hard to find. I like this version more than the one with no shimmer.

UPDATE Now I'm putting loose highlighter in EVERYTHING that has a refillable bottle/removeable cap! SO FUN! Even just a tiny bit makes the bottles look like swirling magic potions. Affect on skin is minimal but charming. Using a super fine powder without glitter or larger particles that might get stuck. Haven't tried any pressed highlighters as concerned the binding agents could clog the sprayer. So fun to match scents to different shades/colors. Highly recommend!