Alien Essence Absolue

Comparison of a 2006 EdP and a 2013 Essence Absolue This one is easy: these are virtually two completely different perfumes. But those familiar with Mugler will say “of course they are, this is no surprise, where have you been” and, of course, they are correct. The extraterrestrials on planet Mugler have done this a countless number of times – that is, creating a flanker (frequently numerous flankers) with the original’s name but having precious little to do with the original. The EdP is one of the best synthetic jasmine musk perfumes created this century. A high bar that you are certainly going to ask me to justify, and that a few will scoff at and tell me my head is obviously in outer space. Essence Absolue is not a jasmine, but it carries that otherworldly character of the EdP forward into a new chapter that is very convincing and worthy of the line (even though it has nothing olfactorily to do with the EdP), and, I will say, is one of the best floral vanillas of this century. Yep, I’m going all in today. The EdP opens with a massive blast of the brightest white jasmine that whirls with the plasmatic textures of nebulae. The first spray launches itself like an exploding star. Citrusy, slightly indolic, certainly floral, rich and creamy, a touch green, also fleshy fruity, it’s every aspect of jasmine you have ever or could ever smell, yet the cashmeran in the heart is also already present, which gives this jasmine a texture that – at least at the time it was released – was unlike anything we had ever smelled before. The cashmeran gives it a thick, impenetrable, and fraught feeling while also being very plush and pliant. Nebulae look pretty, but they’ll annihilate you in a second. With Essence Absolue’s opening, jasmine's naturalistic characteristics are mostly absent in the opening but might as well be completely absent since it seems to be knocked-far-off-its-center by the other materials that we get more of an orange blossom and gardenia type floral. There is a sweet fleshy citrus floral like orange blossom, not sharp citrus or greens or indolic like natural jasmine grandiflorum or jasmine sambac, and it is extremely heady and creamy like gardenia. It also doesn’t explode with galactic force; it’s strong, but it’s noticeably less diffusive than the EdP. There are other players here as well, crowding in on the gentle floral notes: a very funky vanilla that smells almost rotted/composted, buttery and starchy orris that keeps the perfume balanced and not falling over the line of sickly sweet, and a note that the brand doesn’t mention but I’m finding noticeable amounts, which is that of heliotrope. There is something unsettling, the smell of bitter metallic and cyanide almonds, weaving almost invisible tendrils around the other notes that are hard to see but impossible to ignore. If the EdP is a bright white and rainbow-color-flecked nebula, Absolue is a plasmatic nebula of a more nefarious brown and black color nearing that of the universe’s infinite expanse where you question whether you’re about to step into the nebula and be consumed or are you taking just one more step into the void. Yes, two very different perfumes, but they stick to the same brief somehow: one is a bizarre and otherworldly jasmine, the other a bizarre and otherworldly floral vanilla. In the final stages the EdP sticks with the cashmeran route, white floral and woody, and continuing to play with plasmatic textures all the way to the final skin scent of what the brand calls “white amber.” This is really just synthetic musks that are white floral and soapy in nature but lean a sweeter direction with some vanilla and are given a good dose of animalics that help them belt with a rounded galactic boom. Think of rich soap bubbles that are the texture of some alien goo, and you’re there. Curiously, Essence Absolue goes in a little less of a sci-fi direction, taking the floral vanilla amber and giving it some lovely, green, and resinous myrrh smoke - a very clever and natural link to the heliotrope (or what might have been it) - and also some of the EdP's animalic floral/soapy musks while the vanilla and orange blossom stay fairly prominent. Essence Absolue’s ending doesn’t leave you with the EdP's shock and anxiety of exploring the final frontier, rather it leaves you with the peace and equanimity of the infinite silence in the warm glow of a star. So, there you have it, and my apologies as I’m going to gather this is going to be less than helpful; some simple educated guesses from a glance at the note pyramid for each perfume will probably have gotten you mostly to this point. However, I still feel the need to do this simply because I love both of these perfumes very much and they need to be compared for posterity so that they can deservedly stand on their own. They couldn’t be more different, and yet somehow they still convey enough in common to be noticeably related. Even today, twenty years on from the EdP’s release and thirteen years on from Absolue’s release, they still feel and smell like they’re far in the future. Despite this quite difficult creative brief, and the very obvious use of synthetics, the best characteristic of both is that even with their futuristic, weird, and extraterrestrial personalities they have remarkable clarity in their voices, and they are so very well defined as to fit in any era or generation they are encountered. I can’t help but think of Nebula from Guardians of the Galaxy when I smell these: when she wears Absolue she’s in a kind and fun or flirty mood, wanting to invite me in for a drink. When’s she’s wearing the EdP, I’m not getting out of there alive.

TLDR; This liquid is pure nectar of the gods. But--for the best and most consistent experience of this glorious creation, keep this baby in its box. It really makes a difference with this one. Full review: I bought my first bottle of this in 2015 and instantly fell in love. I had a love affair with Alien, collecting the flankers and this was my most-used one, my go-to in cooler weather. Then I went on a 5-year fragrance hiatus, storing away my entire collection during this time. It was only last month, in mid-September when it was still warm out (around 70’s or low 80’s I believe), that I re-visited AEA after coming back from my hiatus. One spritz and the memory of its deep, rich, cozy luciousness came flooding back. BUT there was also this potent menthol note that I do not remember whatsoever from the banks of my scent memory. I was not a fan. Maybe my nose became more sensitive in detecting this note, maybe my tastes simply evolved after all those years. Who knows. I was in the process of selling off my entire Alien collection at this time, but because I had such fond memories of AEA, I decided to keep this bottle, the last Alien left in my collection, to re-visit during cooler months. Yesterday, I sprayed this on and oh my goodness. The depth, the sensuality, the sweetness that envelops you without being cloying. All of the yumminess was there—WITHOUT the menthol note. None whatsoever. The only explanations that I can think of for this is that: 1) The composition of AEA is in peak synchrony during cooler / colder weather. Wearing it off-season will throw off it all off balance, e.g., a way off-balance menthol note 2) My sensitivity to certain notes has changed after this recent bout of covid that has been going around this past Fall Whatever the reason, this scent experience has highlighted the virtues of patience as a fragrance lover and just how delicate our relationship to scent is according to so many personal or environmental factors that are beyond our comprehension. I am so glad I didn’t declutter this considering how much it’s going for these days. UPDATE Nov 24, 2023: A few weeks after I posted the above review, I sprayed this on again and the menthol / indolic note was back. Puzzled & back to square one. Today I received a 60ml bottle with about 15ml of juice left. Juice color was way lighter compared to my bottle, and this bottle was kept in the box for most of its life except for instances when it was in use. The bottle condition was almost pristine considering how much juice was used. Scent also does not have that mentholic note whatsoever. With my original bottle, I 100% believe the maturation of the juice outside of its box brought out this note. Scores of perfume lovers and experts have recommend this as a best practice, but this is the first instance where I have experienced firsthand the preservation of a fragrance over time when it was kept in its box vs. when it was not. My bottle has been hanging out without a box since 2015. This one is a finnicky one according to my varying experiences. In summary, for the best and most consistent experience of this glorious creation, keep this baby in its box. It really makes a difference with this one.

Oh I took my time before writing a review for this one. Alien EA was the second fragrance to completely win me over, body and soul, after 10 years of wearing nothing but Angel. Then Alien EA came out... and I had to have it. Alien DNA is immediately very recognizable: vanilla lightened by jasmine and a medicinal note. But here, it's anise and licorice, which deliver more of a "plant" and balsamic medicinal and not the "pharmacy" medicinal of Alien OG. EA's vanilla is very round and immediately warmed by cashmere and iris root, giving it a silky, deep, warm and very slightly powdery feel. It's like snuggling up in a big, luxurious blanket in a living room with old wooden furniture, a licorice tea waiting next to you. After a while, it becomes increasingly ambery and almondy, still with the anise twist that gives it depth. I also distinguish an almost earthy woody-mushroom accord (cashmere), which makes it as addictive as Angel's patchouli could be... EA is comforting and lifting at the same time. Mystical and solar. Complex and so well-balanced that the whole seems like a perfect evidence. Sillage and longevity are excellent. Through the years, the juice darkens to a reddish-black (vanilla!) and becomes even more balsamic. Lasting power is slightly reduced, 6-7h still. I could literally bathe in this scent. I was lucky enough to discover it as it was released in 2012 and to wear it daily for several years. It's a huge perfume from the great era of Mugler, who took the best of the Alien monument and transcended it... the flanker surpassing the original, in my opinion. An heresy for L’Oréal to have discontinued it as they acquired Mugler, in order to launch the just okay Alien Goddess line, which, needless to say, is not even close to EA level. Would I have preferred it to stay and be reformulated with an axe?... Maybe not. EDIT : reading the comments saying Fragonard Grain de Soleil was almost a perfect match, I went for it. Sure GdS is slightly more powdery, less resinous and deep. But I must admit that, side by side and after like 10 minutes, it is very very close to Alien EA. It is like her more polite little sister. I am so glad I found this, THANK YOU SO MUCH to the person who mentioned it!!

This truly dries down to the most gorgeous thick rich ambery vanilla. It has the very distinct Mugler Alien Jasmine in the opening and also brings a bit of a musty medicinal backing before everyone comes together. And WOW ...do they come together. The vanilla is so perfect (and I’m not really a “vanilla “ person). It raw ,rich, dark, brown ,sticky vanilla. I don’t really have any notes for this perfume ....if you see the listed notes and think you would like it ... you probably will. Don’t worry ....the initially awkward myrrh/ incense combo smooths out and brings some grounding smoky depth. I was surprised how quickly that loud (and sometimes obnoxious) Alien Jasmine took a backseat. This just works. I do wonder about my bottle, but I think I may just go nose blind to this easily because it doesn’t seem to have the legendary throw I was expecting. But this is a stunner. (It’s oddly a fairly linear and simple perfume for me once I get past the hour mark ....I am not complaining....just sharing bc it was surprising to me.) This is a perfume that when wearing it, I catch myself thinking “who smells so good”...and it is me! (BTW I initially bought this for the orris addition ...I would not say it’s strongly present, but I do pick it up in the texture a bit. Or it’s wishful thinking ...but regardless I don’t regret tracking this one down for a second! Super happy to own it!)

The original Alien is one of my favourite fragrances and I might love this version just a little bit more. They are pretty similar. The same jasmine and amber in both, but while the original has a strong woody quality this one does not. Essence Absolue is instead, smoother, richer and boozier. I find it also has a bit more sweetness than the original Alien. Because of how difficult this is to get now, I have been saving this as one of my "special occassion" fragrances, but I will still randomly wear it at least a couple times in the fall/winter. I have a 30ml and a 60ml back up, so really I can wear it a little more often. I find it works best in fall and winter. It has that cozy, warm feel that I crave in the cooler weather. It is sexy, like the original, so it is a perfect scent for a night out with a special someone. The performance is excellent. It doesn't have the room filling, massive trail that the original Alien has. But it does last all day (10-12 hours) and projects at least a couple feet more than half that time. I purchased mine when it was still available retail, but towards the end of it's run. It had a fair bit of hype even then and I felt it exceeded that hype for me. But I wouldn't pay some of the crazy prices that are being asked for it now. It is so disappointing that it has been discontinued.

Clean, Powdery Marshmallows & Rootbeer-Floats melt into a River of Honey... This review is for the Julianna's Perfume dupe of Alien Essence Absolu Mugler called Scarlet Letter (not in this database yet). Opens with white-floral, clean and soft-purple tones from jasmine, but already vanilla & myrrh are swelling through. As it deepens into the heart the white-floral tones with added orris root become more marshmallow-y, powdery & sweet, and the myrrh-amber-vanilla combo intensifies bringing Root-Beer float tones. Jasmine lingering in the heart, takes on some faint near-grape tones, and here you see the Alien jasmine. The base notes are a sublime blend of white-amber, vanilla-pod, incense & myrrh that carries the marshmallow-rootbeer for well beyond average performance, but eventually melts it into a thick ooze of white-floral-honey. This is a gorgeous white-floral & amber-vanilla scent that does get quite sweet but wears exceptionally well in cooler weather. While this is a dupe of Alien Essence Absolu, I also catch reminders of other resinous white-floral & vanilla scents like Classique Essence de Parfum JPG, Amarige Marriage Givenchy, Cinéma Yves Saint Laurent & Organza Givenchy. It's a love for me. Enjoy!

The best Alien flanker out of everything they put on the market, irrespective of the style of perfume or season they tried to cater to! Alien Essence Absolue was the best, strongest, creamiest, blend of vanilla, jasmine, cashmeran, orris root, incense. Warm, slightly sweet, resinous, balsamic, smooth, still heavy on the jasmine but more complex than the OG Alien. Unique. Masterpiece creation. This would be your cold weather Alien. A strong performer, in a beautiful bottle, reasonably priced, guaranteed compliment getter! People used to tell me that they smelled me before seeing me, which made my little heart melt... I went through a 60 ml bottle of this and luckily I got another one as backup and a 30 ml on top of that. So I can enjoy, responsibly, the magic of Essence Absolue for a while, but after that it’s gone forever... I adore this scent and am heartbroken that it is discontinued. It smells so comforting, so creamy and so luxurious, unlike anything else I've smelled and I have smelled a lot of fragrances in my lifetime. L’Oreal, please, please bring Alien Eseence Absolue back! You’re gonna have crazy sales if you’re bringing this back and we know that’s what you’re in for: profit!!

kind of bummed that i've experienced a sample of this absolute delight because now i will truly never know peace again. this might be my favorite smell of all time, not to be dramatic or anything..... but she rly is the amber fragrance to end all others of her kind. alien OG is my love and my signature scent but tbh i wish this wasn't discontinued so it could be instead. on me, i get mostly a deep sweet warmth from the amber with a background kiss of true vanilla, woodiness (the iconic alien DNA i love) and incense -- not too spicy, not too sweet. all the notes compliment each other just right. i fondly remember wearing this on a HOT summer day, on a walk with my friend through a nature trail. this probably doesn't seem like a summer scent to most but the humid florida heat just made the sillage even larger, and the sweetness even stronger. literally perfection. if you don't like the original alien you are guaranteed to fall in love with this.... but be careful!! like kms i seriously will probably never sleep until i secure a bottle of this gorgeous wondrous honey for myself !!!!!

Wow what a beautiful fragrance and such a shame that it’s been discontinued. I love this one as well. Fortunately I have two bottles of the intense and I’m selling samples and decants on Mercari and eBay, I’ve got all 100% positive feedback, message me if you want to buy authentic legit samples or have any questions . I have over 400 Niche, designer, vintage and discontinued fragrances. I had a lot more but many sold out. I’m 57 and have been buying and collecting perfumes for decades. I also have a honest kind retired brother in Christ who’s 66 and also is a long time fragrance collector. He has thousands of bottles and dozens of Tom Fords in his collection. Many are 2007-2012 vintage Tom Ford perfumes. He sells 15ml and 30ml decants at great prices. He also has 100% positive feedbacks on his Mercari page. It’s very hard to find honest sellers who sell authentic and rare perfumes, I always hold on to the good honest sellers and always go back to buy from them . I have many repeat buyers. So If I don’t have what you want, I’m sure my friend has it. Thank you and God bless...

I just blind bought this.. literally literally literally one of the best perfumes I’ve ever smelled in my entire life! Smells like a dark, sticky syrupy vanilla straight out of my wildest dreams.. almost like vanilla root beer in the most luxurious way possible. The vanilla is deeeep, buttery, resinous, and unbelievably rich.. I envision warm ambered vanilla syrup melting into smoky woods and incense. There’s this sexy golden thickness to it that makes it feel almost molten on the skin. You still get that unmistakable OG Alien DNA glowing underneath everything (which I have come to appreciate with time considering I’m an Angel girly) buuut it’s WAYYY more catered towards my preferred scent profile here. The jasmine, amber, and smokiness from the incense and myrrh blend into the vanilla so beautifully. It’s truly addictive. I’m genuinely mad at myself for buying this knowing it’s discontinued because... WOWWWWW. Can u even fathom L’Oréal putting out anything even remotely CLOSE to the greatness of this and Angel Muse? Sigh sigh sighhhhh

I confess that my personal, sentimental associations & irrational love for the old house of Mugler color my assessment. But THIS is special. This has two differentiators to my nose: 1. The medicinal, mentholated opening shouldn’t work, but it does. It’s reminiscent of Aura’s green menthol. Only vintage Mugler could pull this off. 💔 No other designer house could have released this. That’s guts! AEA is an avant-garde achievement in a sea of competing vanillas. 2. The myrrh is divine. A combination of jasmine, vanilla & myrrh seems easy to replicate. Yet, no reputable house has. Why? It must be magic. ———- **Edit: I just spent $279 for a 60ml on eBay. Zero regrets. Word to the wise: If you try to find this, get pics of the batch code (on the box AND bottle) & pics of the front, back and bottom of the box! Also, NOTE! All of these bottles were refillable, so the liquid could still be something else. A reliable seller is beyond critical! 99% or higher with many reviews- and accepts returns.

This is my signature scent, of which I have 5 ml left in the bottle, and only half a refill bottle left. Probably enough to fill this gem with the liquid amber one last time. When I found out it got discontinued, it made me want to rage quit perfume. As of now, I am still searching for "the one" (not D&G) to replace this wonderful fragrance. Are there no bottles left? There are. Am I willing to pay over € 200,- to some f*ckwit trying to make money out of my misery? F*cking contemplating it! Why? Because this baby is the embodiment of a woman that is shy, loud, sweet, loving, cold and harsh. In no particular order. This can be a blanket of warmth, love and comfort, through the amber and cashmere. Yet demaning of respect and equality with its presence through the calming, boss bitch vibe of jasmine and myrrh. All the while never letting go of the enchanting and mythical body of incense with vanilla. It's a mood. All the moods. In a perfect curvy bottle. Darn you, Mugler! :(

I really liked this one, I always got compliments wearing it (mostly from men), but a girl friend thought it smelled like toothpaste lol. I can’t wear the OG Alien, but this flanker is right up my alley with it’s deep mentholated butterscotch vanilla. It’s very ambery and I love that. Distinctive scent with fantastic projection. There’s still jasmine in here but it’s not screeching at you like in Alien, instead, a warm, golden vanilla is the queen that rules this elegant composition. A great choice for fall/winter special evenings, but it’s not cloying, so I find it just as wearable on slightly warmer nights (as long as it’s not too warm). My favorite Mugler. I bought a 2oz bottle back in 2016, and I used up half of it before it got stolen 3 years ago. I stumbled upon a bottle by chance online yesterday, and I promptly ordered it since the price was great (hopefully not a fake!), so I am looking forward to be wearing this beauty again. Update: it’s not fake! Yay!

This is so beautiful I'm almost at a loss for words. I found a decantor and will covet this source forever ☺️💗🤐🤫 ThIs is pure amber. So resinous like a vast, thick forest of fir trees oozing balsams in a sparkling dreamscape. Trapped in the amber is the most arresting, carnal jasmine you'll ever put your nose to. Clusters of velvety jasmine blossoms are supported by boozy, aromatic vanilla. Intoxicating. The juice itself is the color of molasses and almost the same consistency. Once it dries it's almost sticky- locked in place on the tiny patch I half-spritzed on my wrist. The incense/myrrh accords develop later, and only serve to enhance the sheer beauty of this creation. The most deserving of the description of "ethereal" in fragrance- and I stand on this. I honestly can't fathom how any true lover of scent could speak negatively of this. I'm almost glad it is discontinued, because the masses don't deserve Alien essence absolue. 😏😉 👽🛸🌸💜

WOW! Honey mentholated throat candies with a big dose of resinous vanilla and that signature Alien jasmine. It's so opulent and rich. I was worried that Alien Essence Absolue would be way too much for me in the initial opening. The myrrh note mixed with that Alien jasmine is so intense that I even experience a cooling sensation in my nose and throat. I should recoil, but I am captivated and repeatedly sniff my wrists. The intense opening lasts for about 45 minutes and the dry down reveals its cashmere wood heart, while the amber and vanilla emerge in perfect harmony. I get it. This is a masterpiece. It's warm, rich, and cold all at once. The quality and performance are incredible. I'm headache-prone and sensitive to orris root and I have zero issues with this fragrance. It should be worn with confidence by anyone of any gender. Exudes wealth, power, and sexiness and is not for the faint of heart.

Guys I would like to second the below comment by HDL regarding Juliannas Fragrance Scarlet Letter. Alien Essence Absolue has been my ultimate favourite fragrance ever, I just feel like it matches my energy so well. But now this is a coveted gem so I really never wear the scent! I still want to experience the scent so I decided to go with a clone. Julianna's Fragrances version I can attest is 95% similar. Scarlet Letter to me is more floral (jasmine heavy) in the beginning, then settles to something VERY similar to Alien Essence Absolue that it absolutely scratches the itch for the wonderful scent. Side Note: I realized why I love this perfume so much and why it feels so healing and meditative to me. It honestly smells similar to Baby Oil. Like Baby Oil smells on your skin after it warms up. Very calming and nostalgic smelling.

The intoxicating, mentholated Jasmine of purple Alien is definitely here, but she is completely wrapped up in warm amber and powdery vanilla...it’s so rich, thick like butterscotch, enveloping like a cashmere blanket. The cashmere wood keeps the composition plush and velvety, and myrhh gives it depth and mystery, and the incense adds a subtle dry/smoky aspect so it doesn’t get too piercingly syrupy. Very seductive and distinctive. If you love luxurious vanilla scents, give this a try. The jasmine in regular Alien is too much for me and I can’t wear that one, but I love this one. Room filling sillage and 24hrs+ longevity. One of the best scents ever made, superior to purple Alien imo. I would classify this scent as a vanilla oriental, because it’s the vanilla that steals the show in this composition. Shame they discontinued it.

Now this was a blind buy I was nervous about, mainly because of the incense note. I looked up so many Fragrantica profiles and most of you lovely lot have totally different tastes in fragrances to mine which also made me nervous, despite the glowing reviews. I needn’t have worried, and I’m sooo glad I managed to pick up a new bottle of this. I’ve only smelt it a couple of times (I’ve given it to my other half to hide until our anniversary) but it’s so intriguing - I definitely get a sort of menthol from the top notes, but not herbal sweets, more amaretti vibes. The dry down is Alien with added vanilla. It’s close enough to work for Alien lovers but so different - enough to justify owning both. Even my husband said “this is a date night perfume... a special one”. It lasts forever too. Yummy :)

you know those fragrances that u wish u had never smelt because it is ridiculously priced, but u fell in love & bought because u can not unsmell something that amazing? this is a HOLY GRAIL. i don’t understand why it was discontinued. as much as i love the og, essence absolue is worlds ahead of it. this is the sexiest, most well rounded, DELICIOUS thing i have ever smelt. Yes i spent the insane amounts it’s going for on a bottle. it’s worth it to me, because this is one that u never forget. i need it in my collection lol. it is beast mode longevity, a compliment magnet, & makes me feel like i’m walking on air, which only a few fragrances can accomplish. anyone else who has this knows exactly what i’m talking about. mugler, please get rid of that awful “goddess” & bring this one back! 10/10

This is an absolute masterpiece—creamy, woody, powdery magic in a bottle. It's a warm, balsamic, ambery dream of a scent that performs like a niche fragrance. I bought it a few years back before I was able to appreciate it, but hung onto it knowing how special it was. Now that I've resolved my headache and migraine issues (ciao ciao gluten) and have trained my nose I'm finally able to give this perfume the adoration it deserves. I feel like me when I wear this, but save it for special occasions or when my mental health needs a boost. I'm so very grateful to have such a beauty in my collection but simultaneously mourn for the house of Mugler. Alien Absolue was created at the height of Thierry Mugler greatness. Loreal sure knows how to destroy fragrance and beauty brands.

One of the most exquisite compositions I have ever had the honor of wearing. As a vintage, the liquid has turned a deep chocolate brown, yet the fragrance itself is like shimmering liquid gold. It glows with different facets: at times velvety sweetness reminiscent of rum stripped of its alcoholic sharpness, at others sensual jasmine, creamy almost buttery orris, powdery enveloping accords, warm vanilla, and honeyed resins. Everything intertwines beautifully, creating a fragrance that feels harmonious, smooth, refined, and deeply sensual. Longevity lasts throughout the day, developing beautifully on the skin and remaining detectable on fabric for a very long time. The sillage is strong yet never overwhelming. These are the perfumes of a seductive goddess. A treasure.

Managed to snatch the last bottle off of a local website and I'm so happy. I first bought this in 2012 and since I had a decent collection, it lasted me a good while. I really didn't think it would get discontinued so I was sad when it did. I actually found a couple bottles in a store but I was trying to save some money and I said nah, I just got a bottle of the OG Alien. Regretted that decision. So when I saw it was available on a trusted site I grabbed it immediately. Sprayed some on my skin and it brought back so many memories. Dark, deep buttery vanilla bean that is almost savory. I thought it reminded me of something and I think there might be some saffron hidden in this. Wish they would bring it back. I will hunt it down where ever I go from now on.

I haven't smelled any other Alien fragrances yet, but I found this discontinued one unopened for $40 USD, so I snagged it immediately. I'm SOOO glad I did! It's so beautifully sweet, creamy and amazing on me. I love the wafts of it I got throughout the day, and when I smelled my wrists the scent was lovely as well. I'm pretty new to perfume, and am, therefore I horrible reviewer, but I will say that I didn't get any indolic whiffs unless I put my wrist to my nose and HUFFED it for all I was worth. Then I smelled dirt and mothballs. So some people may get that more noticeably. If you want a better description of top notes and dry down and whatnot, keep scrolling. Anyway, I love it, and I will be stockpiling before it's all gone from the world.

The opening of this fragrance is a blast of menthol, jasmine, and something warm/sweet. Extremely potent and with the recognizable Mugler DNA running through. As it dries down, the vanilla and amber become more intense while also making room for a little smokiness. One of the most nuclear fragrances I own. You have to be easy in the trigger with this or you will definitely offend people around you (especially if they aren’t keen on strong scents!!). Anyways, this is beautiful and it’s beyond me as to why Mugler would discontinue such a stunning fragrance. This is definitely feminine leaning, but I could totally see a confident man rocking this one.

If you like or love "regular" Alien, but wish the florals/jasmine were toned down with some balsamic vanilla...you will LOVE this! I still love my Alien, but this version is much more my speed. It is warm, creamy, STRONG, confident and more sexy than original Alien! 1-2 sprays give me hours and hours of longevity and pretty strong sillage. Lots of compliments, but this is very potent. Please do not overspray. This is one of those FOR SURE a little goes a long way fragrances. It is really awesome that in 2018 when most scents are just ruined by IFRA, that we can still buy something that lasts!! LOVE Thierry Mugler and his fragrance house!! Merci ;)

I wanted to thank the person who recommended layering Alien with Joop! Le Bain. I have several iterations of the original Alien. I have some vintage formulations, some newer formulations, and even the newest formulation, which many consider weak and watered down. Well, I got my hands on Joop! Le Bain and layered it with the newest Alien formulation, and it smelled 99% identical to Alien Essence Absolue... it also lingered on my skin until the next day, projecting strongly. Another great alternative is Grain de Soleil by Fragonard. I *almost* don't even miss AEA whenever I wear Grain de Soleil because it fills its absence so beautifully.

I am absolutely obsessed with this fragrance. It is so beautiful to me. Sensual ambers are probably my all time favorite fragrance genre and this absolutely hits the spot. It's up there with Grand Soir and Ambre Sultan for me. I find this way better than the OG Alien. But of course it is discontinued and absurdly priced. I cannot believe they discontinued this. And for what exactly? Another tame and inspired flanker of a flanker (Goddess) (Whatever that new Angel is). Essence Absolue will haunt me now. I have to cherish my decant, but how can I do that when I want to wear it to bed constantly on these cold winter nights?

Thanks to my friend nanaa_from_ghana, here on the forum, I now have this gorgeous fragrance!! I purchased her extra 1 oz and it was the best frag purchase ever!! This is undeniably OG Alien’s Jasmine but it’s got this amazing, rich, resinous, aromatic vanilla. There is a slight powdery quality to it, thanks to the Orris root. My nose doesn’t pick up “menthol” from the myrrh and incense notes, my nose picks them up as a sweet, balsamic (resinous) aromatic. One spray on 1 wrist and this is projecting up to my nose with each movement. This is just outstanding and unique and I cannot believe they discontinued this!!

Never in a million years would I thought I can get my hands on this discontinued treasure, but thanks to a lovely Fragrantica user's giveaway I got an untouched vintage bottle and it is now one of my most prized possession. A concoction of creamy, fluffy, buttery, unsweetened vanilla, warm amber and myrrh that sits on a bed of cold midnight jasmine, OG Alien's DNA. The warm and cold contrast play together so well, it keeps the scent intriguing instead of just being flat out gourmand. There is deep dark rum and coconut, but it isn't tropical or childish, rather dry and toasty and GROWN. Simply divine.

What is the point of making you fall in love with a unique perfume like this and then discontinuing it? Alien essence absolue has been my signature scent of all time.... I have always worn this perfume for night outings, whether summer, spring, winter or fall.. Now it is unobtainable and I am trying to emulate it by doing some layering with other scents I own and dupes.... It's a pity that they discontinued it after all the success, I don't think I will buy other thierry mugler perfumes if they like to discontinue Jewels like this and then produce characterless mass perfumes like Alien Goddess..

I recently rediscovered this perfume. I used to wear it some years ago when it came out but then I didn't finish the bottle. So now I started wearing it again and it's so fabulous! It's warm, creamy, round, feminine and I keep sniffing to my wrist. Somehow I find that the composition is an 80s style perfume. And it actually reminds me of Lou Lou by Cacharel, even though it's different, there's some similarity... Though Alien Essence Absolutely is more elegant and grown-up. I'm happy that I still have a half bottle left. I don't understand why it was discontinued.

This used to be my signature scent. This perfume is a damn legend, my perfect perfume. It smells delicious but also very expensive and sophisticated. I am beyond heartbroken that they discontinued this masterpiece. This was the king of the Alien collection. It’s as if this is the OG and the OG was made after this. This amazingness lasted for days on my skin and developed so nicely. It’s a shame they discontinued it, if I had to bring back one product it would be this. My absolute dream scent.

This is alien fully realized. Definitely my favorite of the line if not my favorite perfume overall. Adding myrrh and caramel-vanilla to original alien really completes its profile, and the dry orris gives it this magic "sands of time" feel paired with the incense. I also get the impressions of funnel cake, juniper berries, and jammy balsam fir. Too bad it's discontinued but I love the recent oud and musc flankers, hopefully mugler will still make some good incense scents like these

My favourite flanker from the House of Mugler - I have already written a review expressing my love for this fragrance but after hearing about Mugler's passing, I just want to appreciate Mugler and his team's creativity all over again. I will forever cherish Alien Essence Absolue as this was a flanker created before Mugler was sold to L'oreal - such an incredible fragrance that sticks to the incredible DNA of the original but with that added sweetness and warmth. RIP Thierry Mugler.

I just got this one today and I was not sure what to expect but I LOVE it. I definitely get the Alien DNA but it is more creamy and heavy on the vanilla. On first sniff I was reminded of like a cherry vanilla cola. The vanilla is a bit play-dohy but I LOVE it. I know I should let the bottle "calm down" after transit so I will wait a week and test it again. Shout out to the person posting about this being available on fragrancebuy. Oh and the bottle is absolutely adorable!

I ordered a sample of this and I'm unsure why I did this to myself. Of course this is long discontinued but this was a love at first sniff. Everything I loved about the OG Alien back in the day but amped up to the max. Creamy slightly bubble-gummy jasmine with balsamic resinous amber. This is potent and sexy as I remember Alien to be, pre-reformulation. This is a more grown-up version, the heady big sister. I am in love and might have to trawl the internet for a bottle!

Yup. I paid the outrageous price on ebay to get a 1 ounce bottle of this beauty. All I smell is warm vanilla-- but vanilla like a bottle of vanilla extract, not like a sugar-y vanilla. The smell of it lingered on my clothes over 24 hours from when I first applied it just on my wrists. The scent stays close to my body but is absolutely amazing. I am so sad that this perfume was discontinued (What were they thinking!?) and hope someone makes a really good dupe.

My, oh my. Pure liquid gold. I purchased a fragrance oil clone and I totally fell in love so I purchased a unicorn bottle. It’s quite expensive nowadays as it has been discontinued, but I don’t regret spending for it. It’s such a beautiful, ultra feminine fragrance that gets you compliments & it lasts forever. I get a whiff of menthol when it opens and that’s probably my favorite part of the Alien Essence Absolue experience.

@Sunny68 I read your question my answer yes the cap is plastic and if you bought a refill perhaps its not the reformulated version so you're good! Keep the bottle as those are hard to find lol. And if it smells like the decant you good, it might be aged a bit and heat makes fragrances lose its essence. Hope I helped good luck! P. S to send messages to any member just press on highlighted name in green look for icon...

My all time favourite cannot put down fragrance. Leagues better than the original Alien or any of its flankers. Creamy with a sharpness. Sophisticated and well-blended. Each note is prominent and complimentary. Since its discontinuation, I have found “Inspired By Alien Essence Absolue” by Dupeon to be legitimately identical. None of the other dupes can hold a candle to it. I wear this year round day and night.

I really want to need this perfume again and again. I am aware that it has been discontinued and it is totally UNCOMPREHENSIBLE for me... Literally... This perfume is very feminine, long lasting, intense yet striking, a compliment giver for dayzzz!! I really hope and hoping very hard over here that it will be brought back!! Any ideas of another perfume with similar notes than Alien Essence???

Alien but sweeter and even more compelling. While original Alien makes me feel like I run the town, Alien Essence Absolue feels like I'm especially attractive because I'm the exotic newcomer in a foreign city. Confident, composed, and classy, while also being unapologetically sexy. Alien is old friends and Alien Essence Absolue carries the sweetness of discovering the unfamiliar.

This will forever be my favourite fragrance. It smells rich, warm, slightly spicy, very amber heavy (which I love) and it makes me feel like an elegant, seductive queen. Lasts a lifetime on clothing and works really well in cold weather. I'm heartbroken that this isn't being made anymore. Grain de Soleil - Fragonard definitely reminds me of it, though it's not as "cozy" as AEA.

mmhhmm. graceful. I knew before smelling that I would be in love with this and I was not wrong. You can really smell the alien and alien goddess in this which is very surprising. It’s fascinating that they held on to the original alien scent but still managed to make this perfume absolutely better, mesmerizing and addictive. The fact that this is discontinued is a crime.

Can't believe how lucky I am to still have this, bottle almost full, I picked it up at Marshalls back in the day, can even remember the display and being like oh I keep hearing about this one yay! Must have been about the time it was discontinued. Don't know what to say about the scent except amazing and turns caramelly on me, that is when I let myself wear it lol

oh my. oh my sweet lord in heaven. why u make elixir like this. is an angel smiling. Powder puff explosion of vanilla sky. Is jasmine cookie and I'm hungry. I walk into gas station I smell like God. clerk almost faint, ask me for help... I say no, die to the glory of my scent. Thierry Mugler, I am your muse. You make juice for me and me alone. I love you

Jasmine, boozy amber, but so smooth with it. My wife has this, a traffic stopping, compliment getting, beast mode aphrodisiac, gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous perfume. Ladies, one spray of this and you have acquired a very sexy superpower. Another one of these highly rated fragrances on Fragrantica which is discontinued but no-one can explain why. 5/5

I haven't been on this website since 2018. I bought this perfume after watching Carlos on youtube review it and he compared it to a high end men fragrance. I bought the 30ml dirt cheap in 2018 and now I see it has gone up in price. This is all about the Jasmine wrapped in vanilla,amber,myrrh and incense. Very good smelling and worth the price.

Girl this is Alien but really, really good. Sometimes Alien is strong and kind of nauseating. This includes current as well as old Clarins formula. Not this, however. It's perfectly balanced where at a distant it's just a light, perfect, soapy jasmine. Up close the vanilla and animalics are perfectly balanced. The orris is mouthwatering.

Gosh, I have a bottle of this, and it's probably the older version. Not sure when re-formed. I will edit with update for anybody who is interested. I can remember it being just a tad too strong on me. It was good, but just too demanding. I'll edit when I locate it. I know what it is like to have your favorite gutted to discontinued.