The Taste of Fragrance Angel

Mmmm, my favorite Angel flanker! You guessed it, this is Angel dipped in a dark, powdery, rich, chocolate glaze. The patchouli is detectable (Where would Angel be without it? Oh right - the EDT of bland nothingness!), but there's a significant "round" feeling that smooths over any of Angel EDP's sharper patchouli notes. And, thankfully, for me none of the fleshy fruits come forward at any point in time. This fragrance reminds me of a very specific setting. Being a small child, and wandering around my neighborhood privately-owned candy shoppe, where they had all of their wrapped candy bars, bags of chocolate, and bags of hard candies in big wood barrels lining the store. Angel TOF smells EXACTLY like sticking my head into one of those barrels to dig around. Powdery, mildly earthy, a hint of dust, and a ton of sweetness. The kicker here... is that this flanker is SOFT! One heavenly, NON-NUCLEAR Thierry Mugler creation! Read it and weep, folks. You can enter a room unabashedly wearing this juice, you don't have to commit to a fragrance for 4 and a half days, and your days of seeing someone down the aisle in the grocery store lift their head and sniff the air in confusion and mild disgust are OVER! This is an Angel for you, and you alone. [In the "reminds me of" section, I see a comparison to Angel Liqueur de parfum - to me they are very different! The Liqueur flanker is much more boozy and a bit sharper, and there is more patchouli present. Taste of Fragrance is definitely more on the gourmand route. Both are wonderful, and certainly lacking in the cotton candy/red berries part of the original Angel EDP.]

To me, the Taste of Fragrance Angel starts low but finishes high. The opening is like accidently spill out the cacao powder on one's face. Such an intense and fierce aroma. Then it quickly dissipates and unveils the patchouli-sweet chocolate combo in the original Angel. I was like, 'What?! That's all?! Just the original Angel hiding under a cacao coat?!'. That's when the dark chocolate stands out and points my nose, 'Wait and smell!'. The patchouli and sweetness step back and let the dark chocolate play the game. I also get a subtle whiff of fruits like bergamot or passion fruit from time to time, which is a delightful surprise, as these fruity notes in the original Angel are often under the shadow of candy sweetness. After about 6 hours, the earthy patchouli mellows down, what's left on the skin is a cozy dark chocolate velvet cape. ToF compared to the original Angel is just like their bottle colour: a deep indigo blue of night compared to a brighter blue. Among the Taste of Fragrance collection, Angel might not be as surprising as Womanity, which takes the scent to a whole new direction. However, Angel lives up to its name: deep, rich chocolate powder blended into the legacy of the original version. The sillage is moderate and consistent for more than 12h. A fragrance of quality! However, I wouldn't recommend it if the patchouli combo in original version already bothers you, as the patchouli is still quite strong especially in the first few hours. But if you wished for a slightly less sweet version, this might be your Angel!

I have to admit that I've never tried the original Angel. I ordered this as a blind buy, the cocoa powder sounded interesting. I was very sceptic before trying, as I usually go for low sillage perfumes. And Angel is anything but low sillage I've heard. Well, this was a wonderful surprise. Bitter cocoa powder, and lots of it at the beginning. As it settles down, it's still cocoa, but it's getting a bit sweeter in the dry down. Never too sweet though, the bitterness of the cocoa keeps it well balanced. The fruits drop in here and there to say hello, and gives this a somehow fresh all over feeling. I was afraid of the patchouli, as I have Wish by Chopard, and that's supposed to be a "toned down Angel". Still I think Wish has too much patch for my liking. In this version of Angel, the patch isn't the main player, it has a supportive role, it's just right. I accidentally also found out that this is great for layering. I put on a shirt that I had worn briefly the other day, and it still smelled of Narciso Rodrigues For Her. So I put 2 sprays of this on my arms. The mix of sweet orange, musk and bitter cocoa is gourmand heaven :). This was a mellow scent, not at all loud (2 sprays), and on me it sits quite close to the skin. So those of you who like Angel but think its too loud, I think you should try this version. EDIT I can't get over how good this stuff smells, the dry down is to die for! *Running to the nearest perfume store tomorrow to try the original Angel too* :D

I love the original Angel, but I love this version even more! It’s like the original amped up with dark, intense cacao. I don’t find it sweeter than the original, just softer, smoother, richer and absolutely delectable. I don’t find the patchouli overbearing in the original, but I will say it is softened here a bit. The opening is a heady burst of bittersweet cacao powder. It warms really nicely on my skin and combines with the vanilla and patchouli to form a luscious, creamy, spicy chocolate aroma. This is one of those perfumes that I literally feel emanates heat from my skin. It smells the most similar to the original in the drydown, when the dark chocolate subsides and the honey-vanilla-caramel base becomes stronger. But the cacao doesn’t disappear entirely; I still get lovely wafts of dark chocolate throughout the drydown. I am surprised to see fruit notes listed in this, especially the passionfruit, apricot and peach. I smell absolutely no fruit, and I’m perfectly fine with that in this perfume. This is a dense, heady, warm, oriental scent that stands well enough on it’s own for what it is: a dark, chocolatey dessert (sans any fruit topping). The cacao, vanilla, caramel and patchouli are the strongest scents by far, in that order. As others have said, this fragrance smells refined and expensive...I think it’s well worth the money, especially if you are a chocolate fanatic. This is my favorite offering from Mugler’s Taste of Fragrance series.

Composed by Aurélien Guichard of Givaudan (missing in the above description as of Aug 2012), this is Angel "grown-up". Angel Le Gout du Parfum is "quieter", darker, less sweet, less tart, and after the initial blast of dry cocoa powder, settles down and is softer and more balanced to the nose. The first two times I tested it at the counter, I smelt it on a paper strip, and it was musty unsweetened baking cocoa for 5 minutes before becoming an earthier, dirtier Angel. Not that attractive. When I took the plunge and spritzed it onto my skin, the scent unfolded down a very different path. The pungent blast of bitter cocoa was no longer as apparent and the "Dirt" note was pretty much undetectable. Instead, it's folded into the familiar fruity-sharp bergamot opening of classic Angel, but with a touch more translucence and depth. Le Gout du Parfum is very recognizably "Angel" in its heart and drydown. The bitter cocoa unfortunately disappears quite fast, but the good news is it resurfaces hours later in the drydown (my favorite part), when lends some gentle weight and lusciousness to the familiar airy chocolate-patchouli accord. I hesitate to recommend this to the average perfume buyer simply because you pay quite a bit to get a measly 1.1 oz of irreplaceable, limited-edition "jus", in a non-refillable bottle. If you hate it, it's a waste of money. If you love it, it's no longer readily available.

To preface this review- I detest the original Angel. I wanted so badly to love it as the notes in it are some of my absolute favorites- but it literally made me physically ill. When I read the reviews for The Taste of Fragrance Angel I knew I had to try it. So this was a blind buy for me... Quite the risk. ;) Upon applying, I was scared.. It was that all too familiar Angel patchouli bomb. But I noticed that it was not making me ill, nor did it smell "dirty", so I stuck with it. Fast forward 15 minutes and it's amazing. Scrumdiddlyumptious even. I'm hooked. I honestly can't stop sniffing my wrist. Cigar smoke wrapped around dark chocolate truffles, dripping with sweet, warm, honey. It does have notes reminiscent of the original Angel. A bit of soft musky powder and patchouli... But much more feminine... Instead of smelling like a bunch of random notes, it actually makes sense. Friendlier, cleaner, not the least bit abrasive.... And yummy... really damn yummy. I do still believe that this is a unique scent and may not be for everyone. The chocolate, or cacao rather, is a grown up gourmand, not a sweet and simple teenage scent...But rather, complex and sophisticated. Angel TOF is everything I wanted the original to be ! If you're on the fence, I think it's worth the shot ! I am really truly LOVING this flanker. :)

Now I was very cautious about buying this particular perfume. I was not a fan of the original Angel and I was not particularly keen on sweet scents (I loathed the Aquolina Pink Sugar). But I wanted a scent that smelled like chocolate- not sweet chocolate but bitter. So I searched and searched until I found Angel ToF. Let me tell you guys, I had to study the notes very carefully. I hated peach notes and the caramel made me a little iffy but after much deliberation I finally bought it. Such a blind buy! When I opened the box, I immediately smelled spicy notes which made me a little nervous. Then I sprayed in on my wrist and my goodness I was in chocolate heaven! Bitter chocolate heaven to be exact! It has the perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness for me. This fragrance stands out amongst my collection. The smell is so unique. It was loved at first smell! And the bottle...the BOTTLE! Gorgeous! The sillage is very good and it lasted pretty long on me too. The only bad thing I can say about this is that it only comes in one size. 1.1 fluid ounces! So small! I would have liked a bigger bottle. And from what I heard it has been discontinued...makes me want to buy another one for back up.

11. november 2011 Oh my God! Oh my God! My signature scent has just became even better! And i thought nothing will beat the original "Angel"! Today i tried it and was so amazed i started to run (literally) in circles at the depratment store, that much excited i was! This is the best "Angel" i have ever tried so far! Like the original but indeed with a overload of dark and bitter choclate that gives this "Angel" really gourmand taste! I wanted literally eat my hand! I will be definitly buying this, because it is not that much suffocating as original Angel and really really wearable! Patchouli here is much less offensive than in original one. The saddest part is that it is really small bottle! Why couldn ́t they make a regular 50ml bottle?? Definitly worth trying! Sillage is a bit lighter than with original Angel, but lasts all day long. GOT IT ALREADY AS AN EARLY CHRISTMAS PRESENT!!! SOOO HAPPY that i didn ́t have to spend almost 80 euros to get it!! (02.12.2011)

I have mixed feelings toward Angel but I never stop trying it's flankers.there are some Angel flankers that I love:Angel Rose,Angel Muse,Angel Sucree,and now this amazing perfume,Angel The Taste Of Fragrance There's an undeniable Angel gene here but as mentioned in other reviews there's a lot of dark chocolate and cocoa here which cover the patchouli a bit.I can also detect a hint of peachy-passion fruit-sweet orange like fruity notes in the opening part which fade away after a couple of minutes and leaves me with a pleasant patchouli-dark chocolate combo I can't say that it's a safe blindbuy unless you're an angel lover.but even if you're not,make sure to try it and give this babe a chance.it's a dark,sexy,adult and comforting gourmand,a not so sweet and not so fruity gourmand with impressive longevity and projection. It's not something I wear often but whenever I do I'm in a real dark cacao chocolate heaven.I believe it can also be great on a man

WOW. If I only had two words to describe this, it would be "strange magic." Actually, if I had three, I'd say "chocolate covered patchouli." But I can say more, so here goes... Projection on this is average but staying power is long. From the initial spray, it's lots of chocolate, cacao, and a smidge of vanilla. The gourmand-type notes manage to be somewhere between powdery and warm...the patchouli is incredible - soft, wearable, and doesn't overpower the other notes the way patchouli sometimes does in fragrance. And personally, I am someone who usually can't stand patchouli on my skin. I found this for a really good price on eBay, and thank God - I am completely under its spell. The original version of Angel is far too strong for me, but this is so much more wearable. It's the perfect introduction to Angel or Thierry Mugler in general.

After years of saying "I hate Angel" I have completely become a convert because of this version and La Rose Garden of Stars. They are just different enough to make me appreciate Angel in a whole new light. There was always something about the original Angel that felt like "too" much even though I almost liked it. But whatever the too much factor was, it is missing in A Taste of Fragrance and it makes it so much more wearable and easier for me to appreciate. . It is beautiful. This smell for me must be more like what others get from the original Angel. If so, I can now see why it is so loved. I am now ready to try Angel again because I feel like I may appreciate it better after getting my training wheels with Taste and La Rose. Nothing makes me happier than doing a 180 on a perfume and I truly feel I have done one with Angel.

Pulling this little jewel out again for the season to wear sparingly and every year I lament that one day it will be an empty bottle that might not ever be replaced. It reminds me to go easy on it. I cherish this. One of the sexiest 'dark' perfumes I have ever encountered. It has the otherworldly quality of Angel's DNA imprint, that filthy animalic patchouli which is umistakeably Mugler, but with the cacao and chocolate amped up to 70%. If Angel is cotton candy, this is an aged wine. More dry and darkly sweet than syrupy or sugary, and nothing plastic about this chocolate - it is rich, warm, dusty, and deep. A very grown-up gourmand, and not an easy wear for everybody, but if you love Angel and her flankers, this scent invites people in and keeps them there, and cuts through cold winter air amazingly.

A true chocolate version of the original. Nicely done ! I have been going crazy over angel liquer lately.( 2014 ) Hooked and addicted as a matter of fact. Usually what happens when I get so hooked on something I explore flankers. To see if there is anything even better,,,, or simply to have more of the same with a slight variation to it so it doesn't get dull ,,,I ordered the years old angel TASTE for a delicious little variety ,,,,,,,,it's like sniffing a jar of coco . Phantastic, delicious coca powder , lushesly tasty and rich. Very adult. Not a kiddy chocolate. Like a hot dark cocao chocolate with a shot of cognac and some tropical fruits . A little sweeter and more tasty than the original , less patchouli. Awesome ! Lots of compliments !

I finally got a hold of a bottle of this one, and I can see why folks are scrambling for the last few remaining out there- wow! Did you hear me? I said "W.O.W!" You wanna know what came into my mind right away? Have you ever tasted "Sacher Torte"? It's that perfect taste-accord of apricot jam and deep dark heavenly chocolate, the richness of it all set off with whipped cream- glorious, glorious creation. That's what Angel Le Gout smells of to me- as if you were carefully smeared by a lover with pieces of this cake... What's not to love?! Precious, precious stuff- I am never going to part with my bottle: I'm keeping it and only using it when absolutely necessary! Mine mine mine! :-) [in Gollum's voice] My preciousssss....

Thanks to a incredibly generous fragrantican I got to test this today. I wasn't expecting the cocoa to be that real, but at the start it is! To the point that I thought "I am not sure if I want to smell like food". But that strong real note faded quickly to leave a much more perfume-y one but the original Angel is still very much there. It is even darker than the actual Angel, yes, it is possible! I have been sniffing my wrist for a while and then just for a contrast I smelled the original from the bottle and it makes it smell almost fresh! This is an incredible experience, I have to wear it again properly but its deffinitelly in my want list and it makes me wish it was winter again so i could indulge on it.

I got this one because I like Angel a lot, and I love chocolate. I was excited to try a version of Angel that really amped up the chocolate note. This one smells a lot like Angel, but it does have a much stronger dark chocolate note, slightly toned down patchouli, and less of the red berry notes that original Angel has. This one also has less of a sweet cotton candy feel to it and is darker and richer. It has the same Angel sillage and longevity. Nicely done. *Edit - after wearing this for a while, cocoa and vanilla notes pretty much take over. No patchouli can be detected. It smells warm and delicious, yet not too sweet or overpowering. This may become a new favorite, and I think I prefer it to Angel edt.

Well, now what? This perfume is exactly everything I'd hoped it would be - so Mugler, Angel but dip it in cacao, a little dirty but in a way that makes you feel edgy (that Mugler skankiness). I love it and it took me a minute to find this at a price I was willing to spend. Ugh - it gets harder to find these discontinued gems by the day. And each time I wear it I now look at my precious bottle and wonder if the occasion truly warrants such a special scent. But - life goes by fast so...c'est la vie! Here's to another spray! (Apologies in advance to everyone at the grocery store, post office, DMV, pet groomers or any where else me and my Mugler may go doused in this amazing scent #sorrynotsorry :)

This is truly my favourite out of all the Angel flankers. I get strong dusty bitter cocoa in the opening which sweetens on me throughout the day, until it reaches a point where it smells to me like a dark chocolate/violet/passionfruit truffle that is dusted in dark bitter cocoa. It is much softer and easier to wear than the OG Angel (my Winter go to) and comes across as lightly powdery as well. I love gourmands and I enjoy having a gourmand that isn't super sweet but still sweet in a very deep, dark, and rich smelling way. I love wearing this in Autumn but as it's sadly discontinued, I only wear it every now and then.

Pure dark chocolate. Smells like cocoa beans. It is delicious! I find this Angel sexier than the original and perfect for the holidays. I assumed that it would be overkill, and super strong, but I find it easier to wear than the original. After the initial 30 minutes passes, the chocolate fades, leaving behind the good old angel you have grown to love. I think the timing is perfect, because the chocolate leaves before you have a chance to get sick of it. (though it leaves a faint trace of itself behind). The Angel that surfaces afterwards is also less "piney" and "menthol" like than the original. I love it.

The Taste of Fragrance Angel - my hubby said it smelled like an expensive French chocolate pastry. It is quite edible scent with an amazing little trail. sillage is no where near the original but the wolves will follow once they get a whiff. If you didn't pick up on the chocolate note in the original Angel, you will on this one for sure. The taste of Angel is pure cacao-chocolate heaven. Nothing compares to this additive little number and I am wishing it would come in a full size bottle, but I love reaching for this cute little bon-bon and spraying this stunning fragrance. It’s so, so yummy!