Star rating: 5 stars--outstanding/potential classic, 4 stars--very good, 3 stars--adequate, 2 stars--disappointing, 1 star--poor.
I generally try to steer clear of too much hyperbole, but in the case of Angel, every hyperbole describes it perfectly. The most polarizing, the most memorable, the most dramatic, the most grotesque… Angel, created for Thierry Mugler in 1992, is one of the great perfume success stories of the last two decades. Its introduction on the market is also an interesting case study into what it takes to make a classic: quality juice, a strong character, a memorable signature and also time. Today, most brands go for the quick sell, releasing fragrances that are bland and derivative; the new launches are rarely given time to take hold in the market place. Angel was not a runaway success; it took three years of constant support from Thierry Mugler and its parent company, Clarins, for this fragrance to start topping the best seller lists. And the rest is history!
What follows is not so much my standard perfume review, but rather an exploration of how this fragrancew came about and what makes it unusual. In the end, I share some of my favorites among Angel offspring, including some fragrance that I find fantastic but that fared quite badly on the market. I also would love to hear your thoughts on Angel, positive and negative.
Angel: New Gourmand Fragrance Genre
My relationship with Angel has been that of distant admiration; however, as I go further with my perfumery training, Angel is becoming a constant presence on my desk. Since its launch, the gourmand fragrance genre has expanded dramatically to the extent that “gourmand” is now a commonly used fragrance classification. While the gourmand idea in perfumery is not at all new, Angel took it to the extreme. It is not simply a teasing suggestion of a dessert, but a full feast of crème caramel, cotton candy, raspberry macarons, candied fruit, drizzled with hot chocolate sauce and honey. The interplay of familiar scents and the completely novel character of this perfume make Angel fascinating.
Angel grew out of fashion designer Thierry Mugler’s desire for a mouthwatering, delicious scent. At the core of the composition is a strong accord of patchouli and Veltol, a fascinating and extremely potent aroma-material that smells like vanilla caramel and cotton candy. In fact, if you put just these two materials together in the right balance, you will have a very strong Angel impression. Although it is built as a modern composition based on a single distinctive element—patchouli and cotton candy, there are plenty of embellishments that make Angel not only complex, but surprising.
Wearing Angel: Contrasted and Polarizing
The initial impression is that of effervescent citrus and tart berries which give a bright, crisp sensation. As the luscious notes of caramel and honey grow stronger, the patchouli foils the composition, giving it a dry, earthy quality. The abstract accord of crisp, watery notes woven into the structure of Angel further lightens the gourmand decadence. Angel dries down to a smooth, dark accord of bitter chocolate, patchouli and almond praline.
The contrasted nature of Angel is what intrigues me the most about this composition. It is quite heavy, strong and extremely tenacious, yet it is not at all dense and opaque. The fresh, tart notes sprinkled throughout its development give the fragrance a surprising lift. The sweet notes should make it seem sugary and pretty, yet pretty is definitely not the right adjective to describe Angel. The combination of strong peppery bergamot notes and patchouli gives it an almost masculine quality. On the whole, Angel conveys extreme decadence and seduction. To its haters, it is the most vulgar perfume on earth. Its sillage is monstrous and its character is overwhelming, to the point of causing physical discomfort.
My Favorites from the Angel Family
I can write a whole post on Angel copycats and offspring, but I will just mention a few of my personal favorites. Some of these have been discontinued, but they are still easy to find online. Lolita Lempicka is perhaps the best of the Angel children, a moody, elegant blend of patchouli, dark cherries, anise and iris. Chanel Coco Mademoiselle takes Angel into a chypre direction, with a cool mossy note contrasted with the caramel-patchouli accord. The original Prada Eau de Parfum, especially the Intense version, is a great option for those who love patchouli. It is essentially an elegant, toned down version of Angel. Issey Miyake Le Feu d’Issey explores the savory side of gourmand with an accord of bread, sandalwood and patchouli, which was also explored recently by Serge Lutens Jeux de Peau. Givenchy Organza Indécence is a beautiful vanilla and woods fragrance, inspired by the scent of sugared almonds. Chopard Madness, a complete market failure but an excellent perfume, takes Angel along a spicy route with a strong accord of pepper, cardamom and incense.
What do you think of Angel? Do you love it or hate it?
Thierry Mugler Angel includes notes of bergamot, mandarin, dewberry, honey, red berries, patchouli, Australian sandalwood, coumarin, vanilla, caramel, chocolate. Available from all the major retailers.
Sample: my own acquisition
I always shied away from Angel, probably more because of its reputation than anything else. When I first smelled it, I did not get much of the gourmand notes, strangely, but an overwhelmingly sharp, almost mentholated note I can not sit out until the promised goodies arrive. So, while I respect Angel for its groundbreaking role, it is not for me.
I love Lolita Lempicka and Prada though, as well as Jeux de Peau. Le Feu d'Issey was my signature scent for years in my twenties. So I guess I owe quite a bit to angel and its legacy.
Great post, dear V!
Posted by: Olfactoria | March 10, 2011 at 03:51
Such an interesting post, thank you! I first tried Angel in the late 90s and hated it. Over the years, I tried it again a few times & still hated it. Then I discovered the online perfume world of niche & blogs, and my tastes expanded. Someone sent me a large sample of Angel in a swap package and I set about sampling in earnest. I learned that what I disliked was the overwhelming saturation of scent that came from a large spritz; however, at the few drops at a time level, Angel began to grow on me. I eventually acquired a beautiful star mini which will last me the rest of my life (I think the bottles are gorgeous). One or two drops is just right for me, and now I really enjoy and appreciate it. As far as Angel followers go, I do like Prada edp & esp Prada Intense, but when I want an elegant patchouli I'm more likely to reach for Chanel Coromandel, which I really love.
Posted by: rosarita | March 10, 2011 at 04:50
Hello and thank for your post !
I just wanted to let my opinion : nowadays, in France, a lot of people still loves Angel. And I really wonder why : that distasteful vanilla flavor...
I don't know why Thierry Mugler keeps going, presenting Alien, as bad as Angel...
But this is only one opinion !
Bye,
Zoé
Posted by: Zoé | March 10, 2011 at 05:13
I actually like it but not for me, it's too bold for me, I don't wear perfume like that usually.
But I do like to wear the offspring - Coco Mademoiselle and Jeux de Peau. :)
Posted by: Ines | March 10, 2011 at 05:15
Great post, V! I was an early convert to Angel. Brought a sample vial with me to Paris while on vacation in 1993, and wore it while I was there. Needless to say, Angel reminds me of Paris (which is kind of ironic since it ended up becoming such a huge hit over there). It's definitely a polarizing scent, though. Liking it as I do, I've been embarrassed by women who wear too much, thinking they're ruining the reputation of it by smothering the rest of us with it. Worn sparingly, however, there's nothing else like it.
As to the Angel copycats, I like LL, though not as much as Angel. It's another powerhouse. I love Coco M. Prada is too ambery for me. I'll need to investigate Madness. Sounds interesting!
Posted by: karin | March 10, 2011 at 07:29
That strong note of patchouli is essential to Angel, and you are right, it is bold! I smell it right on top also. I think that Angel was my gateway to patchouli. I never really wore Angel for pleasure, but since I have been immersed in my perfumery studies, it really has been a near constant presence around.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 07:53
Coromandel, Lutens Borneo 1834 are such great Angel offspring. I should have included them also.
The bottles are fantastic. Also, it is fascinating to me how the choice of color and bottle shape further highlights the surprising nature of this perfume. One would expect something cool and icy, and instead, it is anything but that!
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 07:57
I was just looking at the most recent best-sellers in France, and yes, Angel still has the top ranking. I do not smell much of it in NYC, but in Paris, it seems far more common.
Alien is a tough perfume to wear! I like it, but I can take it for exactly 10 minutes. :)
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 07:59
For me, it is too demanding, almost like a dress that wears you, rather than the other way around. On some days, it is ok; on others, it irritates me.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 08:02
Karin, perfectly said--Angel is usually way overapplied, where as a dab is all one needs. Even one drop has an incredible sillage.
For me also, Paris is associated with Angel. Paris metro is a mix of Angel and the lily of the valley air freshener.
Madness is excellent, chocolate oriental with a nice cardamom note. What killed it above all (besides the fact that these kind of spicy orientals do not do well in the US,) was an incongruous marketing campaign.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 08:09
It's like they say on The Bachelor, "It's the Most! Dramatic! Episode! Ever!" :)
I respect Angel for it is, and I like it, but I don't wear, because it is too...familiar?
Posted by: Marina | March 10, 2011 at 08:21
Exactly, too familiar. Like a friend of mine says, "so, I'm walking down the street and all I am smelling is Angel. And I want to scream at these women, 'you all smell like everyone else.' " Needless to say, she is an avid Angel hater!
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 08:25
A few months ago I went on a girls' weekend in New Orleans with a bunch of my cousins. One was wearing perfume, and she smelled pretty good. I asked her what it was: "Angel." It's her signature scent. She carries a whole bottle of it in her purse. I'd sampled it in stores and didn't like it at all; maybe it was her skin that reacted with it well. It was a good scent for New Orleans, strong and not shy and sweet and dark. I was surprised at my reaction, as it's almost as popular among the perfume cognoscenti to trash Angel now as it was to trash Giorgio, back when dinosaurs walked the earth.
Posted by: Olfacta | March 10, 2011 at 08:34
I have to chime in and say that I think I'd count myself among the Angel haters out there. More than anything, it seems like an olfactory slap in the face--something about it always makes me recoil. It is bold, though, I'll give it that much. and it's certainly popular here in Canada--SA's at The Bay often resort to this one when they think they'll lose me.
Posted by: key change | March 10, 2011 at 08:39
I lived in Rouen in 2002 when I first smelled Angel. Actually, I was walking down the street when a woman passed me, smelling heavenly. I immediately followed her (the New Yorker in me) and asked her the name of the scent. I have been wearing it ever since. Every time I try to change scents, someone compliments me and it becomes impossible! Perhaps though, I am wearing Angel as a true Parisienne woman would, sparingly? I haven't tried any of the other scents mentioned in the article, nor can I bear the scent of any of the Angel offspring - sorry, but I detest Alien. Even more so, when every salesperson at the Angel counter wishes to push samples of it on you, instead of Angel samples that travel so easily in your purse. My other favorite scents are Quelques Fleurs which I mentioned in an earlier post (do you know that you cannot find this scent in France? Even though it is made there, all is exported, mainly to the US) and Chantal Thomass' original which now has been replaces by Chez Moi (boo hoo, as I find Chez Moi horrible). I found some gift sets of the original last year in Marrionaud and scooped them all up!
Posted by: Nancy A | March 10, 2011 at 08:44
I really like Angel, but it doesn't really suit my casual style. It just seems out of place on me. I do really like the flankers though - Eau de Star and Angel Innocent are favorites.
Posted by: KathyT | March 10, 2011 at 09:31
I can't get past the bit that Luca Turin called "refreshingly toxic," or what I think of as the "bug spray accord." I appreciate a wide range of perfume notes--civet, castoreum, heavy patchouli, aldehydes, indoles, leather, rubber--but ai-ya! this bug spray makes me want to run!
Posted by: Amy | March 10, 2011 at 09:59
I think Angel is fascinating. I've never worn it but I enjoy testing it occasionally. So glad I'm not the only one who likes Madness! That scent was way ahead of its time.
Posted by: sara | March 10, 2011 at 10:31
What a GREAT post!!! When I first got Angel I didn't really like it but tried it several times and it grew on me. Your post is so interesting and I love all the comments, Angel is now a must have and will always be!
Posted by: Amanda | March 10, 2011 at 10:44
I have a soft spot in my heart for Angel - my mom has worn it for years and it always reminds me of her. It gives off a really mellow gourmand impression when she wears it too (well, she's probably a chronic undersprayer like me).
That and No 5 sum her up - she doesn't really like trying new perfumes, but I can't begrudge her for picking those two!
Posted by: MK | March 10, 2011 at 10:52
I first smelled Angel at a Sephora on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. I walked by and smelled a strong scent of pine trees, which reminded me of Christmas. I sniffed bottles til I found where it had come from and it was Angel. It smells very spicy on me, as do most things. Whenever I wear it, someone compliments me on it. Interesting how it polarizes folks, tho.
Posted by: Janet | March 10, 2011 at 11:05
This is a great post, V.
I first sampled Angel when it debuted at Nordstrom in the early 90's. The SA told me that it smelled like birthday cake. Well not quite. I leave the birthday cake smell to CSP Vanille Abricot, but Angel definitely had the birthday cake vibe going on.
I did not like it at first, but finally warmed to it a few years later and wore it quite a lot. I have kept my star bottle and cherish it.
Last year, after reading rave reviews, I purchased the liqueur version of Angel. And it is gorgeous! Not as heavy or tenacious as the original, it smells smooth and slightly creamy. And, it's been perfect for colder days during the winter. The bottle is lovely, too.
Chopard Madness, huh? Well, I love cardamom. What does the bottle look like, and when did it debut?
Hugs!
Posted by: violetnoir | March 10, 2011 at 11:26
I have never tried Angel,however upon reading the review above, it's description put me in mind of Viktor and Rolf's Flowerbomb(a blind purchase,btw.)
Well, I searched BdJ for a review of Flowerbomb, and it said it was a gourmand in the genre of Angel. Nuff said.I cannot express how vehemently I dislike Flower Bomb...it is beyond me why anyone would want to smell like a confectionary.
I suspect Angel would bring quite an unangelic response from me,also.
Posted by: Gitcheegumee | March 10, 2011 at 11:42
I can't figure me out. No Angel, thank you; no Coco Mademoiselle. But on the right day, I enjoy Organza Indecence, and I have spent much time seriously considering getting a full bottle of Lolita Lempicka. Which, come to think of it, I think LL has some crossover with Fourreau Noir, and not just purple juice. But...
The thing I particularly latched onto here was Time. Time, as you say, required to allow a launch to truly take hold...and also in my head, the idea of time required to let a fragrance fully play out on one's skin. A flanker every season...a new launch a few times a week...and here am I, trying to preserve a place where I have time to learn how to dance with any single perfume, let alone a number of them.
Speaking of which, I should really go back and see how Angel behaves now. It was such an obnoxious something for my newbie self that I confess I never bothered to go back. Perhaps I would be more appreciative these days.
Posted by: ScentScelf | March 10, 2011 at 11:45
Love the concept and the artistry behind it, but it doesn't work for me. As much as I love chocolate, my skin warps it in a weird, bitter way. I do usually like it on others though, and sprayed into the air and left to settle (bit expensive for a air freshener though...:-)
Posted by: maggiecat | March 10, 2011 at 12:14
If applied with a light hand, Angel's sillage is very appealing. Too much is when it becomes problematic!
Funny you mention Giorgio, because I recently had the same pleasant encounter with it as you had with Angel.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 12:20
Strong bottom notes from A-Men make only some gentleman dare to ware it. However, I would prefer this smell for long lasting daily ware..
Posted by: dodie | March 10, 2011 at 13:33
ooooff.... Angel. That was one of the first offerings at the fragrance counter at a local mall from a SA. She purred "It's Deliiiiicious" but I made a face as soon as I tried the scent strip. To me it spelled migraine. The worst part was when I said "It's not for me" and the SA protested that "everyone loves it!" And why would I want to wear something like that?
But I do enjoy Coromandel, which is reportedly similar. Maybe I should give Angel another shot just for the heck of it? It's been almost 3 years since the fragrance counter incident so my opinion may have changed... :)
Posted by: RH | March 10, 2011 at 14:02
I've worn Angel off and on for nearly ten years. It dates back to when I had just two or three perfumes and didn't pay much attention. I loved Angel, but I had an inkling then it really wasn't suitable for day wear. I really liked what you said about "Wearing Angel". I completely agree that it is not pretty and is in the strangest way masculine. Funny to think about gourmand Angel when I just gave up sweets and desserts for Lent, and day two is already tough!
Posted by: Carla | March 10, 2011 at 14:07
I love Angel, but haven't had a bottle for a few years. The sillage is not at all polite. Who among us hasn't had a coworker who overapplied? Nonetheless, the disdain with which it's regarded among perfumistas makes me want to have another dance with it. Protecting my frangrance collection from good taste!
Posted by: Miss Conduct | March 10, 2011 at 14:27
Angel in N.O. Can totally see that! Especially right now, for Mardi Gras...
Posted by: sweetlife | March 10, 2011 at 14:39
Fascinating post--and comments! Angel is obviously still persistent and polarizing...
I think I am more interested in Angel's marketing story and the culture around the perfume than in the perfume itself. The marketing story seems like such a clear argument for using the exact opposite strategy that most houses are employing today: create something with (as you say) "strong character" and then *give people a chance to learn the scent.* With smells, as with food, I think people really need a chance to assimilate newness, but when they have, they often become obsessed. Suspect this is something hardwired in us.
And maybe because of that initial newness, and then the obsession, Angel wearers seem to feel they belong to a tribe--I've seen women recognize each other as Angelistas with great joy instead of the usual sniffy nonplussed attitude one might expect.
Posted by: sweetlife | March 10, 2011 at 14:52
I love Angel from a distance. Long ago I asked a co-worker what she was wearing and it was Angel. I went to try it and was overwhelmed. I did end up buying Angel Innocent years later. I now have a small decant of Angel Liquer de Parfum and a small sample of the La Parte des Anges, and I love them both.
Posted by: julie | March 10, 2011 at 15:05
I love Angel! I rarely wear it, since it's so strong, recognizable, and polarizing, but I think it's flat-out great, and I love many of its offspring too. Patchouli-heavy gourmands make up a fair bit of my collection. They're the drag queens of perfume!
Posted by: Elisa | March 10, 2011 at 15:56
If I have to decide between love or hate, I say hate. I dislike it a lot. It's too sweet, too heavy. It gives me headache. However, I like some flankers, like Angel Pivoine.
Posted by: Isa | March 10, 2011 at 16:06
HATE IT. And every six months, I try it again to check. 3 years in? Still hate it.
Posted by: DianaWR | March 10, 2011 at 16:30
I always had an immense appreciation for Angel and at one time, owned but never really wore it because of a cousin that wore it to death! However, I recently gambled on a blind-buy of Angel extrait from an online discounter and I was really pleasantly surprised! It is far richer than the original (if that's even possible LOL!). The extrait opens immediately with a the EDP's heart notes; when the patchouli really starts to build up. The bergamot and strawberry are almost imperceptible! I tested the EDP and extrait on each wrist one day, and the extrait makes the EDP feel like it has an aquatic note! What is truly, truly surprising about the extrait, is the drydown. Oh, what can I say about the drydown. Now bear in mind I am a fan of animalic, skanky, civet-laden perfumes. My collection includes the filthiest of all perfumes; Ferme tes Yeux, Nuit Noire, Absolue Pour le Soir, L'air de Rien, etc...The drydown of Angel extrait competes with the filthiness of all these perfumes! The drydown reminds me of Mazz. Lui with it's human-like patchouli. I'm talking about the extreme drydown which arrives 4+ in. But once you get there, you never want it to leave...or you do! It depends on how twisted you are!
Posted by: scent | March 10, 2011 at 17:14
A slap in the face is right, it is not subtle!
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:37
I agree, I also really like Rose and Violette Angel versions, very nicely done.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:38
Interesting about Quelques Fleurs, but not surprising. Houbigant has been sold mostly in the US for quite some time.
I miss Chantal Thomass original too!
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:38
Madness is really striking and memorable. I am glad to see others who like it. I hardly ever see it mentioned anywhere.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:38
Oh how I love Angel so. I have tried for years (and years) to find something to replace it, but no, at the end of the day it still owns my fragrant heart. My husband is very allergic to many things, and sadly most perfumes, so my Angel extrait sits prettily on my shelf because I cant bear to part with it (or him-tee hee).
Posted by: Mare | March 10, 2011 at 19:39
I like discovering and rediscovering these fragrances. Angel is so popular and has been copied so much, one sometimes forgets what the original really smells like.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:42
Oh, Angel worn lightly is wonderful, it really does have the most appealing, most radiant aura.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:42
Yes, strong associations like that can definitely affect our perceptions.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:42
Hello Victoria! I first smelled Angel (in Australia) not long after it was released. I was pushing my baby thru' the only Sydney department store that was 'allowed' to have it, on one of what had become rather desultory perfume hunting expeditions to the big smoke...I had been ruined by Mitsouko in about 1978. I was utterly..oh oohh THUNK...blue, icy blast, all-encompassing stunningness. The experience was rather bitter-sweet, though; I suddenly thought "this is for the next generation of perfume lovers".
Then I bought it a few years later "for" my girl, age about 5, I just had to have it in the house!
It struck me recently, after finally procuring/smuggling a full BJ of Tubereuse Criminelle, that it too has the same stunning quality of stratospheric icy blast. Different aromachem, but same feeling.
Angel to me is one of the glorious perfumes that transcend the everyday.
Posted by: Winifrieda | March 10, 2011 at 19:43
It is a red square bottle, and it was launched in 2001. It is discontinued, but still widely available online. Not that I'm advocating a blind purchase though! :)
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:47
I love the sillage of Angel when it is worn lightly, it truly amazed me every single time I smell it. Unfortunately, it is generally way overapplied. I feel that this perfume is better dabbed.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:52
I love your Christmas analogy, which makes perfect sense to me. It can evoke the fir tree, hot chocolate, warm fruitcake and a hint of cognac to me. :)
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:54
Very tenacious, without doubt!
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:55
I love your comment about you protecting your collection from good taste. So true, too much good taste can get dull after a while. :)
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 19:56
The Angel tribe identification is so interesting. I got a comment from a lady, who was wearing Angel on the same day I did. "You have a great taste," she said, smiling. And how often do people make an eye contact, let alone speak to each other, on NYC subways?
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:00
I'm wearing Coromandel today, and it is far more polite and refined than Angel. Angel is really roughhewn in comparison. :)
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:01
As much I do not care for flankers, some Angel flankers have been very nicely done.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:02
Good luck with your Lent! Feel free to turn here for moral support (also following it like you.)
Somehow wearing Angel does not make me crave sweets, perhaps the opposite. So, I predict more gourmand reviews in the future. :)
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:04
Oh yes! A few months ago, I was in the supermarket in our little beachside retirement town - and - what the heck! - a woman, in her fifties and wearing leopard-skin tights and a pink blaze in her hair, came down the aisle wafting Angel. I was utterly enthralled (a), to actually smell a perfume on someone else!, and (b)that it was the Angel. It was quite unforgettable, lovely and life-affirming!
Posted by: Winifrieda | March 10, 2011 at 20:04
Angel really made me fall in love with patchouli and appreciate its fascinating and versatile character.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:05
I can definitely see what you mean. Angel is really all that.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:05
You probably will not care for Angel then. Still, I prefer Angel to Flowerbomb. Flowerbomb is quite cloying to me, whereas Angel remains dark and woody.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:06
To develop a taste for something new, one really needs time. Unfortunately, most brands simply do not want to take the risk. They want quick sellers, not classics. It is a very short-run gain mentality in our current very risk-averse climate.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:06
Then it is just not meant to be. :)
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:08
The late drydown is the part I love the most too.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:09
I'm sorry to hear about your husband's allergic reaction. Certainly, no perfume is worth this trouble.
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:10
That cool, camphorous note is so memorable. It provides such an alluring contrast with the warm, gourmand accord!
I love your story and especially your comment about it being a classic for the next generation. So true...
Posted by: Victoria | March 10, 2011 at 20:12
Oh Winifrieda, this is a wonderful image! Maybe part of the joy is just the simple boldness of the scent, the fun of recognizing something that takes some daring in our current moment of clean, clean, clean. (Plus fruit.)
Having so much fun picturing Victoria and this pink-haired woman wearing the same perfume. :-)
Posted by: sweetlife | March 10, 2011 at 20:31
Loved it from first sniff and wear it on a regular basis. I think it's one of the few, if not only, perfumes made in the last 20 years that one can easily deem a classic, if not a work of art. Same goes for the bottle. I also love the Angel Liqueur de Parfum–candy plus smoke. Brilliant.
Posted by: moi | March 10, 2011 at 23:04
Thank you for this informative post and poll! I love Angel....in small quantities. The first time I tried it the SA said "it's really strong" and so I just waved an arm through the mist. And that's the only way I can stand to wear it: it's a "walk through" fragrance for me. If I accidentally overspray I hate it. Isn't it funny that it's polarizing even to someone who loves it!?
When it comes to patchouli, Angel has taken a back seat to my new love, Coromandel. I don't have any problem drowning myself in that one.
Posted by: Suzy Q | March 11, 2011 at 00:30
Angel is an intersting story. I find embarrassing everything around it, the pathetic name, the pathetic bottle, the pathetic smell. Very memorable smell, though. Meanwhile it became somehow an old type of smell. I mean for me it smells older than Shalimar or Chanel 5. I tried it again after reading your review and this feeling stroke me.
And, embarrassing, I like and wear sometimes things inspired by Angel, like Wish or even Flowerbomb. For strange reasons men seem to be attracted by them.
Posted by: Maria | March 11, 2011 at 08:39
So true, it is by far the most influential launch of the past few decades. J'Adore by Dior also comes close.
The smoky note in Angel Liqueur de Parfum is what I love about it as well. Such an alluring touch!
Posted by: Victoria | March 11, 2011 at 08:59
I wore Coromandel yesterday, and I must have gotten 5 compliments on it, two from complete strangers. I know that I did not overspray (just one spritz on my wrist,) but its sillage is so beautiful.
Posted by: Victoria | March 11, 2011 at 09:00
No need to be embarrassed, they are good fragrances, after all!
Posted by: Victoria | March 11, 2011 at 09:01
loved it at first sniff in paris in 1993... brought it home to the u.s. and wore the heck out of it for a few years. (my mom hated it.) then i started smelling it on everyone, and it lost some of its appeal. now i'm back, with several variations - the liqueur, the rose, the peony, and one of the summer scents, as well as innocent. a young woman here at work wears angel daily, and i really like getting a whiff of it.
it's still great if it's not overapplied, i think. but it's probably love-hate. and mademoiselle steps on its toes a bit, i find. sometimes i think someone's wearing angel when they're wearing mademoiselle.
Posted by: minette | March 11, 2011 at 19:13
I smelled Rose Angel the other day on a friend, and it was just perfect, plush, warm, with a hint of raspberry-violet darkness.
Posted by: Victoria | March 12, 2011 at 11:26
I love gourmand notes but not this one anymore, maybe because so many people wear it or used to wear it. I prefer when gourmand notes are more subtile or in a more mysterious accord. However the Angel launch still is my best benchmark : almost no advertising, but a loyalty club instead, a SLOW launch, a surprising scent compared to the icy blue pack and bottle, I love everything in the mix !
Posted by: Céline Verleure | March 14, 2011 at 07:12
Céline, the launch is truly remarkable, just as you say. I also love everything about it, the surprising combination of marketing elements, the support from the brand. When something is new, people need time to get used to it. I wish Mugler pushed Womanity much further than they did. I like it, but it is not as daring as it could have been.
Posted by: Victoria | March 14, 2011 at 10:57
In the past few years I seemed to smell everywhere a perfume that simply disgusted me, so stickingly and sickly sweetish, vagously reminding me of another great hate of my girlhood- Dior's Poison. I didn't know what it could have been and didn't care much. Recently, after having read so much about it, I happened to test Angel for the first time: what a choc, it was IT!!!!!! I guess I can't bear the berries-fruit-honey combination, above all. Moreover, I like my patchouli to be drier and more herbaceous.... Please, don't tell me my beloved Borneo is an offspring of that monster!!!!
Posted by: iodine | March 14, 2011 at 15:08
Hallo!
Victoria, you have just given me the reason why I cannot wear Angel, although I like it... It's just too overpowering for my strong personality, and two strong elements might create a tsunami around them. I have smelled it on a shy friend of mine, and it was such a lovely surprise coming from her; it really gave her the boost she needs to project herself more fully!
My greetings from cloudy but always groovy London!
Posted by: Alexandra | March 15, 2011 at 08:47
Plus, for a funny reason, I like more on women with blue eyes... Strange...
Posted by: Alexandra | March 15, 2011 at 08:50
I never liked Angel. I was shopping for my mom in law. I had been buying her Opium forever, cuz she said it was her favorite - for a good 20+ years, and her husband's fave as well for her. But this time I wanted to get her something different, better, more of a personal choice from me to her. I knew she would love the name "Angel" , tho sometimes I think of her (lovingly) more as an "Alien". I could not ever give her a scent called Alien.
I could never wear Angel. I am not bombastic, don't live large, I have small hair and boobs, am less superficial, more politically correct, only married once, no plastic surgery - she is opposite, and at the same time genteel, sweet, kind, loving, and very intelligent. It suits her perfectly and is now her new favorite fragrance - a hit!! He loves it on her too!
He was an Aramis man for 50 years (?) and now loves the (original) polo I got him.
Posted by: Tracy Bloom, LMT | March 15, 2011 at 10:11
Borneo takes only the chocolate-patchouli idea though, so it does not have the same character of brash and bold.
Yes, I can completely see how Angel can be such a hate inspiring fragrance!
Posted by: Victoria | March 15, 2011 at 10:14
less superficial - HA!!!
Posted by: Tracy Bloom, LMT | March 15, 2011 at 10:14
Tracy, what a great story! :)
I also could never give my mother-in-law a perfume called Alien, even though I think that she would like it.
Posted by: Victoria | March 15, 2011 at 10:15
That's a great theory! Actually, it would be interesting to explore what fragrance we wear that give us extra-confidence. A friend of mine confessed that whenever she has to give a board room presentation, she wears Miss Dior. It adds extra steel to her spine. :)
Posted by: Victoria | March 15, 2011 at 10:46
exactly!
Posted by: Tracy Bloom, LMT | March 16, 2011 at 09:54
Angel is thus far the only perfume that has made me laugh out loud upon first sniff (Luca Turin and I have that in common, at least). A free-wheeling, devil-may-care blast of bad taste, empty calories, dirt, and raunch. I found it familiar, hilarious, and addictive all at once, and have loved it since that first 5 ml sample I ordered on a whim and then huffed like it was cocaine. There are days when it's just too much, but everyone needs a little "too much" now and again, yes? It fits my personality about as well as a cashmere sweater would fit a goat, but I couldn't care less. I emptied my refillable star about a month ago and was in no hurry to top it up, but smelling the tip of the sprayer now makes me hunger for it mightily. (Damn you, Mugler.)
Posted by: Darryl | September 08, 2011 at 22:16
Angel is #3 of my three favorite fragrances, the other two being Vent Vert and Shalimar. I really love this stuff; it is SO original. I love fragrances with intensely surprising combinations of top and bottom notes, especially if there's not a lot of distracting clutter between. This one's _tete/fond_ contrast is downright witty, and the other guests fit themselves quietly and seamlessly into the spaces in the wonderful George-and-Gracie-esque conversation. (I just lost half the readers, didn't I? Screw it, I AM old enough to remember George and Gracie. Look 'em up, kids. :)) Great stuff.
Posted by: Blue Zinnia | October 22, 2011 at 17:02
http://www.national-toxic-encephalopathy-foundation.org/angelperfume.htm
This website claims that Angel is dangerous. What truth is there to this.
Posted by: Shirl | November 04, 2011 at 10:50