No 82 Alien

Mugler's Alien is built on an unusually minimal pyramid, jasmine sambac over woody amber, and No 82 leans into exactly that structure. The jasmine sambac opening is bright and true to the original's honeyed floral character, moving into a cashmere wood heart that captures some of Alien's soft, radiant warmth. Where it falls short is the base: Alien's ambergris finish has a mineral, almost glowing quality that this version doesn't reach, settling instead into a simpler, sweeter amber-musk that fades noticeably sooner. Sillage is close-wearing rather than room-filling. Worth trying for anyone curious about Alien's unusual jasmine-amber pairing without committing to the designer price, though it won't replace the original's projection.