Sniff Test: How Does Mugler Alien Hypersense Stack Up Against The Original Alien Perfume?
While this other-worldly scent may have been made for the dynamic woman of today, does it match up to its captivating predecessor?
What makes a fragrance iconic? At Mugler, it’s a combination of architectural bottles (that look otherworldly) and a full-bodied scent that’s at once sweet, floral, fruity and woody. It also helps that its olfactory blends truly encapsulate the spirit of Mugler (read: high fashion), targeted at strong women in every sense of the word.
Danièle Lahana-Aidenbaum, president of Mugler fashion and fragrances, perfectly sums it up: “Whoever you are, whoever you want to be, Mugler’s hyper-strong silhouettes and groundbreaking fragrances allow you to sculpt your identity. Become a supercharged version of yourself. With values of self-affirmation, body empowerment, and self-staging, our brand is forever pushing disruption.”
When you wear Mugler, you feel powerful, almost invincible. The latest Alien Hypersense fragrance is no different. A fiercely floral scent, Hypersense is developed by Dominique Ropion, the same master perfumer who created the first Alien in 2005. “Dominique made sure that Hypersense is for the modern times but you can definitely feel it’s still from the same family,” remarks Danièle.
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Unlike the original, which is more woody-floral, Hypersense is lighter, fresher, made for the woman of today. It kicks off fresh and fruity with top notes of mandarin and pear and dries into a white bouquet, headlined by sustainably-sourced jasmine sambac absolute. Once it hits the base, you’ll recognise that same cashmere-like amber-woody sensuality felt in the original Alien. What the ELLE team love is it’s lasting power—perfect for a night on the dance floor.
The new bottle, a prism-like talisman, is equally bold and otherworldly. Lacquered in a captivating halo of deep red, purple, and scarlet orange, it echoes the ombré effects reminiscent of Mugler’s spring/summer 2024 collection.
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Fronting the perfume’s hyper-vivid campaign is runway model and Mugler’s new muse, Anok Yai. “Growing up people used to always say I looked like an Alien,” muses the British-based Sudanese model. Incidentally, Anok opened Mugler’s fall/winter 2023-2024 show, signalling the brand’s return to live shows, and closed the spring/summer 2024 show last autumn.
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To mark the momentous occasion, Mugler hosted a dance party at Singapore’s ArtScience Museum on 3 July 2024, bathed in a neon blue glow à la Blade Runner. Invited guests from region arrived in sexy black numbers that would fit right into a cyberpunk universe. They mixed and mingled over cocktails and canapés, got their digits decorated at a nail station, and unleashed their inner sirens at elaborate photo stations, striking their best poses with iconic Mugler fragrances like Angel, A*Men, and the newly-launched Alien Hypersense.
Attendees also enjoyed performances by street dance troupe Equipo; regional DJs Levi Oi from Vietnam, Notep from Thailand, and Jo Vynn from Malaysia; and local rapper-songwriters Yung Raja and Alyph. Joining the festivities were notable personalities from Southeast Asia, including Mae Tan, David Eung Hao, Haven, Alexander Diaz, Chalita Suansane, and Jach Manere.
This story was first seen on Elle.Sg.
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