MUGLER
ANGEL STELLAR
2025
bergamot
pistachio
vanilla
‘The new luminous Eau de Parfum transfigures gourmandise into dazzling and ultra-glamourous feminity. yummy, creamy, mouthwatering pistachio accord collides with sparks of dazzling bergamot and captivating woods to create a luminous galactic delight. the most glamourous angel ever, captured in a vibrant new cobal blue star. supercharge the glam in you.’ – Mugler
As someone who hasn’t really gotten along with most Mugler or Angel fragrances (I think Womanity stands as my favorite from the brand), this is a more than solid release. I heard a lot of good things and hype surrounding Angel Stellar and I’m inclined to agree for the most part; viewing it as the mainstream, designer release that it is, for sure. For my taste, this is a big step up from prior Angels and one of the better gourmand-leaning launches of this stature in a while.
According to Mugler this is bright, tangy, zesty & sparkling in the (bergamot) top notes. In my experience, it’s just a tiny hint of some brightness up top that smells of nothing specific and I don’t get anything sparkling or tangy. Nothing that lasts or makes a serious impact on the overall experience (there is a lingering hint of something fresh & green throughout, but more woody and nutty, than fruity or citrus). I would definitely pitch Angel Stellar as a sweet/gourmand woody fragrance.
If you’re expecting a full-on gourmand, you may want to avert your expectations sligthly. It is sweet; very sweet. And nutty in the first hour. Yet, texturally, it doesn’t wear like a desert in my book; it’s not creamy all that much, it’s not smooth. Instead, it’s actually pretty harsh woody, but not in a bad way. It has a roasted quality to it, with some earthiness (patchouli was named in the marketing, but not listed as a note upon its launch); I’d go as far as saying that it borders on the rough and dark side for this type of release. For me, it lands less towards most pistachio fragrances, and more towards some coffee fragrances that have a similar feeling (for example Kilian Intoxicated & Mugler’s own A*Men). I’d prefer Angel Stellar, which I think has a less and less artificial fresh side to it.
When that opening has passed, all I smell is a dry, earthy wood with tinges of dark chocolate or bitter, roasted coffee, perhaps more than nuts. As almost all fragrances, growing more vanilla over time, pulling it back into more familiar territory for this line, like Angel Fantasm. At that stage, I feel like it becomes more lactonic and smooth than in the opening (the roasted aspect fades out completely); it’s not my favorite part of the wear, but it doesn’t become too cloying, nor does it feels like a cheap, condensed milk For the most part, it’s one of the few sweet designers (especially women’s marketed) that doesn’t have a dominant distinct ‘Sephora-isle’ essence to it, which is a massive plus for my taste.
Personally, I’m somewhat (but pleasantly) surprised that this is an Angel. On one hand, you get a hint of ‘perfume-y’ women’s line essence and in the late drydown it smells familiar too. Yet, I think most of what this Stellar flanker introduces to this DNA, leans more traditionally masculine and I’d be more likely to recommend this to other men, than to women if I’m unaware of their taste. Overall, I’d say it’s about as unisex as these releases come.
Is Angel Stellar a must-buy? Not per se. I’m not sure if I prefer it over numerous other nutty woody fragrances, some in the same price range: Teo Cabanel Cafe Cabanel & Oh La La, or a Versatile Croissant Cafe come to mind. But I’d consider it a must-try, especially given that Mugler is more accessible for a lot of people.
Among the best designer releases in recent memory.