A Travers Le Miroir (2008)
by Thierry Mugler

Top notes open with a tuberose and absinthe mix, I believe. The top notes fade into a wood mixture, although I think I can get some soapy note or something. Base notes are rather uneventful to me, it’s almost just like a slow fading of the middle notes. Sirslarty says possible mention of nutmeg, and I think I get this as well after reading his review.

Very fascinating mix. There’s something about the mix that’s rather brilliant, something about the very idea that’s exquisite. If fragrances can be labeled into classes, this is a definite high class fragrance. Personally, for whatever reason, smelling ATLM conjures in my mind a 1930’s era well-to-do woman wearing this. That’s the thing about ATLM - it conjures up images and pictures for me, it doesn’t merely stimulate the olfactory sense. It stimulates the mind. It is in your face. Like it or not, ATLM is bold and doesn’t care what you think about it. It is chesty (not big-breasted) - I mean it’s cocky; it’s quite sure of itself.

It’s not the fragrance itself that makes me want to give ATLM a thumbs-up, it’s the total package. It’s how it effects me. Initially, I was not crazy about the tuberose and absinthe mix. I’m coming around - and my rating this a thumbs-up does not reflect just the scent. It’s the total package. This is the first fragrance (other than something that reminds me of when I first tried something) that has really pricked my mind. After trying Aillerus et Fleurs, I was not sure that anything mixed with tuberose could be a unisex scent that I would like. I found tuberose just to be too feminine for my personal taste. But if part of the idea of ATLM was making a unisex tuberose fragrance, then I think it succeeded as well as one can. Again, it’s not that I love the tuberose/absinthe mix, I don’t quite know what to think at this point. It is interesting to say the least. It’s almost as if the two notes are fighting one another. But I am definitely warming up to it and have a feeling by the end of the sample, I will like it more with each wear.

Too bad this is not to be found other than in samples now (at least I can't find it).

9th January, 2012.

Through the looking-glass...... I find it quite fitting a name for this one. Have always found it very intoxicating, in the sense of: 1. The feeling of a beautiful young woman with all the beautiful things you'd imagine her having.... 2. From time to time when wearing this, having to just simply and only, enjoy the fragrance, and relaxing my body parts so that the scent takes over and all the things it springs to mind (Drugs is one thing this reminds me of.....erm).
Got a bit sad when my mother told me it smelled like strawberries......and yeah the similarities are striking if you actually think about it. But some strange strawberries then. Guess it's easy to draw such associations to perfume.

Anyway this is very feminine as I said, but pretty unique (and don't worry 'bout what I said about strawberries really...unless you're worried about the strangeness), and yes has some kind of woodiness...and sharpness (tuberose-ish like jtd explained it very well). So it's extremely unisex, or should I say on the traditional male/female-what-to-wear-scale this can fit anywhere, unlike a lot of niche unisex floral fragrances I've come accross.

It doesn't last long though, but it does really help to re-apply after 15-20 minutes.........and be liberal with the spraying, & wear in the summer heat. Projection/sillage is pretty good.

29th May, 2011.

Through the looking glass you find a distorted, exaggerated world. In the case of A Travers le Miroir, it’s tuberose that’s distorted. Instead of a large dose of flower with gorgeous/vile undertones like the flower itself, ATlM smells by turns like liniment, absinthe and herbal toothpaste with a bit of tuberose and jasmine. Interestingly, given the decision to highlight the underbelly of the tuberose, there’s none of the fleshy, sweaty component of the flower. The herbal predilection gives a cool antiseptic feel. It also gives ATlM the dry feel of a tonic or a digestif.

ATlM is a great spin on the tuberose and doesn’t smell anything like most tuberose perfumes. Big balm, little flower. Sillage is moderate after a swirling opening, but the fragrance has endurance if you like it, tenacity if you don’t. Its changes are gradual but appealing. The floralcy fades to a hum. The herbs remain bitter all the way through to a largely woody base, giving a blunt resinous quality.

If ATlM were less attractive, I’d call it odd. But it’s quite handsome, so I’ll call it distinctive.

26th February, 2011. (Last Edited: 3rd March, 2011.)

This is beautiful ,really quite wonderful. It's a lush yet green tuberose that cuts through thanks to absinthe and wintergreen .It's opulent yet fresh and aromatic ,with a slight compelling medicinal edge that is quite addictive and very sniffable. Not at all like Carnal Flower- this has it's own beauty - it's less warm ,slighlty metallic ,less sweet. Very good.
Thanks to Suga for this lovely sample! :)

4th October, 2010.

A woody floral of mostly tuberose with a touch of bergamot on the top. There seems to be an intermittent herbaceous cinnamon or nutmeg note that wafts in and out, making it a delightful experience. This is a beautifully made perfume.

24th September, 2008.

The only scent from this series that spoke to me. It opens with a tart, citrusy floral tuberose note...similar to Tubereuse Criminelle's tuberose (after the camphor wears off), as opposed to Carnal Flower's creamy tuberose. Once the initial tang wears off, a light wood note comes into play, almost reminiscent of pencil shavings. The scent remains this way for the rest of its rather short-lived life. A beautiful, unisex fragrance....too bad the lasting power isn't stronger, and the price isn'tlower ($150CDN/50ml). Still worth it though!

15th April, 2008.