You’ve seen the bottle. It’s minimalist, heavy, and suddenly all over your feed. But honestly, buying a fragrance based on a TikTok trend is usually a recipe for a $200 mistake that sits on your dresser gathering dust. With Encore Une Fois perfume, the story is a bit different. It isn’t just another "clean girl" scent designed to disappear after twenty minutes. It’s a polarizing, lactonic powerhouse that people either obsess over or find deeply confusing.
Let's get real. Most modern fragrances are boring. They smell like generic laundry detergent or a sugar factory. This one? It smells like a memory you can't quite place.
What is Encore Une Fois actually supposed to be?
Created by the niche house Infiniment Coty Paris, this fragrance is part of a collection that marks a massive pivot for one of the oldest names in the beauty industry. Coty, the behemoth behind everything from CoverGirl to Gucci scents, decided to go "prestige" with this line. Encore Une Fois perfume is the standout. They used something they call "Molecular Aura" technology, which sounds like marketing fluff, but it basically means they’ve engineered the scent to release notes over a much longer period than a traditional EDP.
The nose behind it didn't just want a scent. They wanted a loop. "Encore Une Fois" translates to "Once More," and that’s exactly how it wears. It circles back. You think the scent is gone, then you move your arm and a wave of creamy vanilla hits you again.
It is categorized as an amber woody fragrance. If you hate sandalwood, stop reading now. Seriously. If you’re still here, you should know that this isn't that harsh, pencil-shaving sandalwood you find in cheap candles. It’s smooth. It’s almost buttery.
The scent profile: Not your average vanilla
Fragrance notes are often a lie. Brands list "Himalayan Sea Salt" or "Rare Orchid," but usually, it's just a mix of synthetic aromachemicals. Encore Une Fois perfume stays relatively honest with its structure.
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- The Opening: You get a hit of balsamic warmth. It’s slightly spicy but not "kitchen cupboard" spicy. It’s more of a resinous glow.
- The Heart: This is where the Peru Balsam kicks in. It provides a rich, slightly smoky sweetness that prevents the fragrance from becoming a cupcake scent.
- The Base: The dry down is almost entirely Planifolia Vanilla and sandalwood.
What makes it weird—in a good way—is the lactonic quality. It smells "milky." Not spoiled milk, obviously, but like a warm latte or skin after a long day in the sun. Some reviewers on sites like Fragrantica have compared the texture of the scent to silk or cashmere. It’s a physical sensation as much as a smell.
The complexity comes from the source of the vanilla. They aren't using vanillin (the stuff in cookies). They are using a Madagascar-sourced extract that retains a bit of earthiness. It’s sophisticated. It’s what an adult wears when they want to smell sweet but still be taken seriously in a boardroom.
Does it actually last?
Longevity is the biggest gripe in the fragrance community right now. Brands are charging more for scents that last three hours. Encore Une Fois perfume is an exception, though there’s a catch. Because of the molecular structure, you might go "anosmic" to it. This means your brain stops registering the smell because it's so consistent.
Your friends will still smell you. Trust me.
On fabric, this stuff is eternal. If you spray it on a wool coat, that coat belongs to Encore Une Fois now. You’ll be smelling it three weeks later when you pull that coat out of the closet. On skin, most users report a solid 8 to 10 hours. That puts it in the top tier of performance for a non-oud fragrance.
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How to tell if you’ll hate it
I’m not here to sell you a bottle. I’m here to tell you if it’s for you.
You will probably hate Encore Une Fois perfume if you like "freshie" scents. If your favorite perfume is Light Blue or something that smells like a citrus grove, this will feel heavy and suffocating to you. It’s thick. It occupies the air around you.
Also, the price. It’s expensive. You’re paying for the Coty heritage and the high-tech extraction methods. If you are looking for a bargain, this isn't it. But if you want a "signature scent" that doesn't smell like the perfume counter at a suburban mall, it’s a strong contender.
Sustainability and the "Refill" Culture
We have to talk about the bottle. It’s designed to be kept. In an era where we throw away so much glass, Infiniment Coty made these bottles infinitely refillable. It’s a heavy, stackable design that looks like a piece of art.
The brand has made a big deal about using "upcycled" alcohol and responsibly sourced ingredients. Is it 100% "green"? No perfume really is. But they are making a visible effort to reduce the carbon footprint of the luxury sector. The vanilla, specifically, is part of a program that supports local farmers in Madagascar, ensuring they get a fair price and use sustainable harvesting techniques.
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The verdict on the hype
Is Encore Une Fois perfume worth the $200+ price tag?
If you love creamy, woody ambers, yes. It is one of the most well-blended releases of the last few years. It avoids the cloying, synthetic traps that many niche brands fall into. It feels expensive because the ingredients have room to breathe.
It’s a "mood" perfume. It’s for rainy days, oversized sweaters, and late-night dinners in dimly lit restaurants. It’s cozy but remarkably sexy.
Actionable steps for your fragrance journey
Don't blind buy this. Please. Even if the notes sound perfect, scent chemistry is weird.
- Order a 2ml decant first. Use services like ScentSplit or Luckyscent to try it for a week.
- Test on skin, not paper. The lactonic notes in this fragrance need body heat to develop. On a paper tester strip, it can smell flat or overly medicinal.
- Check the batch. Since these are high-concentration formulas, slight variations can happen. If you buy a bottle, keep it in a cool, dark place. Light and heat are the enemies of vanilla-heavy perfumes.
- Layering hack: If you find it too heavy, try layering it with a simple molecule scent like Iso E Super or a light musk. It "opens up" the sandalwood and makes it airier for daytime wear.
The world of niche fragrance is crowded, but every so often, a scent comes along that actually justifies the chatter. This is one of them. It’s a masterclass in how to do vanilla without being childish, and how to do sandalwood without being boring. Keep your expectations grounded, test it on your skin, and see if it loops for you too.