It is quite bizarre the name Twice, isn't it? The best definition I found conveys "TWICE evokes an ideal world, full of desires and passions, where our dreams become reality. We live TWICE." Hence, Twice represent the ideal and real life, two facets of the same medal, the body and the soul, the yin and the yang, the masculine and the feminine. In a way, the opening reminds me of TL pour Lui Eau de Toilette. I recognize the same mentholated, balsamic, excessively soapy accords on top of an earthy base of patchouli. By this, I don't mean to imply that perfumes are identical, but that they have similar, very similar good vibrations.
Twice Pour Homme is an interesting fougère with a bold aromatic twist and a slightly classic touch, rather squat and manly, which opens wide with the solid and bright acidic notes of lemon, in abundance, along with something hidden inside that oozes and exudes slowly. Will reveal it soon after. Sour citrus quickly mixes with the surprising bitterness of marigold blossoms with a balsamic and fresh undertone of peppery mint leaves. There is a hint of natural dust for a while, and it almost reminds me of chamomile, but then the real powder creeps in. The exotic yuzu is never as sharp and strong as in Yuzu Man, L'Eau d'Issey pour Homme Eau de Toilette or Light Him Eau de Toilette; perhaps the rest of the blend is too strong and suffocates it, putting it in the background. I mainly get a bitter-sour, green and fresh spicy accord early on, lemon with a hint of mint. It's like squeezing fresh lemon juice onto chopped green herb leaves.
The heart has lovely soothing herbs that go well with dense flowers. The fresh, spicy herbs of tarragon and thyme share the scene with the dark, aromatic lavender. The blue-violet flower aroma is reminiscent of the dry thin spikes we store in the drawers. After a while, submissive jasmine hovers above the geranium-infused flowers. It is very light but adds just a hint of mystery to the already wonderfully warmed heart. Twice pour Homme continues its journey, grows, and radiates more and more. It is dense and rich and profound, and savoury. As a fragrance of the '90, I would not exclude the presence of carnation, which I seem to smell, and was so popular in that decade. The combination of indole jasmine and bitter thyme gives rise to the same elusive sensation that characterizes TL pour Lui Eau de Toilette. The middle stage turns out spicy and floral.
The warm base notes include a hint of lime to keep the freshness of this blend alive. This perfume is more than outstanding. It actually has a dark side to it that I like. It's dreamy and quite voluminous, yet incredibly comforting while still being quite grand. Although not mentioned here, there is something very powdery about the last trail, perhaps vanilla, coumarin, or amber, or it's just the creamy white mists of sandalwood. Musky, herbaceous, dusty, and earthy are the last traces left on my skin. White musk, dry vetiver, and dirty patchouli are so well blended that I get a wonderful musky, woody, and manly scent instead of their dominant note. And the dustiness takes the place of the initial acid soapiness.
In conclusion, Twice pour Homme is a semi-powdery, lemony and aromatic cologne, refreshing with a luxurious feel. Although I prefer to wear Twice pour Homme during the mid-seasons, in the cold winter months, the floral aspect is much more intense, together with the dense notes of amber and patchouli. I am wearing it even now in the cruel summer of 2022, and it also works well; I get loads of compliments. It differs from typical modern colonies, and I don't find it outdated, just vintage with an old-school vibe. It has excellent sillage; other people can smell the trail and moderate longevity. Half a day, I would say, on my skin, then it turns into a skin scent. That's it for the vintage bottle. Now I can't help but buy and compare this beauty with the recent reformulation.
I base the review on a 125ml bottle I have owned since August 2017.
