Valentino
Valentino
22.0k votes
Best for
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
Black currant dominates with its sharp, almost metallic tartness, immediately tempered by the jammy richness of wild berries and the oily, green-bitter snap of bergamot. It's a fruit bowl caught at peak ripeness, verging on fermentation, with enough acidity to make your mouth water. The sweetness is present but held in check, like a promise of what's to come.
Jasmine unfurls in full regalia—creamy, animalic, with that characteristic indolic funk that marks it as grandiflorum rather than sambac. The modern accord adds a transparent, almost aqueous quality, as if the petals have been caught in morning dew, whilst the berry notes fade to a gentle hum beneath the white flowers. Vanilla begins its slow creep upward, sweetening the jasmine without smothering it, cashmeran adding a pillowy, musky softness that makes the whole composition feel intimate and skin-close.
This is where bourbon vanilla claims its throne, rich and slightly boozy, with guaiac wood providing a gentle smokiness that reads almost resinous. Cashmeran's woody-musk creates a second-skin effect, warm and enveloping, whilst the faintest ghost of jasmine lingers like expensive hair mist on a coat collar. It's unmistakably sweet, but the woods and musk give it structure, preventing it from collapsing into pure dessert.
Donna Born in Roma reads like a love letter to the Italian vanilla gourmand, but one written with a steady hand and an eye for sophistication. The opening bursts with black currant's tart, almost wine-like intensity, cutting through wild berry sweetness before Italian bergamot adds its resinous, slightly bitter citrus edge. This triumvirate of fruity notes prevents the composition from tumbling into cloying territory, even as the jasmine grandiflorum arrives with its heady, indolic richness. The so-called "modern jasmine accord"—likely a cleaned-up, molecule-forward interpretation—sits alongside the traditional absolute, creating a floral heart that feels simultaneously opulent and wearable. What truly distinguishes this fragrance is the base's textural interplay: bourbon vanilla brings its boozy, slightly caramelised warmth, whilst cashmeran wraps everything in that distinctive woody-musky veil that feels like expensive cashmere against skin. Guaiac wood adds a subtle smokiness, a whisper of incense that keeps the sweetness from overwhelming. This is for the woman who wants her presence announced but not shouted, who understands that power dressing extends to scent. It's confident without being aggressive, sweet without sacrificing edge. Evening drinks in a velvet blazer. A signature scent for those who've moved beyond sampling and know exactly what suits them. The performance justifies the bottle space it occupies—this isn't a shrinking violet.
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4.1/5 (5.4k)