1978 marked a turning point for luxury fashion house Valentino. At the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, then co-founders Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti invited guests to a performance by Rolland Petit’s ballet, where they unveiled the brand’s first foray into fragrance: the Valentino di Valentino. Fast forward to today, and the brand has launched dozens of iconic scents and cemented itself as a fragrance—and beauty—power player.
Though we’re hardly short of the best luxury fragrances (Marc Jacobs and Tom Ford are some of my favorites), Valentino's scents are distinctive. They evoke the same glamorous aura from the clothes and haute couture pieces that precede them while offering perfume lovers a unique and edgier take on classic floral scents. You spritz these on when you want to strike that perfect balance of chic yet effortlessly cool.
“Valentino fragrances stand out because [of their] irreverence,” Guillame Flavigny, Givaudan perfumer and co-creator of the Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Intense, tells Marie Claire. “They’re a mix of the classicism of Roma and modernity, [and] they are aristo punk.”
It’s always hard to narrow down and pick one scent to settle with when you have so many options (ah, the paradox of choice). But fear not: I’ve done the hard part for you. Below are the eight best Valentino fragrances I’ve tested and loved. Scroll through to see which speaks to you (and your wallet).
Best Valentino Fragrances
- Best Valentino Fragrance Overall: Donna Born in Roma Eau de Parfum
- Best New Valentino Fragrance Launch: Donna Born in Roma Green Stravaganza Eau de Parfum
- Best Valentino Fragrance Gourmand Scent: Voce Viva Eau de Parfum
It’s hard to top the OG. We were introduced to the first Donna Born in Roma circa 2019—and soon Valentino had an instant hit. But it didn’t make a splash with wild notes or a strong attack of your senses. Donna Born in Roma took classic notes of jasmine, vanilla bourbon, and pink pepper to create a sweet floral that lingers softly on your skin. Like your trusted ride-or-die, this scent will stick by you (the lasting power is pretty impressive). Expect all the compliments when you spritz this on for the day.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Blackcurrant, jasmine grandiflorum, bourbon vanilla
Size: 3.4 oz.
What We Love: Strong lasting power and not overwhelmingly sweet
What We Don’t: It’s not the most unique scent, and you can easily find a dupe for a fraction of the cost
The OG Donna Born in Roma is a lovely sweet floral that's not too overwhelming.
Fitting with Valentino’s newest beauty ambassador Charli XCX, Green Extravaganza is exactly what I’d envision "brat" to smell like. It teases you playfully with tart tea notes but settles in with a sweet fruity dry down thanks to the vanilla and jasmine. If I were to resurrect my inner club rat, I’d spray this for my four in the morning adventures at my old haunts.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Tea accord, jasmine, vanilla
Size: 3.4 oz.
What We Love: It’s a fresh fruity scent that will appease most
What We Don’t: It doesn’t last as long as we’d like
If Brat was a fragrance, it would be this sweet and bright scent.
Voce Vita is the grown up, sophisticated version of the sweet candy Y2K fragrances that raised me. It’s a lovely floral that opens up with a mix of bergamot and orange blossom. A warm vanilla note rises to the surface with time, providing a cozy energy. The green notes of the crystal moss round it out for a more elevated touch. And the best part? Its lasting power is unmatched compared to the rest, which bodes well if smelling like a sweet flower all day is your vibe.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Italian bergamot, orange blossom absolute, crystal moss accord, vanilla
Size: 3.4 oz.
What We Love: It’s a balanced mix of vanilla and floral notes that has long-lasting power
What We Don’t: It may be overpowering for those who don’t normally gravitate towards sweet scents and it smells similar to other known gourmands in the market
Voce Viva Eau De Parfum is a grown up gourmand.
Other Valentino Fragrances We Love
Crowned Fragrance of the Year at the 2024 Fragrance Foundation Awards, this is the ideal vanilla scent. It has jasmine and benzoin notes to nicely balance out the gourmand’s sweetness, along with amber to add a soothing warmth. “[It] is intense and pushes the facets of creaminess and a fluffy sensuality to another level,” Honorine Blanc, dsm-firmenich perfumer and Donna Born in Roma Intense co-creator, tells Marie Claire. “[It’s] a very unique and beloved combination of femininity, sensuality with a playful attitude.” Aptly named, it is more profound and a bit darker than the original iteration, which is perfect for when I want to give off “enigmatic cool girl who spends her night gallery hopping vibes.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Bourbon vanilla, amber, jasmine, benzoin
Size: 3.4 oz.
What We Love: It’s a vanilla scent that isn’t too overpowering
What We Don’t: It doesn’t last as long as we’d like it to
I consider this Born in Roma’s more energetic little sister. At first spritz, Yellow Dream welcomes you with bright notes of lemon before settling in with the creaminess of fresh musk and rose. It’s fun and light, and I’d pick it up for a much-needed pick-me-up after a long day of work or travel.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Italian lemon, fresh musk, rose essence
Size: 3.4 oz.
What We Love: It’s a unique, bright take on the OG Born in Roma scent
What We Don’t: It’s pretty light and fades faster than others on this list
While it launched as a men’s fragrance in 2023, Uomo Intense has become a favorite for all beauty lovers, critics (it is the current Fragrance Foundation Award winner for Consumer’s Choice ICYWW), and just about anyone who falls under its mesmerizing aroma. You get a classic, warm gourmand in the vanilla base, but the vetiver and lavender liven it up. The latter makes it sparkle unexpectedly. “It’s a lot of freshness, very salty, very woody. It works together very well,” Antoine Maisondieu, Givaudan perfumer and co-creator of Uomo Intense, tells Marie Claire. “It’s that contrast that is part of its success.”
Fragrance Family: Spicy
Key Notes: Vanilla, lavandin, vetiver
Size: 3.4 oz.
What We Love: It reinvents vanilla in a cool and sexy way
What We Don’t: It’s pretty heavy and—pun intended—intense
Have you ever smelled something so good you wish you could drink it? Coral Fantasy is refreshingly delicious thanks to kiwi, Brazilian orange, and white musk. You get the sweetest mixture of fruity scents; I liken it to my favorite juice I crave while tanning by the beach. But it isn’t overwhelming for those who tend to gravitate towards sweeter-smelling scents, and it lasts pretty much all day. While I don't have freshly squeezed juice on hand, I’ll settle for spritzing this all over on my next tropical getaway.
Fragrance Family: Floral
Key Notes: Orange, jasmine, rose
Size: 3.4 oz.
What We Love: Strong staying power
What We Don’t: It’s potent and may turn off some not looking to smell super sweet
I’m not normally a big fan of earth scents. (As a known nature-averse person, they often smell too much like nature), but this makes a strong case to change my mind. Thanks to the coffee that’s mixed in with the classic green notes of bergamot and vetiver, you get a brightness and tinge of sweetness to even out those woody and earthy tones. If hiking could smell like this, I’d actually partake in it.
Fragrance Family: Woody
Key Notes: Bergamot, coffee, vetiver
Size: 3.4 oz.
What We Love: It’s a bright woody scent that smells lovely on
What We Don’t: Doesn’t last as long as the others
What to Look for in a Valentino Fragrance?
Valentino has launched many fragrances over the decades, but there are currently three main collections: Born in Roma, Voce Viva, and Anatomy of Dreams. Born in Roma may be its most well-known, with its distinct studded bottle design and warm floral profiles, and it’s the perfect fragrance for those who love sweet scents. “Born in Roma is intense and pushes the faces of creaminess and fluffy sensuality to another level,” says Blanc. “It brought a new elevated texture using unique ingredients to the luxury market.”
Can you Layer a Valentino Fragrance?
While you can technically layer whatever fragrance you want, Flavigny says that layering the different Born in Romas will bring out different facets of each for an enjoyable scent experience.
For example, he says the Born in Roma Uoma can bring some freshness to the Born in Roma Intense. If you want to add some sensuality to the original Born in Roma, he recommends layering the Intense over it.
Meet the Experts
Guillaume Flavigny is a renowned perfumer who has made significant contributions to the fragrance industry. He was born in France and grew up with a keen interest in chemistry. After completing his undergraduate studies in chemistry, he pursued his passion for perfumery and enrolled at ISIPCA, a renowned school for perfumers.
After completing his studies at ISIPCA, Flavigny was accepted into the prestigious Givaudan School of Perfumery, where he further honed his skills and knowledge of the art of perfumery. His dedication and hard work paid off when he was awarded the Prix International du Jeune Parfumeur Createur in 2002, recognizing his outstanding achievements in the field of perfumery.
Honorine Blanc, a master perfumer at Firmenich, is known for her ability to create fragrances that are both imperfect and addictive, filled with new ideas, tensions, and emotions. For Honorine, creating perfumes is not just a job, but a way to express herself and her artistic vision.
Antoine Maisondieu is a Senior Perfumer at Givaudan, one of the world's leading fragrance and flavor companies. Antoine was educated at the perfumery school at Roure and has been with Givaudan for many years, earning a reputation as one of the industry's most talented and innovative perfumers.
Throughout his career, Antoine has worked with some of the world's most renowned brands, including Giorgio Armani, Tom Ford, Prada, and Burberry. He has created fragrances for both men and women, earning him a broad following among consumers and fragrance enthusiasts alike.
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