Valentino, from Roman couture to perfume
The house began with the atelier on Via dei Condotti in Rome, and shortly afterward Giancarlo Giammetti became a partner, handling the business while Garavani took care of the creative side. Today the fragrances are developed under license by L'Oréal, which Valentino has worked with since 2018. The first launch under this agreement was Born in Roma, introduced in 2019 in a women's and a men's version. The women's version is signed by perfumers Amandine Marie and Honorine Blanc; the men's is by Antoine Maisondieu and Guillaume Flavigny.
Born in Roma: the line and its versions
Born in Roma for her
Born in Roma Donna is the line's original eau de parfum, built on jasmine and bourbon vanilla. In Born in Roma Donna Intense the same notes become warmer, with bourbon vanilla in the opening and a trio of jasmines at the heart. Born in Roma Donna Extradose is an amber floral with an extra dose of vanilla and boozy notes.
Born in Roma for him
The original men's version was built on vetiver, salt, violet leaves and ginger. Born in Roma Uomo Extradose starts precisely from vetiver and increases the dose: it's a woody amber eau de parfum, enriched with spicy notes. Then there's Born in Roma Purple Melancholia Uomo, which opens with a woody, amber, aromatic accord of cardamom and coconut.
The color editions
Green Stravaganza comes in a women's and a men's version, two eaux de toilette whose lightness the house highlights, and the men's has a citrus opening. Coral Fantasy offers an eau de parfum for her alongside an eau de toilette for him, which the house describes as a light composition with a lively opening. Finally, Yellow Dream is a women's eau de parfum.
Valentino perfumes beyond Born in Roma
Valentina is an oriental floral that plays on Italian ingredients: Calabrian bergamot, white truffle from Alba and orange blossom from Amalfi. Donna is a women's eau de parfum outside the Born in Roma line; Voce Viva also comes as Voce Viva Intensa, both eaux de parfum. For him there's Uomo Intense, in eau de parfum.
Vendetta is a pair of eaux de parfum, one for her and one for him. The women's version, Vendetta Donna, is a woody gourmand floral with tuberose and a red-orange nectar accord, while Vendetta Uomo pairs ginger with spicy, boozy and woody notes.
Body and hair
The Born in Roma hair and body mist is a spray with the Born in Roma Donna fragrance and argan oil, which according to the house leaves hair and body more nourished and radiant. With the same scent there's also the Body Shimmer, a moisturizing body gel. Its formula, which the house calls Roma-Light Complex, contains micronized pearls that reflect light and leave a luminous effect on the skin.
Frequently asked questions
Who founded Valentino?
Valentino was founded in Rome in 1960 by Valentino Garavani, who opened his atelier on Via dei Condotti. Shortly afterward Giancarlo Giammetti became a partner, handling the business side while Garavani led the creative side of the house.
What is Valentino's Born in Roma line?
Born in Roma is the Valentino fragrance line introduced in 2019 in women's and men's versions, and it was the first launch under the L'Oréal license. Today the collection includes Born in Roma Donna, the Intense and Extradose versions, the Green Stravaganza, Coral Fantasy, Yellow Dream and Purple Melancholia editions, plus a hair mist and body gel.
What's the difference between Born in Roma Donna, Intense and Extradose?
Born in Roma Donna is the original version, with jasmine and bourbon vanilla. The Intense version is warmer, with bourbon vanilla in the opening and a trio of jasmines at the heart. Extradose is an amber floral with an extra dose of vanilla and boozy notes. All three are eaux de parfum.
Which Valentino men's cologne should I choose?
For a Valentino men's fragrance you can choose between Born in Roma Uomo Extradose, a woody amber with vetiver and spices, and Vendetta Uomo, which pairs ginger with boozy notes. Purple Melancholia Uomo plays on cardamom and coconut, for a woody, amber and aromatic accord.
What kind of perfume is Valentina by Valentino?
Valentina is an oriental floral eau de parfum made with Italian ingredients such as Calabrian bergamot, white truffle from Alba and orange blossom from Amalfi. It isn't part of the Born in Roma line, and the house describes the woman who wears it as radiant, modern, unconventional and sophisticated.
What's the difference between Vendetta Donna and Vendetta Uomo?
Vendetta Donna is a woody gourmand floral eau de parfum, with tuberose and a red-orange nectar accord. Vendetta Uomo, on the other hand, is a spicy woody scent that pairs the freshness of ginger with spicy, boozy and woody notes. Both are eaux de parfum, and the house presents them as the fragrance of an unstoppable passion.
Does Valentino make scented hair and body products?
Yes, the Born in Roma line includes a scented hair and body mist, with argan oil and the Born in Roma Donna fragrance. Alongside the mist there's the Body Shimmer, a body gel with micronized pearls that make the skin look more luminous.
Which Born in Roma scents are eau de toilette and which are eau de parfum?
In the Born in Roma line, the eaux de toilette are Green Stravaganza, for her and for him, and Coral Fantasy Uomo, while Donna, Intense, Extradose, Yellow Dream and Coral Fantasy for her are eaux de parfum. So are Uomo Extradose and Purple Melancholia Uomo, and the house presents the Extradose versions as the line's highest olfactory concentration.
