What Does the Perfect Date-Night Scent Smell Like? Valentino Beauty Has Your Answer
It would be rare to find a fragrance lover who has yet to experience Valentino’s Born in Roma collection—and for good reason. They’re some of the fashion house’s most successful and well-known scents, not to mention their easily recognizable studded bottles.
Donna, the OG feminine eau de parfum, is lauded for its warm floral notes of sambac jasmine, cashmeran, and vanilla. Meanwhile, Uomo, the classic masculine version, can be described as woody and fresh, with a touch of florals—unexpected, yet addicting, boasting key notes of violet leaf, sage, and vetiver.
Now, Valentino is ready to introduce Born in Roma’s bold new chapter: Extradose, a high-impact twist on the original fragrances. ELLE.com spoke exclusively with Honorine Blanc and Amandine Clerc-Marie, the original perfumers for Born in Roma Donna—and now Extradose—along with Guillaume Flavigny, the nose behind Uomo Extradose. Ahead, the perfumers share everything you need to know about Valentino Beauty’s latest perfume launches, along with our honest reviews.
Valentino Donna Born in Roma Extradose
Valentino Born in Roma Donna Extradose Parfum
Key Notes: Cassis accord, rhum accord, extra dose of Madagascar vanilla.
Scent Story: “For this new Born in Roma story, we were inspired by a most stunning encounter in the heart of the eternal city, [Rome],” Blanc shares with ELLE.com, alluding to the sultry, feminine notes. Behind the fuchsia-studded vial, this unforgettable evening conveys the sensuality, confidence, and ultra-seductive lure central to Valentino’s olfactory creations.
Donna Born in Roma Extradose is striking yet soft, intentionally hot but demure.“The fragrance's luminous jasmine and vanilla notes are more extravagant than ever, blending deliciously with licorice notes,” Clerc-Marie adds. That said, expect to have heads turning—with everyone wanting an extra dose of you.
Our Take: The fragrance opens up with the brightness of cassis accord, a vibrant and juicy note. As the scent settles on the skin, the rhum accord blossoms, adding smoothness and sophistication, while the extra dose of Madagascar vanilla adds warmth and a touch of gourmand. Donna Born in Roma Extradose is the kind of scent you wear if you love a long-lasting and audacious fragrance that will have all eyes—and noses—on you the moment you step into the room. It’s perfect for a solo or coupled date night—or any time you want to indulge in your feminine energy.
Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Extradose
Valentino Born in Roma Uomo Extradose Eau De Parfum
Key Notes: Extra dose of vetiver, lavadin, spice blend
Scent Story: Uomo Born In Roma Extradose is a refined masculine scent that’s truly seductive and keeps you wanting more. It’s spicy, clean, and earthy all in one—a welcomed form of intensity. “To create Born in Roma Uomo Extradose, I wanted to push the boundaries of the olfactory experience even further,” Flavigny shares. What’s the easiest way to reel someone in with a scent? Spices, of course. “From the very first notes, the spices bring a bold and sophisticated facet, capturing attention right from the start.”
To anchor the spices, Flavigny added a touch of woodiness and sweetness, creating a boldness that leaves an intoxicating trail in its wake. “This fragrance is a true tribute to raw materials, highlighting woody vetiver notes and ambery accord,” Flavigny continues. “By intensifying these key ingredients, I reimagined the olfactory pyramid, expanding the heart and base to offer a more concentrated, richer, and deeply textured version,” he adds. Uomo Extradose underwent several meticulous reformulations, with a focus on “the wood and amber facets, carried by vanilla, [which] become more mysterious, warmer, and intensely textured.”
Our Take: Opening with an extra dose of earthy vetiver, expect to deem this scent addicting immediately upon the first spritz. After a few moments, the fresh aroma of lavandin adds levity, while the spice blend imparts bold sophistication. The fragrance can be worn at any time that feels right, but the warm and authoritative notes lend well to the allure of nighttime. It’s powerful, long-lasting, and smells expensive—pretty much everything you’re looking for in a captivating masculine scent.
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