The story of Valentino
Valentino Garavani, who trained in Paris, opened his couture house in Rome in 1960 with his business partner Giancarlo Giammetti. He quickly established himself as one of the great Italian couturiers, dressing actresses and public figures, and made a vivid red his signature colour. The house has kept its image of Roman glamour through the decades. In fragrance, Valentino Uomo, launched in 2014, offered an elegant oriental fougère built around hazelnut, leather and coffee. In 2019 the L'Oréal group took over the fragrance licence and launched Born in Roma, a Donna and Uomo line whose bottles borrow the pyramid-shaped Rockstud studs that had become a house code. The collection celebrates contemporary Rome, between ancient architecture and urban youth, and has since grown with several intense and seasonal versions.
An olfactory signature
Valentino blends classicism and modernity. Donna Born in Roma opens on blackcurrant, pink pepper and bergamot, then combines jasmine and jasmine tea before a base of bourbon vanilla, cashmeran and guaiac wood: a silky ambery floral. Uomo Born in Roma plays mineral and salty notes, violet leaf, ginger and sage over a woody vetiver. Valentino Uomo, more gourmand, pairs hazelnut, leather, chocolate and roasted coffee. Across all three, polish comes first and excess is kept firmly in check.
Which Valentino perfume to choose?
For a woman who loves ambery, vanilla-rich florals, Donna Born in Roma is the obvious choice, ideal for evenings. For men, Uomo Born in Roma suits everyday wear with its mineral, woody freshness. Valentino Uomo is for those who prefer an elegant gourmand masculine built on leather, hazelnut and coffee, perfect for autumn and winter.