In late August, there are only two types of people: those who post nonstop from glamorous vacations in Italy and those left wondering how the heck people afford such trips. Luckily, for the less-fiscally blessed among us, there is a more price-conscious way to bring a little bit of Roman luxury into your life. Just spritz on some perfume. Namely, Valentino Donna Born in Roma, an iconic perfume inspired by the classic-meets-modern sensibilities of the Eternal City and is comparatively a bargain at $110 for a 1 oz bottle.
Known by fragrance lovers as one of the top-tier compliment-getting perfumes, Donna Born in Roma is one of the most buzzed-about scents on TikTok. But the widespread success of the fragrance goes even further than virality, inspiring eight flanker scents since the original first launched in 2019. Clearly, people are obsessed. But does smelling like a chic woman flitting about Italy actually compare to doing the real thing?
Having not made it to Europe myself this summer, I took Donna Born In Roma (and several of her sister scents) out for a spin around the sweltering streets of New York City to see what all the fuss is all about. Read on for everything I learned from wearing the scent night and day, reading reviews, and combing through note breakdowns to see how Miss Roma holds up to the internet’s praises.
What does Valentino Born in Roma smell like?
Created by perfumers Honorine Blanc and Amandine Clerc-Marie, Donna Born in Roma is an amber floral fragrance designed to smell “luxuriously feminine with an edgy touch inspired by Roman street culture.” The unmistakable bottle complements the duality with a pretty pink juice encased in punky studded glass, meant to be a nod to the quintessential Valentino rockstuds inspired by Roman architecture (throwback to the Valentino Rockstud Heels every celeb wore in 2011).
The opening notes of the fragrance are jasmine sambac, black currant, and pink pepper, which give the fragrance an immediate sweetness but in a fruitier and more vibrant way than the bakery-esque gourmand perfumes that are so popular right now. The perfume is rounded out with mid notes of cashemeran, plus a vanilla and bourbon base that anchors it with a musky warmth to keep the fragrance warm and sweet, but not juvenile.
But there have been a bunch of popular flankers of Donna Born in Roma that rework some of the signature elements with a twist for a whole new vibe (like a remix of a hit song). Coral Fantasy dials up the volume on the fruity elements for a more playful, juicy scent— while Green Stravaganza opens with the notes of tea and white florals for a fresher, breezier fragrance. Or there’s my personal favorite of the flankers (and one of the internet’s favorites, too): The hot pink Extradose, which cranks up the intensity of the original by adding more vanilla and rum for a slightly sultrier effect.
The newest iteration that just launched is Rendezvous. Packed inside the ivory and gold bottle is a beachy, tropical white floral that smells like a warm, sunny day. Orange blossom, marshmallow, and green mandarin create a much more summery profile that's perfect for a night out on vacation. I tested it early, and lemme tell ya: It's so yummy.
Are Valentino perfumes long-lasting?
Donna Born in Roma is an eau de parfum that claims to last between six to eight hours on skin. In the reviews across Sephora, Ulta, and Fragnatica, many commenters are especially impressed by the fragrance's longevity, often reporting it lasts all day. Maybe it’s my body chemistry or the summer heat, but I didn’t feel like the fragrance lasted quite as long on me—at least not the way it smells on initial spritz or in the first hour of wear. However, the base notes do linger for an exceptionally long time. I felt like they clung to my skin, so the projection was not very far, but it made smelling the remnants of warm vanilla and amber later in the day much more intimate.
FYI, though: If you're all about longevity and strength, Extradose and Intense have a higher concentration of fragrance oils that makes them last a bit longer and have a wider sillage (aka the way the scent projects around you). These are said to last between 8 and 10 hours, but it all depends on your body and how you spray. For me, I definitely noticed these stuck around much longer than the O.G.
My Valentino Donna Born in Roma review:
My initial reaction was a scent memory—it took me back to the 2010s and my favorite fragrance from college, the now discontinued Gucci Guilty Black. They aren’t total smell-alikes, but they do have notes of black currant, pink pepper, and an ambery drydown in common, which were likely the reason for an instant association.
I’ve tried so many fragrances over the years that recently, I have found myself intrigued by the most unusual ones. Weird quirky notes like bananas, cigarettes, or tennis balls make them stand out and feel new. But, with my nostalgia activated, I had a new excitement to try out Donna Born in Roma with a more mature (dare I say, refined) perspective that only 10+ years can bring.
Donna Born in Roma is cute and flirty in a very effortless way which makes it a lot of fun to wear out. Sugar and spice and everything nice is a common recipe for a successful fragrance, and this one really takes that and runs with it. The scent is richer, more grounded, and wood-forward than my vintage fave, which feels especially fitting as a new step in my personal fragrance evolution. But overall, somehow, it reminds me of a simpler time when I was a little more carefree, sweet, and friendly. Maybe Donna Born in Roma can pick up the slack when I falter in that department.
I really can't imagine anyone disliking Donna Born in Roma. Sure, some might call it a bit basic. But a universally liked scent profile shouldn't be a bad thing, IMO.
Shop all the Valentino perfumes:
Valentino Born in Roma Donna Extradose Parfum
Valentino Born In Roma Donna Rendez-Vous Ivory Eau de Parfum
Valentino Born in Roma Uomo Eau de Toilette
Valentino Donna Born In Roma Intense Eau de Parfum
Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Green Stravaganza Eau de Toilette
Valentino Donna Born in Roma Coral Fantasy Eau de Parfum
Valentino Donna Born In Roma Yellow Dream Eau de Parfum
Valentino Born in Roma Uomo Extradose Parfum
Valentino Uoma Donna Born in Roma Intense Eau de Parfum
It's not just me... more glowing reviews from other testers:
"Designer scents that everyone knows aren't generally the scents that get me the most compliments. But Donna Born in Roma is the exception. It's a sweet and floral mix that works well with basically everyone's body chemistry (I've spritzed it on quite a few friends to test this theory). And the scent projects well without cloying or inducing a headache."—BETH GILLETTE, BEAUTY EDITOR
“I'm always grabbing this one, no matter what season. It smells divine and inviting, and it is a compliment magnet.”
“This smells like the scent embodiment of being a hot older sister in the early 2000s. Hot pink, sultry, a little sassy—she's wearing eyeliner and has a pink Razr flip phone. Smells high-end and youthful to me.”
“It's a sultry 'that girl' perfume. It's possible to go nose-blind to this if you feel like it's wearing off. I thought it wore off on me, but it's been seven hours (shocked it's been so long!!) since I applied, and my coworker just complimented me on my fragrance.”
“I bought it for the drydown to be honest. It’s gorgeous. Feminine, clean, pretty. Also, feels like an all-year-round easy reach.”
“Smells sweet and elegant. Feels confident and radiant—like wearing a stylish dress with effortless grace.”
“Donna Born in Roma by Valentino has quickly become one of my absolute favorites! The scent is sophisticated yet modern—floral with a warm, slightly edgy twist. It feels classy without being too heavy, which makes it perfect for just about any occasion, day or night.”
Final verdict:
Donna Born in Roma is pop-punk music, she’s Sex and the City Reruns, she’s strawberry daiquiris. She’s fun and pink with enough kick to prove she has an edge, but definitely appeals to the masses. To know her is to love her. It totally makes sense that the internet is so obsessed—this fragrance is like an outgoing mutual friend they all want to talk about with one another. The way I see it, I think you need to make sure to invite a Donna Born in Roma person to every event to get the energy up and the party started.
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Sam Neibart is a freelance writer and editor who has been covering beauty in digital and print for nearly a decade. She reports on the ever-evolving landscape of trends, tastemakers, and technology in the industry and loves nothing more than helping friends and readers discover the beauty products that are best for them.
Sam Neibart is a freelance writer and editor who has been covering beauty over digital and print for nearly a decade. She reports on the ever-evolving landscape of trends, tastemakers, and technology in the industry and loves nothing more than helping friends and readers discover the beauty products that are best for them. Previously, she held editorial positions at NYLON and Harper’s BAZAAR. She currently lives in Manhattan and biannually experiences the strong urge to dye her hair a new color. Follow her on Instagram.
