Smells like Valentino Donna Born in Roma: Roman Vanilla body butter

Valentino Donna Born in Roma pairs jasmine with bourbon vanilla, opened by a bright citrus top. Roman Vanilla is our take on that profile, with bergamot, jasmine and bourbon vanilla, in a pheromone-infused body butter at $25 a jar.

Which Born in Roma is it?

Valentino released Donna Born in Roma in 2019. Retailers list bergamot at the top, three kinds of jasmine in the heart, and bourbon vanilla in the base. The line now includes Born in Roma Donna Intense, Yellow Dream and Coral Fantasy, among others.

They are different formulas, so a note list belongs to the Born in Roma family and not to one bottle. Roman Vanilla follows the profile of the original Donna, and we would not claim it matches any single version.

What happens when vanilla meets a bright top?

Vanilla on its own can sit heavy. Bergamot lifts the opening, jasmine adds a white floral middle, and bourbon vanilla warms everything underneath. Roman Vanilla uses all three.

The formula is our own, in a shea and cocoa butter base, so it is inspired by Born in Roma and not identical to any version of it. Vanilla is a note a butter holds well, so it settles into skin and stays warm.

Where does Roman Vanilla fit in your week?

Dates and cold weather: dinner, a walk in a coat, a sofa and a long conversation. It is warm with a bright top in our view, and it is not one of the two louder scents, so it works at close range without filling the room.

For a night that calls for more, Dark Tuberose is the louder choice. For warm days, Sea Sage is the lighter one.

How do you wear it?

Apply one scoop to damp skin after a shower: neck, collarbone, chest and wrists. Most skin holds it for 12+ hours, longest when damp.

If you own a bottle of Donna Born in Roma, the butter-first order works there too. We have no controlled test showing the spray lasts longer, so try it and decide.

What does it cost next to a bottle?

A bottle of Donna Born in Roma costs about $325. A jar of Roman Vanilla is $25, about $300 less. You can also buy 2 for $43.38 or 3 for $58.08, and every order ships wrapped in a piece of a real coffee sack, with a card that says where it came from. If the scent is not right for you, there is a free scent swap within 14 days.

Obsessed is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Valentino.

Quick answers

• Is Roman Vanilla identical to Donna Born in Roma? No. It follows the profile in our own formula and base.
• Is Roman Vanilla strong? It sits in the middle in our view. It is not one of our two louder scents.
• Is it a sweet scent? Yes, it is a warm vanilla with a bright citrus top, so it is sweet without being heavy.
• Can you wear it in summer? You can, but we think it is at its best in cold weather and on dates. Sea Sage is the better pick for heat.

Try Roman Vanilla body butter, or take the scent quiz to compare it with the other five.