Rooted in the maison’s Rome heritage — though I got my sneak peek in Paris this summer (very fitting) — the collection takes classic notes like white florals, musk, and oud and shakes things up with unexpected Italian twists. Think: couture-level infusions broken out into seven olfactive “dreams,” crafted by different master perfumers — cappuccino accord, Calabrian citrus, and olive wood. It’s Valentino’s ode to la dolce vita, and trust me, it’s as dreamy as it sounds. And because this is Valentino, the bottles are just as jaw-dropping. Picture studded caps straight out of the Rockstud playbook and hand-cut canvas labels made from the same fabric as their couture gown boxes. It’s the kind of thoughtful, over-the-top luxury we don’t see enough of these days. Each one is priced at $330 for a 100mL bottle or $165 for 30mL (launching early next year). “The strength of this collection is found in the unexpected duos of ingredients, creating surprise and modernity,” says perfumer Andrew Everett, the nose behind one of Valentino’s new scents, Club Couture.
