V Absolu

One of my favourite perfumes from the past, unfortunately been discontinued and its prices on eBay are astronomical. I haven't had any luck with buying perfumes on ebay yet, so I don't want to risk another 300€ spoiled perfume, just for nostalgia's sake. For me, it is a miracolous scent and a throwback to when I was 29-33 years old and used several bottles of this perfume. It's a wonderful nostalgia for me and so many wonderful memories. It was during this period that I travelled the world and this perfume was everywhere with me. It reminds me of work trips and vacations, there was so much all over the globe. Thanks to fragrantica I order Hugo Boss Deep Red, which smells 99% identical, I closed my eyes and memories surfaced, amazing, wonderful memories, food, smells, flowers, seas, cities, historical sites and music. As soon as I finish it, I'll order a large bottle and maybe another large backup bottle. Valentino V is intoxicating, fruity, woody, creamy and vanillic, powdery, ambery, citrusy and musky at the same time. It is full of life, charming and alluring. It has a little bit of everything in just the right combination and quantity. Timeless and just perfect.

For my nose, V Absolu is one of the most intoxicating fragrances in my wardrobe. It has several of my most desired scents, the fig, orange blossom, rose, heliotrope, balsam, sandalwood, incense, cedar and smoldering amber. Its bouquet is somewhat heavy, so I recommend a light hand when wearing to the office. If going out for the evening or to an outdoors event then layer on the perfume with the bath gel and lotion. For me, this lasts all day and I get many compliments from men and women alike. It truly is a perfectly luscious perfume.

a perfect blend of citrus-flowery-woody-sweet notes. roses and vanilla are combined in a very femminine and sexy way without being offensive or intrusive. i can die for a girl with this fragrance, a masterpiece from valentino. for a true "woman in red". impossibile resistere. my vote: 8,5 close to 9 in one word: red

I don't know who was the stupid person that came up with the decision to discontinue this perfume. It was my signature scent for 2 years, then one day .. just like that .. gone! It was very sensual, creamy warm scent. I didn't smell anything like it till this day.

I can't use because it's my mom's smell. OMG smells so nice in her, I really love. It's her best fragrance, It's her signature, and everybody wants to know what fragrance is when she use. :) ps: It's not too easy to find in the market.

I received this as a gift many years ago. It was too grown up for me. But now, is my favourite winter scent. It offers warmth and a good feeling. Imagine wearing a soft, warm shawl and smelling this...it's Absolute comfort

Such a complex fragrance, I didn't know I could love it so much, it could soon become my new signature, it leaves a fantastic smell on my skin, fruity fresh, then woody, then a bit tropical and sweet. I'm impressed!

I LOVE this fragrance, but it is impossible to get it. :( Now I have 1 bottle and I save it for summer, when I want to use something "uncomplicated" and not annoying other ppl. Its sweet and lovely to me. :)

First spray and I'm already in love, so fresh and zesty, but with a musky undertone that I know I am going to enjoy even more later. Cannot stop sniffing my wrist this is DELICIOUS!!!

This juice makes me feel sexy. Is my favorite for special occasions. I don't like sweet perfumes, but this one is really good. Just try it :)

Delicious yummidy yum! I love this perfume. Sweet, warm and vanilla-licious!!! If you are a vanilla fan then this is a good one for you!

This smells so good🥰deffo 1 of my favourites along with hugo boss but is now discontinued 😥

Is a lovely fragrance that is not overpowering. I’m disappointed it was discontinued.

I miss this scent so much, its so hard to find please bring it back ... ❤️🩹

simple adore it .Its very feminine and refeshing .

Some are impressed with the tip-top opening of Mr.Val's Absolu for women; some are impressed with the mid-range of the compo; some, on the other hand, are impressed with the Beautiful Bottom - BB - of this creation. And that is what I have recently discovered on my other hand - literally and metaphorically speaking - i.e on the right forearm, where additional sample of some Fragrantica are spraytioned additionally to my Primary Coat, so to speak, Coat of the Day. And there it was - BB - giving off something incredibly masculine, lush and magically calming. I thought of it as a magical touch hardly could anyone predicted/expected in this par excellance feminine adorement. My olfactory experience was enhenced by the fact of me coming back home after a long walk with the dog in a very crispy and clean weather, I'm sure you know the effect I'm trying to mumble out here. To achive this Manly fragrant co(at)the drydown of the perfume with the distinctly tutti-frutti, lucy-juicy gourmand top notes is short of miracle, well at least that is how it opened up to me as the first experience of this type. I'm looking forward to expand the gamut of my scentual associations. And this potently red triangular flask is kind of joyously cocky too. Long You live Mr.Val!

Gosh! When everyone says that V Absolu is similar to Deep Red, they aren't joking - they are almost twins! Both are mid-weight frags with a warm red feel - fruity-red, softened by vanilla, woods & musk. Everything is well blended so that no single note shouts above the others. I can detect a light grapefruit in VA's top notes which lifts the warm & juicy, boozy fig. I am suprised that no ginger is present, but imagine that the pine offers the little pick-me-up I smell. The flowers all mingle with the fruits to produce a scent akin to ginger hibiscus tea. Lovely! When you warm up & move, little wafts of scent drift up to greet your nose. It is a scent that needs hot skin & cooler days to truly be shown at its best. I can see myself using up a bottle this spring as it is a cheery, feminine scent that is pleasing to most noses & fitting for most situations. (Deep Red is richer, creamier, with more sandalwood & a vanilla-plastic note. It has greater sillage & lasting power on my skin, more suited to heavy winter days or nights out. VA is flirtier & lighter....but, my word, they are similar!).

While this certainly bears a resemblance to Hugo Deep Red,I definitely prefer Absolu. And while I like Valentino V, to me Absolu is better because it has an extra kick to it that makes it stronger and more noticeable (did the two wrist comparison). It reminds me of cherries and gum balls in an enjoyable way. Slightly sweet and overall very enjoyable to wear. I'm not a big fan of anything gum ball in perfumes but Absolu pulls it off with class. It lasts a long time, has just enough sillage, and you can wear it without feeling like your walking in a cloud of perfume that may possibly suffocate someone. I was afraid to try it because I wasn't a big fan of Deep Red but I'm awfully glad I did! I moved right past the sample to the big bottle. Perfect for when you want a nice perfume and not to stand out too much... just a little.

It does not smell nearly as complicated as the notes suggest. On me it's a pleasant and cozy, warm scent with low projection (winter) and gentle aura. Basicaly sandalwood blended with vanilla and orange blossom, a bit musky and maybe with a touch of amber. No fig, no vodka, no incense, a bit of cedarwood, perhaps, as well. Very similar to Boss Deep Red or Intense, which I knew first. But the composition is very likeable, and good for many occasions.

V is a lot like Deep Red by Hugo Boss! But thats exactly why i like it and bought it! Although i like this one a bit better, because it is a bit less powdery/chalky (i love DR, dont get me wrong). But V does have a green note in the opening that i am not too fond of, but it dies down very quickly. then what is left is a beautiful, warm, skin vanilla/musk... my favorite! its very cozy :)

hmm.. don't know, not so confinced about this. opening with fruits, drydown is plain vanillary. okay fragrance, but wouldn't buy it. edit: I changed my mind! I actually find this very cozy and nice, for summer ánd winter. A nice opening with a hint of fruits (fig!) and afterwards woodyness in a feminine way. Hasn't got that much staying power, which I actually regret.

I have been testing it over the last few days. I absolutely love the opening notes.. just great. Later it is still lovable, however I could just buy it for the first few minutes...Wish it could stay this way longer. Looove it.

This is just another incarnation of V and Deep Red. This and V are almost identical to one another. That being said, it does smell nice, nothing more than that, just nice and a little vanilla-ish.

V Absolu is very similar to Valentino V. Slightly sweet and overall very enjoyable to wear. Pleasing to most noses and fitting for most situations.

I recently found this gem in my stash and am enjoying it immensely. Layering it with a fig body butter....I'm in heaven.

Oh my gods, this really IS similar to Hugo Boss' Deep Red!!! Some time ago I tried "plain" V and it smelled chocolate-ish to me. I like chocolate layers in perfumes and I expected something similar from V Absolu, maybe more intense... I must admit I'm a bit dissapointed from another version od Deep Red :-( And it fades quite quickly (2-3 hours and I can't smell anything!) Why the hell call this perfume ABSOLU???

This was an orange creamsicle on me--the top was this delicious orange vanilla. Unfortunately, the rest of the perfume was just vanilla musk. I found it quite overwhelming to wear during the summer and actually haven't been able to wear it since. I'll break it out again during the winter, but I have been impressed with the valentinos I've tried so far. They've each been pretty, distinctive, with good longevity.

Not a fan of this. To me it just smells like alcohol and soap! No particular scents leapt out at me. I decided to give it a chance and sprayed some on. It's quite strong I think. After a while the horrible alcoholy smell and soap is still there with maybe a hint of vanilla. But that's all.

This is nice and warm easy to wear.But, its not overpowering.It last a long time and its inoffensive.But, its not something you remeber its nice but doesn't stand out.Its okay nothing complex.

Like other members have stated, V Absolu is a warm and sexy fragrance. I really enjoyed the opening. I think that while fig dominates the top notes, it doesn't overpower the development of the fragrance. Four hours into wearing it, I can still smell it lingering, although there is almost no sillage. It wears very close to the skin. Some might think me crazy, but to me it very much smells like the soft drink 'Dr. Pepper' in perfume form. V Absolu is sweet and spicy, without being childish or too heavy. I would definitely recommend this for a fall fragrance. Revised 12/14/09: So I need to revise this review to include the fact that I love V Absolu. All the other stuff still applies, but as I've worn it for a couple of months, it has grown on me tremendously. I find myself reaching for V Absolu on days when I want to feel edibly delicious. Somewhere in the basenotes, it becomes a spicy chocolaty vanilla-ish formula. Think warm Dr. Pepper. Now, I don't know what I mean about it being a spicy chocolate, just buy it, okay? Anyway, The opening notes smell green, boozy, and figgy sort of like some sort of cocktail, it only gets better from there. The floral notes are subtly sexy and warm, the drydown delicious. Again, just buy it. Some fragrances must be worn to appreciate!

This perfume has a heavy body and yet it is pretty wearable. For me the note that stands out is the powdery woodiness accompanied by sweetness of vanilla and all this fades into the musk and amber. Plus the citrus vibe, which brakes the heavyness. More suitable for evening, or a winter day. The kind of perfume which you want to sniff over and over and creates a wonderful warmth around you once you wear it. Edit: This is for those comparing it with Hugo Boss Deep Red. It might have a resemblance but in terms of performance Valentino is a complete different perfume. There is incredible sillage which lasts long, whereas DR sits close to the skin and you have to stick your nose where it is sprayed to smell it.

I used to really enjoy this fragrance, so being the dork that I am I thought I'd check it out again, figuring I'd find it easily and cheaply like before. Welp, eh no. Just goes to show what happens when good perfumes get discontinued while you're not paying attention. I should have known. Everytime I remember something good it's gone (just talking about fragrance here lol). Both this and "V" were happy perfumes for me and I associate good memories with them. I kinda wanted them back in my collection, but I'll say "nay" to every seller trying to make a killing off old fragrances that happened not to flood the grey market with years of old stock after being chopped off by the brand.

V absolu starts with strong citrus,orange scents.I almost thought it's a kind of summer fragrance,but wait... as the first notes disappear it becomes more creamy,with a very nice floral combination.it's incredible.it's not sweet,sour,nor bitter.it's just lovely. the dry down is more and more creamy.at this stage it's like Escada Magnestism or Black XS.the vanilla scent is very clear and the amber makes it warm. I think the advantage of having a perfume like this is the ability to wear it in every season and every occasion. I like it much more than original V,though still V ete is my favorite one.

I myself am not getting any vanilla or sweetness or even citruses, on me it's simple and fresh and slightly generic mix and indeed to start with I am getting tiny bit of something "stale" (as someone else here describes), but it's not really offensive, just a bit odd. To me this scent is pretty and pleasant enough to wear occasionally, but not enough to get crazy about. I own a small "travel size" bottle and take it on weekend trips etc. as it's handy, but I would not think about wearing this fragrance on a special occasion or in the evening, because it really seems quite generic and predictable.

The opening was so exciting and fresh.. Something carressed my nostrils...Citrus? Then the heart...I totally adore the frangipani. And the base...woody, musky and I was thinking at some point - dont u smell like something i know? Must be the vanila...cuz Dior's Hypnotic Poison and Hugo Deep Red crossed my mind right about then. For the first time in my life, I fingered the musk. Strong one. But I feel so bad that I'm new at this and cant put a finger on the note I'm enjoying rightnow. I dont have a clue what the name is...but I just cant keep my wrist away from my nose. This perf is a keeper.

For a Floral Woody Musk scent with fig notes which I adore and "sweet" character overall which I also greatly appreciate, this fragrance is a mess on me. It must be my chemistry but this was awful, I was so disappointed especially after having had such high hopes for it. Somehow it turned on me, and smelled the way aldehydes tend to smell on me - stale, offensive and well just not right. I really don't understand what it is about the aldehydes that makes them so fetid and unbearable on my skin.

This is a fav I have had for a long time , probably THE sexist perfume ever! Leans slightly softly oriental , although it’s quite strong in wearing it isn’t offensive or too much because it’s soooo addictive . Had my bottle now some 12 yrs it smells the same , not changed but has been kept in a drawer from light and heat. Although I’ve moved on in perfume tastes this remains unique, classy and it’s now proudly out in my favs again!

I just purchased this today and I really do like it a lot. It is, like everyone else says, similar to Deep Red, however I feel like when I wear DR, I can't smell it on myself very much, while with this one, I can smell it. It is warm, and a little spicy, I think it is sexy. I can't stop sniffing my wrist it smells so good=) I recommend this one, especially since you can find it discounted at many of the stores like (TJ Maxx etc.)

I love this stuff. A perfume that wraps you in a cashmere blanket, pure softness. The opening always makes me smile, makes me think of Play-Doh, that only lasts a few moments then the citrus. The dry down is powdery, wooden and Amber with a hint of vanilla that is not the same old thing. There is a yum factor here, it draws you in, you just want a bit more. Truly lovely! Many many compliments from this one.

V Absolu is just another sweet vanilla for me-it's better than Deep Red, it has more complexity somehow, but it's boring on my skin. A touch of fig, a serious sweetness that is rumored to be Orange Blossom-I could easily wear this, on a day when I'm in the mood for a sweeter fragrance, but it smells generic (predictable, commmonplace)...

Very creamy, not too sweet scent which settles beautifully into something similar to Boss Deep Red but without this screechy, fruity note. Long-lasting, elegant, rather linear but not flat. Its character is slightly similar to Noa Perle in that it's steady and creamy.

This reminds me a lot of Deep Red by Hugo Boss, maybe a little lighter and more vanillayi perhaps? V Absolu also has a prettier bottle than DR.:D But overall a very nice scent,altho I think I wont buy it as I already have DR which, like said, smells very similiar.

I love Absolu - it's a great modern oriental, with the added bonus of not being very well known. Lasting power could be a bit better, but that's just nitpicking. Wear the original during the day, and Absolu in the evening. Wonderful.

V absolu smells great, just like the original Valentino V. Absolu is just a little bit softer since it has vanilla in the base; it is very modern, feminine and complex at the begining but, sadly, it fades away quickly.

For the fans of this discontinued gem: Paradoxe had the same vibe and smells 80% the same. Since i sprayed it on my wrist, i was immediately thought this one. I just can't remember if it was the og or intense version

The opening is quite interesting, I get the sharpness of the vodka, the sweetness of the fig, and some sort of pine scent. Then it gets softer, sort of musky-flowery with vanilla. Wish it lasted longer on my skin.

V Absolu is very similar to Valentino V but I think this one is much bettter,and I agree with Sicily this one is a little bit softer ,modern and very feminine.I have Valentino V but I will buy this one too.

Found a 3.0 oz bottle at Marshalls on discount for $20.00 I was happy and I bought it.This smells good it is light but lingers and reminds me of Lacoste pour femme.I will repurchase it is my new favorite.

To me, V and V Absolu smell almost like the same. The difference is that Absolu is sweeter and more sexy while V is it ́s well-behaved sibiling. Use V at Work and Absolu at the happy hour.

This used to be my signature scent years ago. Was so sad when I learned it was discontinued. Fall/Winter. This fragrance made me feel pretty, a little mysterious and sexy.