Valentino Uomo

Once again, I have been introduced to a fragrance that already hits the market filled with comparisons and a lot to be said. The first thing you read around, is that "Valentino Uomo is equal to Dior Homme". And once again, I open space to criticize the generalizations made by people who forget that, once placed their opinion, they influence the opinion of another person. So, I'm always careful with those terms, since there is a big difference between saying "it’s equal” to "it’s similar". It is very common when a brand asks his/her perfumer to create something "very similar" to a specific fragrance from the competitor brand, changing just a little in the composition and trying to capture the audience for their own product. But in the case of Valentino Uomo, is more important to pay attention to a detail that makes all the difference: the perfumer of the two creations is the same: Olivier Polge. So, it would be too much stupidity on the part of the creator, to put his name and/or reputation in a bad position inside the perfumery circle, with the risk of being called as "uncreative" or "unethical", by reproducing a great success for a competitor brand. Obviously, I believe it may have been asked something in the same "style" of Dior Homme, but make a statement that they are the same, definitely, it's a mistake. While Dior Homme has, as greater differential, the presence of the IRIS and the famous makeup smell, besides cocoa and cardamom, Valentino Uomo surprises us with notes of Calabrian bergamot and myrtle liquor, at the top, followed by notes of gianduja cream (mixture of chocolate and hazelnut) and racy notes of coffee, in the heart, finished with the intensity of cedar and white leather at the base. The result is a very similar output aroma to the scent of Dior Homme, well evolved, i.e. approximately 5 hours after applied, when the creaminess speaks louder. I prefer to say that it reminds me more of Dior Homme Cologne (2007 version). But that's just the output, the initial impression. We still have a whole evolution to be discovered ahead. So, Valentino shows itself more gourmand, with a denser and creamier aroma that makes your mouth salivate, with something that reminds me of that dessert called Tiramisu, which by the way is also of Italian origin. The coffee is pretty light, but appears, slightly toasted. And the leather ends the journey in a elegant and sensual way, not dry or rasping, but cozy. Finally, it comes in a beautiful bottle, as the most chic liquor bottles, which hold that amber-colored liquid inside, ready for tasting. Valentino is a beautiful perfume of Italian characteristic, that runs the risk of being misunderstood because of generalizations. For some, it will be redundant to have it, if you have one of the Dior Homme’s fragrances (EDT or Intense). For others, it will be a differentiator. Where do you fit in?

I've been wanting to purchase this one for a while now but I've kept putting it off for one reason or another. I was at the local Dillard's over the holidays and I stopped by and sampled this, they had the original formulation, and it was just too good to put off buying any longer and I came home and ordered the best deal on it I could find. I received it today and I've gotten the new formulation, and it's been completely changed to my nose. Actually, I'm pretty pissed off with the crap that I've received. The old formula was so rich and smooth. A nice creamy hazelnut and leather fragrance. The new one, well I honestly can't tell hardly ANY difference between this and the $15 bottle of Zara 9.0 that I recently got rid of because it was cheap smelling. Yeah, I'm definitely not happy about this at all. Every time I put off getting what I know is a great fragrance something always happens to cause me to not be able to get it anymore and I'm stuck paying outrageous prices for vintage batches or just buying some neutered version of what I truly wanted that just pisses me off every time I wear it. Well, guess I gotta hunt down an original version of this stuff and try to pass the B/S I just got on to someone who hopefully has never smelled Zara 9.0!!!😡😡😡 The original version is like the Olivier Polge version of Dior H'omme, rich, deep and chocolatey and sweet. The new L'Oreal version is cheap, metallic and the perfumer's alcohol they used burns your nostrils. I actually love the original version and I HATE the newer one. That's quite a large gap and I don't even see how they are trying to pass it off as the same fragrance. Edit: Okay I have to admit that now that I have the original PUIG version in hand the difference in between the two upon application is not nearly as drastic as I first thought it was. Now into the mid and drydown it does start to lean warmer and sweeter than the new version, but not a huge amount. It's actually still a very good and unique fragrance that both enthusiast and laymen can appreciate and enjoy! This fragrance has really grown on me! It falls right in between Dior H'omme and Dior H'omme Intense, and that's exactly what I have been wanting for quite a while. I have a pretty large collection of niche and designer and I've been wearing this one for almost a week straight and I have almost used 2/3 of the 100 ml bottle that I recently bought and I still have it on today!!! Just get it ! ! !

I have the current (2022 batch code) iteration in a 150ml bottle. A triumph. A revelation. An outstanding achievement of modern designer perfumery. I never smelled the OG 2005 Dior Homme, but I can only hope this is what Polge’s original view of Homme smelled like. I have the current “Dior Homme Original”, which opens a bit similarly but does not have the longevity of the depth of that opening that Uomo has. While both Uomo and DHOriginal dry down to something less dense, and more airy than the opening, the Valentino stays closer to that warm chocolate opening than the Dior now does in its current form. That boldness lasts a good few hours before settling into a smooth and creamy nutty/wood/vanilla scent that I can get close to 12 hours with. The reason I find this fragrance particularly special is that the intense version does not make this one redundant. It seems that people who like iris, /really/ like iris (myself included) and that the idea of a diluted/lighter version does not appeal. I can see those who like Givenchy Gentleman EDP or Prada l’Homme Intense not having the need for their original versions...I don’t find that to be the case here. Uomo Intense is much more focused on Vanilla and oddly enough, the original here has much darker notes (the chocolate for instance) on offer. The end result is that both of these fragrances I feel are must haves in the designer iris world that both fill their own purposes. I currently own every modern iteration of iris designer regular/intense offerings and find this to be the most well rounded and most worth your initial $$ for variety’s sake of the bunch. While I do think Dior Homme Eau/Dior Homme Intense would give the Valentinos a run for their money, Eau is currently discontinued and must be (carefully) bought used. For what is currently out there, Valentino Uomo is an unheralded gem and is worthy of definite consideration as a signature scent. It is fantastic.

Personally I'd rather that Valentino stayed with the Olivier Polge 2014 version of Oumo without adjusting away from the gourmand elements... + Though I do understand the house's interest in having their, "Uomo," offering adopt a strictly classy stance so their flanker business stands on ground more solid for luxury markets. Especially if one doesn't quite catch the brilliance of Polge's creation it is very difficult to justify coffee beans and gianduja cream as the cornerstone of the interpretation of, "Man." + It is difficult to translate Torino (Turin), Italy's gianduja (djann-dou-ya) to an international upscale clientele without stepping in a puddle of Nutella. Mr. Polge shared sweet secrets of manhood from the Piedmont Region. These hazelnut - chocolate touches make the casual version superb. It is just difficult to have enough people understand why it works even as a foundation for lux flankers. + As I understand, Valentino adjusted away some degrees in the 2019 version and back closer an extent in 2021 but then remove the gourmand notes altogether. The current version is quite different than the description and note breakdown here on Fragrantica. Check out the 2021 version. The Valentino website reports a substantially different fragrance; the focus has shifted from casual with chocolate, coffee and hazelnut to refined with Iris. + It can be valuable in life to roll with changes if there is no ultimate principle at stake. When a 2014 or loyalist mix turns up at a fair price I tuck it away, while sporting other versions including the most recent. My skin likes Uomo by Valentino and it likes my skin. Socially - just a good fit for me, some versions a little better here and there. In total, this is a great men's frag worth living in and through.

I know Uomo Intense has the big cult following, but I've always preferred this one. It's such a rich, complex fragrance that really evolves over the course of a couple hours. It starts as a sweet herbal scent (I think it smells like black liquorice, which I happen to love, though I know plenty of people who hate it and love the top notes here) before settling into cozy hazelnut coffee--a supremely lovely scent--that uplifts the cedar and leather base notes. Altogether, it's reminiscent of waiting for your order at the cafe in the cold autumn, and who wouldn't want that bottled up to wear? I haven't come across anything that quite resembles this one (Though I've heard it's similar to Dior Homme, which I've yet to try myself). It's absolutely an 'occasion' fragrance, very powerful with a strong throw, especially for an EDT, and while I adore the scent, I imagine it might irritate some co-workers. You probably won't want to wear this all the time. Definitely not for the office, definitely not for warm weather, but perfect for date night or a chilly day outing. (Admittedly, this is one of my favorites just for wearing around the house. I find it so cozy and comforting and, from what I've been told, is apparently nice to snuggle up next to.) It wears sophisticated and mature, but not 'old.' I think people of most ages could pull this off, and while the leather and cedar base notes end this on a very traditional masculine scent, the sweet herbal top notes and nutty chocolate heart notes could make Uomo EDT a particularly bold and daring unisex choice, if you're so inclined. It's a shame this is so hard to come by these days. It's a stunning and truly unique fragrance, and one of the best performing EDT's I've ever tried.