Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Purple Melancholia

Is this overtly synthetic and somewhat cloying? Yes! Does it come across a bit one-dimensional? Yes! Do I love it? Absolutely!!! It somehow works perfectly and if you give it time and attention you'll find out that the initial "one-dimensional" accusations are unfair. Those who don't get it, will still enjoy a safe modern day perfume destined to get some compliments. Those who get it, are in for a ride. Forget the modern mess of other popular boy-ish perfumes like Carolina Herrera Bad Boy or Paco Rabanne 1 Million, here you'll find staged simplicity (trust me, it is not simple) and a strong lavender profile due to the Born in Roma DNA that makes it feel more like a twist on a classic. In reality this is the definition of a versatile fragrance. First of all it is absolutely unisex, it's giving both masculine and feminine vibes at the same time. Also, I can see it working on the beach on a hot day and due to a touch of spice I can even see it working in more formal winter occasions with the right attitude. It's also extremely versatile in terms of ...age! Obviously if you are a 20-something you're the target group of the usual modern-day sweet synthetic fragrance, but if you're older, its classic lavender qualities and spice save the day and it's almost like you're making a bold statement: mature, yet still rockin' it! I seriously can't remember any other all-around fragrance like this in recent years. It's fresh and creamy and coconutty and subtly dark under its mainstream sweetness. Initially, my only problem was trying to make sense of the name, but after a few wears I do get the "melancholy" part: this is both "summer" and, as the top and middle notes die down, the memory of a summer, or precisely the memory of a party you had attended wearing Gucci Rush for Men and you sweat it out dancing all night. I know if you look up Gucci Rush's ingredients they don't seem to align with this, but the idea is the same: Designer synthetic DNA, aromatic masculine core and a woody base structure, so I do perceive this as a modern day sweet gourmand version of Gucci Rush. Grade: 9/10

This caught my eye immediately when I saw the notes/accords, and I tested it a few times before purchasing. The main thing I get from this is 100% coconut - its very creamy and much more prominent than in the Le Beaus. The lavender is noticeable for a while, but I actually find that the cardamom starts to come through more and more as it dries down. Its a bit sweet but balanced by the warm spice and fresh lavender, and I think it would best fit something like a summer night with a light breeze if you know what I'm talking about. Another reason this was such a clear yes for me was also because I smelt this (decently strongly too) on someone I know from a few feet away around 6 hours into the day, and he used 4 sprays so I can safely say the performance is very solid. Probably not the most masculine scent I've ever tried but I'd say it has a matureness about it because of the smoothness of the coconut. It's youthful but not as playful as the Le Beaus (especially the EDP) - it's a bit more on the mysterious side. I'd also say that if you're looking for something tropical for the summer, you might want to give this a go, but you shouldn't expect it to be very fruity. I'd definitely recommend, and it's probably blind buy safe if coconut is one of your favorite notes. This could easily be a signature scent as its pretty unique. It attracts attention but doesn't beg for it. Also the bottle design (and scent) is the best Valentino in my opinion.

This was a tough one for me to find. I had been hitting every store that sold Valentino trying to sample it, but it was the same story everywhere I went, "We had a tester out, but someone stole it." Discounters hardly ever have it in stock and Jomashop has had it backordered now for weeks. But one day last week, I was out and passed an Ulta I had never tried, so I went in, headed to the fragrances, saw the women's version of Purple Melancholia, and an associate immediately came to greet me so I asked, "Do you have a tester of the men's Purple Melancholia?". She looked at the shelve and that's when I learn that they just lost their THIRD tester of the week to theft. I was about to just drop everything and give up the search, but I decided I've had enough and blind bought the 50ml bottle at retail price. So far, my only regret is not getting the 100ml which was barely more expensive, because this stuff smells amazing. Unfortunately, smelling good is where it stops, because this stuff just does not last or perform worth a damn. I get that it's an EDT, but I feel like I'm getting 3 hours max on skin and 4 on clothes. I have freshies that hold on to fabric for at least 6. It's been delegated to my after shower fragrance and the fragrance I put on whenever I have a day off. It's really good, it's in my top 5 and my wife says it's her new favorite of mine, but I'm just really let down by the performance.

Far too much hate on this site. I often fall prey to the same attitude, which is negative and cancerous. It is a fragrance site. These are smells, folks. You don't like one? Just wait. Another one is coming next month that maybe you will enjoy... Despite not being a big coconut fan (particularly if it is considered or comes across 'lactonic, creamy') I actually find this one to be pretty damn good. It is more of a 'green' coconut than milky. Yes the cardamom is strong initially, but I happen to like excess cardamom. This reminds me of CH Birds of Paradise, which has no coconut, but comes across 'green' in a similar way. Owning many of the 'reminds' already, I was prepared for a redundant experience. I actually didn't find it to be so. I think this fits in between Paradise garden and Le Beau Le Parfum somewhere. But made more mature. I find this to be significantly less sweet than both, as well as its siblings in the BIR line. With the exception of Green Stravaganza, which is just mediocre all-around. I passed on Ivory. Too milky and nondescript. This one gets a full bottle. Longevity on my skin has been slightly above average, with average projection. It is already in the lower price bracket retail ($135 for a 3.4) compared to most that are over $150-160, and once it hits discounters for around $80 will be even better.

Oh. My god. Easily my signature scent. The coconut. It's the stand out note, and yeah, it's good, really really good. Super creamy, smooth and ''full'' coconut, nothing to do with sunscreens or body washes. It's also a bit spicy and warm which in my opinion compliments it really well. Can't really get lavender (or whatever else is supposed to be in the middle lmao), just coconut and tonka bean/vanilla, which ties it together and makes it very smooth. It's kinda similar to JPG Le Beau EDT, but the coconut is more noticeable and nicer, and it doesn't have the synthetic-ish smell JPG has, at least for me Not a fresh fragrance by any means, but I can easily see myself wearing it in hot weather. I'd also say it's versatile for... pretty much anything, to be honest. Maybe not a professional environment, as it's sweet and playful, but other than that I can't see any other situation where I wouldn't wear this. Oh and also, no, this has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the Born in Roma line. I don't know what else to say, it's completely different. For me this is a good thing as I'm not a huge fan of the BIR line, but this is a standout in my opinion