Valentino Uomo Intense

This is my definitive take on the difference between the original and the new formulation. The original formulation is much more iris and cocoa forward. There's some citrus to give it a freshness off the top, but as it dries down, it's all about that beautiful clean iris and dusty cocoa combination with some very pleasant soft woods. If you pick up on the leather, it comes across very clean and smooth. Overall, the fragrance came off as very "metrosexual" during its time, but I think it is (or was) way easier to pull off than Dior Homme Intense because the iris isn't as polarizing. The new formulation features a similar base with most of the same notes, but they're lying underneath what feels like almost a totally different fragrance. I would say the citrus is more pronounced, lasts longer into the mid, and it's combined with some new wood notes that are a bit sharp and somewhat spicy. The leather in this one definitely feels more rough and tumbled in nature, slightly darker. As it gets deep into the drydown, more of the original scent comes through but just not enough as I had hoped. There's also a dirty, earthy, green feeling to the fragrance that makes this one come across "mature" in a negative way (like old man smell). Overall, you can tell the original DNA is in here, but I think the added notes detract from the original's beautiful simplicity. I think I would take any formulation of Dior Homme Intense over this specific version of the fragrance, but it's not necessarily a bad fragrance. Some could argue it's a modernization, but it comes across to me as somewhat old and mature. I had a sample of the original, but I blind bought a bottle of the new formulation because I thought the differences were going to be more subtle. In hindsight, I would have paid the extra money to get an old formulation bottle, but now that I own the reformulation, I'm just going to keep it. Am I slightly disappointed that it's not exactly like the original? Yes. Am I happy with the bottle that I have? I would say mostly yes. The new added notes give more complexity to the composition, but it's not all for the better. Still, I do get some enjoyment out of this new take on the original. My conclusion is that the original was more playful and way sexier, but the new formulation with its added notes comes across more mature and professional, which, in my opinion, is a slight detriment to the fragrance. I tolerate the newer version because the deep dry down gives me just enough of the base of the original. That's its saving grace. I rather own any version of this fragrance than not have it in my collection at all, but I can't whole-heartedly recommend this new version of the fragrance like I would with the original. The original is a masterpiece and a must purchase (I might still get an older bottle). This new version is basically a slightly better than average fragrance attempting to mask the masterpiece underneath. I can't recommend a blind purchase, and while I do think it's a solid enough fragrance to keep in my collection, it's not something I think the world is missing out on. Try it if you're an enthusiast or loved the original. If you're just getting into fragrances, there's much better scents to look into. The OG: 10/10 Masterpiece Spiked Collar: 7.5/10 Flawed Interpretation With Redeeming Qualities

Dior Homme Intense (DHI) is a contemporary classic and one of my favorite fragrances. As I heard that Valentino Uomo Intense is often compared to it, I decided to run an experiment these days, spraying both on my arms, one on each side. I don't have as well-trained a nose as most of you guys, so forgive me if this reads as an almost layman's review. At the onset, both fragrances felt extremely close, I’d say 90% similar (again, don’t forget I’m a layman), with Valentino taking a slight advantage in that it smelled “rounder” and with an iris that felt more pleasant, and less “lipsticky”. (I also had trouble finding the leather note on the Valentino, but this must be due to my skin chemistry, because it was more apparent on a friend of mine who also wore it the other day). By about half an hour later, both colonies start to drift slightly apart, following slightly different paths. Valentino felt more linear, still iris-strong, whereas DHI’s iris begins to settle a bit and you’re left with an extremely pleasant “chocolatey” aroma (maybe the cocoa powder some reviewers mention?). Even so, the differences remain extremely subtle, and an untrained nose would have a hard time distinguishing the two (I doubt anyone smelling it on my skin at a distance would notice the difference, and in this case, I'm including trained noses as well). Unfortunately, as far as performance is concerned, I couldn't complete the experiment as I ended up having an unscheduled meeting at night and had to take a shower. After the shower, I could still smell both on my arms almost equally well. Overall, I think DHI smelled a bit better, had a bit more depth and sophistication. In conclusion, if I had to choose, I’d go for DHI, by a very small margin, maybe 9.2 vs. 9.5 (yes, I REALLY enjoy both). Final thought: If you already own one, it would be redundant to buy the other as well.

One of the most hyped Valentino fragrances in the community. After hearing that it's a direct competitor to some other heavy-hitter iris scents, I blind bought it. Here's how it went; Scent: Opening is powdery, leathery, and citrusy. I'm immediately hit with the strong iris note, followed by the leather note. I get a noticeable dose of the mandarin orange as well. The dry down is powdery, leathery, and sweet. The iris and leather are still standout notes, but the vanilla and tonka have become main notes as well. Performance: Initial projection is strong at around 6 feet. Sillage is very strong, leaving a heavy scent trail. After a few hours the projection was still more than arms length and the scent trail was still easily noticeable. After around 8 hours the projection was still about arms length and there was still an easily noticeable scent trail. At the 12 hour mark, the projection was within 12 inches, but there was still a slightly noticeable scent trail. Beast mode performance. When to wear: This is a fall/winter fragrance that's suitable for day or night time wear. This is also a perfect office fragrance and would work great on a date night as well. Blind buy: If you like iris scents this is a very safe blind buy. This fragrance does not disappoint. Final verdict: This scent is a masterpiece, and I put it up there with the other iris heavy-hitters (Dior Homme Parfum, Prada L'homme Intense, and Givenchy Gentleman Reserve Privee). It's classy, sophisticated, and always gets positive attention. Couple that with the killer performance, and you got a perfect score from me. Add this one to your collection ASAP. Scent: 10/10 Longevity: 10/10 Sillage: 10/10

Before we dive into why Valentino Uomo Intense 2016 (smooth collar) gets so much love, let’s address the reformulation elephant: it was changed in 2021 (spiked collar). Now, this isn’t to say that VUI21 isn’t amazing—it is an outstanding fragrance. However, if you've never tried VUI16, it's tough to understand the distinction. 2016 (Smooth Bottle): It’s richer, smoother, and more full-bodied. The iris, leather, and vanilla blend seamlessly, creating a luxurious, effortless vibe. It lasts longer, projects better, and has the refined elegance people love. 2021 (Spiked Bottle): Still great, but lighter and thinner with less depth. You’ll likely still enjoy it—it just doesn’t have the same impact. The 2016 version is often hailed as one of the best iris fragrances out there. It’s powdery but never overwhelming, smooth but far from boring, with a warm, inviting feel. It’s creamy and soft, making it a standout, especially when compared to Dior Homme Intense, which many consider to be The King. Compared to Givenchy Gentleman EDP and Reserve Privée? Those have a richer, boozier iris, while VUI 2016 feels more versatile and wearable. Narciso Rodriguez Bleu Noir Parfum is cleaner and muskier, but it doesn’t have the same deep, warm richness. If you’re only familiar with the 2021 version, it might be hard to see what the fuss is about, or maybe you can. But for those who remember the 2016 release, it’s clear why it’s held in such high regard.

Gorgeous Scent and Another Iris Legend , The best Valentino ever created. Modern, Elegant, Classy, Seductive, Sexy and Warm. This is the first perfume from Valentino in my collection and I'm so happy that I have it in my collection. It was on my radar about two years and Finally I bought it blind-buy after reading the positive comments. It opens up with semi sweet warm spicy, herbal and powdery floral note in the background then dry down is semi sweet Creamy vanilla chocolate ambery. Based on Valentino Official Site, There are more notes in this perfume : The Patchouli and Woody notes. In my opinion, The Leather note is not dominant in this perfume and I don't get It. It has lovely Patchouli , Chocolate vibe undertone , It smells so good and very pleasant. Valentino Uomo Intense is sweet but It is not cloying, This is very soft and smooth, Suitable for the Cold Weather. The Art of bottle design is Luxurious Similar to Crystal and inspired by Roman Architecture. I really enjoy it and I love it. Valentino Uomo Intense along with Givenchy Gentleman Reserve Privée are Modern Masterpiece. You can't go wrong with them. Longevity is Good, Highly Recommended. Two Thumbs. Bravo Valentino ! Rating : 9 / 10

I didn't love this one from the jump but it has more than won me over. I prefer it on skin where I'm able to get that leather note and it does wonders for me. Combined with that iris and vanilla and muah, chef's kiss. It's powdery but I've really come to appreciate it. Never thought I'd be this into the sweets but this one and Reserve Privee are everything to me right now. Dior Homme deserves it's respect but I feel like others have taken that formula and made small changes and really improved upon it. I know some will react as if I just blasphemed but it's how I feel. Highly recommend it if you're into that iris or vanilla. I feel like this and Reserve do a good job of toeing the line and not going too sweet. Dior Homme, to my nose, was just over the line. Again, this is how my nose feels about em. Please don't trash me if you don't feel the same. Having different tastes is what makes "your" taste special. Love what you love and try to appreciate and respect what you don't. Done with the speech. About to repeatedly inhale this Valentino off my wrist.

MI got a sample yesterday. It smells similar to the original Valentino Uomo, so it has the same DNA but in this Version the leather is dominant. Valentino Uomo Intense is more masculin and stronger, it is still sweet don't get me wrong but not as sweet as the original and not very feminin anymore. The longevity is about 7 hours with 4 good hours of projection. It is in my opinion the best release of 2016. 10/10 Edit: It has better Performance than DHI and for me a better smell because the leather makes it more masculin but still gets you compliments and it is also not as powdery as DHI...it is powedery but you are not feeling it extremely like you would with DHI. (I hope you know what I mean) Also its not toooo sweet which i also like very much, especially the start is a bit non-sweet but after 15-20 min its just nice and warm and aromatic.

This is SO good. In the top you get a kind of metallic vibe and you also get that mandarin orange, iris and leather. I dont get any of that sage. As it dries down the tonka get really noticeable and the scent gets much sweeter. And for the last maybe 3 hours you are gonna get that vanilla and iris mix with a hint of leather in the backround, so smooth. I get really good longevity with this one, 10 hours+. And i get a moderate projection which i find really nice, i use about 6 six sprays of this in the winter and fall. But i also like this in the high heat, i find the iris to be sooo good in the spring and even in the summer. However, dont use more than 4 sprays of this in the summer if you dont want to disturb people. I think that this is a masterpiece, better than DHI. This is one of the best designers out there.

I’m late to the party on this one, but wow what an awesome fragrance. I have been into fragrances for a while and have a pretty decent and diverse collection of popular niche frags. I had (foolishly) made the assumption that designer was less than niche, but this one made me realise that just because it costs less, you don’t get less for your money. I would actually rate this in the top 5 of my collection in terms of how accessible and versatile this is. You could wear this to work, the gym, on a date, night out - anywhere anytime. It is soothing and inviting. Very seductive and sophisticated. Anyone who smells like this is winning. Now I’m intrigued to try the others in this collection. Very happy with this.

This is DHI, but with leather, cacao, and coffee. It's a touch sweeter, and it smells a little bit like a leather jacket or something whereas DHI is more about that iris and warm spices. I waffle between liking this and loving it, because it smells a little rougher around the edges than DHI, but coming back to it after having not used it in some time, my opinion has changed for the better I think. It is a little rougher around the edges, but that's what makes it different, and IMO it actually makes it a little bit more decidedly masculine than DHI. I think wearing this with a nice attire, appropriate for a chilly Midwest evening in October or November, this would hit just perfectly. It is outstanding.

This fragrance is amazing. For me, it is a near perfect blend of more feminine leaning notes like vanilla, unisex iris and masculine leather. It is gorgeous. With the release of Dior Homme Parfum 2025 and difficulty acquiring the now discontinued "real" Dior Homme Parfum pre-2025, I found myself thinking about Valentino Uomo Intense. This fragrance is still fairly easy to find, especially compared to pre-2025 DHP. It is also significantly cheaper than DHP and arguably an easier wear, or at least more versatile, compared to DHP. So I am going to stock up on this, interchange it with my "real" DHP, and use both of them liberally until the day I die.

One of my favourite fragrances of all time. Definitely in my top 10. To me, this smells like makeup/lipstick frok back in the days. It's only so addictive and smells fricking amazing. It's a must have if you appreciate iris heavy fragrances, similar to Dior Homme Intense, Givenchy Gentlemen EDP & Narciso Rodriguez For Him Bleu Noir Parfum. I've worn this fragrance quite regularly especially during the cold season and unfortunately, I have never received a compliment from it. Most of my friends that have smelt this scent profile don't like Iris scents but trust me, if you're a fragrance lover this is a must have.

The combination of mandarin with iris stays with me for a long time. Longevity and projection are pretty good. It's a sweeter iris, like lipstick on a lollipop. Comparison with Dior Homme Intense is inevitable, they have a similar profile, I found DHI drier, towards cocoa powder, and maybe more elegant. This one feels more youthful. The bottle is pretty cool and punk rock as well. I personally can wear these type of fragrances any time, but I understand why some people might say they are better suited for winter and fall. DHI fits more strictly into those seasons for me. This one could be worn all year round.

This fragrance is amazing , but ... I have Givenchy gentleman reserve privee and they are very similar. Idk maybe its just my nose. Only differences are , that valentino opens a bit more fresh and givenchy is heavier , also after dry down valentino is leather focused (but it's not heavy leather) and Givenchy focused more on whiskey . I smelled Narciso for him parfum and DHI , they are also iris based but very different from each other and from these fragrances . But VUI and privee share very similar DNA . So i like them both , but having both of them i redundant , unless you are collector

Just purchased this in Europe, it's definitely not discontinued, batch code made in December 2024. Beautiful fragrance, it reminds me of Valentino Uomo alot but just darker and a little more Masculine. I must say this is a 10/10 fragrance, even with the "formulation", this and the Valentino Uomo set themselves apart from most designers, this is classy and sophisticated. Even at a discounter it's on the expensive side unfortunately, but you feel the quality. I don't care for the born in the Roma line, they are pleasent, made to be mass appealing, too sweet and more on the juvenile side.

This is one of the best designer fragrances of all time imo, especially for the cooler months. It is dark, smooth, and well refined . I get amazing performance on my skin. If you love this fragrance and haven’t got yourself a back up I would before the price skyrockets . You can still find this on eBay for under 150 for a 3.4 which is a great price considering the price of designer fragrances these days . You won’t get the 2016 version but VUI 2021 is amazing also, it just doesn’t perform as well on me and it has a fresher opening to make it more mass appealing imo . 10/10

Powdery , sweet vanilla but it’s not overwhelming sweet. It has a calming yet confidant aura about it. Light powdery lipstick that meshes beautifully with this smooth leather . In the air to me the leather comes off a biiiiiit just a tiny bit animatic but it makes it sexy . As a woman, I comfortably and confidently wear this without layering another sweeter scent. This is perfectly unisex however it is extreme sexy yet a confident, smooth and cool fragrance on a man. Love it so much . I get all day wear on clothes but on skin I can only catch wafts at around 6 hours

Compared to DHI by many. Has it's similarities but is a frag of its own. Nutty iris, not as lipsticky. Vanilla note on the opening gives it some creaminess. Projects well for the start but I think DHI has better longetivity. Still get the suede leather despite the iris and violet trying to be dominant. Also VUI is more aromatic than DHI. Most young to mid age gentleman should like this. Good for all day and night wear too. So if you are in the hunt for something similar to DHI, has iris, nice vanilla and leather and very aromatic, give VUI a try.

**Copied from my review of the 2021 version** Ok, so I've had the 2021 version for about a month and just got the 2016 (2020 batch) non Puig version yesterday. I just sprayed the 2016 so off the top I get that bubble gum vibe you get with Noir Absolu but now is drying down to what I'm familiar with in the 2021. I didn't tell y'all that I absolutely love 2021 it's so incredible its literally my favorite fragrance of all time it's perfect in every way, this 2016 is definitely different in the top but ill have to report back concerning the rest.

I own both this and DHI and I prefer Uomo intense for a few reasons. I think Uomo intense has a more sophisticated smell because you can pickup the vanilla, leather, and it is less lipsticky with more depth. DHI to me is more linear. Uomo intense is dark and cozy, and smells classy and expensive. I think when purchasing this or DHI, you definitely need to like iris and the lipstick smell, because that is still the most predominant note in both fragrances. But if you are a fan of the iris DNA, Uomo intense is definitely worth a purchase. 9/10