Valentina Oud Assoluto Valentino for women

Valentina Oud Assoluto Valentino
(USD 65, 80 ml. with 2ml. decant from friend, thank you)

I think most people might put a little harsh opinion into Valentina Oud Assoluto.
I know, Oud is "It" ingredient, Niche people appreciate but General Audience turn down.
Therefore, Majority of Oud fragrance from Designer realm are lost in the red sea.

Bare in mind, designer is always be designers. It means to be easily understandable.
Oud Assoluto is one of them, but this beautiful as well.

Valentino Oud Assoluto is beautifully done Oud fragrance that very Unisex but Femme Fatale.
Out is syntactic and leans woody / bitter. Leather in this are also not very strong leans suede than leather.
While Oud / Leather combination is seems scary (think of Ombre Nomade).
The Rose and Vanilla really help overall assessment and lighten the scent significant.
The point where do I like the most is Rose questionably has Fruity nuance (Apple like).
While Vanilla kind of wrap around everything, it is very see-though to Rose / Oud / Leather

It opens strongly with Leather / Bitterness - Mild spice by Cardamom
Before transiting to Leather-Rose fragrance that can be easily wear everyday.
I would say this is still tranperent, but I might just sniff way more dense fragrance.

Personally, I think Oliver Creep makes the best scent when he make scent for Femme in Absolute / Noir style. It is almost always leans masculine, guarantee both gender can wear.

Score 7/10
(Consider both Niche / Designer realm, but for designer only I think I can give this Solid 8/10)
Longevity : 6-7 hours.
Projection : Moderate
Classification : Unisex (femme-fatale realm)
Summary : The Everyday Rose-Oud

Other suggestion with Rose-Leather-Oud style of fragrance.
- Guerlain L'homme Ideal L'intense
- Guerlain Musc Noble
- MEMO Paris French Leather

So I'm a big fan of Oliver Cresp and couldn't get enough of his fruity, citrusy and fresh creations. To me this is so not your typical Cresp and it took a while for me to warm up to it. But when I did warm to it, bam! It's a love. It's definitely leather and oud but not too dark tho. Its so warm and alive. Unisex, winter appropriate and not safe blind buy. If you find this too strong and dark, try myrrh absoluto (grey bottle).

Very smokey sweet scent with a leather note. I am not into this type of scent but was curious to try it because of the good price and the lovely bottle.

i get a smoky oud with rose and saffron. then something sweet like apricot jam but i think it must just be a 'jammy' rose. it remains quite smoky, and a bit rubbery-it's a smoky sweet scent of opposites. a like but not a love for me. i've tried many rose ouds at this point and this one is good but a bit too smoky for me. the rose in this is really lovely though.

ETA: trying again in winter and it's better now as it suits this season much more. it's still pretty smoky at first but gets a lot more of the jammy rose in the drydown. it's great in cold weather.

Powdery inky rubbery leather, flat oud, then lipstick rose, miniscule top note of a spice (nutmeg/cardomom) and a dull grey saffron running all away along it which I really dont like.
On initial spray this is nice but then it falls flat due to the nauseating dull saffron/gasoline vibe which takes over.
Completely Unisex
Longevity 4-6hours
Mild Sillage
Overall 5.5/10.
A reviewer mentioned that something felt missing. It has the potential to be fantastic.
Please try myrrh assoluto that is a masterpiece!!

I want to love this, but it just feels like it is missing something. I'm not an expert on oud by any means, and I actually prefer the way it is used here versus some others I've smelled, but it is safe almost to the point of being a little boring. It mostly comes off as leather and soft clean oud with some rose peeking out every now and again. Very soft sillage, surprising for an oud fragrance IMO, and not very long lasting. It's beautiful about 20 minutes after application until about hour two, then becomes a skin scent. I normally don't refresh my perfume during the day, but it's 6pm and I've applied three times total in 12hrs. I would say it lasts 2-4 hours on my skin. My sample is a roller ball, so not sure if spraying clothing/hair would improve lasting power by much. Overall it's nice but not FB worthy. The bottle is so beautiful though! I would certainly use it if gifted.

Retested and its very much a skin scent and rather boring by todays standards in oud.

Oud Assoluto is a bit of a misnomer. It should have been titled: Rosa Assoluto Noir. Like it's pink-bottled sister Rosa Assoluto, Oud Assoluto is all about a thick, bold, candied rose. There is also a nice touch of gummy and sweet orange blossom, which is much stronger here than in Rosa Assoluto. Unlike Rosa Assoluto, there is no sweet praline-musk or sparkling raspberry. Instead, there is the added texture for a very dry, dusty leather. In the background, a silvery strand of clean, astringent oud can be detected. The oud here is soft and non-offensive. I smell something very animal-musky-buttery in here, but it's not listed on fragrantica, and it has a tendency to vanish and later rematerialize at will. Despite how that sounds written out, it is definitely not a dirty scent; more of a lived-in one. I'm wondering if it's the cardamom, which can sometimes go a bit dirty-earthy on me. In addition, I can detect something sweet and edible, almost like cream soda. This too comes and goes, although less frequent, and when it does appear, it is shy. Which notes contribute to this effect are a mystery to me.

Oud Assoluto is dry and unisex aside from the florals, which is appreciated because it creates a pleasant contrast between the husky, well-worn quality of the base and the glamorous rose and orange blossom. Strangely enough, if the rose was more of the wine-red than blush-pink variety, and a drop of chypre-concoction was dropped in, Oud Assoluto would be right at home in the Juliette Has a Gun line. Oud Assoluto is not a great example of oud perfume, but it is a lovely portrait of what cute mainstream florals and more obscure notes can do when they work together.

Dark, sweet, strong, hypnotic,a bit smokey and rubbery. The rose is candy sweet but it makes a nice contrast with the other notes. It reminds me of black liquorice candy somewhat. This is a strong like for me, i find it quite unique smeling. I have not smelled oud before though, so i don't know how it's supposed to smell. Maybe someone who has tried alot of fragrances with oud and rose might not find it that interesting.

This is quite a strong essence, something you might find bubbling in a witch's cauldron. I think a woman who likes sweet perfumes, but likes to stand out and wants something with a bit of an edge might enjoy this.

Edit: unfortunately I must move this from a like to a dislike, after wearing my sample more, i realized there is a piercing sharpness in this scent that gives me a slight headache and makes me queasy. I can't pinpoint where this sharpness comes from, it might be the oud, it might be the way the notes mix.

PERSONAL STORY, SKIP TO READ REVIEW OF FRAGRANCE:
You know how perfumes can bring you back to certain memories in time when you smell them? Well, this perfume brings me back to a certain person whenever I smell it. This smells like my first love, I was 13-14 years old. I used to hug him and he had this distinctive smell that I just wanted to smell forever and all the time. I was certain it was probably some laundry detergent his mother used but I was too shy to ever ask. When I tested this perfume I was thrown back to that time, being so young and vulnerable and feeling the first emotions of love for another person, envisioning a future with them and wanting the security of forever with someone, someday. Now I'm no longer with this boy, and all the better for it. I wouldn't trade my life for a single second, nor the family I've been blessed with today. But wow, it sure was fascinating to take a trip down memory lane every time I smelled this. It's a wonderful thing sometimes to reflect back on your youth, and realize how much you've grown as a person, how those experiences shaped who you are today. I think I'd like a decant of this, not a full bottle. And not necessarily to wear. Some people keep boxes of memories, or photo albums with pictures of their old flames. I burned all his stuff, of course, the dramatic teenager that I was, but now I'm happy that I have this perfume to bring me back to those nice fuzzy feelings, and that wonderful smell he had. We can just kinda kick him to the curb, and imagine this as the equivalent of keeping the leather jacket he wore just to smell it from time to time.

REVIEW:
I smell this fragrance and fond teenage memories aside, I'd have never guessed that oud was involved. Oud always smells dirty to me, a bit like animal waste or rotting wood that's being consumed by termites. But this oud is quite clean. I would attribute this to the rose, perhaps, but this doesn't have that same ROSE + OUD generic combo that every single house releases. You know the smell, and this isn't that. There's no fruitiness, no sweetness, nothing that would bring to mind either notes. I don't get the vanilla. Maybe there's a touch of leather. But again, it's not animalic. It brings to mind clean new car leather seats. Very luxurious. Almost a bit too snobby to wear out in normal public functions. This is something you'd wear if you were invited over to a White House banquet, or to Bill Gates house. It's got an air of "I know I'm better than you, and you've never smelled anything like this before, because you couldn't afford it" to it, even though it's price is easily accessible. This is something that the normal masses might find unappealing, or even grotesque when held up alongside its alternative, La Vie Est Belle or Flowerbomb. Many would choose the latter. Someone who doesn't care what's in vogue, or on the contrary prefers what's the opposite, would be drawn to this. It has nothing to do with its original scent, Valentina either. This is a flanker that actually makes no sense as a flanker, but I understand when they do this it's to save money on packaging and marketing. I give props to Valentino for realeasing such a daringly different fragrance. It's not mainstream, it's not even the typical standard oud fragrance that you'd think IFRA might've passed a law requiring every house to release considering they all smell exactly the same no matter what they price it at.

If you thought you hated oud fragrances, don't pass up the chance to still test this one, it might surprise you. If you're still hung up on Britney Spears perfumes and can't stand anything "musky" (isn't that what they describe every scent that doesn't smell like cupcakes or Light Blue?), maybe move down the line to its original pink flower encrusted sister that smells like strawberry lipgloss.

I sound like such a snob at this point, don't I? I assure you, it's not me, it's this fragrance I have on. They should list that as a possible side effect when you wear this on the side of the box.

Leather, rose, oud. In about that order.

Soft, woody, little rosey (floral). The leather is a little sharp & reminds me of Tuscan Leather's. Could've been softer which would've made it more feminine.

Unisex smell.

Likeable but nothing new to me, honestly.

"Like" & pass.

I agree with my friend Angelica, it reminds me of a campfire made with fence posts that have been creosoted. That said, also strangely alluring as it softens with wearing. Just as well as it is Looong wearing.

Well normally reading the reviews here, I get a good sense of the perfume, and can relate. The reviews here did no such thing, left me curious... I bought a bottle and Wow... Not like anything else I have tried before I almost don't want to call this a perfume, more of an essence. The first spray is sharp, think witch hazel... And after what would be the nose equivalent to blinking, the scents come to focus. I am assuming it is the oud note that smells kinda like old, warm leather, antiquish... That plays around for a bit, then the rose drifts in. It then kinda does this dance, where the notes shuffle around in a a well chorographed dance. Eventually the rhythm evens out, leaving a smell reminiscent of a waltz. The scent is intimate, formal and flowy. As this is unlike other perfumes I have tried it's hard to put into words. To me this is like the scent of a person... If you ever sniffed a loved ones shirt, pillow... whatever... And underneath the "perfume" you smell something so inherently them... it is like that. I find it alluring, curious, and pretty, at the same time a tad dirty and sexy. Time will tell if this is new regular... Or niche scent.

Amazing! I love it so much ❤

It's a divine scent that reminds me of a Pagan priestess.
To me it's basically warm sweet oud and vanilla - other notes are so subtle and balanced that only provide support for these two.
This is one of the few perfumes i bother to own a full 80 ml bottle - most of my perfumes are decants stored in small crystal bottles so I can own as many as I want. It's different from anything I have ever tried, yet very wearable.

Spicy, leathery, Smokey, and super dark exactly as the bottle!! not a soft scent at all but an aggressive one; me personally I love oud/rose combo, but here its more a leathery/oud combo, with a hint of roses, sometimes I can’t bear the leathery note, as in here it is opulent and dark, specially at the opening, but when I give it an hour, I can feel the quality of its ingredients, which makes me feel as I'm using a niche perfume; for honesty the bottle itself doesn't make me feel sorry for acquiring it, but I could only enjoy wearing it in winter, and I have to layer it with another sweet fragrance, that's how I really enjoy it!

If somebody is looking for a darker version of the normal rose/ oud fragrances with more spices and more obvious leather note maybe this is the one to go for!
.
Season: winter.
Sillage: loud.
Longevity: moderate.
Definitely a unisex fragrance.

Edit:
I wanted to know what makes this fragrance different that the other leathery- woody fragrances in my collection, and after wearing it more often, I just found the answer, which is: it misses the sweetness, for some people they believe it is a bit harsh, and resembles the scent of a campfire, as other people have mentioned!

I go to a bottle of this because the bottle is beautiful and has a touch of class. Sadly, I had to give it to my mom after I realized I got a headache each time I wore it. It's a very loud perfume. To me, its basically oud and leather all other notes couldn't really be detected by my nose.

similar to montale aoud leather

Purely Eastern; and thus, not for everybody. Absolute oud and leather could resemble the smell of burnt tyres for some noses. The rose is a bit faint. Nevertheless, this remains a quality Arabian old-school perfume.

I blind bought this because I'm a sucker for leather and oud and some of the reviews on here intrigued me. Im a risk taker in that I will wear anything if the notes interests me. I try not the let the marking (if it's supposed to be made for men or women), the packaging or the bottle influence me. I got this online at a cheap enough price for me to gamble a bit. Was it worth it?Short answer: Hell yes.
First spray scared me a bit as it starts off very sweet and fruity, I thought it might be way too feminine. I don't see berry in the notes, but I swear its in here. The moment the alcohol dries off, the oud and leather come right to the surface. The sweet and bitter mix perfectly, this is really multi dimensional, multi layered and very very interesting stuff. As potent as it is, it softens after 20 mins and the rose and vanilla comes through, bringing out the familiar original Valentina notes, but the oud and leather never stray too far off, giving this a nice backbone. I always thought the original Valentina was nice, but safe and a little boring, its 1000% improved here.
At the end of the day, any woman would loves this. As a guy, I see myself layering this with another stronger oud or leather scent to make it my own. This would pair well with Black Orchid or Tuscany Leather. I cannot recommend this one strongly enough. If you see a deal online, get it, you won't be disappointed.

As an oud hater,I may not be in the right position of judging oudy fragrances,I also hate to write negative reviews but I felt responsibility to write this since most reviews are positive and this may lead to blindbuys which can be terribly unsuccessful
Recently I'm growing to like some of the notes I always hated.such as patchouli and leather.after buying and loving lancome oud bouquet I started to dig oudy perfumes.my second experience with oud was something between success and failure.my feelings towards flowerbomb rose explusion was something between love and hatred.I thought Valentino oud assoluto can be my third experience.valentino is among my favorite brands.I believe there's something in most Valentino fragrances that goes very well with my skin chemistry (except Valentinos with tuber in them)also there was rose,vanilla,saffron and orange flower in oud assoluto.these notes can balance oud and turn it to something lovely
But...
I was so lucky that I decided to try it first.when I find a perfume high quality but not in my type,I confess that it's good just different from my taste.but unfortunately Valentino oud assoluto is something I hate and I can't find any beauty in it.rose,saffron and vanilla usually add brightness and sweetness to balance oud's bitter dark tone but not here.I can't detect slightest trace of mentioned notes.I can smell oud,cardamom and something cold like cucumber and it doesn't get any better
Since there's lots of great reviews I'm thinking that maybe my nose is anosmic to some of it's notes but what I can smell is honestly very risky for blindbuy even if you love oud and us totally unisex
Longevity and sillage are great and this is very unique,a stand out perfume and different from generic oud-rose-saffron combos
❤
متاسفانه بجز عود و هل بقیه نت ها رو حس نمیکنم..درکنار عود یه رایحه سرد حس میکنم.یچیزی مثل ماست و خیار!!با توجه به اینکه ریویوهای مثبت زیادی داره احتمالا مشکل از بینی منه اما توصیه میکنم به هیچ وجه بدون تست نخریدش. موندگاری و پخش بسیار بالایی داره رایحه بسیار خاص و قوی داره که بنظر من کاملا یونی هست..کاملا با سایر عطرهای عودی رزی زعفرانی متفاوته و کوچکترین ردی از شیرینی نداره

OMG! What a beast.
It opens with a very strong smoky oud note, that is nauseating to me. Then it drys down to the normal Valentina by Valentino composition with a noticable oud note.
It strong and has a very good sillage and staying power.
I like the original Valentina a lot.
BUT I cannot deal with the oud note in this one since it makes me nauseous.
After I tried this I could not handle the original Valentina fragrance anymore for 1-2 years because it reminded me of this and the way I felt when i tryed this.
(this experience made my Valentina bottle last up until today and I received it 4-5 years ago :) )

I believe this is my favorite oud/rose fragrance. The longevity and sillage might be a LITTLE better, but another swoon worthy fragrance for me. YUUUUUUUM!

I blind bought this and it's quite strong in my opinion. The oud and rose definitely comes through but I cannot detect any leather. If anything I smell an extremely pungent jasmine note that reminds me of Tom Ford's Noir Pour Femme. The staying power on my skin is very poor, within an hour it's gone! The bottle is absolutely stunning though but it's a shame that the juice doesn't match. :(

The only thing I hate about black bottes is that you can never tell when you are gonna be out of fragrance.
I stll probably have about 20ml left of this beauty and hoping to find another bottle soon.
This smells so good vanilla rose and mild aoud it's quite thick and lasts very well on skin.The aoud is very gentle and blends beautifully with the leather and rose.
I love it so much but now it's very difficult to find

I think this is the first time I have smelled oud and my nose is far from trained. I am having a hard time with this one, one small spray seems to make me a bit nauseated. I love the original Valentina but this one I cannot appreciate, sadly.

Couldn't believe my luck when I found this in a House of Fraser Outlet in Leicester! I've only ever seen this coming through the airports and I cursed myself for not buying it at the time! Although, as the last reviewer said, it's no oud powerhouse, it does justice to the original Valentina which is one of the best 'delicately feminine' fragrances out there! I had to get two bottles just in case... Definitely thumbs up for the silage and it reminds me of a less leathery, prettier and feminine interpretation of Prada's Amber Pour Homme Intense

Being a man I test a fragrance extensively if it is labeled as feminine. Well, I bought a bottle. I would call Valentina Oud Assoluto straight up the middle unisex, but with some caveats.

The leather and saffron accord is quite bold and masculine. The rose and vanilla seem to render the potion beautifully and unmistakenly feminine. The oud, let's be charitable and say it is well blended, because I'd be hard pressed to call it dominant. It does its job, it's presence is felt, but to name this as an oud fragrance seems misleading. I am sure that those who have smelled any powerhouse oud fragrance know what I mean if they have also tried this.

I probably own more than a dozen frags labeled as unisex which smell more feminine than this. With the question of gender out of the way this is a gorgeous fragrance which smells elegant and chic and worthy of a special night out. I almost want to put it on my niche shelf, as it smells like niche perfumery.

The leather is both the most dominant and most beautiful note in this scent, and I would highly recommend it to both men and women who love leather perfumes.

So much oud, I liked the original Valentina, but this one is strange on my skin.

Nicely hidden East here Rich and sophisticated scent for original perfume lovers
Not to loud or overdone notes in this Valentina ,just a Peace of Art in the fullness

One of the best smelling and crafted perfumes on the market now...Big Love from me...

I am happy owner of 80 ml edp bottle Valentina Oud Assoluto :-)

I was lucky enough to receive this as a birthday present from my wife who knows I am a sucker for aloeswood, orange blossom, rose and saffron. So, for me at least, this scent ticks all of the registers. On my skin the floral notes are noticably there yet perfectly eclipsed by the aloeswood, all set against the unmistakable presence of earthy saffron. So much so that I think this fragrance laughs mischievously at the gender divide as if it isn't even there. Gorgeously dark and absolutely intriguing.

Valentina Oud Assoluto - I am seriously head over heels with this fragrance. Its rich combination captured my heart and sent it a flutter. This is a blend of strong spicy notes, soft florals, and smooth oud with delicious vanilla and woody notes. Valentina Oud Assoluto goes on strong and dries down sexy. I truly enjoy the way the leather notes pops in out throughout the wear. At times it lingers and at other times it seems to want play peek-a-boo.

The bottle is gorgeous but it is not solid black, it is somewhat transparent. The fragrance is pure gold and packs a punch, longevity is well over 12hrs with strong sillage. Handle with care, less is better for this amazing fragrance. Definitely a unisex type of scent.

This is a nice clean oud, quite masculine and the leather is more like plastic but I like it. Very wearable and elegant.

By far one of my favourite oud fragrances! A little heavy, so perfect for fall and winter nights (or days!). This is a different and exotic oud, with very spicy notes as well. The first spray is all spice and cardamom, drying down to a beautifully sexy and intriguing oud that will last all day or night. This perfume is perfect for when I want to feel sexy, sophisticated, confident, with a hint of exotic. I honestly cried when my bottle ran out, since I can't find it anymore! Boo-hoo.

Absolutely lovely! Valentino's revanche, return or whatever it is, but this perfume was my winter favourite! The weather is still cold so I keep on wearing it like a scarf of dark organza, so smoky, misty, leathery and classy scent!

I'm fairly new to Oud based fragrances and bought this blind, but I don't regret it one little bit. The Oud comes across fairly strongly to me, but I love it. The vanilla adds the sweet note. Very happy I bought this one.

This stuff is absolutely beautiful! I bought it blind and could not be happier. I tend to not care as much for designer fragrances and thought a Valentino would be a long shot but it is an absolutely gorgeous fragrance! It is a sweet rose leather smoky oud with a heavy dose of the most luscious vanilla. Which sets it apart from most of the rose ouds that I own and have tried (pretty extensive list). Unlike most of my more unisex rose ouds, it is very feminine. To call this one unisex would be a stretch. I mean, I think we can all wear whatever we want despite the label and I do all the time but there is no denying the female power in this one. This is a head turning compliment getter for certain. So glad I took the plunge and got it.

Very masculine did not care for it and returned it. It's not unisex.. It's manly all the way. Avoid if you are not a fan of masculine scents.

I must say, before I proceed, that I hate vanilla, however in this case it is so well blended it's a masterpiece. I bought this beauty after reading the lovely fragra Ladies reviews, and, boy, they are true! On spraying I was hit with a heady mix of leather, oud and vanilla but well blended and delicious! This is a strong juice and goes like for several hours. The dry down is an exquisite leather, rose and oud, sooooo alluring, feminine and yet modern, the oud has a great depth and is fantastic for those who try it for the first time. A very sexy, womanly scent, this is great as a first date fragrance, but, ladies, it is so amazing I would wear it anytime. I am very impressed and glad I got a full bottle! It will come ever so useful in the coming weeks.....!

Now THIS is my idea of a totally classy and mysterious fragrance! It's a real head turner. The oud is delightfully westernised - no poo smell here. The leather is soft and the rose is not in your face. It is a well crafted and beautifully balanced offering from Valentino - the couture is extremely sophisticated, therefore a perfume like this is just what I would expect. Superior sillage and lasting power - I can detect the remnants15 hours after applying it. Finally, an oud I can get my head around! I gather it's been discontinued. I'm pleased to see that there is a graphic of the Valentino bottles being used on the site again.

Where I purchase my perfume have just informed me that this fragrance will be discontinued , I am very disappointed ! Maybe not discontinued but since it was a limited edition they don't vary it anymore ! If someone has more info about this information plz share

Reminds me of Cavalli oud edition, but less dark, less smoky and little more sweeter.

Sexy, smoldering, irresistible Femme Fatale!
Where are my skin-tight, black leather pants and riding crop when I need them? Fifty Shades, anyone? I imagine this is what you should wear in the Red Room of Pain.

This is my third attempt at an Oud and I must admit, my first and second trials didn't go so well. The campfire, burning wood smell was too much.

Valentina Oud Assoluto could easily be the "baby's first steps" to Oud, but exquisitely done. This is just what I needed! I think my heart sighed a little.

It's woodsy, leathery, rosy, spicy, with a touch of vanilla.

I CANNOT stop smelling my wrist. I feel like I've just cheated on my husband with Valentino.

It's strong, but deliciously so. It is in no way overbearing if sprayed conservatively. I feel this is a date night perfume, but I will wear this to work, one spray on my wrist will suffice. Longevity and sillage are fantastic.

I'm in shock right now. Can you believe I blindly bought this for $150 from Neiman Marcus? I sure as heck can't, but it was worth every last penny.

Update 5.15.14: I've worn this to work three times. As much as I love and adore this perfume, I don't feel this is appropriate for a daytime office environment. I use the word 'appropriate' loosely. I fear this unique scent can't be showcased or appreciated as much during the day. Whereas in the evening or at night, it becomes alluring. May be best saved for special occasions, so it doesn't become too familiar.

I bought Valentina Assoluto Oud scent unsniffed. I LOVE Valentina Assoluto so I figured I'd love this fragrance too. When I sprayed it on, I found the oud note was way too strong for me. It was so strong, I couldn't discern any other notes. On the positive side, it lasts. I went around smelling like a stamped out campfire for five hours. That's the way the cookie crumbles.

A while ago there was a pop up shop in my shopping mall that sold Arabian perfumes and attars. I tested an oud based perfume that was out of this world-it was clearly oud, but was not paired with heavy rose like many western interpretations. This was dry, raspy, yet light and wispy at the same time. I never went back to purchase it, and always regarded that perfume as "the one that got away"... Until I tried Valentina Oud.

Now I'm not one to throw the "Femme Fatale" title around recklessly, but I would agree wholeheartedly with other reviews that attest to the sex appeal of this fragrance. The orange blossom, rose and vanilla are not prominent on me. Rather, this is an oud-leather combination that is supported by some magnificent spices and has excellent projection and longevity. The oud is not tarry or medicinal a la Montale. Rather, its quite delicate, pungent, almost sour with lots of smoke. Supported by leather, this is a seriously interesting perfume.

The bottle is black and luxurious and squirts its inky contents. But just because its a black bottle, don't be deceived. This can be worn to the office or for daytime wear on the right person.

Very dark, very strong and very intriguing. I love these metallic, medicine-like notes that last from the head to the base, which is unique. I can also feel tar, smoke and leather. Unfortunately it develops into a little bit too sweet later on, maybe too much vanilla?
OUD is sometimes too overwhelming and too strong for my senses and I cannot wear it in the office as it distracts me from work:). Let alone other people!:)
First perfume that I bought by impusle. Usually It takes months before I go for a new fragrance. This one I tried in Munich airport on my wrist and couldn't resist smelling it every second. Just before boarding I ran back through terminals to duty free risking missing the flight. Irresistible.

First of all I mist say that me new bottle is gorgeous, feminine yet edgy. I first saw in on Rachael Zoe blog, it was one of the top picks of winter fragrances.

Indeed it is cold, sharp, dark, strong and mysterious. At the beginning I got a burst of burned wood, then it turned into leather with slight metallic undertones. Oud tends to dominate the composition from the beginning. I can still smell it on my wrist after 6 hours and washing my hands several times. The drydown is pleasant and stays close to the skin remaining the original cold and dark characteristics of the scent.

Proceed with caution! This scent has attitude, it is in-your-face and can easily offend...but at the same time it is alluring and fascinating.
Definitely not a scent for faint-hearted or the office. I would reserve it for nightime and special occasions. Wear it if you want to stand out from floral-fruity mass :)

I tried this on in the Myer store the other day and it immediately reminded me of Tuscan Leather by Tom Ford. This seems like a dry leather, whereas TF has a bit of berry note in it. It is quite nice after the dry down and I could still smell it on my skin 4 hours after. I will go back to the store and try again before I decide whether to purchase a full bottle.

HORRIBLE!!!!

This fragrance is now available in Australia (I saw it in Myer today). Sadly it isn't quite what I expected and smells a bit like Dettol on my skin! Hopefully as it dries down it develops into something less medicinal.

Edit: about 1 hour later, it has dried down to a very pleasant scent that is akin to the original Valentina.

At last!!! A Valentino perfume with character! Strong, yes, as strong as 80s perfumes used to be. And quite oriental this oud combination! Loud, very different from the lot, pleasant and very long lasting. It belongs to the love-it-or-hate-it group, but noone can say it's dull, linear or crowd pleasing! Welcome back, Valentino!!

Im simply in love with the scent ... I always wear Cartier baiser du dragon but now I have 2 favorites cartier and this one ! I usually never purchase a frangrance that contains vanilla for I really dont like vanilla but cant pick it up n the perfume ..i am very happy about that ! I sprayed it on me yesterday morning and i could still ick up the scent 24 hours later on my clothing ! A must have

If you are thinking rose, oud, hmmm, that's familiar, well this one is different. The addition of a leather note seems to make all the difference. I haven't come across a fragrance like this. Very nicely blended from the get go. No blatant, in your face notes, all are warm and tender even. And great bottle!

Is this available worldwide? In what countries and perfumeries have you seen it? It is not listed on the regular Valentino fragrances site....

Is that long lasting coz I really need to try this

It's long lasting?

It's long lasting?

As fate would have it, I did end up buying a full bottle of this dark, rosy nectar! I thought, however, that it was unlike anything else I have smelled in all my years of olfactory interest. I was wrong. The more that I wore it, I couldnt get away from the fact that I feel like I may have smelled this parfum in a past life... I don't know how I could not have noticed that this smells almost like the original FENDI for women! I didn't wear it in a past life as far as I know, but I actually own a bottle of original Fendi that I rarely wear (but love very much). I'm surprised at myself and slightly embarrassed, but still satisfied nonetheless!

If the original Fendi for women had a younger sister born of the next generation, it would be this very oud fragrance by Valentino. The difference is in the base notes: Valentina Oud is sweeter and woodsier, Fendi for Women is stronger and spicier. Both are orientals and share the very prominent and sophisticated notes of rose, leather, cardamom, and vanilla. Although the similarity is undeniable and they are both equally as expensive (considering Fendi was discontinued), Valentina Oud Assoluto maintains her own personality.

Valentina Oud, in comparison to Fendi, is more wearable in these modern times. I'm able to better acquaint myself with the notes, though few, now that I have my own bottle. Upon opening, I smell strictly orange blossom and oud. I understand oud is the middle note, but I smell it immediately in full strength. The orange blossom subsides and the rose emerges from the leathery darkness to demand the spotlight as the cardamom and saffron sit in silence to watch. Alas, you are left with a tantalizing trio of rose, leather, and oud that will cling to your skin for hours. A perfect winter parfum and an 80's classic revived in the form of a modern oud.

Edit: I want to make it clear that when I say they are similar, I am NOT saying they are the same, or that this is a replacement for Fendi. They are definitely not the same smell, though the notes are close.

This perfume reminds me more to an elixir than anything else. I tried it on my skin before having a look at the ingredient : I was convinced at first that it has black pepper, some blackberry and perhaps musk (which in fact was due to the agarwood).
Rose and vanilla was obvious, and so was for the wood notes too.

I was pretty wrong with my first guess! Agarwood and Saffron? I recall it in very few creations! Agarwood starts to become more and more fashionable in France and was always in Middle East (where I currently live). As a European (and not French), I can tell that this perfume is very exceptional but I am also sure that many will dislike it.
As for the saffron, it is a bit more commonly in use (Givenchy: Ange ou Demon, Agent Provocateur, Idole of Armani...) but still not widely.

This Valentina is a dark scent, almost hypnotizing, with an overall spicy-leader feature. If you like oriental perfume, go for it.

Definitely not for younger generation. Preferably for business environment or evening, winter/fall and 35+.

A particular perfume which I believe is a great creation and will become a classic.

One of the beautiful light oud scents. Love it ..

Oud and rose are the main components of traditional Arab perfumes, which might smell heavy to foreign noses if you are not used to. This is a modern interpretation of Arab perfumes, which is very well balanced with spices, floral and woody notes, it is strong but delicate not much heavy.

Heaven help me I do NOT want to wash this perfume out of my shirt! I want to roll around in my shirt, graced by a spritz of Valentina Assoluto Oud, forever. Luckily I don't HAVE to do that because, you see, I can actually buy this perfume and then wash my shirt like a normal person. However, time will tell when I can blow $150 on a bottle of perfume rather than have electricity for the month.

So, yes...earlier today I was walking through Neiman Marcus- to which this perfume is exclusive to, along with Bergdorf Goodman - and I saw this bottle. Black, mysterious, and decorated with a black leather rose. I COULD NOT RESIST THE URGE. I sprayed just one little spritz upon my chest, and upon my poor shirt. It would have taken peanut butter and olive oil to get my male acquaintance's face UNSTUCK from my cleavage after I sprayed this. He loved it and could not stop smelling me. They should have named this perfume temptation, because you are giving into it every time you spray it.

On a serious note, I cannot believe how decadently sexy and intriguing this perfume is. I don't think there is a perfume out there that embodies the femme fatale ideal such as Valentina Assoluto Oud. I have tried many. I have come close. This is the closest and the best. It is not in my possession, but I will have to make it mine. If it were not so unique, I could talk myself out of it, but no; I am a woman with dark interests and this perfume is my beautiful nightmare. ;) It's on the sweet side. The most prominent notes are the rose, leather, vanilla, and whatever woodsy notes it includes. I cannot smell the orange blossom so much, however all I can smell at the moment is the dry-down which really is all that matters to me, since that's what I'm stuck with for the rest of the day.

For the record, I haven't logged into Fragrantica since 2008. It is almost 2014! What an atrocity on my part! I was looking online for information on Assoluto Oud, and here I am. Please be careful. If attractive men flocking to your cleavage does not sound appealing, do not use Valentina Assoluto Oud.

Didn't like the dry down...could not wait to wash it off, but the bottle is pretty:)

This is a pleasant, wearble fragrance with detectable notes of mid-quality oud. Its tolerably well blended and would travel well from the office to drinks after work if applied judiciously. On first application there is a bright, cheerful orange blossom with notes of vanilla and oud quickly swirling to the fore. The oud remains detectable throughout the composition retaining just enough scratchiness so as to not get lost in the sweetness. I didn't detect much rose or leather; the leather seems to be there to quietly complement the oud and lend it a smoother, creamy bitterness.

I should note that I'm not familiar with the original composition at all.

Looks amazing cannot wait to try this, although i've seen the other Valentino Valentina fragrances i have not seen this one anywhere in Australia is it out here yet?

شكلها ما يطمن غريبة و مشوقه !!

Oh my, what a different take on the Valentina series!
I'd really really really looove to try it!
Drooling over it!

Another black bottle :-0 I just don´t make enough money, please stop!! Orange blossom and vanilla, sounds great!

Every day there is one new perfume, with OUD as its note....this has been the flavour of 2013. Last year it was all sport perfumes....this year its all Oriental and Leather....all the best:)