Valentino Donna Valentino for women

Lovely, I love the leather note.
But this easily stinks, so be careful not to overdose this one.
I get nausea out of this.

Very pretty.

I dont know what it is about the dry down in this but its intoxicating. I cannot stop sniffing my arm. And on me it lasted all day long!. litteraly put it on at 11am in the morning, when i took a shower at midnight i could still smell it so delicious🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

Lovely! A powdery rose/iris scent restrained by leather. It’s a well-executed juxtaposition of soft, girly, pink rose and earthy, masculine leather. The leather lends it a sophisticated cosmetic edge and stops it from dipping into saccharine praline goop.. (from my puig formulation)

There's a lot of controversy about this one I think because there's much confusion on the versions. I can say with almost total certainty that I have the first version, bought around 2016.

I'm not a hater of current Valentinos, and also not of LVEB. With that said, it would be reaching to align the original formula of Donna to those. It's a sophisticated lightly sweet lipstick with a classy clean leather scent. The notes blend together VERY well. There's an impeccable Frenchness to it, which of course is also a little disheveled in the details. I think this original formula has a bit of the Guerlain spirit to it.

The initial spray of this spray is not great - incredibly artificial and almost smells cheap.

Yet, in spite of that, it manages to settle into a gorgeous, warm dry down that makes up for that fact. It's almost drastic how my opinion of this perfume changes once I give it a chance to marinate on my skin for a few minutes.

Not to say I don't enjoy this perfume, but I'd definitely regard it higher if it didn't open so artificially in my opinion.

Reminds me of sparking fruity lemonade in the most delicate, classiest way possible. The nectarine, grapefruit, and peach are delicious. I got 10+ hours of wear on my skin, and lasts on clothes until the next wash. If you can handle patchouli in flowerbomb, this will palatable. The Born in Roma flankers get all the attention, but this should be just as popular, if not more.

the dry down is the only reason i love this scent. its delicious.

I managed to get a spray sample of this (recent version) and at first I was really worried it was going to be a floral/rose powder bomb, but I was wrong. The base notes really carry this scent after the first half hour, and it's such a good blend of the feminine citrus/floral with the masculine leather, wood and patchouli. I'll be getting a big bottle of this, it feels like a great 'boss lady' perfume.

Lasts moderately long 4+ hours, better on clothes. Work safe, yes--blind buy, no. Tester purchased from: MicroPerfumes

I have a full bottle of Puig and another that is in the middle. I recently bought the new Loreal version. First I have to be thankful that they changed the sprayer, which on the old one,I find horrible. Regarding the scent, I think they are very similar, I could even say they are practically the same. Although it is true that the Puig version is more intense, it may be due to the age of the bottles. So, I have sprayed my new bottle, and I will let it rest to age. I usually do that with all my perfumes,I am a Guerlain lover and I can assure you that a few sprays and a rest in a dark place,make all the difference.

It is just so good!!
At first its too strong and i didnt like it, but after dome time on skin its absolutely delicious! people have told me it seems as if the scent was sikin like but better!

I wanted to love this so bad... but the patchouli overpowers the fragrance for me. It is similar to la vie est belle but heavier on the iris, not as sweet. This perfume is slightly more " dated" than I was hoping for.

I wish I could have tested first. I own and love La Vie est Belle Iris Absolute. This is very similar. This has a more floral aspect, rose. Both are sweet, powdery scents. I think the patchouli is stronger in this than the LVB flanker too. Both are beautiful.

Edit: The deep dry down is way less powdery and more rose dominate than LVB. I prefer Iris Absolute, but I do enjoy this perfume.

Coco Mademoiselle but super gourmet dry down

I got a sample of this with Born in Roma. I put off trying it because Born in Roma had a strong play doh tone on me that I didn't care for. However, I'm wearing Donna today and I like it. It's strongly sweet citrus on me with floral over a light soft leather. I don't get a definative praline note. I'm usually strongly put off by Iris notes, they tend to turn bitter and sour powdery bomb on me, but I was surprised to see it in the notes list for Donna because I don't hate this fragrance at all. Its pretty and delicate and I think it would be really nice in spring and summer. The only negative is a astringent note that comes out after about an hour. It's not overpowering, but it's a little too sharp for me, and takes away from the other more delicate notes. Reading other reviews, people mention a synthetic praline note that has a strong sent and that might be what it is since I'm not getting a distinct praline scent. I'll try Donna in the spring and see how I like it in warmer weather.

Kids from the 70s-80s: do you remember Beach Barbie's glitter cream by any chance? I have a '70% certain' feeling that Donna smells like the Barbie cream I loved. 😍

There’s something in this that really reminds me of rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer, does anyone know what it might be?

This perfume was recently reformulated. I haven't gotten the chance to smell the 2015 release, however, the updated release smells amazing. Definitely a compliment getter and very versatile. The new formula has notes of nectarine, peach, praline, rose, bergamot, and grapefruit. It's a beautiful fruity floral fragrance that is very classy.

I was eager to sample this because I love iris, patchouli, and rose. I got a whiff of these notes for about 15 minutes, then the artificial sweetness kicked in. I guess it's ethylmaltol trying to mimick "praline" scent. That's the trouble with many synthetics: one drop too much and they are overpowering all the other notes. In the past ten years or so, we have had so many of the chemical synthetic stuff because a) it is cheap and b) because people have been influenced by the likes of Jeremy Fragrance that they need a "beast mode" perfume (and ethylmaltol, ambrocenide, cashmeran etc. project insanely).

So, nothing new or original from Valentino here.

This smells exactly like Dior homme intense it’s the Iris notes that give off 90s lipstick.
Very elegant, classy, chic, sexy mature woman perfume imo. 30+

I know the old versions and I also found a great dupe. I didn't have the chance to smell the new version. I like the old version for being very ladylike and classy. Smells like leather and elegant roses. It's not groundbreaking or outstanding instead, it's quite safe and elegant. The OG is far from the new trend of gourmands or niche exotic oud/caramel/rum/cognac fragrances. In a way Valentino DONNA was some kind of modern Paris by Ysl. No similarities about the smell just that feeling of elegance, classic comfy outfit and joy. Today I finally bought a dupe (quite well done actually - middle east producer) and I am very happy about it. Same fragrance, same lack of sillage (unfortunately). I am willing to overspray and reaply as long as I can enjoy this leathery rosy classy gem.

I came here to read some reviews for Donna by Valentino but all I can see are the "hateful" comments about LVEB. Okay I get it, you don't like LVEB but good god, leave your comments on the actual LVEB page and not here. This is becoming so tiring and juvenile. Everybody with their mother has now become a perfume connoisseur when most of us just went into a store and bought a perfume. Don't be a hateful b****.

The original version is sexy, playful and classy. Please bring it back! A true attention getter. Just gorgeous!

Can anyone tell me how I can tell the original from the new formulation, please message me!

First time I've sprayed this I got a blast of clean, not too sweet rose, along with some powdery iris and citruses. Me, not the biggest fan of iris, I didn’t have really much hope from the start..

Despite the difference in notes, it reminds me a lot of a watered down, more airy version of Armani Si, Valentino Voce Viva Intensa and 50 other designers fragrances. Quite nice, feminine, powdery, classy and summery. Office safe.

I like it, it is a beautiful rose, iris, patchouli sweetened by vanilla. I also get a very subtle make up accord from the iris in this. I would wear this Donna if I would get as a gift, but I would not spend my money on it.

Delicate, the silage goes from soft to moderate on me and the fragrance stays close to skin.

Bottle is really beautiful though. The prettiest one out of the entire Donna/Donna Born in Roma line!

I will pass on this one, Valentino fragrances are not for me!

This is lovely and fresh really beautiful smell ❤️

Started off quite intriguing (as in, it made me want to stick around and see where it would go), but the interesting elements evaporated off waaay too quickly, and it settles into a leathery-rose and iris combo – nothing wrong at all with that, I have just smelt this accord before in other scents and I wasn’t all that keen on it then. Anyway, it’s done DAMN well, no doubt, it’s just that this particular mix doesn’t do much for me…

This smells somehow minty, rosy with a hint of praliné. If I were older, I would wear this. I am from Bulgaria and somehow this fragrance reminds me of stylish old ladies wearing fabulous outfits and having fun together in the middle of the capital, Sofia. I don't know why this scenario comes to my kind everytime I smell this but I am so glad because it makes me smile and think about my grandma.

A review for diehard fans of Puig version - written by a diehard fan of old version herself...😉

Okay, call me a "Donna e mobile". After I mourned the Puig Version and claimed that the L'Oréal version smells different (especially less rosy), I am all in with their remake of original Donna, nethertheless.
And I am quite critical, since I knew the Puig version through different batches so very well (was my signature scent).
On a trip, I tested the L'Oréal version again on paper, thought - "okay, not that different" (except the missing of my beloved bulgarian rosenote), but didn't buy because it was too expensive (for what it was without that Rose...). Came back to Europe and tested again, this time on skin. Thought: "okay, not that different...but wait ...what does sting in my nose? Oh, some grapefruit instead of good old bergamot, and some chemicals"..not completly different from Puig's Donna...later in even a bit rosy...but I could not get past that sting in the topnotes, again I didn't buy...
Next morning up to work in a hurry, I fetched my jacket...and...omg...what was that wonderful smell? It smelled like home, glorious former times, just like the elegant basenotes of original Donna....Left on the jacket just for the beautiful smell and the sweet memories....so, of course, I went back and bought a bottle, just for that memory.
On clothes the basenotes are nearly the same, elegant enough. And from far away both versions smell not that different. So, I spray once on my neck - and get a whiff of something smelling nearly like Puig. I just wish, the rosenote was still as strong as before, but it is a bit more pronounced in humid air.
So, I keep the remake for that special memories that (for me) go along with this scent. And I have to admit - yes, I still like.

I have the original Valentino Donna,this perfume was a gift from my dear brother, who, like me, loves opera and is a fan of Anna Netrebko. I remember wearing this fragrance when Anna came to perform at the Opera theater in Buenos Aires.

The iris is very prominent in this fragrance, I can also distinguish rose and vanilla. As hours pass, leather and patchouli prevail on the skin, giving a sophisticated sensation...overall one of m favorite fragances, so sad they reformulated it.

Like it quite a lot. The citrusly patchouli trail (caused by the right amount of grapefruit) in the drydown is to die for. Donna is the name, but for me it is a Bossy Donna performed in a well balanced retro lipstick perfume with that slightly tough touch that i was looking for. Sweet and barbie like, but thank God the leather and some smokyness keeps it far away from being girly. I am more enchanted by the drydown than by the first blast to be honest. But overall, well done Valentino!

i first posted a review here last Nov 2022 and I saw a lot of reviews that we all agree at some point that we all missed the old formulation - the original Valentino Donna 😭 I still have a few drops of the original and in search for stores who still sell it.

So sad that they had to reformulate, I agree with one review here she said that was the scent she would like to wear on her wedding and that also is for me- the first time I had it I knew I would love to wear it on my wedding day.

i hope Valentino could actually see our reviews and consider our sentiments 😅🙏

#valentinohearusplease #valentinodonna

This smells really pretty immediately after spraying it. It smelled like berries, even though I know that's not a note in it. Then it got really weird after a few mins and it smelled stinky (patchouli) and I was sure I would not like it. But after a while longer, it was pretty again but it was rosy and lipsticky and very reminiscent of LVEB, at least on my skin. It's not a clone, it's like LVEB mother or older more sophisticated sister. She's classy and grown. I prefer this to LVEB because something in LVEB doesn't work for me. And the truth is, I am not a big lover of florals, and I tend to HATE lipstick fragrances, but this one really works for me. The lipstick scent eventually fades and I'm left with just a sweet, woody rose. Lasts 4-6 hours. I only have a travel size of this, but I am in love and want a whole bottle of it.

Abridged: grapefruit-laced leather pouch encasing lipsticks. This, tucked beneath underarms while partying.

There's a cyber animalic tint to this: all underneath the dainty berry and powder boudoir style as presented. I think it's the dosage of grapefruit along with the patchouli, makes you think fruits on the verge of rot but fantastically made. This is beautiful, really beautiful and am glad Loreal brought it back.

Also it doesn't smell like LVEB. Donna has a pronounced bitterness hazed by a lipstick-berry (rose)-patchouli accord. LVEB on the other hand is saccharine praline-pear-patchouli combo. The leather gives Donna its texture, you know when cats like to scratch their nails on certain surfaces.

I know nothing about the old one and tbh I don’t care, I wish fragrantica had separated them but oh well, here we are. I have the new one (studded neck) and it’s gorgeous to me. It’s sharp and sweet and feels luxurious, you can tell right away that there’s grapefruit in it because of how sharp the citrus in the opening is, the iris is present from the start but it’s overshadowed by the citrus until the dry down, I find the rose isn’t overpowering and it blends well with the iris, I don’t get a lot of powder from it. I get absolutely no leather or earthy accords, there’s some patchouli but it’s slight, the vanilla and praline are in there for a little bit. Moderate sillage, moderate longevity on skin, but I find on my clothes it sticks around a LOT longer than some of my other frags do.

I have both the original from around 2018-19 (Made in France, labeled Valentino Beauty LLC) & recently obtained a 2022 bottle second hand (Made in Spain, Puig), so as I'm writing this I'm wearing and comparing the two. There has been some confusion in this comment section so let me clear something up. Firstly, it's possible that the reformulation can be found from a Puig bottle. The new formula WITH a new bottle has a studded neck just like Born in Roma. Liquid in my newer one is significantly darker, pretty much orange. It's obviously not have been stored properly since I got it second hand. My original is still faintly pink liquid.

Donna has been my favorite all these years so after I heard that it was sold out and there were rumors about it being discontinued, I have been holding on to my original ever since. A bit later Donna came back, but only after Born in Roma was released (2019). That's when it became public knowledge that Valentino was actually sold to Loreal. Donna is NOT discontinued. It's pretty hard to come by any bottles anymore that are pre-pandemic though. The ones I've found have been snatched quickly.

Now, the scent is only slightly different in these two, not something a regular person will notice. The original Donna is much more well-rounded, soft scent with a leathery patchouli base. Absolutely beautiful. The reformulation has a fruitier edge, it's more "in your face". I guess it's the zestiness of pergamot sticking through, there is that same tartness. The softness of leather/vanilla is pretty much drowned in there somewhere. I wish they wouldn't have cranked up the fruits in top notes, but I guess Loreal likes that... The newer one doesn't seem to ever settle to just base notes and lose that fruity edge. Kinda headache inducing :/ They are very similar though, the new formula is just sharper/sweeter, which is a shame.
Also, if people could please stop comparing Donna to LVEB. They're nothing alike & it's insulting, LVEB is terrible ::)

Annnd another one bites the dust :( Donna (pre reformulation version I haven’t and won’t try the current) kinda reminds me of La Panthere but not as austere, a girlier more wearable version of that smooth handbag leather and musty patchouli. Everything is balanced so nicely: the rose and Iris are perfect counterpoints, there is the perfect amount of sweetness from the vanilla and praline leading into the leather and patchouli which are the stars. I never cared for that sour bit of grapefruit at the opening but it doesn’t last long and after a few years of bottle aging it’s not even noticeable anymore. Such an amazing perfume, I’m so glad I still have a small hoard of mini bottles and the lovely gold solid perfume compact. Amazing throw and longevity too.

a very nice scent but i unfortunately do not like it.
to my nose this is very typical representation of that time when so many perfumes where sweet rose-patchouli-leather combo. i never liked it, and it never was my taste. perfume itself is very nice if you are into that type of scents. very elegant and very feminine. opens up sweet and innocent and dries down to leather-patchouli combo, with that makeup bag, lipstick kind of vibe. i am kicking myself for not liking it more, but it is just not my personality. too much of pink vibe, too much of good girl, too too much of elegant lady, too polite, too much 2015.

Donna has been reformulated a few years ago, so what we get now is different from the 2015 OG version. Very sad, because the new one on me is Bulgarian Rose with Patchouli and a bit Iris... Very sad.. lack if Vanilla, Iris and zero leather. Not an earthy classy frag. but a Bulgarian Rose bomb with zero soul. I want the OG back! 🥺
This one has poor sillage and longevity.

Well, I think I've just found the perfect iris fragrance.

And oh boy, what a name. I truly feel like a lady wearing this. That's so feminine, sweet iris with a very smooth touch of leather. The quality of iris in this one is stunning. It gives me a makeup vibe, which is a mega bonus for me, as these kind of frags are very hard to find, as most of them had been discontinued.

Just one negative note, the projection, sillage and longevity aren't the greatest on my skin, I get around 4 hours and another 2 as a light skin scent, but I could find that on clothes it stays much longer. Spray this on your coat and it will be with you for days, as a personal space fragrance.

I heard rumors it is being discontinued, but I hope those rumours are false, as I saw a post here back in 2019 with people talking it's been discontinued. Maybe those rumours were due to the fact that Valentino has been bought by L'Oreal around that time, and we all know L'Oreal is the perfume's doom. It's 2023 and Donna it's still available for purchase, so probably they haven't "big plans" for this one. I hope it will be still around here for a very long time, as it's a so unique and one of a kind scent.

Just lovely. Haven't thought before that Valentino could have such good ingredients for their perfumes.

Scent: 10/10
Sillage: 6.5/10
Longevity: 7/10

It smells beautiful. Love the iris!! It's sweet but not overly sweet. Can wear for work. Just a bit disappointed with the longevity and sillage.

Omg looking for a decent review on this and all I’ve read are complaints and bitching about the fragrance being reformulated. Nothing original in that.

Elegance in a bottle. I get a very lipsticky iris followed by a chewy, vanillic/candied rose. Praline, leather and patchouli offer a strong base, but it is different from most fruitchuli scents because the patchouli is very soft. This is a beautiful scent, I am glad I obtained a full bottle. I must add that my bottle is vintage, it doesn't have the spikes around the golden neck.
I also obtained a sample of the reformulated version and didn't enjoy it as much, because the newer version reminds me a little bit of La Vie est belle, it's like a softer/diluted/more transparent version of LVEB, without the suffocating level of iris/patchouli, but definitely reminiscent of the Lancome's scent.

Don’t let the Born In Romas overshadow this gem of a fragrance.

Of all the Donnas, the OG reigns supreme! Beautiful, soft, full, lush and luxurious floral. She is sweet and powdery with a leathery edge… grown and sexy.

Top five worthy for sure.

Tikroji Italija pavasario laikotarpiu.

I absolutely love this gorgeous, lush, power scent.
It's a confident, sensual fragrance with soft suede, full-bodied rose and the hit from a powder-puff out of a self-asured lady's fancy make-up bag. It's beautiful.
It manages to feel like a glamorous throw-back from the golden age combined with the modern sensibility of today.
I have to say however, that the original incarnation (made in Spain) version is the best and is not surpassed by the following (made in France) version with the latter being less deep, much weaker performance and overall, not as interesting.
Born in Roma has indeed seemed to steal this fragrances thunder.

This perfume is just feminity in a bottle.

She is cold and shy at first but when you get to know her you see she’s really not. Deep down she is actually edgy. When the sun is up she is sweet and romantic. At nightfall she is THAT girl in the club. Dressed in leather, rocking to beats, completely in her own world.

She is duality. She is the best of both worlds.

I bought a sample of the original formula and tried it this morning for the first time. Wow, it's very very rare that the first time I smell a perfume I have an instant love reaction, as it usually takes me a couple day-long wears to get a feel for the whole experience of a scent, but I knew within the first couple minutes of having this on that it was signature scent worthy. It's absolutely perfect and so well put together, I almost want to drink it. So soft, romantic, sweet without being cloying or juvenile, interesting, complex yet somehow classic and versatile. Good for day or night, year round but maybe not in the heat of summer months.

I got hold of a 2018 version in a Puig bottle, with pink liquid, but already the reformulation has taken place. It’s not terrible, but nowhere near as good as the original once you’ve tried that one. The newer formulation is sugary sweet and lacks the elegant leather-vanilla combo. So sad. 😭

@Fragrantica: Please make a new, separate entry for the new formulation.

I don’t know if the sample I got was off but for me, this is everything hate in a perfume. Screechy, loud, overpowering and very nausea inducing. I literally spritzed it on one wrist and after scrubbing it off twice with strong soap, I can still smell it! It reminds me of a perfume I smelled on a school teacher in the early 80s & it was sickening back then. I like many of Valentino’s scents but definitely not this one.

Chapter I

I manage to find a passionate, addictive fragrance that, in a subtle way, doesn't need to "beat hair" in space to call attention! Hot, well-behaved, a real Donna who knows how to dress, interact and be nice anytime, anywhere. Her lightness makes her someone who may not please even the masses, but anyone who submits to meet her will fall in love!

Chapter II

How to resist a Donna who, in addition to dressing well, knows how to intensify her femininity through her act of keeping herself well made up and impeccably dressed in the environment in which she is inserted?! Everything about her is translucent and amenable to associations with what is good, beautiful, tender, constant and magnanimous; I see no reason to resist it, other than to get involved.

Chapter III

Her sweetness reveals the most beautiful of all acute sweetnesses, however, if we stop to calmly observe her movements, we will realize that she says more between her lines than her own lines, yes. There is a kind of aggressive, rustic tone to her, which is perhaps her natural defense tactic; an acute "what" reveals that his supposed innocence is not an absolute truth, but the real manifestation of a being with its pros and cons, that is, the way it has to be, without pseudo masks that can cover up its essence.

Chapter IV

Every Donna will naturally always have a good husband to match her, or at the very least, a line of ascendants to the vacancy of her most coveted woman's heart. Anyone who knows her husband can prove how deserving one is of the other, in every possible and even unimaginable aspect!

Smells like a fruitchouli to my nose and alot like Jimmy Choo.

This is such a wow for me. The dry down is just perfect. It is possibly the most elegant and sophisticated feminine scent I have ever smelled. It is a perfume a real lady would wear. It’s very floral but the dry down has sweetness to it.

I can’t detect notes but I think I smell a lot of the Iris.

Performance is excellent but not too much.

Had a chance to smell this recently. Judging by the colour, I think it’s a new formulation.

It opened beautifully. A lipstick-iris that smelt delicate with a soft vanilla. It smelt like a classy and elegant woman.

About two hours later, it’s completely different. A fruity-floral mess.

I have the reformulated version (Made in France, Batch Code 22TO0YC from 10/2020). The liquid is clear and not pink which was but disappointing. It is VERY iris heavy. The perfume smells dry and powdery instead of wet and juicy like Donna Born in Roma. The dryness of the perfume tickles my nose. However, both perfumes retain a refined floral vanilla sweetness to them which stays true to the Donna DNA.

People are concerned that the reformulation removes the leather note. A few reviews down describes the old formulation as lipsticks and the inside of a leather purse. I think the reformulation still retains that sense. However, I wouldn’t describe this fragrance as edgy. It’s best suited for someone whose style leans elegant, feminine and classic. It has an educated, refined, good girl vibe to it. Something you would wear to church in a white picket fence suburban town. Some people say this perfume smells grandma-y, but I disagree. It still smells modern to my nose and best suited for someone in their mid-twenties to mid-fifties. It has a youthful sophisticated vibe to it…like a teenage girl with an old soul. It’s a Madonna/wifey/young mom perfume. I think someone who enjoys Mon Guerlain would enjoy this very much.

Overall, it’s a sweet floral (not gourmand) dusty/powdery soft fragrance. On me, the iris, amber and vanilla are the stars of the show. I don’t detect peaches, leather, patchouli, grapefruit or bergamot at all.

Bravo, Valentino. I will be back for more!

Update: I got my hands on the old formulation with leather and vanilla. The juice for the original formulation is pink; the new formulation has clear juice. After smelling the original, I can’t stand the reformulation. The original is WONDERFUL! It truly does smell like the inside of a supple leather purse with lipstick and maybe some chocolates (I believe that’s the vanilla). The opening is a horrible citrus that smells similar to the reformulation, but the drydown is where the new vs original formula differ. The original formulation has a sweetness to it and I can definitely smell the leather. The new formulation doesn’t have the leather note and goes light on the vanilla/sweetness. The new formulation retains a lot of the iris lipstick scent/vibe. I catch whiffs of rose in the original formulation but I can’t smell rose in the new formulation. The new formulation is all iris. I much prefer a sweeter dry down so the original formulation is a win to me. I sprayed each formulation on my wrists and I kept going back to smell the original formulation, but didn’t care for the new formulation. The beautiful nuances have been lost in the reformulation. So sad.

Valentino Donna came to me today. Beautiful fragrance, elegant. For that reformulation, it definitely contains leather now. I got the scent together with Bottega Venneta and certain tones are the same there. It is definitely leather. Beautifully.

I was so lucky to go through two original formulation bottles. It was THE most beautiful perfume. I told myself that if I ever get married, this is the scent I'll wear. I'm devastated it's reformulated into something completely different. Why does this always happen to the best perfumes?

Can anyone compare the original 2014 (pictured above), with the Donna now available on their site (gold studded neck, same bottle otherwise)? I read bergamot & grapefruit, peach & praline, Iris, patchouli & Turkish rose… i was so hoping for a closer similarity to the original, but… sigh

Current formulation: perfectly pleasant sugar amber. Would have loved to have tried the original.

This is my ultimate favorite scent When you wear this, you feel so elegant, classy, sexy and sophisticated. I love how the old formulation smells like, how the leather, roes and vanilla complements each other. Though the new formulation also smells good, I just hope they didn't change the Valentino Donna and just created a new scent -- as the new formulation smells kind of different (if you really loved this perfume like I do, you'll know the difference). I still have the bottle with very very few drop left (old formulation) and I just had the one with the new formulation. How I wish I could still buy bottle with the old formulation and just keep it in my closet.

These are the changes I noticed (and also based on the Valentino Beauty website where I bought the reformulation), for the Top Notes, they added grapefruit and retained the Bergamot, for the Middle Notes, they changed it to Peach with Praline accords while the Base Notes now Iris and Patchouli. It also states there the Turkish Rose (I just couldn't determine which notes). So to summarize, they added grapefruit, peach and praline, changed the Bulgarian rose to Turkish rose then removed the Leather and Vanilla.

Someone below had said that the new formulation is like "what you'd wear to meet the parents" and Born in Roma is "what you'd wear to sneak out with their son". This makes me so sad because the old formulation is "a leather jacket wearing badass woman, who would bring the son to his knees, begging her to let him have a night with her". Now she's tamed to the point that she's innocent enough to meet the parents and the lame younger sister version is the one you'd wear to sneak out with the son? Why are fragrance houses doing this to legendary perfumes! Why make them weak and tame to the point that it's redundant?! If you can't already tell, I am beyond irritated and gutted.

This is lovely! Highly underrated and not talked about enough!! I know they came out with a newer formula (I will purchase that after finishing my old formula), so I dug deep and got my hands on an older version and can I just say I didn’t expect rose and leather to work this well together? It is so elegant and the first thing that pops in my head spraying this is…a woman! This scent is so powdery and soft, very ladylike. It is extremely sexy and I can only imagine how many men will ask what you’re wearing. It slightly reminds me of Givenchy irresistible without the synthetic candy sweetness that I can’t tolerate. This is a great scent all year round, signature eligible even but I would personally love this in the slightly cooler windy months with rain. I picture wearing leather thigh high boots and a chunky oversized coat hugging my date and him not able to get enough of my smell under the sprinkling rain.

i love this original donna, it smells so nice,lasts all day reminds me of the original good girl. very different than the new born in roma with black cap. this one you can only get at nordstroms.

I don't know if I have a reformulated version or not (spiky bottle). But it smells like an old powdery lipstick (love it).
Very feminine, suitable for all seasons. The lasting power and projection is moderate, could be a signature perfume. Office friendly.
No offence to Valentino, but from all their fragrances this one is the most niche smelling.

Oh my god... Valentino hardly ever disappoints when it comes to their perfumes. I am in LOVE. It's just a super powdery, pretty, long lasting scent. It's so pretty, yet so sexy and sophisticated. I tried this out in the store, and I absolutely need it.

It's defiantly suited for both day and night, but fits better as a spring scent.

I absolutely love the leather-rose version of this, and if memory serves... I've got a back up bottle or two in my dark cold storage closet.

However, there is an indie brand called Solstice Scents that does a great simple scent called ROSE LEATHER. It's like a concentrated slice of Donna pie that prob would help the new reformulation smell more like the original?

I have the original formulation and I am in love 😍This is definitely a fragrance that would be worn to a black tie affair. Ladies dressed to the 9's in their long, elegant, shiny, evening gowns adorned with diamantes or shimmery silk ruching across the bustier. Their hair styled in a smooth french roll or bun with gentle wispy bits softening their faces. Dazzlingly, breathtaking necklaces around their necks, matching the sparkling earrings, gently swaying as they move gracefully about. Then in walks the belle of the ball with all that and Valentino's Donna trailing her, making sure to turn the heads of those who failed to notice her presence based on her appearance alone.

Granted, I don't personally know anyone who fits the above scenario, but Donna is a truly feminine, classy and expensive smelling fragrance. It could be worn day or night, to meet with friends for a coffee, or date night with a partner. Longevity is great as I can still smell it the next morning, and projection and sillage are above average. An absolutely gorgeous fragrance and glad I invested in a full bottle.

Major floral bomb with patchouli. It's very feminine and perfumey...pretty heavy perfume and reminds me of Alien and a little La vie est Belle; the leather and patchouli gives me a headache. Glad I didn't get the full size and got a sample to test on skin. Good projection and sillage though. I can smell it wafting around me even couple hours after applying.

Why did they change it completely? Just make a different perfume. Who is gonna buy the new version and think okay, similar enough? Donna was such a perfect scent… loreal just ruins everything

It is smelling so beautiful! Donna is my going out, meeting with friends, signature scent, (it might be too heavy for the office).
I loved the new formulation! The leather in the old formulation was not agreeing with my skin somehow, leaving a very unpleasant note. When I wash it with water, it would smell heavenly though, it was very confusing.
But Valentino made the favor and remove the note so now it really smells pretty floral, lipstick vibes. <3
I was never a very sweet scent perfume girl, i like more floral, light perfumes, but Donna does not feel overwhelmingly sweet to me, so I think it is a good blend :)
Sometimes we need to let it go and don't obsessed with what is not available anymore and look our new options.
Valentino Donna new formulation is just for me so beautiful! Enough life messages haha, love to all fragnatica users :*

I have a small vial of the new, translucent version of the parfume for testing. When I test a new one, I like to do it in the safety of my home in case I don't like it or even have to wash my wrist to get rid of the scent. So this morning I applied two sprays wearing my comfy leggings and t-shirt, and started to go about my day. I cleaned the house, nursed a sick cat, cooked lunch, took the dog for a walk, etc. As the hours went by I started to feel uncomfortable and it took me a while to realize it was Donna. The scent itself is not bad (althoug far too sweet for my liking), but there was a discord between us that disturbed me. It is the scent of an elegant, well dressed lady in the lobby of a luxury hotel, with perfect makeup and manicure, stilettos, every hair on her head in its place. I have never been that lady, hence the discord. Wearing Donna felt disturbing like having a bad haircut, forgetting to wax your mustache, having chipped nail polish or a giant pimple on your forehead. Again, it is not Donna's fault, we just don't suit, that is all.
When I received my sample and checked the notes here I looked forward to testing it especially because of the leather, rose and patchouli. Now that I have read about the reformulation I understand why I can't smell them at all and why it smells like very very sweet peach preserves. The scent lasts about 4 hours on my skin with good sillage, after that it is a fading skin scent. I have no doubt Donna would smell amazing on someone with the right personality but that is not me for sure.

This review is for the original formulation. The leather note stays throughout the entire lifespan of the fragrance. In the beginning it is accompanied by patchouli and this combo smells slightly masculine, it reminds me of a woman who sprayed on her boyfriend's perfume. I get a very distinct bergamot note too. As it progresses, patch tones down and a dusty rose starts to accompany the leather which I find to be very feminine. Longevity is great, sillage is about an arm's length. Such a shame that it has been reformulated. I will cherish my bottle for as long as I can.

The reformulated fragrance (peach added, leather taken out) is pretty nice.
I see what people mean when they say the scent is lipstick like; it’s a waxy, sweet floral scent.
It’s bright & feminine.
“Donna” is what you’d wear to meet the parents, and “Born in Roma” is what you’d wear to sneak out with their son 😂🤣💕
Being in my early 20s, I can really only see me wearing this scent to work or in a formal/intentional setting (this was a blind buy).
Overall rating a 6.8/10. I wish I could’ve smelt the original.
______

So I have to change my rating to a 7.5 😂 idk why this fragrance is addictive to me but it’s really growing on me as I wear it around the house.

Since fragrantica has not bothered to update you - I figured I will.

This has been reformulated. I dont mean a slight dilution of the notes - I mean completely revamped. The new notes are as follows (per the Valentino website): Iris, Patchouli, Rose and Peach.

Furthermore - the liquid is now translucent. Completely colourless. Like water.

I am beyond gutted that this stunning beauty was butchered!

It’s reformulated I have te old bottle form Piug now it’s taken over bij L’Oréal it’s a disaster. No unique fragrance anymore. It’s just LVB now .

The current version of Donna available on Valentino's website is a reformulation of the fragrance from 2015. I haven't tested it yet, but it has different notes.
Top: grapefruit, Italian bergamot
Heart: peach, praline
Base: iris, patchouli

So it's a similar situation as with Miss Dior... the same name, changed composition. And the bottle looks a bit different, too - matching the rest of the Donna-collection.
In my opinion the newest Donna should be added seperately to the fragrantica database because reviews of both versions posted here may be a bit confusing...

Well, I’m confused. My mini is labeled Puig, but the scent I’m getting aligns perfectly with descriptions of the L’oréal reformulation. Generic amorphous fruity-sweet with a giant wallop of LVEB-esque patchouli. Longevity, 3 hours; sillage, nonexistent. Iris, rose, leather — MIA. Nothing but a weak, sad fruitchouli here. Maybe mine was bottled during the transition from old to new, and I ended up with the L’oréal formula in the Puig-labeled bottle… that’s the only explanation I’ve got. Or maybe a counterfeit? Who knows. I just refuse to believe that THIS is what everyone is hyping up.

Smells nice but not unique, I've definitely smelled something similar to this but can't put my finger on what the scent was.
I feel like this would be a scent that gets compliments and is pretty inoffensive, and at least unique in the sense that if you're not super in to perfumes you probably haven't smelled something similar to it.

Edit- I guess I got a sample of the lame loreal version, no wonder I felt it was so basic 😩 I was never able to smell any leather in this.
Edit 2- nope, got the original puig one and it smells literally the same as my sample. Got one of the cute little 5ml travel bottles and that'll work for now, I actually really ended up liking this, I realized it gives me Lolita Lempicka Sweet vibes but more grown up ish.

One of my most favorite fragrances. I am used to choose different scents in different seasons, but Donna goes the whole year round. Modern, elegant, classy, but not boring, strong and longlasting. People notice it, I've got a lot of compliments. Lipsticky iris, rose, leather, just stunning. I love this and am devastated that it is discontinued 😭

this is for sure one of the most unique fragrances in my collection. the iris gives it a very pronounced, lipstick-y quality but not in an unpleasant way; it smells like an expensive lipstick from a fancy makeup counter at a department store. the leather note, i think, is the star of the show. it's such a smooth leather, and it somehow stands out from AND complements all the other notes in the composition. the drydown is stellar with the leather on top of the subtle vanilla base. i'm really a huge fan of this scent, but i don't think it works with my personal skin chemistry; it pulls very "old" and "dusty smelling" on me (which, as a twenty-something, is not exactly something i'm trying to embody right now). strangely enough, i don't get any of the supposed bergamot opening! it goes straight to flowery lipstick and later to leathery, vanillic patchouli. all in all, though it isn't perfect, i think Donna is truly a beautiful fragrance.

Probably the BEST blend of Rose, Patchouli and Leather! Wonderfully made! <3

My signature perfume.
It is soft, elegant and powdery. You can wear it for every occasion. It’s my day scent.

Unique versatile floral.
This is a unique floral for today’s designer market standards. It fulfills the difficult equation between uniqueness and versatility. It has a powdery rose, a lipsticky iris on a smooth velvety suede base. Again very difficult to find such a soft beautiful leather note. Good job Valentino.

Valentino Donna is the only perfume I have ever had two bottles of the largest size in. I had it as my signature scent in 2018 before I started collecting perfumes and have been on the hunt for it since I ran out in early 2020 because I decided I couldn’t be without this beautiful fragrance.

It smells like a sophisticated, seductive woman who is sexy in an understated way. There is nothing gaudy about this scent, it is the epitome of elegance — the woman who wears this knows what she wants and has no time for anything that holds her back. This is a grown woman scent in the best way, not a mature, grandma vibe that I tend to get from some more popular floral scents.

This is my signature scent and I can’t imagine something bumping it off it’s top spot. It is appropriate year round, day and night, and is pretty & sexy enough for date night while being elegant and classy enough for something more serious like a job interview.

You could even wear it to a funeral without it being inappropriate - I wore it to two different family funerals and was told by extended family who hugged me that I smelled lovely. So when I say it’s great for every scenario I really do mean ANY scenario!

I love this dusty fem frag... I have been trying to acquire a bottle for ever and I cant seem to find cheap bottle which is so weird since its an old frag. Let me know if you want to sell :)

What can I say?? Valentino Donna is an absolutely stunning, feminine, classy fragrance with a bit of an edge. It's like being dressed up in heels in an elegant close-fitted dress that has a deep cut to the back or a slit to the side. The sexiness is there but it's not very obvious, it's not vulgar. Valentino Donna is bold and daring but feminine. It's not a girly, playful scent like Voce Viva or is it like Donna Born in Roma . This is more sophisticated, it's for a Woman who knows what she wants and gets it. I LOVE this!! OMG.

I was never usually into leather note but this one is done just right. It's soooo good. The first time I smelt this I was almost tempted to buy 100ml at full price in store and I never pay full price. That is how caught up I was with it. It took me months, but I waited patiently until I saw it somewhere else on offer, then I got it. It was indeed worth the wait.

Valentino Donna has great longevity and projection. A little goes a long way. (I have an older bottle). I think it's very original. I have nothing that smells like it in my collection.

Best suited for cooler days/weather and can be worn day or night time.

This is the original beauty! Valentino Donna is a gorgeous scent and represents feminity to the max! The iris is very feminie in this, not at all like a cold iris’ as in Penhaligans Iris Prima or Guerlain Iris Ganache (which I miss) or even L’Artisan’s Iris Padilla. Rose and bergamot are amazing and sit right up there with the iris. The vanilla shows up in the drydown. Longevity is stunning and sillage will get you noticed.

You have to be into this type of fragrance i.e. Chanel Coco or any of the Guerlains. It’s a mature scent not for the young at heart! I’m a Mom and in my late 50’s, it’s perfect for me.

I'm not sure how I feel about this. I've had it for a while due to pandemic lockdown fragrance purchases. This is the only fragrance I own where I did not need to reapply and I could smell strongly all day. I'm in shock. I don't think it smells like I think I want to smell, but I like it. I used the shower gel, body cream, and the eau de parfum. A little of the body cream goes a long way. I could probably use one, but not both with the shower gel. My body cream and eau de parfum are by Puig. This reminds me of another body cream that's also long lasting, a bit quieter and a leather, Bottega Veneta. Maybe it's the leather that's liking me.

This is a lovely elegant perfume. I am surprise by all the reviews saying it smells like LVEB or something sweet, to me this is the best rose leather perfume ever made! It lasted over 4 hours on my skin and it was predominantly a floral/leather scent.

I got a decant because I was hooked by the bottle … my surprise came when I smelled it and inmediato y recall something in my Collection.
Runned to get it and compare them … and uf you check out the notes Valentino Donna and Tiffany Co (also Intense)have LOTS of matching notes … the are not clones but the diferences are so subtle for me that getting a full bottle of VD would be redundant while having full large bottles of both Tiffanys Co scents.

Update: After wearing it for a couple of days, I feel it a lot more rosie… almost close to Delina Exclusif vibe in the dry down … intoxicating in the good sense, and with surprising projection!!!

I will get the full bottle!

I see a lot of reviews that compare Donna with LVEB. Damn, if this is what LVEB smells like to y'all then I'm so sad that it doesn't work for me and now I understand why it's so popular!

Donna smells like the most feminine fruity lipstick with a bit of rose and vanilla. It's very lovely. I'm a bit sad I passed up on a 100 ml bottle for $60 last year. This fragrance is very soft and cozy. I feel extremely feminine and pretty and like I'm wrapped up in a warm hug. I was hoping Donna would satiate my desire for Replica Lipstick On, but it doesn't quite do that. It's certainly close and if I want a feminine pretty lipstick scent this is a good option, but it's not as sexy or sensual as Lipstick On in my opinion.

I applied my sample of Donna about 2 hours ago and it's already faded to a skin scent. Although I like how this fragrance smells and I really like the bottle, I don't think this is one that's worth the high price tag - I would only buy it on a really good sale. If I wanted a lipstick scent I think I would reach for JHAG Lipstick Fever on the regular over this one. Lipstick Fever is stronger and has some raspberry and woodsy notes.

Overall, I'm glad I finally tried Donna. Although it smells good and the bottle is gorgeous, I don't like that it supposedly smells like LVEB since LVEB is so popular. It really does take away the specialness of this scent as petty as that sounds. 😅

Like I said, I'd buy this on sale mostly for my own enjoyment, but it's not quite the perfect lipstick scent of my dreams even though it does smell wonderful. Donna just isn't as unique as I would prefer.

This is one of my absolute favourite perfumes, I would say top two that I have owned so far. What this perfume smells like to me or on my skin is first of all a powdery, rosy, fruity scent. I definitely smell the bergamot and earthy notes too but its more subtle. I feel like the subtle bergamot really lifts this scent and gives it a lightness and freshness that would otherwise make it heavy. I agree with most people here who would describe it as a lipstick smell. Now the way I would describe how the scent makes me feel when I wear it, would be nostalgic, warm, young, hopeful, I would say its more of an Autumny/cosy vibe. I feel chic and sexy when I wear this. Like a chic, young brunette Parisian lady, wearing a beret and red lipstick. Or like Im in a cute 2000s romance movie that features Jazz music like The Lake House. I would say that to me this smells similar to La Panthere by Cartier, but its younger and lighter but with the same powderyness. All in all, I love this perfume and the bottle is just beautiful. I think the colour pink is THE perfect choice for this perfume. Love, love.

This one opens with a lipstick smell, then morphs into what reminds me of the sweetness of La Vie est Belle, the dries down to a pleasant vanillic skinscent. I was hoping for more vibrancy of Bergamot and my favorite rose (Bulgarian rose, that is) and leather, but perhaps I ended up with a bad batch…. Beautiful bottle though.

The first thing I notice here is the leather. It's so beautiful, smooth and smells really expensive. It smells classic, edgy, and sweet all at the same time. I'd love to have this around me for as long as it exists.

There is a lot of discussion here about the new formula vs the old formula, and I just want to put this out there that even among the old formula there was no consistency with this scent. I own a mini of the Puig version and it is wonderful. The bottle that I purchased shortly afterwards, same manufacturer Puig, smells like La Vie Est Belle, with that same sickly sweet patchouli note taking over the whole fragrance.

Many years ago, I read an article on International Parfums, who manufactures perfumes for many brands, and someone there said that they will scrap a batch or use it to create another fragrance if it doesn't smell enough like the original scent. Well, apparently, they don't and didn't do that with this fragrance because the two Puig bottles I have are so different they might as well be different perfumes.

Feminine floral sweet a bit powdery, just beautiful! iI is not loud, I find it classy with moderate performance, it works year round all-occasion perfume! In fact, I love all the Donna flankers, mass appealing classy creations, Brava Valentino!

Powdery rosy lipsticky smell. I actually really like this. It’s really work safe and inoffensive as it’s not too strong nor polarising. I can imagine if you walked past and people smelled this they probably wouldn’t be shocked or anything, but they’d notice that you smell nice. This is easy to like. It’s nice and feminine as well without being super sweet or overbearing, which I’m really into

To be honest, I expected more. But maybe I should have read all reviews saying that it was refolmulated and therefore very weak now.
So this review is for what is left after refolmulation.

It starts with the blast of powdery iris. Very bold, strong. Smells almost like Shalimar Parfum Initial. But this does not last very long. After hour or two, it just tames to Gucci rush (red plastic bottle). It is a nice smell, but very close to skin. And disappointing in a way that all listed notes like leather, rose, patchouli, especially leather, are just not present.

Long story short: nice, weak, overpriced

I have super mixed feelings about this perfume! When i first heard of it i was sooo intrigued. A rose/iris, vanilla, leather scent sounded so appealing to me and the fact that its a discontinued scent made me want it more 😭 when i finally was able to get my hands on it i adored it! Its such a pretty, dainty, and feminine scent ☺️ Its very soft and powdery but also quite sweet. I can totally see it on both a mature person or a younger person who wants to be more elegant 💖 but although i think its a very VERY pleasant scent, unfortunately it doesnt really go beyond that 😓. I once saw a youtube video where someone talks about this scent and the way he described it was “nothing special”. And unfortunately i have to agree 😣 it is a beautiful scent and i think it’s worth looking into if the notes intrigue you, but personally i dont think its anything that stands out in particular. I do think its worth mentioning though that i do think the dry down smells VERY similar to Parfums de Marly’s Delina! Not an exact dupe but definitely similar. So overall I think its appropriate for an every day scent or to wear to a date, and i think the bottle is very pretty! But other than that i dont think itll make an impression beyond “oh that smells nice”. But sometimes thats enough 💖
xoxo - <3 Stevie

I have the version from 2017---very classy and sophisticated scent. It's pretty, clean, and feminine. Unfortunately, it's a bit too "work safe" to my nose, great for work or serious occasions but not my go-to scent.

It’s reformulated , juice is lighter as wel . It’s now jonger and more mainstream. Not a powdery rose anymore .fragrance notes and bottle on Valentino website are changes and different as we can see on fragrantica. There is now a peach note .

Revisiting this after a gap of 2 maybe even 3 years n my bottle is still the same pink colour it always was, it hasn't turned, Saweety scared me there for a minute.. I must have the pre reformulation one, also my bottle neck is different to this pic. Surprised there aren't two entries for this one actually, like there is for Addict. This is the smell of a five star hotel in a bottle. I love this one, so sad it was discontinued, it is perfectly balanced, sophisticated, suitable for all round wear, any season but slightly better in winter, noticeable but never in-your-face, the leather is very mild but is what makes this unique & interesting n not just another rosy pink juice drone. & I do not normally like leather AT ALL! The vanilla is just subtle n smooth in the dry down, not over sweet pudding. The actual bottle I was not hugely keen on when I bought it but it has grown on me, the gold & pink is a lot better than the look of Born in Roma, plus I like the cap, it clicked on n off well, always a plus (hello Cloud, either stuck on impossible to remove or they fall off) I'd forgotton just how good this was/still is. I was vaguely contemplatingly selling my unopened back up but that would be madness, this is wonderful, keeping it, mine.

This is my most complimented scent, mostly by women.

Lipstick/highend smell to it.
Open quite bright and lasts quite a while on me.

Gorgeous powdery rose. It smells timeless and classy; I don't see a teenager wearing this. It's a very mature scent; perfect for young and middle aged women. I was so lucky to find a reseller who had one stock left of this beautiful perfume. Ultra feminine perfume!

I'm not a fan of this one, to me it's too strong and powdery, it gave me headache even tho I use tabacco vanille by tom ford like crazy. However, I can see someone absolutely rocking this parfume, it's just not for me. If you like sweet but powdery scents, this one is definitely for you

Got this at the airport in 2017. I fell in LOVE! Love is an understatement, I had to bathe myself in this perfect fragrance of all fragrances. It was fantastic in Fall and Winter and I have never had so many questions and compliments from men asking, what are you wearing. Day and Night I had this on, it's silliage is perfect, its just perfect...then I moved on to my other favourites for a while. But my boyfriend couldn't get enough of me with this on. Fast forward to 2 years after purchasing my half finished bottle, the juice turned from pink to brownish. It was always in its box, in the dark perfume cupboard I have. No sunlight, heat or cold had ever touched it. What went wrong I thought? I sprayed it and now it had a distinct curry smell to it. I detest curry. It was super spicy, had slightly gone off. Anyway I gave it to a friend of mine who loved it, not knowing how it initially smelled. So there you go, different strokes for different folks. But the quality of this Valentino Donna is poor. It turns after a couple of years,

This would be perfect if it were a bit less sweet. It opens beautifully with a delicate rose and is wonderful lipsticky-powdery but then soon a too sweet note (probably praline) takes over, unfortunately. I guess this is what people mean when they say they sense a similarity with LVEB.
It is still a lovely, very feminine, elegant and classy fragrance but because of the sweetness I can wear it only on really cold days.

Great, femine powdery rosey perfume. It definitely gives me musk at the end, though it's not listed here.

This classic is the best of the best. Better than Born in Roma, Voce Viva. It is rosy and powdery, has a retro vibe but smells modern. Suitable for everyday elegance. The base is strong enough to make it an all occasion perfume. A pretty modern interpretation of classical feminine elegance. Donna is slightly from another time - is that why they had to discontinue it?

Am I allowed to start off by gushing and "gosh-ing" or do I need to write a proper review first?
I really want kick it off with some OMG-OMG-OMG's but alright, I'll follow the suit of Donna herself - pull myself together, be elegant, eloquent and verbalise my thoughts first.

Yes, yes, she is elegant, eloquent and pulled together, very lady like and impeccable. She has 2 main themes going on, she plays on 2 main characteristcs of hers - restrained and alluring. First axis is bergamot-iris-leather, the second one is rose-iris-vanilla. They do intersect and play off of each other. It's this tangy somewhat bitter and leathery accord surrounded by a cloud of softness, fairy feathers. I love the combo of bergamot and leather, it's scrumptious! With a bit of bite. However the more it develops the more approchable, attractive, warm she gets. It's not a warm scent per se, but it gives the sensation of being cared for and being pampered.

However the image it evokes in me is a story. It's a short film of a woman escaping the grey, glass and steel hich-tech corporate environment on a random mundane Tuesday morning in March. She's dressed office - appropriate, behaves, hair in a low bun, etc you wouldn't expect her to be a rebel. Yet. Off she takes in her beautiful Italian convertible, with white leather seats, vanilla and rose macarons in a cream box on the passenger seat. She leaves corporate Central-Europe behind, and heads towards Italian coast. To have dinner with her Italian boyfriend, and never go back.

And yes, OMG, where has this fragrance been all my while life!! And OMG how did they even dare to reformulate it?!? This is a modern classic, no question about it. Just fallen victim to thr popularity contest.. Marketing.

Very sweet, powdery, for me it smells like a mixture of rose, lipstick and jelly baby sweets.

I like the powdery sweet floral combo but it’s a bit cloying. It’s one of those perfumes where you only really need one spray. Nevertheless it works well in summer. It’s sweet and sharp at first smell and in the background there are the more powdery notes.
There is however something just too ‘sickly’ for me, like a raspberry Turkish delight vibe, and because of that, I can’t love it. Maybe it’s the bergamot mixed with the other notes.

For me it also has the same vibe as Delina Parfums de Marly. They’re not the same but they both seem to have that fruity floral sharpness in the foreground.

This is another randomly sprayed blotter today, which I like a lot. I sprayed today around 20+ perfumes in a perfumery, and I like this Donna version the most 😍 I remember Yana, the YT reviewer from The Scented channel, that she loved it and had a backup of this, because it is probably discontinued in Canada. Not in Europe 😁 and I was curious to sniff it, especially how I could handle the leather note, which I have "Italian" relationship with. But I love it 👏It is very delicate, barely noticeable and calms down the overall sweetness. I truly feel that the name of the perfume is very appropriate! Donna means "woman" and I would imagine this on a true Italian woman symbol, like Sophia Loren or Monica Belucci. A beautiful woman with a class, wearing dress, high heels, walking and moving graciously.
I love it and I want it!

I'm trying 4 samples of Valentino's Donna Series. I fell in love with Valentino's Donna Rosa Verde - and wanted to try the flankers in this line.

This is easy to confuse with Valentino Donna (New) Eau de Perfume. They both look almost identical to each other. The new version is a brighter/darker pink... whereas the original Valentino Donna Eau de Perfume is more like a classic ballet pink shade.

This is nice - it is like a more rose note -- a slightly bolder version of Delina de Marly (not Exclusif).
It reminds me of Victoria's Secret's Noir Tease, which is a really good fragrance with my chemistry. It has that sweet sour type blend.

I like this - this would be a toss up with Valentino Donna (New). I would have to wear these both for awhile and see which one wears the best throughout the full day.

Not sure what exactly changed after they reformulated it. I own both versions and gravitate to the newer formula more often. It still has a slight leather note in it I think but it’s much softer and creamier now, perhaps even fresher which I like.

It’s a beautiful, bright spring morning in Paris. You stroll into a patisserie with soft rose-magnolia walls for morning tea and the venue is filled with very refined, pristine and elegant women adorned in tailored suits, stilettos and lipstick. You take a seat on a polished, brown leather couch and bite into powdered pink macaroons with a floral sweetness. There are baskets spilling with abundant, pale pink roses everywhere. Everyone is cordial and poised. However, the powdery formal atmosphere subsides into a bright, zesty citrus as the morning progresses into a warm and inviting ambience.

It’s a pretty powdery rose scent that sits extremely close to the skin. Doesn’t last long at all. This is very feminine & nice for after a shower or bedtime. Other than that, it is not extraordinary or unique.

To me this smells like one of those boutiques in Paris.
It is a nice and clean scent

This is not something I would typically wear. Is this astonishing? No. However, there's an interesting factor to this one. It reminds me of my Barbie chapsticks as a child. It's powdery but not *powdery*. Floral but like lipstick or chapsticks. I get a slightly wet vibe from this, like a dewy rose. I would probably buy a small bottle of this just to have. It's not terrible. I think it's elegant for a modern floral.

Edit: sorry, this was meant for Valentino Donna In Roma.

Original/Puig 2015 Formula Review

I was interested in this for years because the trio of rose, iris, and leather is mi amor, but I was held back by reviews that said that this was too sweet. One reviewer likened it to a candyfloss scent, and what with the girly pink bottle, I figured that they were right. Candyfloss leather? No thank you.

As the fragrance world turns though Loreal bought Valentino from Puig, and there was a threat of reformulation at the very least, if not actual discontinuation, and bottles of Donna were being dumped in the meantime due to the acquisition. So I bought a boxed bottle for $34. I'm impetuous what can I say, and I really have severe fragrance FOMO.

Well! This is lovely, and while there is a bit of sweet going on, it has so much depth that it's okay. It's interesting because the two base notes I can smell as soon as I spray Donna--a cloud of earl grey style bergamot infused with a cool vanilla and dry leather. The opening is not sweet at all, the sweetness comes after it's been on your skin for awhile--a rich rose floating in peach liquor with raspberry on the edges. Not syrupy, exactly, but the rose is quite fruity and dessert-like which I really enjoy. The iris adds a bit of musk and powder, and really who can resist an iris and musk combination?

As it wears down I feel that the peach note intensifies, and the dry down is a full patchouli with a slight hint of vanillic amber. Very serious for such a pink presentation! As far as the leather goes, I think that iris sometimes smells like leather or suede. The iris is what gives this a suede/leather feel...but you can't smell it in the drydown, only the top and heart notes. That's awhile though because Donna does a slow fade--the patchouli/amber drydown only appears hours after you've been wearing it.

This is just lovely, serious enough with the iris/musk/suede/leather to be adult but the rose had enough desserts to be fun and compelling. I really appreciate the darker drydown--a perfume like this I expect to have a laundry musk finish, and happily this doesn't.

I am puzzled by reviews that say that this smells like the (in)famous La Vie Est Belle. It's not that sweet. Maybe they are reviewing a new bottle? I saw a note list for the Loreal version that had praline. It would make sense too because both Valentino and Lancome are owned by Loreal.

The two scents that I DO think Donna resembles are the original Bottega Veneta, with the smooth suede and peachy rose notes, and Oscar de la Renta Bella Rosa, with the sweet musky rose haze and patchouli drydown.

Donna has very good lasting power and has interesting changes all day. Best of all I like this is the cold weather and the hot weather, so she's versatile that way. I think it's worth searching out the original formulation of this perfume. Why did they have to change it? Just leave well enough alone for God's sake. We already HAVE a La Vie Est Belle.

Smells like lipstick, or a cosmetic bag filled with lots of high-end makeup. Feminine & sophisticated. I like it!

I have a 10 ml sample of this one tucked away in a drawer for a couple of years now. I’ve fallen for Bottega Veneta velours recently and I thought since there is leather notes in both that I would try this again. Bad mistake, I sprayed it on my wrists just before I went to bed and all I could smell for the whole night was la vie est belle. I had to strip and hot wash the bed clothes first thing the next morning as it was so sweet and cloying. This one is not for me.

Thought I'd love this for my wife. Smelled in store and just reminded me of generic woman's frag. A bit sharp too, very disappointing. Maybe a proper wearing smells better?

Donna is one of my favourite scents and I allways got compliments even from strangers on in. I was so sad, when it got discontinued, as I wanted it to be my wedding scent.
Then the new version came in the picture, I bought 100ml bottle, but just isnt the same. There is sooomething missing and I cant pinpoint what it is, but its different. Almost identical, but that IT factor is missing and that makes me so sad …if someone has old version willing to sell, please DM me 😭

Valentino Donna is rich, rounded, sweet, a rosy leather that's somewhat gourmand but also with an edge of lipstick & powder. As yelinadelimon put it so well, "A middle term between La Vie Est Belle and Malle's Lipstick Rose." It's beautiful, in a way -- not at all too loud like LVEB can be -- but smells like a LOT of other fragrances I've put my nose on recently. It's most reminiscent of another sweet, rosy, Italian feminine leather, Bottega Veneta Eau de Velours, and its less pricy, slightly sweeter American counterpart, Rihanna Rogue. It's kind of beautiful but a bit generic, at this point, if you're familiar with a lot of fragrances from the last 5-10 years or so. If you don't already have Eau de Velours or Rogue, Donna is a pretty rose-leather fragrance.

Oh wow a candied rose ontop of a Dior homme kinda DNA. Need to get this as a gift in the future to some lady in my life 🤩🤩

If any one from India needs this bottle kindly DM “[email protected]

I have a sample.

---

This smells familiar but I don't know what does it remind me of. It's that kind of modern chypre-ish florals without oakmoss, smelling like flowers and something sour. And maybe leather, but for me it smells like green bark of some kind of plant or wild fruit, I don't know. For me, it's between OK and unpleasant as it goes sour and weird on me.

Modern chypre leaning to fruitchouli. Rose centred but too sweet for me, even if there are no fruit notes listed. Had it been a bit more powdery and a bit less sweet it would've been perfect. You may like it if you like Narciso for her and if you feel you're grown out of modern Miss Dior line. A middle term between LVEB and Malle's lipstick rose.

Am I the only one that gets a sweeter Chanel No. 5 on the drydown? That's how it reads on me.

Simple fresh, powdery, rose.
I can barely detect the leather, the vanilla makes it a little sweeter but it’s not too sweet.
I really like this perfume, but it’s nowhere near la vie eat belle, there is no likeness at all to me.
The only thing is that I wish it would last longer on my skin.

Whew this is strong, beast mode too. It’s a formal scent & nothing for the ones who like light scents. The main notes that sticks out to me are patchouli, iris & rose. To be honest, Rose, iris & patchouli are not my fav. I should’ve known that before I blind bought this. Lesson learned. The notes give off a fruity, powdery vibe. If you’ve ever smelled Lancôme La Vie est Belle en Rose & Dior Absolutely Blooming, this smells like a mix of the two. I don’t hate this, it just doesn’t work with my chemistry. I like more of a light floral, sweet scent & this is not it. Too strong for me. I can see this being lovely on someone else maybe more mature who can pull this off.

I just want to echo someone else review really because they described it perfectly when they said it smells like lipstick inside of a leather bag. Being a makeup lover, I deeply like this scent and have been into Iris perfumes lately. Maybe because it’s spring and something about a good Iris perfume and Spring go together perfectly to me. I have a sample but I will buy a full bottle when it’s done. This is the reformulated version that almost looks clear in the sample atomizer however the bottle it was decanted from had a yellow tint to the juice. I got my sample from Nordstrom so it should be legit.

Thank you all! I truly had difficulty in adding Valentino Donna to my page today. After staring at this beautiful bottle with clear juice on my table, I didn't believe that the photo of the bottle with pick liquid could be the same one. I even had to hunt for the original packaging, just to be sure. Now, as I hold the bottle up against a white background, I can detect just a faint blush coloring. As for the smell, I really love the Donna, as much as my Born in Roma. To me, Valentino scents are so crisp and elegant. I know that I can always blindly purchase Valentino and never be disappointed.

Valentino Donna has been my signature since it came out and I recently bought a new bottle. The juice is no longer pink, it is clear. The top notes are exactly the same, but the dry down feels different to my nose. I can't be 100% sure that it has been reformulated as maybe my tastes have just changed over the years and I no longer like it as much. First 30 min it is an amazing scent and after that just plain and boring sweetness. Does not smell like La Vie est Belle or Shalimar Parfum Initial(I have used up big bottles of both). I think longevity isn't as good as it was in the old bottles with the pink juice, but again it might be me being too used to it and no longer able to smell it.

The iris and the leather gives it such a powerful powdery touch.I have no clue how people identify this as being close to La Vie est Belle, which is pure sweetness .It`s not fluid like LVEB , it`s screechy, something stops you there in the smell and it`s exactly that powderiness.

As a man I find this perfume to allure me and make me smell it more. It’s simple and unique and although the leather may put you off - it’s barely there and isn’t animalic and dirty, rather it’s smooth and classy in the background

@mayette,
Funny that you mention the new formulation being clear instead of pink. I thought it was a fake. The bottom of the bottle also has a sticker instead of the ingraved text.
I had both bottles and I couldn’t detect a difference as far as the smell.

I adore! so feminine, powdery and at the same time fresh ... Donna is a gorgeous fragrance, suitable mainly for spring, but it could be worn all year round without any problems.

Tested this yesterday at Ulta. For anyone who is leather-phobic like I am, the leather note in this is barely noticeable. This is a nice fragrance.

It bears resemblance to MFK's Feminin Pluriel in the opening, less and less similar as it settles. Dry down is musky, powdery, sweet, then disappears into nothingness within a half an hour mark on my skin. I received the new formulation. Liquid is not pink but clear/slightly yellow.

It's perfect for everyday and it's something I can wear all year round. It's not strong and it's such a pretty, feminine scent. Personally, I don't see this as just a work fragrance but a fragrance I can wear anytime and anywhere. I don't know how to describe it but it does remind me of LVEB and a bit of Si (I find Si too strong for me and for some reason doesn't work with my body chemistry but smells good on others)

This is the first fragrance I've smelled with iris,rose, and vanilla together in fairly equal parts. It's a really pretty combination and very easy to wear. On the higher class end of designers and a bit lip-sticky.

I've always been partial to lipstick-y scents so when I heard this was a good one, I blind bought a bottle. Donna did not disappoint. Imagine a vintage leather bag. Inside is an array of items including red lipstick, face powder, a crushed rose, a loose earl grey tea bag, and a vial of vanilla perfume that's leaking. It's one of those scents that creates an instant aura. I feel like a bombshell wearing this.

normally i don’t really like rose dominant scents BUT this one is a beautiful powdery lipsticky scent, it lasts a pretty long time on my skin seeing my skin “absorbs” fragrances quickly, this one lasts surprisingly long, i love it

Smells good.

This is different from the uber-popular fruit florals with just a bit of patchouli or sandalwood like Mon Guerlain or La Vie Est Belle although I can see why people are comparing them. The rose and iris are very forward in this while the vanilla makes it a little gourmand but not sweet, if that makes sense. The leather and patchouli pull the floral down into a chypre fragrance. It's a very sophisticated, mature scent.

Not mature like vintage or soapy, but this perfume is one that a woman you see sitting near you would wear that you admire from afar. She's very put-together and elegant, with classic understated jewelry and name brand clothing that doesn't have a fleck of lint on it. Her shoes are impossibly clean and she sits demurely watching the crowds until a friend joins her for lunch at the table. They order mineral water with lemon wedges while they wait for their food and your gaze lingers on the pretty scene while the scent stays with you in your memory even weeks later.

The sillage is moderate but the longevity is amazing--this will wear all day into evening as a skin scent.

I really like this chypre floral.

I don’t typically like floral scents, but this one is lovely. I think it’s the powdery note that grounds it & keeps it from being an overtly floral bomb. There is something fresh in it that reminds me Prada La Femme. I like to spray this on before bed.

I had this in 2016. This perfume exudes sophistication, I find it delicate (vanilla) and feminine (roses) yet punchy (patchouli and bergamot) leaving an impact. The leather and iris softening and homogenising it perfectly having it scream grown woman.

Ladies in your early 20’s it’s a must to add to your collection

I have worn this for a few years now, reserved in my collection for special occasions, birthdays, wedding ceremonies, baby showers. It's elegant, its beautiful, feminine and versatile. A low-key class act. 10/10

This is the second bottle I have purchased! It is not overly sweet, which I love but definitely a gourmand perfume. I am not one for woody notes but in here I really like, I find them comforting and in a way almondy. I think it is a sexy perfume, my husband loves it and I get many compliments!!! Will continue purchasing!!

I wore this on my wedding day with an ivory silk dress scattered in 3 dimensional flowers - a mix of old Hollywood glamour and bohemian vibes. I was married outside, with a reception at a little art deco venue with lots of candles and wild flowers. I felt this fragrance encapsulated it all - it's extremely elegant and classic whilst being modern and effervescent. The fresh rose and iris combine to a luscious turkish delight sweetness on my skin, and it lasts all day. It's truly beautiful and one of a kind - to me it's better than many in the realm of Chanel etc. Reading about a reformulation breaks my heart!

Update!

Just bought a second bottle from Boots in the UK - the formulation has definitely changed.

I'm running out of my original bottle so initially I was gutted to see the difference - even the colour of the liquid has gone from pink to yellow. The patchouli bomb note has been MASSIVELY tuned down, almost to the point you can't sense it. That's definitely the main difference but all of the stunning sweet powdery notes remain, maybe a touch sweeter to be a better crowd pleaser.

The new version no longer has the depth of the patchouli, especially in the dry down but longevity seems to be fairly similar. I've tested the old and new version side by side now, I feel it's lost it's edge compared to the old version but definitely has more mass appeal now - a shame in my eyes but an improvement in some!

So, this is my first time posting a fragrance review. I'm not a connoisseur by any means and have just recently (in my 40s) started wanting to branch out and smell like something other than Alfred Sung or Fantasy by Britney Spears (don't kill me). I ordered a sample of this perfume and when I first sprayed it, I thought, "Ew. Old woman perfume." But within just a few minutes, it went really sweet on me. I guess that's what I'm smelling? Especially on my skin. It's like I can smell patchouli and maybe fruitiness. I kept trying to figure out what it reminds me of and I think I've got it. Gucci Rush. Which I maybe wore a few times in the early 2000s and didn't love it. Does anyone else see this comparison?

Now, here comes probably one of those most unpopular opinions here: I hate this perfume.
I will admit, I much prefer fruity florals, gourmands, and yellow florals... but I have nothing against a beautiful, classic rose perfume. I believe there's one singular note in this perfume that ruined it for me and I'll explain why.
The reason I came across this perfume is because I bought a 4 piece set, that included 2 small bottles of Donna Acqua (which I do quite like, and will leave a review for after) and 2 small bottles of the original Donna. I couldn't find a single bottle of Donna Acqua, so I settled for this and figured I may as well try the original Donna.
I don't believe my nose has ever had a reaction to a perfume the way I have to this one.
First of all, the pyramid? Forget all that. This perfume is very rose forward, which is fine. But there's only one other note I can smell, and it completely overpowers the fragrance. And its the leather note.
This leather is not subtle. In fact, when I first smelled it on my wrist, it didn't smell like leather... it smelled like LEAD. I was so shocked by this, I took a couple of more sniffs just to make sure I wasn't smelling things wrong. After the screaming lead like opening I thought, "okay... maybe if I give it a chance to mellow out, it'll change and the dry down will be better." Nope. The leather did mellow, but it still overpowered the rest of the perfume. I kept getting whiffs of it, and it was honestly so nauseating to me I had to go scrub it off my arm. I'm actually pretty sad about this... because I think if not for the leather, this would have been a very pretty perfume. I had my grandmother smell it before I washed it off and she really liked it. So I gave the bottles to her.
I'm not sure if this is a my nose thing, or a my body chemistry thing... but this perfume didn't get on well with me, at all. But I'm happy my grandmother will be able to get use out of it. Hopefully, she doesn't wear it around me. Maybe Born in Roma would be more my speed... but I definitely know better now than to blind buy.

Edit: so today, I did an experiment. I had my mom, my 7 year old sister, and myself all put on the perfume. On my mom, it smelled like a creamy, gorgeous vanilla iris rose. On my sister, it smelled almost sweet... like a Turkish delight. It was beautiful! Then I put it on... very strong leather incense, with a hint of vanilla. This is definitely a body chemistry issue, and my mom and sister smelled the difference on me as well. My feelings are so hurt, lol! It smells divine on them. But simply not good on me. Turning my hate into a dislike, because I don't hate the perfume... just how it smells on my skin.

Smells so elegant , what one smells when one walks into a high end opulent hotel lobby.

Before testing Valentino Donna, I was a bit afraid of the comparisons with La Vie Est Belle and Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming. Now I'm feeing perplexed, because my sample smells nothing like these two. This fragrance is absolutely not a gourmand. Donna isn't sweet. It's a beautiful classic leathery rose ! An old school rose, and by old school, I mean it in the best possible way. If you only like syrupy fruity millennial style rose, this isn't for you. Donna is a true floral on a light oriental and powdery base.
Imagine an elegant woman's expensive leather purse. Inside of it, there's a rose perfume spray. She also has her make-up, foundation and lipstick. Deep inside, there's an old paper strip that one day was sprayed with Shalimar. The bag smells like warm rose, powdery iris, vanilla. And many compliment the owner's lovely perfume. Some think it's her expensive make-up that smells so nice, but it's the scent of her perfume.
A timeless classic for an elegant lady.

I have the original Donna and is in my Top 2! Decided to buy a back up bottle and i got the new version. I am not so good to define the notes but definitely there are changes. On paper i don't smel big differences but on skin yes they are. For me the new is more frutier, sweeter and less leather or maybe leather is gone at all. I am kind of disapointed because the old version was for me the perfect formule- so elegant and sophisticated smell. Now i have to search for the old version again.

I've recently purchased a bottle of this..not owned a bottle for a few years but it feels more or less the same as I remember. Hope it stays like this - not a fan of take overs as they ruined many favs before.

Hello eliza.mayne, at the moment it doesn't seem to be discontinued. After Loreal took over the former producer Puig, the original Donna was out of stock in Northern Europe for a few months while "Born in Roma" went on sale. The original Donna even disappeared from online shops. But this year "Donna" was back in stores with the same look as the original, now of course produced by Loreal. I haven't smelled the "returned" original yet, but others have smelled it. Some say it's still the same, others say it's sweeter and fruity. Who is right? I don't know.

This is the most divine perfume! Every time I smell it my eyes roll back. Smells like Lipstick but in the most incredible way. Very very feminine smell and gives me Mon Guerlain vibes <3

I heard this is being discontinued.. BUT WHYY!?!? It's Valentino's best perfume! Born In Roma smells nothing like this and in my opinion, isn't as good.

If you want to smell expensive, elegant, powdery and sexy - this is for you! An edgier alternative on more classic powdery perfumes.

It is a 'makeup' fragrance, powdery sweet rose and iris

I have just purchased my second bottle of this having run out of that which I purchased when it was first launched and I was pleased to discover it has NOT been reformulated I have seen reviews below that say the juice is dark pink....it is not, these folk must be confusing it with the Born in Roma version which is a completely different perfume and is horrible imho. The original is still the same beautiful soft but long lasting fragrance that it always has been

This is very beautiful. A warm lipsticky rose and old fashioned powder. It wears all day and leaves a beautiful trail so be careful with over applying it. I found it very difficult to wear because of the style of clothing that I wear and the overall “ vibe “ I go for. I wear androgynous looks, dark colors, and love a good pair of doc martens. My silver buzz cut and “ alternative “ fashion choices definitely makes me the wrong person for this fragrance.

This is defines a more traditional, poise and elegant fragrance. A very attractive woman with a bold red lip. The kind that wears a perfectly tailored crisp white pantsuit ( she can do that because she NEVER gets anything stained or dirty ) red lipstick and a sleek bun to to brunch. She’s got the silver fox older husband and is VERY successful in her field ( probably in publishing or fashion.. but she loves “ classic “ fashion nothing trendy )

Sadly, this gives me a TERRIBLE migraine. I even tried a half spray behind each ear to see if a smaller silage would help, but it still triggered a tension headache and made me queasy. I can see my mom pulling this off much better than I do in one of her “ special events “ outfits.

Double negatives too because my fiancé said it has a “ dusty “ note. I asked if he meant powder and he said “ no, defiantly the smell of dust. Like when you swipe the duster too fast while dusting the tables and you breath some in. “

HARD PASS lol at least I was able to sell it for a small profit.

Very powdery floral kind of makeup smell,
Can be extremely heady especially if you're crammed in a small space such as a car, so refrain from spraying more than one hefty spray.

Decent perfume, it reminds me of Oscar de la Renta Bella Rosa which I also own and prefer to this one, because the vibe is similar but that one doesn't have this lipsticky smell to it.

That being said, Donna is lovely, wearable and inoffensive (it lowkey smells like ripe juicy heirloom tomatoes to me!?).

Shes beautiful. She lasts. Shes a warm rose. Love her! 🤗

Quality rose enthusiasts probably won't be impressed, but pretty good in it's own category, soft, powdery, if a little basic. Fairly dry and covers the make up bag feel. The leather note is a bit deceiving, not much actual leather in here. Or rose for that matter, but I'll give it a pass as it's not a particularly expensive brand. Mostly iris and powder. gone in 2 hours. Try E Coudrey Iris Rose for a more niche (but still affordable) experience.

**I have a 4 ml decant to swap - UK only **

I tried this today, and seven hours later I can still smell it on the back of my hand with my nose about three inches away!

The notes I smell strongest (even now!) are rose, iris, and bergamot! I don't notice many reviews commenting on the bergamot, but on me it's super pronounced! It's definitely brighter than "Donna Born in Roma", although both are nice scents.

Definitely a 'feminine' perfume, it's not 100% to my taste, so I would use it as a gift, but not buy a bottle myself. I LOVE the studded glass bottle, too!

Love!
I´m usually picky with flowery notes in perfumes since i´ve noticed that dry flowers gives me a headache. But this one is so sensual and warm!!! It is a daytime scent for fall and winter i think. It is a beautiful sweet rose with powdery vanilla and a gourgeous hint of warm leather wich all in all sort of makes it expensive and cute smelling at the same time.

This makes me feel happy, feminine, professional and comfortable all at the same time.

This is a Winner.

Before I write my review, I find it crucial to state that there are TWO Valentino Donnas. There is the original and then there is the new one. I have both so I will review both. Please note, both fragrances are completely different! No similarities.

The original Donna is a light pink like shown in the picture above. If Marilyn Monroe smelled like anything naturally, it would be Valentino's Donna the original light pink bottle. It smells like very expensive makeup powder and lipstick with a light touch of pink rose and light sweetness to it. This smells like a straight up pin up girl. It smells creamy, expensive and soft. It isn't loud, it's subtle but it definitely lets people know that it's there. I really did like a lot but right now I am looking for fall/winter fragrances and this is NOT one of them. This is leaning more spring or summer. I would wear this if im dressed elegant or elegant/casual. It's really good. If you don't like makeup smell then don't even bother.

Valentino Donna the NEW version, is a hot pink. It's a darker pink juice so you can't confuse them. This one smells very delicious and sweet. I want to say that it's borderline, sticky sweet. It smells a lot like a sticky berry with a touch of "designer" smell to it. This is something I would wear if I'm looking for attention or if im already feeling really sexy and aroused. Valentino Donna is definitely a lot louder than the original one but it ism't a gourmand either. Unfortunately, it did keep reminding me of Victoria Secret sprays if they were better quality so that was a bit of a turn off for me. On top of it all, this isn't a fragrance that has much complexity to it.

I'll keep testing these out because it's barely been a few days but TBH I preferred Valentino Donna Aqua which I'll write a review about as well.

I am confused by the notes listed in this perfume and also the reformulations as I don't know when that supposedly happened. I bought a bottle in 2017, and it smells quite fruity to me. I am surprised that no fruits are listed. It may have slightly some vanilla, some powder notes and some rose but it's not a vanilla perfume, nor a rose one, and I am mostly surprised by the leather note listed. It's feminine, delicate and overall a pleasant scent but nothing outstanding or original. To me, it was a perfume that I liked right in the beginning, but with every wear I liked it less and less.

I smelled this fragrance the first time at Nordstrom when me and my husband was at the mall last 2 years. It was a love at first sniff but was on the pricy side so did not buy it. I really want this fragrance but i am scared to buy it online because the one i had bought smelled differently from the sweet, creamy, powdery and leathery fragrance i smelled years ago. I currently have the Donna acqua 3.4 ounce just used a little bit but the botlle is 90% full. I am looking to swap that for the original Donna. Anybody interested should let me know.

US only

This is so lovely, very sophisticated and feminine. I love the iris and rose combo, grounded with some vanilla. However, it does not even last 2 hours on my skin. I'm very disappointed in the longevity. I have a 10ml decant, but I'm not purchasing a FB because that decant is halfway sprayed in only 2 days worth of usage since this has no lasting power at all.

sexy and fresh, very much reminding me of the much talked about Hugo Boss the Scent Private Accord for Her, except the Valentino smells a bit more sheer and a bit metallic, in a nice sharper way, I think.

My first blind buy and certainly a successful one.

I'm generally not a rose perfume person but this one has definitely won me over. The rose is very subtle among the slight cosmetic-y powdery scent (not really for a hot day) and the leather doesn't really seem too apparent to my nose but what I do smell...fairy floss! Might just be me but I definitely get a rose/fairy floss vibe.

If you're not into rose but want to like it...this is definitely your fragrance. I found it on a crazy special at my local pharmacy intending to keep it for a gift for someone should I be stuck for something at some point. Perhaps I'll keep it for myself!

I can really only speak on the initial spray as I’ve tried it on in store a handful of times. I really wanted to like this as a lipstick and leather. It definitely has both! It’s sweet warm round and fuzzy at the edges. I think the comparisons to LVEB are good because it has a almost praline like sweetness to me. If you’re okay with a richer type of sweet than a drier more powdery interpretation than this may be for you. Creamy blended and rich to my nose, but too sweet for me personally. It’s not as deep as lipstick on (my favorite lipstick scent) or bright, which I think is what I look for in a lipstick/leather. A nice scent, boy not for me. Hopefully this can help people with similar tastes.

Really love this fragrance, have a bottle that is a couple of years old, only have about 15mls left it will be interesting to see what the reformulated version is like

I don’t understand the LVEB comparison, the two perfumes are nothing like each other

Pure LOVE for this simple 50/50 rose and iris combination. The dry down adds in a creamy vanilla. That's it! Sometimes it's best to be simple!

Overall 10/10 *****stars!!

Silage 10/10
Longevity 10/10
Presentation 10/10

Love at first spray 10/10, lol =)

Donna by Valentino was love at first sniff for me. Donna is as pretty and pink as the bottle itself, with the floral heart notes mixing beautifully with the animalic yet sweet base notes which quickly grab your attention. There is something a little vintage and mature about Donna which comes from the mix of Bulgarian rose and iris here but it plays and works very well for the fragrance; its stylish and glamorous, embodying class and sophistication. Personally, it’s up there with Chloe’s eponymous Eau de Parfum and Chanel’s Coco Mademoiselle in terms of its upscale chic quality and timelessness. Such a lovely compliment getter and the added bonus is that the bottle is absolutely stunning, I haven’t come across a Valentino fragrance that wasn’t housed in a beautiful bottle!

Blind buy purchase this and bit disappointing cuz cant really smell iris and leather here.im a sucker for powdery scents but it’s remind me slightly of la vie est Belle .mine is The pre reformulation version.i had smell the new version In store with peach added and it’s even more sweeter.hopefully this old version Donna will grow on me cuz I used to own la vie est Belle but my taste is changing now so we will see.definitely will keep it cuz I love the gorgeous bottle ❤️

Edit
Yessss this does grow on me now so happy it’s not as powdery as I want it but still smell so beautiful and classy and that’s enough to impress me

This perfume has been on my wish list for a long time. It's finally part of my collection. I want to tell you that from my point of view, it is one of the most beautiful and sophisticated perfume I have. I'm crazy about the smell of lipstick and powder, and it smells exactly like that. Like interior of a leather bag and makeup. Amazing!

I'm shocked with this fragrance. It smells like pure class. It gives me Nina Ricci L'Extase and La Nuit Tresor vibes but softer, less cloying sweet and fuzzier around the edges.

It is a soft, sweet rose that smells beautiful, elegant and very ladylike. I get absolutely no leather however.

I think this could be worn year round and is very signature scent worthy. For a sweet floral, and a non-white floral at that, I'm very impressed by this offering.

Contrary to above, I find the longevity to be 6-8 hours on skin + clothing. Silage is soft, very daytime appropriate.

Overall - a pleasant 7/10 - a beautiful everyday scent but it doesn't tug at my heartstrings like a smokey vanilla gourmand can. However, I find myself reaching for this over and over.

This review is for the pre-reformulated version of D. edp, I'm not familiar with the new formula.
This is very similiar to LVEB. Very sweet with strong patchouli, with the addition of a bit of rose. No leather or iris (thank god).
D. doesn't have the longevity or sillage of LVEB, it's quite civilized even with a heavy application.
D. is a modern feminine fragrance. I don't consider it old fashioned or overly mature.

Starts off very lipstick smellling then it starts to smell like a vintage compact makeup. About 40 min after that the patchouli peeks through with a powder rose and it’s gone. Doesn’t last long at all on my skin. I have already reapplied 2 times in the past 3 hours.

I'm writing about the pre-reformulated version. First of all, I’m almost 40 – reference point for the younger potential buyers. I see not a lot of you guys here think of it as a summer perfume, but for me it fits perfectly in the warm and hot weather. It’s meant to be tender and smooth, so nothing gets amplified into oblivion when the temperatures rise, it just gets creamier, the bouquet opens up letting the notes come to life and start playing on the slightly moist skin. Can't comprehend the comparisons to LVEB at all, they are two completely different scents. Anyway, this will be one of my summer perfumes this year, its last year :(, charming and effortless, speaks of good style and polished manners while also being sexy (subdued, not the in your face kind), inviting and down to earth. Definitely an intelligent scent as some have already noted, it is a perfect blend of the listed notes, the leather brings depth and sophistication after the initial quirky burst of citrus and freshness, which could have lasted longer, alas. Lasts quite some time, around 5 to 6 hours and is noticeable at some 30 cm length, initially even more. The reformulation thing is unforgivable though, why mess with it? One would think they listen to the buyer, we are the buyers, listen to us damnit! Speaking of manners :D

Iris, citrus, rose, a hint of leather and vanilla in the base. This perfume is very feminine, but not too sweet. I don't understand the LVEB comparisons, to me they smell nothing alike. I'm wary of leather in perfumes but for this one I think it adds quite a nice touch to make this perfume more interesting. No notes overwhelm each other, and they smell wonderful together. I'm happy to have a 50ml bottle in my collection. I will be very sad when I can't get this any longer, but 50 ml will last me years!

This is a beautiful perfume with a nice vintage vibe. The opening is similar to Fancy by Jessica Simpson but soon changes to show its different notes. The drydown is elegant, the rose and powdery notes are there. Can´t feel the patchouli though. The bottle is gorgeous, I bought a 30ml one online and I´d definitely buy the large one.

Sooo.. I bought a 30 ml bottle a few days ago. As usual it was a blind buy as I don't have a store near me to test the fragrances first (when I can I buy samples).

The scent is fine but nothing groundbreaking for me. Actually it reminds me A LOT of La Vie Est Belle by Lancome, it has a very similar DNA. I suppose it is a little too mature for my liking.

GREETINGS FROM THE CZECH REPUBLIC! :)

I love Valentino Donna Rosa Verde and was sure I would love this too but opted to purchase a mini first before taking a plunge on a fb. I am so glad I did that because this is not what I expected at all. Reading the notes, I thought this would be an iris make-up scent, similar to Lipstick On, but drier than that. While it does have some element of that, especially later in the progression of the scent, on me the patchouli and leather notes really stand out. It's more like makeup in a leather bag near a pot of patchouli. Only towards the end of the scent does the iris take over fully giving it that beautiful powderiness I love so much. The fragrance also has some sweetness too, which I was not expecting.

This doesn't fulfill my expectation of a predominant Iris/Rose makeup scent. It reminds me of something in the la vie est belle lineup. I was seeking a scent where Iris and Rose are the stars most of the way through. While this has some of that, you also must like leather and patchouli because they are just as much a part of this fragrance as the iris and rose. As for silage it is nice and enveloping and longevity excellent on me, and the soft powdery ending heavenly. Overall, I can see where some may love this, but this is just a like for me.

I recently repurchased this after many many years of not wearing it. I had remembered loving it and needed it back in my collection.

It smells just how I remember it. A soft, leathery, mature, womanly, powdery vanilla.

The opening is bergamot and a bit tart, and the dry down is exquisitely soft and undeniably delicious.

It's a soft mature sexy woman.

And the bottle is stunning. A must have.

I recently got a new bottle of Donna and it smells the same as the previous two I got in the last two years but I would love to get my hands on the new reformulated version just to see what they did with it

Revisiting to update my review - this smells nothing like I remember... just got a sample with a Sephora order and it just smells generic, tons of cashmeran in here now. Smells like another perfume I hate: LIVING LALIQUE. Changing my like to a dislike.

The one I smelled before smelled like yummy vanilla cake batter and leather.

I'm shocked at how quickly this has been reformulated!

@TinaTsia: I wonder if you have an already reformulated version (in the picture, despite the sprayer, they haven't really changed the design, but I haven't seen any of the L'oreal versions without packaging and couldn't test them before Corona time since there was no tester). The original is not only rosy, but also iris-centered. And it has nothing in common with Mon Paris (except maybe a little bit of sweetnes, but that one was for girls, this one was for women;)). The original was produced by Puig, made in Spain.
@TexasOrangeBlossom: I would also like to read some reviews on the reformulation, though I'm ready to move on to new perfume experiences if they changed it in the sweeter direction. The market is full of sweet perfumes (and I too have my sweets in my collection). But I need a substitude for Donna that is so nicely rosy and iris-centered with this combination of patch and leather and that glorious halo that surrounds you. I'm afraid the only substitute for the original Donna could be ... the original Donna...
*It's okay for me to downvote this because it is just a talk about the reformulation and not a real review*

EDIT: HAPPY! GOT A BACKUP BOTTLE of the original formula produced by Puig. So, it's still around. Had to search some time nethertheless. Check the package, if you're interested where your bottle comes from.

There needs to be a new page for the reformulated version that includes peach. Has anybody tried it yet?

This is stunning. It is a powder and rose fragrance that becomes slightly masculine as it dries down on my skin with hints of leather and vanilla that take over and leave a divine trail that stays with you for hours.

Valentino Donna is one of my top 5 favorites of all time. To think that they are discontinuing or reformulating this breaks my heart. She is beautiful just as she is and deserves to remain a pillar in the Valentino lineup. I have repurchased a backup bottle so hopefully I don’t run out of this beauty.

On me she starts out with a sweet jammy rose with some bergamot and then progresses into a fresher, more realistic rose with leather and vanilla and the perfect amount of patchouli to anchor the base and give it that slightly earthy touch. I don’t really get any powder (thankfully) although the scent does have that lipstick/cosmetic vibe. Everything is perfectly balanced on the dry down and lingers for hours. The dry down is by far the most beautiful part.

Someone has mentioned below and a guy friend of mine actually said the same thing about Donna- it smells like a department store. You smell the general perfume aroma and the leather from the handbags. It’s not especially innovative but I do consider it fairly unique among the masses of designer florals and fruit-choulis. It is less sweet and immature and has much more class and character.

The reformulation sounds disappointing. Remove leather and add peach? I have my doubts. I’d like to hear reviews on the reformulation.

Utterly beautiful. There are very few fragrances that i find this feminine. At first I taught the iris is just too much. A smell reminded me of crayons and an old school make-up. Well, it still does, but in a great way. Because to me it smells like a beautiful lady sitting at her dressing table putting on her fine make-up. Powder. Lipstick. Roses. Fragile, delicate, strong, reliable. Could be a wife or a mom. Captures a femininity that requires respect by itself.

I am totally in love with what seems like the old formulation and dreading that the new one would smell like b...y candies.

Any tips with regards to bottle/packaging differences between old and new formulations, peeps?

am desperate to get one of the old formulatons now.

P.s. Eventually, I might fill this hole with Anatale Lebreton's Incarnata.

@ynde: Thank you very much for this important information, although it is sad news (for me) that you have to offer.
I was afraid that it would be reformulated when I heard it would be in stores again, but was announced as "new". Also the sprayer in the photo seemed different, e.g. at Douglas Europe. I was still ready to order it online blindly, because Donna was one of my signatures. And the last drop in my last bottle gave me comfort when I sprayed it last week.
Okay, bye.
I'm not going to buy the new formula blindly: it may work better for some of you, but for me the original formula was perfect. Although it was similar to other fragrances on the market, e.g. 'Si' or 'La vie ...' it was so much better on my skin: not so sweet, but dark and smooth and powdery with a slight hint of rose over it, perfect leather, perfect iris, perfect patchouli. Although it was similar to other scents, it was special and noble, like a graceful Italian Contessa among some teenage girls.
Thanks again for information. But I am done for today.