No words are enough to describe the feeling you get when you smell a Valentino scent. And just in time for the new season, the Italian house pampered us with a new perfume that puts us immediately in the mood for fall and winter.
Because each of the Valentino men and women need a fragrance that adds a new feel to their style this season, the house also made sure to launch a man and a woman fragrance. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Valentino Donna Noir Absolu and Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu!
And who can immerse us in this universe more than the perfumers behind these two new olfactory marvels? Azyaamode had the great opportunity to sit down with perfumer Sonia Constant – composer of Valentino Donna Noir Absolu – and perfumer Sophie Labbé – composer of Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu, who worked closely with the house’s Creative Director Pierpaolo Piccioli, in order to discover these two fragrances.
What was the idea behind Valentino Donna Noir Absolu?
Perfumer Sonia Constant: We wanted to create a Valentino Donna scent that is more oriental, opulent and Middle Eastern, one that captivates the Middle Eastern women because with its richness and mystery, one that features a new signature. With this in mind, I have used the Italian signature that was present in Valentino Donna with the Iris, rose and Patchouli, and I have worked in a richer and more oriental way.
What about Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu?
Perfumer Sophie Labbé: The work was similar with the new Valentino Uomo, which was first created in 2014 by Olivier Polge, and I had the chance to inherit this magnificent formula and to make it darker and more intense for Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu. The already-present iris adds its elegance to the notes and I really wanted to preserve this intensity and darkness by finding a new way to add the oriental touch. I also remembered the New Year’s Eve I spent with my family in Dubai’s desert. I never forgot this magnificent experience, as we sat around the fire under the starry night sky. I wanted to translate this scene into a perfume that will be as beautiful as that night.
Is there a common note between these two fragrances?
There are two common notes, which are the black pepper and the sandalwood. In fact, this perfume brings together two different worlds. At Valentino, it’s all about luxury and the ingredients used to create this scent are delicious and of high quality. This is truly Valentino’s DNA.
What is the new note in the Valentino Noir Absolu?
Perfumer Sophie Labbé: The first note that we smell is the black pepper; it’s an explosion of pepper because it is a vibrant head note that introduces the perfume. Then comes the lightly intense scent of plum that adds darkness to the blend, followed by the already-present iris and precious sandalwood. The contrast is highlighted by the scent of black pepper – which is very strong – and the creamy note of sandalwood. We have created three notes with the rose in order to create a very different signature that was never created before. The result is a perfume created in an oriental way that lightly resembles the Valentino Uomo perfume.
Is this new perfume a wintery one or it can be worn all year long?
Perfumer Sonia Constant: It’s a very rich perfume made of very intense scents. Personally, I can easily wear it during the summer because I love rich perfumes. It is also ideal for evenings because the sensuality of the Valentino Donna hints at this woman’s mysterious and intense personality. This is what renders her captivating. She is magnificent and extremely seductive.
Are these features what make these two fragrances perfect for a couple?
With the Valentino Uomo Noir Absolu being extremely captivating as well, this leads us to imagine a woman and a man with a certain tension between them. We feel that we are unaware of what happened between them. This is the ideal scene to embody the perfumes.
Mirella Haddad
