Rome

Rome opens with a burst of tart blackcurrant and bergamot that immediately signals its inspiration - Valentino's Born in Roma - though the citrus-fruit lift here is louder and less polished than the designer original. Once it settles, a jasmine bouquet takes over, built from jasmine absolute, jasmine sambac and a touch of white tea, giving a sweet, slightly powdery floral heart that leans a little simpler and more one-dimensional than Born in Roma's layered florals. The base brings bourbon vanilla, cashmeran and guaiac wood together for a creamy, musky finish that's pleasant but noticeably shorter-lived than the original's famous longevity. On skin this reads as a soft, feminine floral-vanilla scent well suited to daytime wear, though it loses definition within a few hours rather than settling into a rich drydown. As a budget-friendly take on a genuinely loved designer bottle, Rome captures the outline of Born in Roma convincingly enough for anyone testing the waters before committing to the real thing.