Born in Roma Woman - 987

The Essence Vault's No. 987 takes its cue from Valentino Born In Roma Donna, an amber floral built around a rich, luxurious jasmine trio and precious Bourbon vanilla. The heart is where this dupe does its best work - a genuinely radiant, sweet jasmine bouquet that echoes the original's glamorous, floral-forward signature well, warmed by a convincing vanilla bourbon note. Where the real Born In Roma Donna builds haute-couture depth through layered woody undertones that ground the sweetness and give it an edgy, contemporary elegance, No. 987 leans more purely into the vanilla-floral sweetness, with the woody base arriving lighter and less structured. The result is a pleasant, wearable jasmine-vanilla floral that leans sweeter and less sophisticated than the original's rebellious couture attitude, and it doesn't hold its shape on skin quite as long. A solid evening floral for the price, if less nuanced than the real thing.