Valentino Uomo Born In Roma Intense dupes

What is Born in Roma Intense?

Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Intense is a men's perfume by Valentino. It came out in 2023.

It is a stronger, sweeter version of the original Born in Roma for men. And it quickly became one of the most loved men's scents of recent years.

On Fragrantica, over twelve thousand people have rated it, and the love votes far outnumber the dislikes.

The Born in Roma line

Born in Roma is Valentino's big perfume line. It is a tribute to Rome, the city where the fashion house is based.

The bottles copy Valentino's famous "Rockstud," a pyramid-shaped stud. Valentino says the Rockstud was inspired by Roman architecture and is found on the city's gates and walls.

The Intense versions launched as a pair, one for men and one for women. The campaign showed a secret party at night in Rome.

The perfumers

Born in Roma Intense for men was made by two perfumers, Antoine Maisondieu and Guillaume Flavigny.

Just three notes

This is what makes Born in Roma Intense unusual. Fragrantica lists only three notes.

Vanilla on top, lavender in the middle and vetiver at the base. That's it.

Putting vanilla at the top is rare. Most perfumes save vanilla for the base, where it comes in slowly.

Here, the vanilla hits you from the very first spray. Valentino calls it a "powerful amber-vanilla infusion."

What does it smell like?

In plain words, it smells like sweet, rich vanilla with a clean, fresh lavender. Underneath, a smoky vetiver keeps it from getting too sugary.

Valentino describes the vetiver as "smoked," pushing the scent toward something "earthy and smoky."

One owner of a dupe put the style well. It is "mass appealing lavender, but with vanilla and vetiver combined perfectly."

Some describe the style as a little powdery. One Reddit user compared it to Jean Paul Gaultier Le Male Le Parfum, another sweet lavender-vanilla scent.

How it changes on your skin

The opening. Bold vanilla right away, with lavender cutting through. It is sweet and strong at first.

The middle. The lavender becomes clearer, adding a clean, floral freshness.

The drydown. The vetiver comes forward, with a smoky, woody warmth. One owner said the "sweet with hints of spice dry down" won them over.

Why people love it

It gets compliments. One owner calls it "one of the most complimented colognes I have."

It is easy to like. Many Reddit users list it as a top pick next to scents like Bleu de Chanel and YSL MYSLF.

It is a crowd favourite. When one Reddit user said they didn't like it, another replied, "everyone glazes that one," meaning everyone praises it.

It feels rich and cosy, but still clean. The lavender stops it from feeling like a dessert.

Why some people don't

Some find it too sweet or too simple. One Reddit user wrote, "I tried to love it."

A few find it a bit feminine at first. One reviewer said the opening felt too feminine, but the drydown won them over.

Some also call it basic. One fan answered that it "may be basic, but it's so rich and so pleasing and addicting."

How long does it last?

One detailed review reports about eight to ten hours, with strong projection in the first few hours.

But results vary. One Reddit user said they would wear it more "if it lasted longer."

Like most sweet vanilla scents, it clings well to clothes. If you want more time, spray your jacket or scarf too.

The dupes

Born in Roma Intense is a designer scent, not a pricey niche one. Even so, several dupe houses have made a version.

Owners are split on most of them. Only one has strong, clear support.

And watch out for mix-ups. Valentino has several Born in Roma scents, and some "dupes" copy a different one.

Bujairami Blackjack

Bujairami is a perfume house from Sydney, Australia. Blackjack is its take on Born in Roma Intense.

This is the dupe owners praise most. One Reddit reviewer rated it "99%" close.

Where it is different. The same reviewer said the only change might be a little more vanilla than the original.

Quality. Another owner tested it for a week against a rival dupe. They said Blackjack "smells richer and more complex and closer" to the original.

Performance. One reviewer sprayed it at 9am and could still smell it at 10:30pm. Another got two to three hours of strong projection and about nine hours in total.

Not everyone agrees. One Reddit user said a well-known YouTuber called it one of Bujairami's worst, and not very similar. So a sample is still wise.

Zimaya Reverie Aqua

Zimaya is a perfume house from the United Arab Emirates. Reverie Aqua is another popular take on this style.

Opinions differ on how close it is. One owner said, "I don't think it actually smells that similar."

Another tester thought Reverie Aqua might be a bit closer in smell, but without Blackjack's depth. Others noticed a sweeter amber and a touch of chestnut.

Performance is mixed. One owner found it projected for about an hour, then sat close to the skin. Another said it projects well for three hours and lasts on clothes for a full day.

Armaf Art Du'Parfum Abstracto

Armaf is a big dupe house from the United Arab Emirates. Art Du'Parfum Abstracto is sold as a Valentino-style scent.

It is one of the most argued-about dupes on this page. Some owners call it a Born in Roma Intense clone.

Others say it smells "nothing like" it. Several say it smells more like BDK Gris Charnel, but with vanilla.

One owner called it "a less brighter, more smoky version" of Born in Roma Intense. Another said it's a mix of different Born in Roma scents.

It also seems to need time. More than one owner said the opening was harsh and needed a few weeks to settle.

Lattafa Asad Bourbon

Lattafa is a big perfume house from the United Arab Emirates. Asad Bourbon is sold as a twist on Azzaro The Most Wanted.

But some owners of Born in Roma Intense say it opens very close to it. Some see it as a mix of both scents.

Where it is different. It is more gourmand and heavier on the vanilla. One tester said it is "100% more gourmand" than Blackjack.

Performance. Owners praise it a lot. One said it smelled great from day one and "kept getting better the more it matures."

Other names you will see

Arabiyat Prestige Extradose Homme. One owner called it "a very close interpretation." Another said it starts like Born in Roma Intense and dries down closer to the Extradose version.

Dumont Nitro Gold. It is sometimes called a Born in Roma Intense dupe. But owners point out it copies the regular Born in Roma, which is a very different, fresher scent.

We have not found enough side-by-side comparisons for these. That is why they are not listed as dupes on this page.

Born in Roma Intense or a dupe: which should you buy?

Buy the original if you want the smoothest blend and the real Valentino bottle.

Buy Blackjack if you want the dupe most owners call closest, with strong performance.

Buy Asad Bourbon if you want something even sweeter and richer, with a bit of Most Wanted in the mix.

Try Art Du'Parfum or Reverie Aqua carefully. Opinions on them are split, so a sample first is a good idea.

Skip all of them if sweet vanilla scents feel too heavy for you. This style is sweet at its core.

Other Born in Roma versions

Valentino has made many Born in Roma scents, so it helps to know which is which.

Born in Roma Uomo (the original). Owners describe it as a fresher, ocean-like scent. It is a very different style from the Intense.

Born in Roma Extradose Uomo. It came out in 2025. One fan called it the "same DNA, just stronger."

Born in Roma Intense Donna. This is the women's partner, launched at the same time. It pairs vanilla with jasmine and benzoin, and was made by different perfumers.

This page and its dupes are for the men's Intense version.

When to wear it

It is a cold-weather favourite. On Fragrantica, winter gets the most votes, followed by autumn and spring.

Night beats day, but not by much. It is great for dates, parties and evenings out.

One Reddit user called it the "best party fragrance." That fits the launch campaign, which was built around a party in Rome.

Tips for wearing it

Because the vanilla hits so hard at first, start with two or three sprays. You can add more if it fades.

If you buy a dupe, give it time to settle. Owners of Art Du'Parfum and Blackjack both say the scent improves as the bottle matures.

A short story about lavender and vanilla

Lavender and vanilla are an old pair in men's perfume. Lavender brings a clean, herbal freshness, and vanilla brings warmth and sweetness.

Lavender is the backbone of the classic "fougère" style of men's perfume. That style goes back to the late 1800s.

Born in Roma Intense takes this old pair and flips it. It puts the vanilla up front and lets the lavender play the supporting role.

The bottom line

Born in Roma Intense is a sweet, rich vanilla with clean lavender and a smoky vetiver base. It is a big crowd-pleaser, especially at night.

Bujairami Blackjack is the dupe owners rate closest. Asad Bourbon is a sweeter twist, and the other dupes divide opinion.