Valentino unveils “Anatomy of Dreams” haute couture fragrance collection

Valentino is expanding its offerings with a “haute couture” fragrance line. Owned by the investment company Mayhoola—the investment arm of Qatar’s ruling family—and 30% by Kering, the esteemed Roman luxury house has unveiled “Anatomy of Dreams” at the start of this week, a collection of fragrances inspired by the hedonistic spirit of Rome. “A narration of seven olfactive dreams for seven unique fragrances,” stated Valentino Beauty in a press release, managed under license by L’Oréal since 2019 and led by Claudia Marcocci, who previously worked at Parfums Christian Dior and Gucci Beauty.

 
The seven non-gendered fragrances feature evocative names in Italian, French, and English, showcasing contrasts between classical perfumery’s olfactive notes and Italian accords. “Sogno in Rosso” contrasts black pepper with a sweet milk foam accord, “Notto d’Oro” blends almond with an oud accord, and “L’innocence de l’Air” pairs rose with green mandarin. “Private Talk” mixes tuberose with a cappuccino accord, “Club Couture” combines patchouli with a fig accord, “Punk Romantic” marries vanilla with an olive wood accord, and “Behind the Seen” features vetiver with a hazelnut accord.

This collection is described as a “reverie crafted by the hands of the finest perfumers,” embodying Italian memories while embracing and reflecting contemporary times. While the project was launched before Alessandro Michele assumed the role of Valentino’s creative director in March, it was developed under the leadership of the brand’s former creative director, Pierpaolo Piccioli. Each fragrance in this collection has been meticulously crafted by renowned noses from various perfumeries, including Fabrice Pellegrin, master perfumer Nathalie Lorson, and Nicolas Bonneville for Firmenich, as well as Paul Guerlain, Carlos Benaïm, Andrew Everett, Fanny Ball, Delphine Lebeau, and Anne Flipo of International Flavors & Fragrances (IFF).

Valentino emphasizes the couture aspect of this line, offering customers the ability to personalize their scent by mixing fragrances or adding one of the two enhancers provided with the line: “Bianco 1968” with potent white musk notes created by Jordi Fernandez and “Rockstud Noir” with intense sandalwood notes designed by Daniela Andrier. These can be worn alone or layered with other scents, offering “23 dream blends from nine formulas,” as per Valentino Beauty.

Another unique feature is the innovative extraction process used for “Private Talk,” developed in partnership with Spain’s Cosmo International Fragrances. This method encapsulates the scent directly from the ingredient in nature, specifically the tuberose fragrance molecule, without any transformation.

Sustainability is also a focus in the packaging design. The rectangular bottles, produced in France and Italy, are made from 99% glass, including 15% recycled glass. Initially, the “Anatomy of Dreams” line will be available exclusively in Valentino boutiques, with a 100 ml bottle priced at €325.