I saw this thing online, right? A “VALENTINO —-Uomo By Valentino Generic Oil Perfume 50ML (001102)” – seriously, the listing itself looks a bit sketchy with the dashes. And it’s only $39.99! Compared to the actual Valentino stuff, that’s basically stealing (in a good way, obviously, because you’re the one *doing* the stealing…of a good deal, that is). They even have something called “Our impression of Born in Roma the Gold Donna”. Gotta love that casual phrasing. “Our *impression*.” Like they’re just casually channeling the essence of a high-end fragrance.
And then there’s the whole “Valentino perfume dupes are cheaper versions” spiel. No duh, Sherlock! But the *point* is, are they any good? That’s the real question, isn’t it? Are you going to smell like you raided your grandma’s dusty perfume collection, or are you going to smell *almost* like you spent a fortune at Sephora?
Personally, I’m always a little skeptical. I mean, I’ve tried some “dupes” that smelled less like the original and more like…well, let’s just say they smelled like disappointment. But sometimes, *sometimes*, you strike gold. You find that hidden gem that smells surprisingly legit. Maybe this “Uomo By Valentino Generic Oil Perfume” is one of those gems. Maybe.
Then I saw something else, about “Valentino Uomo Born in Roma is a sweet, aromatic, floral and woody fragrance.” Okay, that sounds…nice? A bit much maybe? It also mentions it’s “very similar to Paco Rabanne’s Invictus.” So, it’s a dupe of a dupe? A copy of a copy? My brain hurts. This is where it gets really messy.