Bergamot and black pepper open with a clean, citrus-forward snap that's brighter than it is spicy. The heart softens quickly into a blended rose-peony accord — pretty but not powdery, kept from going too sweet by the pepper still hovering underneath. The dry-down is where it earns its keep: warm amber and vetiver settle into a skin-close musky base that's polished rather than earthy. Projection is moderate, sillage gentle; it wears closer to the skin than the price suggests — a quiet rather than commanding presence. — Best in spring and early fall for someone who wants an effortless, daytime-appropriate floral that doesn't announce itself.
Dua Fragrances sells Heart Of Rome on its own product page as “Inspiration: Valentino Donna Born In Roma by Valentino” — the same bergamot-black-pepper-rose-vanilla profile in a 34ml extrait at $33 versus the original’s $95. Manufacturer-stated and matched to the base women’s Donna (Dua sells the Coral Fantasy/Gold/Green flankers separately); no community score evidence yet, so no score is shown.
The closest match we list, Dua Fragrances Heart Of Rome, isn't community-scored yet — so we can't put a number on how close it gets. The original stays the reference here; if you'd rather try the budget take first, Dua Fragrances Heart Of Rome runs $33.
The top dupe of Valentino's Born in Roma is Heart Of Rome by Dua Fragrances. It isn't community-scored yet — more on the way as community evidence accumulates. At $33, it's a budget alternative to the $95 original — saving roughly $62 per bottle. It's the only dupe of Born in Roma we list so far, with more on the way as community evidence accumulates.
The most-cited dupe for Born in Roma is Heart Of Rome by Dua Fragrances. It is not community-scored yet, so we do not list an accuracy or longevity number for it — treat it as an untested budget take rather than a verified match.
Born in Roma by Valentino is a floral/fresh/woody/gourmand scent built on bergamot, black pepper, rose, peony, musk, amber, and more. Those notes define its character — browse any of them above to find fragrances that share the same profile.
The closest scents to Born in Roma by shared notes are Parfums de Marly Delina La Rosée, Bond No. 9 So New York, Roja Parfums Innuendo. See the full "similar fragrances" list below — each is ranked by how many notes it shares with Born in Roma.
Every dupe is rated on two independent dimensions: scent accuracy (how closely it matches the original) and longevity (how long it lasts on skin). Scores are aggregated from community consensus on Reddit r/fragrance, r/fragranceclones, and Fragrantica. They are never averaged into a single number — accuracy and longevity are separate decisions.
No. The Scent File takes no brand deals, no sponsorships, and no paid rankings. Rankings reflect community consensus only. We do earn affiliate commission when you purchase through our links at no extra cost to you — but this never influences which dupes appear or how they are scored.
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