Valentino by Valentino c1977

Valentino by Valentino debuted in 1977, during a time when designer fragrances were becoming powerful extensions of fashion houses. Though created by the esteemed fragrance firm Givaudan-Roure and introduced initially to the European market, the perfume's early trajectory was marred by business complications. Licensed to an Italian company that later declared bankruptcy, Valentino began to fade from view before it had the chance to reach American department store counters. Still, its significance lies in the story it tried to tell: an olfactory expression of the Valentino brand at a particular moment in fashion history.

The name “Valentino” is derived from Latin origins, through the Italian language, and is pronounced vah-len-TEE-noh. In layman’s terms, it's the Italian equivalent of the name Valentine—a name steeped in romantic and poetic associations. It conjures images of candlelit evenings, classic beauty, Italian elegance, and perhaps most of all, effortless sensuality. The name carries a strong emotional current: a blend of romance, luxury, and cinematic allure. In scent, “Valentino” might be imagined as poised and impeccably dressed—cool and polished, yet warm beneath the surface, like a silk scarf brushed with a lover’s perfume.

In 1977, the cultural backdrop was both sophisticated and transitional. This was the tail end of the disco era, a time when women’s fashion embraced fluid glamour, satin, halter dresses, and a newfound confidence in expressing both sensuality and independence. It was a period sometimes referred to as the “Golden Age of Designer Perfumes,” when fashion houses such as Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, and Givenchy expanded into perfumery, seeking to translate the aura of their clothing into fragrance form. Perfumes of the late '70s were varied—ranging from powerful chypres and aldehydic florals to green, crisp compositions. Valentino, with its citrusy, fruity top, cool floral heart, and mossy-floral base, fit neatly into the latter trend: clean, fresh, yet still feminine. It was not a revolutionary scent, but rather a stylish reflection of what women desired at the time—elegance with a natural, modern twist.

Vendetta Pour Femme by Valentino c1991

Vendetta Pour Femme by Valentino, launched in 1991, arrived with a name as provocative as the scent itself. “Vendetta” is an Italian word—pronounced ven-DET-tah—which translates to “revenge” in English. Coupled with Pour Femme, French for “for women,” the name creates a powerful linguistic blend that suggests both danger and femininity, elegance laced with a threat. In a literal sense, Vendetta Pour Femme means “revenge for women,” but its deeper implications evoke a narrative of empowered allure, emotional reckoning, and romantic intrigue. The choice of this title seems intentionally dramatic, theatrical even—an olfactory femme fatale dressed in Valentino red.

Choosing such a name was bold, especially in the early 1990s, a time when women’s roles in fashion, work, and culture were shifting. This was the height of the “power woman” era, when shoulder pads, sharply tailored suits, and confident silhouettes ruled runways and boardrooms alike. Women were asserting themselves more visibly in politics, media, and corporate spaces. The perfume’s launch coincided with a cultural moment defined by self-possession, ambition, and transformation. In perfumery, the late 1980s and early '90s were saturated with bold, statement-making fragrances—think Dior’s Poison, YSL’s Opium, or Paloma Picasso’s Mon Parfum—scents that filled a room, left a trail, and announced their wearer’s presence with unapologetic flair.