Image Source: PS Photography / Kayla Greaves
When it comes to scent, that’s one thing I am not playing around with. Whether I’m about to wreak havoc in the city (the good kind) or just going to bed and hoping for sweet dreams, applying fragrance is an essential part of my beauty routine. So when Valentino invited me to Paris for an exclusive preview of their new seven-piece Anatomy of Dreams collection this past summer, including Valentino Private Talk Perfume ($165), I couldn’t wait to discover what the luxury brand had in store.
These haute couture perfumes are inspired by the “hedonistic essence” of Rome, according to the fashion house, and were each crafted by expert noses who purposefully blended distinct fragrance notes to create truly unforgettable scents. And while every bottle offers its own unique vibe, there was something about Private Talk in particular that immediately caught my attention.
From the deep amber color of the juice to the surprising key note accord, which is composed of ultra-feminine tuberose and striking cappuccino, this scent is both bold, yet soft. Sensual, yet reserved. The way it teetered each extreme was intriguing – it’s how I knew it was the one for me.
Discover why Private Talk has become one of the sexiest scents in my collection, ahead.
Image Source: PS Photography / Kayla Greaves
About the Valentino Private Talk Perfume
- The scent was created by master perfumer Nicolas Bonneville.
- The bottle includes several references to Valentino’s signature studs-including on the cap, and a large stud at the bottom that reflects the color of the juice.
- The fragrance comes in 100 ml and 30ml bottles.
What I Like About the Valentino Private Talk Perfume
From the bottle to the color of the juice to the scent itself, there’s nothing I don’tlike about Private Talk. But I think what really got me loving the fragrance was its unsuspecting notes. To blend a scent as strong as coffee with something as delicate and soft as tuberose was something I hadn’t experienced before. And the combination created a distinctly sensual scent that was like nothing else in my expansive fragrance collection.
“The fragrance is bold in its combination of femininity with tuberose and a robust ingredient like cappuccino,” Bonneville shares. “I wanted a combination that remains simple while expressing the quintessence of audacity embodied by this haute couture flower, the ultra-feminine tuberose transformed into unisex perfume.”
Beyond the signature accord, additional notes like ginger, white musks, sandalwood heart, and extraction process of the tuberose itself make for an ultra-alluring juice. “I used three different tuberose qualities including osmobloom-a new [waterless] extraction process-exclusive to this project,” the perfumer says. “I also selected a nice variety of ginger [for] supercritical fluid extraction so that it brings liveliness to the perfume.”
In terms of the color of the juice, it was specifically crafted to interpretively bring the heat.
“Private Talk is the meeting of the white petal of the tuberose flower and the black full-bodied coffee,” says Bonneville. “It reveals this warm and pastel color, representing both intimacy and sensuality.”
Image Source: PS Photography / Kayla Greaves
How to Use the Valentino Private Talk Perfume
Like any other perfume, you’ll want to remove the cap, then spritz it onto your skin. Generally, it’s recommended to aim for your pressure points, like the wrists, neck, behind your ears, and even behind the knees or around your ankles. But feel free to spray it anywhere you-or whoever else-is likely to sniff it on your body.
While Private Talk is long-lasting on bare skin, spritzing on top of a lotion or oil applied to freshly washed skin can make the scent last even longer. Whether said moisturizers are scentless or not is up to you-if you prefer to layer your fragrances, then go for it! If not, the perfume is exceptionally beautiful all on its own.
But perhaps the sweetest surprise Private Talk has to offer is the fact that as it matures, it keeps getting better and better.
“Hidden behind its [earthy] florality of the first moments, the tuberose will reveal itself more and more warm, fleshy and mesmerizing, exacerbating the creamy addiction to cappuccino,” shares Bonneville.
What to Consider Before Trying the Valentino Private Talk Perfume
Fragrance is personal, and naturally each scent will smell different on everyone. That said, in my expert opinion, it’s worth the splurge. And I mean, listen, with the way this economy is set up these days, I won’t tell anyone they need to buy anything pricey. However, if you’re looking for a truly distinct, beautifully sensual, genderless scent that isn’t afraid to push the boundaries then Private Talk is a purchase you won’t regret.
Where Is the Valentino Private Talk Perfume Available to Shop?
The Valentino Private Talk perfume is available to shop on the brand’s website.
Rating
Kayla A. Greaves has become one of the most sought-after voices in the beauty and wellness sector. Previously holding the title of executive beauty editor at InStyle – and with bylines at prestigious publications such as Vogue, Elle, and Allure – Kayla has solidified her place as a true multi-hyphenated storyteller, on-camera talent, and beauty authority.
