Born in Roma Ruby: Valentino brings strawberry and raspberry into a familiar line

A limited-edition flanker can be mistaken for a new bottle colour, but for Ruby the house has created two distinct compositions for Born in Roma. Valentino has introduced Born in Roma Ruby Donna Eau de Parfum and Born in Roma Ruby Uomo Eau de Toilette as Holiday 2026 seasonal editions in its annual Rendez-Vous Editions series.

Both releases retain the recognisable Rockstud silhouette, inspired by Roman architecture, but take on a deep Rosso red hue. The shared visual theme links the pair, while their olfactory paths differ.

Donna: strawberry, jasmine, vanilla

Born in Roma Ruby Donna is presented as a floral-amber fruity gourmand fragrance. Its key notes are a strawberry accord, jasmine sambac absolute and an infusion of Madagascan bourbon vanilla.

The combination suggests a juicy fruity opening and a warm vanilla base, with jasmine keeping the composition in floral territory. For those familiar with Donna Born in Roma, Ruby appears less a reformulation of the original than a separate festive interpretation of its familiar direction.

Uomo: raspberry in place of familiar freshness

Born in Roma Ruby Uomo is built around a raspberry accord, a lavender heart and a creamy woody accord in the base. Valentino classifies it as a woody-fruity gourmand fragrance.

Here, the fruity note meets lavender, while the drydown is described as soft and warm. This clearly sets Ruby Uomo apart from the idea of a merely ‘red’ version of an existing fragrance: the release has its own stated contrast between berry juiciness, aromatic herbs and creamy woods.

What to know before looking for a bottle

Ruby Donna is released as an Eau de Parfum, while Ruby Uomo is an Eau de Toilette. Both versions are limited editions and, according to Valentino, will be sold while stocks last. The brand’s product pages do not name the perfumers.

The releases continue Born in Roma rather than opening a separate collection. Owners of the originals may therefore see Ruby as two seasonal variations with a clear berry theme: Donna leans towards strawberry and vanilla, Uomo towards raspberry, lavender and a creamy woody accord. Before buying, check local availability and test the fragrance: an official announcement cannot replace the impression it leaves on skin.