Valentino Donna Acqua Valentino for women

Valentino Donna Acqua Valentino for women

main accords
floral
fruity
almond
sweet
nutty
tropical
white floral
lactonic
aquatic
fresh

Perfume rating 4.12 out of 5 with 1,086 votes

Valentino Donna Acqua by Valentino is a Amber Floral fragrance for women. Valentino Donna Acqua was launched in 2017. The nose behind this fragrance is Sonia Constant. Top notes are Almond and Pear; middle notes are Frangipani and Jasmine; base notes are Sandalwood and Hawthorn.

Bitter-sweet notes of pear and almond form an introduction to the floral heart that consists of jasmine and frangipani this time. The base of the compositions includes hawthorn and sandalwood. The creation is signed by perfumer Sonia Constant.The fragrance will be available in an elongated bottle of the original design as a 30, 50 and 100 ml Eau de Toilette.

Read about this perfume in other languages: Deutsch, Español, Français, Čeština, Italiano, Русский, Polski, Português, Ελληνικά, 汉语, Nederlands, Srpski, Română, العربية, Українська, Монгол, עברית.

Pros

Pros

8
0
Beautiful opening with realistic sugared almond scent
8
0
Creamy and nutty almond notes
6
1
Soft and feminine floral notes
4
0
Likable scent that would make a great blind buy
3
0
Warm, sexy, and cozy
3
0
Pleasant, versatile, and suitable for Spring and early Fall
3
0
Delicious and well put together
3
1
One of the most beautiful openings ever encountered
Cons

Cons

2
1
May not work with everyone's skin chemistry
1
0
Low longevity and projection on some skin types
1
1
Performance may not be long-lasting on some skin types
1
2
Misleading name as it is neither aquatic nor light
1
2
Generic sweet floral scent after the opening
1
3
Some people may find it too sweet or fruity
0
2
Not enough almond notes for some people
0
3
Not suitable for summer or winter wear

Note: The pros and cons listed on this page have been generated using the artificial intelligence system, which analyzes product reviews submitted by our members. While we strive to provide accurate and helpful information, we cannot guarantee the complete accuracy or reliability of the AI-generated pros and cons. Please read the full reviews and consider your own needs and preferences before making a purchasing decision.

Fragram Photos
Perfume Pyramid

Top Notes

Almond
Pear

Middle Notes

Frangipani
Jasmine

Base Notes

Sandalwood
Hawthorn

Become a member of this online perfume community and you will be able to add your own reviews.

All Reviews By Date

ShayChan

I reqlly like this perfume, it's pretty, midly sweet, there's an almost undetectible green note in there just tk balance the sweetness and it's soft and powdery to me. I wear this to bed and whenever I feel cozy. It's day or night friendly and I feel a sense of comfort when I wear it.

sluththth

Sweet, nutty, fruity. Smells delicious.

Mattesha Erotica

Familiar sugary pear, that is beautiful and balanced, but not groundbreaking or original. Very standard beautiful mom-type perfume DNA, incredibly inoffensive but still attention getting. The price tag of this fragrance is the biggest turn off; this doesn't feel like a ~$200 fragrance journey to me. While very nicely developed and blended, I feel like I could close my eyes, blindly walk down the fragrance isle at Marshall's, and bump into 10+ perfumes that smell like this. A captivating fragrance nonetheless.

MeditativeRose

Ah! Today my skin drank up the last drop of this damningly feminine summery juice. Had a little dab on miniature that I was lucky enough to nab when I did. I am completely all things almond kinda woman and it was no surprise that I was thoroughly intrigued by this. I have never smelt an almond perfume so well blended with the other notes that you can't tell them apart. That's some fine perfumery.

Oh, you discontinued scent! You are forever etched in my olfactory memory as respite from a hot afternoon with me just bathed with a mild sandalwood soap sitting in the shade in the middle of a pear field wearing a white floral dress drinking cool fresh Almond milk in an earthen cup as a single yellow Frangipani flower hangs loosely on my ear. I hope you come back to visit me.

Kirsty_janet

I’m absolutely gutted that this has been discontinued. Donna Born In Roma is a great fragrance, but it just doesn’t live up to Donna Acqua or the original Donna for me.

I’ve been milking the 100mL bottle of this I bought in 2019 and seldom use it even though it’s one of my favorite fragrances in my collection.

The opening smells like pistachio ice cream, as it dries down you can still smell the sweetness from the pear and almond but the jasmine, frangipani and sandalwood take center stage. Perfect combination of sweet, woody, and floral. I’ll probably cry when I finish my bottle.

Eriksen

To my nose, it is a lot like YsL Black Opium org

Skinscents4Fusspots

I got a carded sample of this just our of interest and I’ve spent some time with it recently. Although I’d never smelt Donna Aqua until I got this sample, I felt like I’d smelt the scent before…. It was reminding me very strongly of something else so I’ve been trying to work out what it is!

The carded sample says green almond, frosted pear, frangipani rose accord and roasted tonka bean. I think it’s fair to imagine it also has the notes listed above but the rose is what makes this one more interesting to me and stops the jasmine taking over the frangipani!

I feel like it’s close to Burberry Brit edp. The edt is more unisex, fresher, more citrusy and has that slightly medicinal vibe from lemongrass. Stronger woods in the edt too. The edp is still woodier and way more of a beast that Donna Acqua but it could almost be an extreme version. Acqua intense with added woods and a bit of citrus!

There are some similarities to Elizabeth Arden Untold too. Also in a beautiful bottle and also discontinued unfortunately. The drydown in untold is woody but it has a very similar juicy and sweet pear note but it’s got a spicy woody vibe from pink pepper and patchouli (both of which are notes I don’t like, but in Untold translate as a cashmere wood sort of vibe). Untold is also very soft and cosy, feminine and pretty but not quite as pretty as Donna Acqua and lacks the almond.

It think it also shares some of the best qualities of Ariana Grande’s God is Woman although Donna Acqua smells more expensive (fair enough, it is more expensive!) and god is a woman has a definite synthetic smell, especially on first spray, but it dries down to pretty pear and rose, with the fluffy vibe coming from ambrette rather than almond and sweetened by vanilla rather than tonka. Still sweet but not as creamy as Acqua.

All in all I can absolutely understand why so many people mourn this one. It’s light and doesn’t last long but it’s really quite beautiful. I would actually love a bottle of this which I just wasn’t expecting as I have never found a Valentino that I like before this one!

magoo1125

LulaValentine, I love this fragrance so much I upped the cash for a 100ml for 175.00 :)
I had 1/4 bottle left and don't want to be without it.
A perfume with a similar vibe is probably Prada Paradox. IT IS NOT A DUPE but they are cousins.
Check Mercari, I show a lot of Donna Acqua 100ml bottles 1/2 or 2/3 full for 125.00.

LulaValentine

I was lucky enough to snag a mini bottle of this for only $15. I’m so excited to try it. I really enjoy everything I’ve tried from Valentino since I started paying attention to the brand about 6 months ago. I’ll be back with a review soon! It’s in the mail! 😍


UPDATE: soooo this perfume is stunning. Wow, just wow. The perfect sugary pear scent that’s light and lovely. I’m completely in love with it. I desperately want a full size bottle but just looking at the prices hurts my wallet. I’m hoping I’ll be able to own a full bottle one day.

If anyone is willing to sell me a decant of this (like 5-10ml), please PM me!

And if anyone knows of a good “dupe” or close enough, let me know!

This has me tempted to see if I can get this on fragrance revival….

canabena

I wish this wasn't discontinued ! I was lucky enough to snag a bottle of this, its so sophisticated.It actually reminds me of almond extract used for baking, its sweet almondy soft, It doesn't project that well so I have to over spray which sucks since its discontinued and so hard to find but its so worth it because its divine.

Amanda Palagina

Please bring this back!!!!!!!! .
If anyone has any to sell please contact me ❤️

Manjusaka

Mình mua vì cái chai quá đẹp,sau đó thì thấy mùi hương rất ngon nha, nhất là tầng hương đầu: xuất sắc, mùi quả lê và hạnh nhân rất nịnh mũi.sau đó dry down mùi cũng dễ thương mỗi tội lưu hương kém quá

Karina8

I love it! It has a prominent almond note that makes this fragrance more unique and this almond note is mixed with pears and when the flowers are starting to come out with base of sandalwood. It’s is sweet but not to much to give me a headache I can’t stop sniffling me. The one problem is the longevity but you can take a decant with you and reapply.

Catmo

This is amazing. It’s seriously sad that it’s been discontinued. I found a partial bottle of it to try out and it’s as great as everyone says it is. Delicious almond and pear, sweet but not too sweet. The perfect amount of everything. Seriously a masterpiece.

UnearthlyApothecary

Reminds me quite a bit of VS Noir Tease a very obvious and delicious pear with a more gourmand then floral almond and backup florals. It doesn’t have any watery or aquatic aspects whatsoever. No resemblance to the original Donna, but I wasn’t expecting one after I read the scent description. The silage is on the softer side and I’m not sure how long it will last on my skin but I will update. My final verdict is, it’s pretty but nowhere near as awesome as original Donna and there are many similar scents available at better prices.

aspirina

I got a miniature bottle of this scent. It is a very lush fruity-almondy scent, on my skin the pear is very prominent in the beginning but soon the jasmine-frangipani-almond combo takes the stage and remains like this for a long time. I get only a little sandalwood. It lasts at least 8 hours, close to the skin, shy sillage. My bottle has orange liquid, I guess because it's old.
It smells fantastic, and reminds me only a little bit of a Victorias Secret scent called sweet temptation, which I adored when I was a teenager. I think I need a full bottle.

twiztidladii

Somehow managed to get ahold of a full size bottle last year. This scent is one of my favorites. It was love at first sniff so I definitely had to go on the hunt for the bottle.

minizelda

Wow! This smells so good. Very soft fragrance I love it 💗

TaniaClamp

Valentino Donna Acqua smells like pistachio icecream mixed with almonds at first sniph. I can really smell the almond, pistachio and pear. The pear at the beginning is really super juicy and I just love it 😍 The first 10 minutes of this scent is just soooo gooood!!! The pear is juicy and mouthwatering for those first 5-10 minutes and it smells so good along with the almond, pistachio and maybe just maybe some floral notes. A sweet nutty gourmand which I just adore. But those notes literally only lasts for 5-10 minutes.

When it starts to dry down I really smell those floral notes. Frangipani, jasmine and harwthorn mixed with some almond and it`s turning out to something soapy floral instead.

Hmmm this is not want I wanted from this scent.😏 I guess that some of you can even get a headeache from this one so please try before buy.

amyaz

Not sure how I feel about it personally. Like most say, it's very almond sweetness, however my skin eats this up I guess because after 5 minutes I can't smell anything except something faintly tart.
It's a unique smell still though, I'll give it that, but man the longevity would never be worth it for me.

Cherubina

This is my kind of fragrance. And of course had to be discontinued to give a way to all the rubbish out there ..
This is warm,sexy,cozy pleasant,nutty ,creamy,versatile just mmmmm. Floral but a good beautiful floral..Its not your typical floral..This is like Burberry Britt .Ellie Saab Girl of Now..gourmand vibe/type.
To those who find this too sweet ..darling go and purchase Marc Jacobs Daisies and knock yourself out and that boring Kate Spade ,Idol Lancome or Valentino Donna. They are all subtle sweet fresh ... floral..whatever
This is MASTERPIECE!

yy_hehe

For this fragrance, I wouldn’t say I dislike it, but it’s not like I LOVE it. I have the other Valentino Donna rose verde, and personally I think that fragrance is much better. When I first smelled this from the bottle, the sweet almond was definitely the strongest, almost like a indulging type.If I were to describe this scent, it would be a bubblegum flavoured baby powder.(not sure how I got this reference)

When i smelled it from the bottle, it smelled sweet, with a strong almond note and a nice sandalwood backing.However, when I applied it onto my wrist and smelled it after, I was rather shocked as the almond was almost non-existent and all I could smell was a strong jasmine and frangipani floral mix.ok maybe there was some SLIGHT almond but nothing like when I smelled from the bottle.I wouldn’t say I hate it tho cos the jasmine definitely wasn’t the wild and animalistic side of jasmine, it was more of the laid back,soothing, like the jasmine tea you’d drink in a bed at night.

In general, I would rate this a 7/10, nothing special. I definitely recommend the VDRV much more as it is a warm citrus fragrance with rose notes that would definitely be worth it in your collection unlike this one ( I’m sorry ) ( FYI I have a review on vdrv too)

Szilvita

I don't see anyone here commenting on the color of this perfume.

I was so lucky to get 2 "old" 30ml bottles for free.The bottles have a golden cap on the pretty standard nozzle.

This perfume is supposed to be pink. But the ones I got had both turned orange, despite still being unused and in their original box. They still smell great though, so I don't mind! I've read elsewhere about a few people mentioning the same colorchange without that affecting the performance of their perfume. So if you are not fussy, there should not be need to worry much about that.

For those of you who instantly think it must be fake, I know where they come from and it's a legit and wellknown distributer, specialized in cosmetics and perfume.

Very beautiful bottle and nice yummy scent, both sweet, fruity fresh and floral at the same time.

Dragonweengs

I adore this scent. I prefer it to Valentino Donna (which smells more mature due to the rose I think). I find it to shift with the weather. I get the juicy pear and almond in cooler weather and a strong frangipani almond in warmer months. It has a creamy dry down from the sandalwood.

I get a similar vibe to B&BW Almond Blossom & Prada pour femme, I can even see how people are making a connection to Burberry, this however feels more youthful to me. Hopefully Valentino makes a new even better version. I’m running out and it’s no longer on Valentino’s website.

jasiepooh

sweet, nutty perfume. very warm and cozy. reminds me of a mom.

correspondencepersonal

Almond gourmand that is so extremely sweet that one whiff has me almost passing out/fainting.
This is NOT my thing --
But if you are completely a crazy nut for super sweet pastries that would put most people into diabetic shock --
This is YOUR thing!

It is a huge PASS for me.
I can't handle the extreme SWEET of this.
It is nauseatingly SWEET.

------------

Perhaps this is why I like perfumes that have a balance of sweet and sour, sugar and tart.
This is like an Ayurvedic balance in food/diet -- something too sweet makes me gag.
I just can't stand it.

------------

I tried a sample of Valentinio's other perfumes in the same line as Valentino Donna Rosa Verde - simply because I absolutely love and adore Valentino's Donna Rosa Verde' so much. So far, the others are much different. I still prefer VDRV. It really suits me best out of these four. It has a nice blend of sweet and sour.

---------------------------

Layer Experimentation -

This perfume is such a high soprano sweet chord that it is too much for me and my chemistry without using a perfume to ground the really sweet upper register notes. I'm experimenting by adding this perfume over a perfume that has a strong alto or tenor type base chord. So far, so good...you really just have to experiment with this till you find something that wears well with your chemistry.

This can be spritzed lightly over the top of a perfume which is too heavy, dark, deep for you - to revive it and give it new life. This darker, heavy perfume calms the extremely SWEET notes and makes it more easy to wear. You can experiment with this, it won't work with every perfume blend, but maybe you will find a good combination.

Frontandscenter

Very cozy and juicy, in the beginning I definitely get the pear most of all. The almond is very well blended in. Maybe a hint of jasmine, but this isn’t a floral scent.
Almond can get quite screechy on my skin, but here it’s just juicy pear-marzipan cake.
In the dry down I get a really nice praline, which is odd since it isn’t listed, but I sooo don’t mind.
Amazing. If you love gourmands, don’t think twice.
Longevity is decent, I overspray as usual so I get about 5-6 hrs.

perfume_angel

Very sweet and comforting, it reminds me of almond marzipan in christmas cake. It also has a nice juiciness and freshness to it from the pear. Overall a great and elegant scent which is a yummy gourmand to me, but not in a heavy way, more of an airy lovely gourmand.

Anna Pantherina

This is a nice, calm perfume. It is not too radial, but it should not be. It is durable enough. The initial pear, it spreads quickly on me and I feel almonds and a bitter note that I like.I agree with those who say that it has similar vibrations as Burberry Brit (edt)

pzavala123

This scent is classy, sweet, gourmandy. I absolutely love it. If you love the way marzipan smells and tastes, you will probably love this perfume. I would say it leans mostly feminine but as I always like to say, any fragrance can be worn by anyone. It's pretty unique, as I don't smell too many perfumes with such a strong almond note. The sandalwood comes through, but this does not have the smokey quality that some sandalwood fragrances do. It's not overly sweet or cloying at all - it's a pleasant sweetness, like sipping on an amaretto.

AdoreRenee

How are people still purchasing this perfume. I thought it was discontinued because this was my favvvourite. I was so in love with this.

ninapall

I was bought this as a gift for Christmas and I’ve almost finished the whole 50ml now. It was actually an accidental buy as I’d asked for the original Donna (after finishing my bottle last year) but was given Donna Aqua instead.

If I’m completely honest, the almond at the start is a bit much for my personal taste. I don’t mind almond notes but it was a bit like play-doh and took me a while to get past. However once that settles it really is a beautiful perfume and I can definitely see the similarity between this flanker and the original.

However, I would much rather have the original if I was to buy another Valentino fragrance. I tried Born in Roma in a department store recently and it didn’t leave much of an impression. Not sure I get the hype with that one.

theuntrainednose

I have a sample.

---------

So cute and juicy! I get only hints of sweet almond (I remember having tested another Valentino where the almond was more prominent and not so sweet), something juicy (the pear?) and a creamy sweet layer below.

I wish it kept the juicy aspect longer, it is delectable. After it dries out, it's cute and sweet but loses the juiciness, which is a shame. It's still good (I think it's as good as, or even better than, Black Opium), it's just that the juiciness was really bright and lovely!

It's a Strongly Like. Would be a Love if it kept the juicy aspect.

Update: quite long-lasting.

ceeceelee

I'm getting a very creamy, honey like pear. Which I am assuming is from the Hawthorn, which always smells like honey on me. Very sweet floral, kind of "perfumey", if you know what I mean. I don't get any of the Almond, which is very disappointing because that's the note I hunted this down for. The Sandalwood comes across very well with that aforementioned creamy. It's a very well made scent but very generic on me without that Almond coming through. This one has been discontinued, and with me having a thing for almond I thought I'd better track it down. I found a lot of 12 samples, 1.5ml each and I can't imagine ever wanting more than that. One thing I did want to mention is that people are saying that this reminds them of Girl of Now. I don't get that at all except in the very generalized creamy aspect to both perfumes. GoN is one of my faves right now, and this one has none its nuttiness, spiciness or depth.

4/13/21
I'm going to edit this review to include the fact that I finally found the almond. Right at the beginning, inhale a second too late and you miss it. I usually let the additives evaporate before I smell my wrist, but I wanted to make sure I wasn't missing it, and sure enough, it's there at the beginning. It doesn't change my overall opinion that my 12 tester vials will assuage my interest in it, though. It's just too fleeting on my skin to make it interesting to my nose. It is a pretty perfume, though.

jonisi3

I recently purchased this and my immediate thought when i stayed it on myself was "sweet bubblegum".
To my nose it smells like bubblegum and lingers in that state for a long time. I am not sure how I feel about that yet.
I may post another review once I have given it more time.

LEM922

I just got this perfume today and I must say, I really enjoy it. It gives me Burberry Brit with the almond and the pear, but instead of being sweet like Brit, it's more classic and powdery on the dry down. I can smell the Jasmine and the Sandalwood and it gives a very pleasant warmth to the fragrance. Now I don't have the same strong feelings about this one as I do about the original Donna (which in my case is a good thing... I just left a review for it) but this is a definite crowd pleaser. This is a good perfume for the workplace, or if you're out at a casual yet refined dinner date. I really like this one! It's a safe bet if you want to smell nice but don't want to offend anybody.

RuthBeton

Valentino Donna Acqua is one of my most loved perfumes. I agree with the analysis of previous reviewers who enjoy this fragrance - so I don't need to repeat.

I do want to add this, because it may be important when considering a purchase - I disagree with the perfumes listed on this site that suggest "This Reminds Me Of. . ." I don't believe any of them smell like Donna Acqua - they may be vaguely in the same category but have significant differences in notes and presentation. I believe someone mentioned that they can wear BBW Amber Blush lotion with Donna Acqua and I agree - although obviously Donna Acqua is a much higher quality perfume and, although sweet, is not as sweet as Amber Blush and is more complex - but, they are just close enough for it to work. As others have mentioned, the longevity and village is poor, otherwise, it would be in my top 5 perfumes.

Molumallow

My signature scent!

A beautiful and luxurious fragrance. It is a fizzy marzipan. Not syrupy and heavy, but light and fluffy. A cosy perfume that has a very expensive feel to it.

Longevity is not the best, but when you’re in love you make it work!

baerro

Looking at the note breakdown caused me to eye my sample with suspicion. It seemed like just the type of powdery floral I usually stay away from. But this morning I sprayed the card it came in... and BAM the almonds shot through! It was a delicious marzipan accord... that I had to abandon after 10 seconds, because unfortunately I cannot tolerate the smell of almonds for long periods of time (the scent becomes cloying to me, especially when it's that strong). Still, before work, I decided to spray the inside of one wrist, and...

It's like it's a different perfume altogether. I finally understand why it's called "Acqua." There is an undercurrent of almonds, to be sure, but the star here is *frangipani*, or some other aquatic and mildly citric flower (it's not the jasmine). The pear is detectable as well.

However, despite the pleasant scent this performs like a B&BW body spray. In fact, I get more out of my "Japanese Cherry Blossom," and the scents are actually similar to my nose.

Palmer Eldritch

I'm not too impressed with this one: very low longevity and projection on my skin.

Around 3 hours maximum before dissipating to nothingness and a skin scent from start to finish.

On my skin the jasmine pulls strong and the almond is very faint. frangipani is strongest after jasmine. A nice faint sandalwood develops towards the end of the perfume lifecycle.

I cannot deny the notes are easily distinguishable, and this is VERY easy to wear to work in summer and spring heat.

Even though this has the performance of body sprays, it's inoffensive, feminine and easy to wear. Don't expect any compliments as this isn't flirty (or easily picked up).

Verdict: A faint comfort scent. Try before you buy.
edit: I have prada candy gloss, and these 2 are not even distant cousins.

Cherry_Darling

Absolutely gorgeous. Not a huge almond fan but on occasion it goes super nicely supporting other notes. Like here, the frangipani and pear (both favourite notes) supported nicely with the almond make it feel like a creamy, fruity dessert. Why it's branded Acqua is a mystery to me, but it is gorgeous. Gourmand lovers must try this.

Edit: Sadly I have to agree with the below review that the lovely top notes go quickly and you are left with a lifeless sweet smell. :'( off the want list it goes.

awwndrayuhh

My signature fragrance. Smells good enough to eat.. literally. Every time I spray it, I want to drink it. Creamy almond + fresh pear. Unfortunately the top notes disappear too quickly, leaving behind a simple sweet smell. That opening though!

Pixiedust2

Terrible on my skin. I smell black currant, even though it's not listed. It's extremely sharp and fruity with no discernible almond to me. I hate to say this, but on MY skin, this smells like halitosis 😂 Utterly unwearable for me.

casznava

Received my decant in the mail yesterday so I had a couple days to test this one out. I didn't mean to buy this decant but it came as a sample gift and im glad it did.

This to me is a very very Disney and playful scent. This is what I imagine Disney princesses smelling like. It has florals for femininity, but it also has sweet gourmandy notes to it in the softest way possible which to me is very playful. I'm so happy im not the only one that got a little bit of cotton candy to it but not the artificial kind but like the real kind! I hate artificial cotton candy smells but this hits differently and it's very playful. It's hard to believe that this doesn't have any other notes because it is a complex sweet other than just pear and almond. I think that the juicy pear adds to the Acqua effect making it a little watery so it's definitely more fluid and moves around and it's not just standing under your nose like a cloying smell. This is very appropriate, sweet and subtle. 🍭

Out of all the Valentino Donna's I think this might be my favorite one just because it doesn't scream for attention and it's also very suitable for most occasions. This isn't a crazy unique scent, but it's also not boring because it's not something you can just find anywhere. It would be difficult to find a dupe. I haven't smelled anything exactly like this.

I think this is fresh and sweet and great for spring and fall. I think anyone can pull this off year round, but best for subtle weather.

kesteny

I am SO GLAD I didn't get a large bottle!!

The notes on this are so promising and it delivers on those notes... for about 20 seconds. Perhaps I am one of the unlucky few this perfume disagrees with?

The opening is truly beautiful -I get the almond, the sweet juicy pear, the frangipani and then poof!!! 20 seconds later all of that is replaced by a generic sweet floral scent (yuck,this particular jasmine has a urine like quality on me), which also does not last on my skin more than 90 minutes.

It's not expensive, so if you want it-go for it, but be aware that this does not work with everyone's skin chemistry. You've been warned!

SeauxGood

Donna Acqua is a sweet gourmand-floral. The sweetness of almond comes through on the initial spray. I think it’s very well complimented by the frangipani (plumeria) and pear. The dry-down is very soft and feminine. I like that it’s warm without being cloyingly so. It’s sweet, yet mature. The notes reminds me of Fall, like something that would wear well under a sweater or scarf.

Fuchsianlavender

This one for me is hard to explain. I am not a fan of floral perfumes unless it smells sweet. I blind bought this after trusting @Rosemary14 review and her review is the most accurate for me. It is soft, sweet, floral, nutty, powdery. The reasons why I said it is hard to explain because sometimes it smells like some floral perfumes that I am not a fan of, sometimes it smells like candy. I even asked my coworker 'do you wear perfume today?', she replied 'no, I don't put any perfume today' and I said to her 'why suddenly I can smell candy' and it was actually come from me wearing Valentino Donna Acqua. And I had tried Valentino Donna, I don't like it, it gave me headache maybe because it is too floral without sweetness, it smells pretty and classic but it is not for me. Donna Acqua is more suitable for people who like sweet perfumes like me.

ma2780

I really want this to be a love, but I feel like I'm missing something. Let me start by saying, it's a really nice, light, sweet fragrance. I really like it. But I don't think I'm getting what everyone else is getting? It seems like the main draw is the almond note, but I have to be honest..I'm not getting that much almond. More likely, it's not the almond I was expecting/ am familiar with and so I'm having trouble picking it out.

I get pear and frangipani for sure and I almost think I'd love this fragrance if I hadn't been expecting something nuttier. To my nose it's fresh and fruity, almost shampoo-y, and kind of vague. I need to spend more time with it.

That said, I'm still happy I own it, just trying to decide if I need a backup since it's discontinued, or if it's one I'll enjoy and then move on from.

To sum it up, it's an easy-to-wear, casual fragrance that works year-round (though probably more preferably spring and summer) and for any daytime occasion.

Longevity on my skin is pretty poor, probably about 2 hours and it sits close to the skin. Lasts a lot longer on clothes. ALSO, the bottle is one of my favs :)

dglightblue

Winter wearing, so icey cold and rainy.

The scent is not so simplistic in cold weather.
I got more of the cool, dough feel, with a cleanish sweet. (Summer its just sweet on my skin, very simple and unimpressive).
The sillage today is nicer than when i sniffed up close to skin.
Fluffy kinda sweet, nutty, fresh but not 'a freshie', rounded, it's not sharp. Its a bit hazey/dusky I guess, slightly, it's not syrupy or sugary per se.

More complex when smelled through fabric, still generally a sweet scent, with the dough instead of fruit.

No reason this should be called acqua, nothing aquatic about it.

diaanz81

Another discontinued gem. Ok, so let me get the 'bad' out of the way, performance is meh on my skin with poor longevity and projection. It's almost immediately a skin scent, so that kinda sucks because the fragrance itself is delightful! It opens with a very nutty creamy fruity smell, which has been referred to a pistachio ice cream note which lasts all but 5 mins or so, but I am not mad about it because while I like opening it's not my favorite part about this fragrance. The pear is in there lending tartness and sweetness to the opening which gives way to the soft florals. This is also the stage when I start getting the sweet almond note which along with the sandalwood lends even more creaminess and this is where it stays for me for the rest of it's duration on me. It's not cloyingly sweet but sweet enough to be considered a summer appropriate floral gourmand. Nothing about this perfume is sharp or loud, just soft comforting goodness. Overall, I really like it and glad to have it for days when I want a softer scent. Ooh and the bottle is a piece of art!

Looking For Gabby

I was online shopping for perfumes a couple of weeks ago and had this in my cart. I knew it had been discontinued and was excited to have found it at a very reasonable price. Last minute I decided to pass on the full bottle and got a mini instead. It’s a nice warm creamy almond scent, perfect for spring and summer. Not heartbroken I missed my opportunity to own this.

It sort of reminds me of Poison Girl EDP

Sreza7

I can see how this can smell like Almond Blossom from bath and body works however I think this smells closer to the dry down of Viva la Juicy Sucre. Just like everyone else I wish the opening would last longer. The dry down is very generic.

Rosemary14

After a few months I’ve discovered how much I love ❤️ this fragrance not only alone but layering it. It’s the pixie dust 🧚🏻 in my collection. Whatever I spray it on it makes better. La Petit Robe Noir Leger is with this is so stunning I can’t believe it. I even layered it with PMD Delina, and Datura Noir. You guys have to trust me on this. It’s like I’m creating fragrance unicorns 🦄 with this sweet warm almond marzipan gem.

agj

Received this today after hearing that it had been discontinued. Let me start off by saying I have never smelled any of the Valentino Donna line and based off of the notes I thought this would be a fragrance I would like.

I was taken aback on first initial spray, I absolutely LOVE this perfume! It is a fresh summery almond perfume that you could wear day to day.

Was pleasantly surprised by this fragrance, am debating picking up born in Roma too before that one disappears .

mychinarose

Sad that this is discontinued! It's a really pretty, soft, almondy, warm, sweet but not too sweet fragrance that is perfect for Spring into Summer. I definitely get soft marshmallow vibes from it. It's soft enough that one spray before bed will give you fluffy dreams, whereas you could do 3 good sprays and be satisfied that you can smell yourself just fine (although I'm not quite sure about the sillage). Any juice that has turned brown has just been exposed to light, so for that reason I store all of my bottles in their original boxes whenever possible. I'd say a close resemblance to this fragrance is actually Kyse Perfumes Delizia di Marshmallow, surprisingly. I highly recommend it! It is much more marshmallow and a tad sweeter, but still very, very close.

rebelspywendy

This is so gorgeous. On me, it is a fresh springtime almond, and a light, sweet, warm weather-appropriate scent reminiscent of, but still far different from, Poison Girl. I absolutely get the floral, fruity, and sweet notes, which provide an inviting warmth and base. I can see why some might perceive this to be similar to Prada Candy Gloss, but on me they are dissimilar. Candy Gloss smells quite synthetic, plastic, and cloying, whereas Donna Acqua is well-blended, luminous, and bright. This is fizzy, crisp, and yummy - a true gem. It is a little hard to find for a good price, which is disappointing, but the juicy pear and sweet almond-y goodness may be worth the splurge.

MonkeyPuppet

Just received a bottle of Donna Acqua today, and like other reviewers somewhat surprised. In a good way. First off it looks like the newer bottles the juice is more amber, not light pink so hoping I have not received something older.

But first impressions: Very warm almond, floral, light gourmand. It is an EDT so surprisingly rich and it feels like it is going nowhere anytime soon.

I may have to try in the stores at a later time to compare. So far so good.

Rosemary14

This is a syrupy sweet but not cloying almond scent. It’s light and a little bit powdery. It’s quite warm it has a big hit of marzipan/amaretto smell with a tiny bit of smooth honey tinged floral. It’s lacking a little bit of freshness. I think it could have used something green and leafy or even a bit of neroli to uplift it. As it stands I think it is a little too simple. If you love Almond (I LOVE IT) then chances are you might like this. But, this isn’t a layered story really. It’s simple and sweet and I’ll probably layer this with something else. I don’t mean to suggest that I don’t like it. I really really like this and I’m going to love it and wear it. It’s just a bit too simple for me. I’m daring fragrances to WOW me.

Amanda Palagina

The opening of this fragrance smells like marzipan/ amaretto biscuits with the freshness from the pear , simply stunning one of the best openings I have smelt , this is a masterpiece, sexy beautiful soft and not to in you’re face creamy sooooooo gooood ❤️

Bad_Girl_Bex

Oof! I think I'm in love!

Yes, I know I've already written a sort of review of this perfume, but that was way back when I'd only had access to a single tester and was so bubbling over with enthusiasm for it that I just waffled on with little thought to describing how the formulation unfolded itself to me. At the time I was on my first (of many) bottles of Mon Guerlain, drenching myself in it daily and loving it so much that whilst that tester of Donna Acqua really appealed to me, I (mistakenly...foolishly) thought that the two scents were too close in fragrance profile to necessitate a purchase of a bottle of this glorious potion. Don't get me wrong, I still love Mon Guerlain and will always continue to have at least one bottle of it in my possession, (I've got another bottle of it on the way to me in the post as I type this, along with a miniature of Mon Guerlain Intense too) for as long as Guerlain continue to manufacture and sell it. It's the perfect classy, mature, pretty, sensible scent to have at hand, whenever one wishes to feel like a respectable grown-up.

Donna Aqua however is a different creature altogether! She is a cheeky, bubbly, slightly klutzy yet adorably cute, effervescent little princess; the part of us girls who refuses to completely grow up and who still loves tiaras, feather boas, brightly coloured wigs and everything glitter. The original Donna is a woman over 30 who likes to ditch work on the odd afternoon to go shopping for handbags before guzzling pink champagne on a rooftop patio bar. A ladylike woman with a streak of indulgence, but upon whom one can always rely, to turn up immaculately dressed and ready to deal with whatever the world throws at her. Donna Acqua on the other hand is her ditzier, more mischievous little sister. The one who still comes home in the wee small hours with her handbag swinging around her neck, carrying her shoes in one hand and some randomly appropriated flowers in the other...giggling as she fails yet again to get the key in the lock, because she's just had an absolute time of it. And why not?

In my opinion, THIS should have been the fragrance that Valentino should have led with when they initially created the Donna brand. Not that I don't like Donna, I do. She's a lovely little addition to have in my fragrance collection. Perfect for days when I want to be feminine; girlish but not girly; ladylike, with a much classier vibe than her little sister Donna Acqua. I bought and reviewed it just this week. Whilst I don't love it, I like it. I won't repurchase it, but I will definitely enjoy the days when it feels appropriate to bring her out and be cheerfully feminine. Donna Acqua though, is for those days when mirth, merriment, mischief and a hint of madness calls for nothing less than this glorious pink fizz.

The notes? Oh the notes are all just utterly enchanting! First off, we get the grand opening: an explosion of sparkling pear that is at once both juicy and syrupy. Just. Gorgeous. Reminiscent of a similar note that can be found in Fragonard Belle Cherie and Tommy Girl Pear Blossom. Then, just as you're about to start salivating over the intense juiciness, the green almonds come along to temper it a little and bring an ever so nutty, yet sweet note in, helping the pear to merge seamlessly into the exotic frangipani note that will be familiar to all fans of the Elemis Monoi Oil beauty range. The frangipani thankfully retains its creamy, aromatic essence without descending into some Hawaiian tropical vibe, thanks in part to the grounding arrival of sandalwood and a final note of jasmine which gives the overall fragrance some depth.

And what's lovely about the fragrance as it wears on for a couple of hours, is that each time I go to sniff my wrist, I can still smell that pear, that frangipani, those almonds, the jasmine and the merest hint of sandalwood. They all manage to merge together beautifully whilst remaining individually identifiable. I love that. I love this perfume, can you tell? Did I already mention that? Sorry/not sorry. I haven't been this enthused about a fragrance in ages.

Which of course, naturally leads us to the inevitable heartbreak of knowing that this stunning scent has been discontinued. Because that's just how things go in the world of fragrance fanatics. And so it is that I must now embark upon a mission over the next few months, to seek out and procure as many bottles as I can find of this stuff online, forgoing other such unnecessary things such as food and electricity. What use are such fripperies when there are bottles out there just waiting to go to a good home. My home. Not your home. My home. In fact...yeah, forget everything I just said about Donna Acqua. It's an absolute stank brew. You'll hate it. It's like Secretions Magnifique that's been left out in a cow-shed for an entire August heatwave. No. You leave well alone dear reader. This is not for you. You hear me? Not. For. You.

Heh heh, sorry. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do, amirite? Lol. Oh, before I wrap up, I just have to respond to the comment down below from someone who said that they didn't understand the choice of the word 'Acqua'. I totally get it. Because when that pear opens up, it's so juicy and mouthwatering, your olfactory senses are just drenched in its sparkling nectar. It's only the green almonds that rein it in.

Oof. I just smelled myself again. I smell amazing. This is such a happy scent. That reminds me of the song Happy by Pharell Williams. When he wrote it he said the song was 'Pink Lemonade', because as a synaesthesiac he associates smells with sounds and visions. Well, Donna Acqua isn't pink lemonade...she's much more of an Very Cherry Amaretto Sour cocktail. There aren't any cherry notes in it per se, but it somehow sort of hints at them being there (which is more than alright for an absolute cherry bomb lover like me). Donna Acqua will bring a smile to your face, intoxicate you almost to the point of giddiness and leave you feeling tipsy and ready to dig out that tiara for a big princesses sleepover, complete with cocktails and pink macarons.

But you totally won't like it. It's not for you. I'm just trying ta save you the disappointment, honest! ;-)

Pari88

It has the same dna as Juicy Couture but without that sickly note that causes me to become nauseous. It is a light gourmand, a soufflé rather then a decadent cake. A very lovely gourmand that can be worn easily, the lasting power is average and you get lovely wafts of this fragrance throughout the day.
If you are looking for a sweet fragrance like Flowerbomb or juicy couture but can’t tolerate them due to the heavy patch smell and secret nausea note, this is for you.
A fruity gourmand, Sweet but airy and light, creamy floral undertones, highly feminine but not juvenile. Can be worn in winter or early spring

cherrygalore

I was actually meant to purchase Valentino Donna but accidentally ordered Valentino Donna Acqua by mistake (lol), but I'm actually glad I did because this fragrance is SO gorgeous!
When I first sniffed, I was entranced by it's sharp zingy frangipani and pear. Very delicious and crisp. The almond notes are shy and aren't too noticeable until the dry down, then they appear along with the jasmine and sandalwood.

I'm not sure if anyone will agree, but this perfume, to me, is the exact love child between Poison Girl by Dior and Scandal By Night by Jean Paul Gaultier. Very zesty, lively and juicy.
I feel like naming it 'Acqua' was a mistake since this fragrance is more heavy and creamy than light like water.

Overall this perfume is a delight. It's not too cloying or rich, but it's enough to turn heads and get a compliment or two. It's a sultry sweet treat and perfect for a spring night.

Update:
So I had some of this perfume left in a sample, and I sprayed it on my sister and she said how it smelled just like English cherry bakewells - and she was right!
Weird how I never got this impression when I first tried it, considering how much I love cherry bakewells. Valentino Donna Aqua also shares some of the same ingredients with the English treat (frangipane and almonds!)

shusha

The opening is syrupy sweet and vanillaesque. Then the sweetness diffuses but stays one-dimensional. Although there is a hint of roasted almonds, the scent still lacks an edge to it. I can appreciate that it is a pleasant fragrance but find it unremarkable. At one point it also smells quite resinous. Glad I've only gotten a tester.

Dj427

So, I had wanted to smell Valentino Donna. I saw a VD minis set at Marshall’s awhile back. I scooped it up quick as it had been marked down on clearance. I wasn’t even 100 percent sure what minis were in there. I was so surprised when I saw four minis, Two VD and two Donna Acqua,I finally got to smell Valentino Donna. And I really like it! But Donna Acqua stole my whole heart. That sweet almond note just wafts around excites me. I purchased a full bottle immediately. And I’m waiting for fall weather to wear it!

jswift286

This does smell great. It is definitely almond'y, so not sure it's really Aqua. I have a sample and the thing that makes me nervous is that it won't last long. Being that it is so similar o Black Opium, I think that would be a better choice. Or even better, Mon Geurlain

tmkarp

my first thought was cotton candy or saltwater taffy. very very sweet fruity opening. hint of caramel and not far off from prada candy. definitely get the almond and cherry chapstick vibes. quickly devolves into a generic, boring sweet musky situation... near dupe to YSL black opium. (i am wearing this on my left wrist and YSL BO on my right.) could be a personal problem, though. i love the way all these open up, then am disappointed in the drydown (prada candy, v&r flowerbomb, LVEB, YSL BO, etc.) overall pleasant, but one-dimensional and not unique.

stephanieklein

I wrote an earlier review saying this smelled too sweet, like Jolly Rancher. I didn't give it enough time. Because now, oh now. Every time I apply this I say, "What was I thinking? This is glorious!"


I am tempted to look up every single person who lists this fragrance as their signature because it's that good. Like, I feel I'd have to like every other scent they like if they chose this as their signature because it's that delicious. So yummy. #obsessed

Sailor Pluto

This is a close dupe of Olympea by Paco Rabanne, but more tolerable in my opinion. I smell a salt accord in this, very similar to Olympea. I am surprised no one else mentioned the similarities in previous reviews!

chicagogirl

Got an amazing deal on a tester so I blind bought it. This has the purest almond scent I've smelled in any perfume. Some popular almond scents are Hypnotic Poison, Burberry Brit, Girl of Now, Poison Girl etc..To me those smell more like a vanilla almond cream than pure almond. This one smells like pure almond extract with floral hints. I have and love Burberry Brit. It's similar to that but more on the sweet, dessert side compared to it. Brit is much more oriental with spice notes. The bottle is amazing, I love spikey glass, pink juice and the cute cap-less nozzle. The atomizer gives the nicest, most perfect cloud of mist I've ever seen from any sprayer lol.

osy2017

For me this is not an aqua perfume, but more of a creme, sweet and nice almond scent. Very nice and unique in a way, reminds me, but not exactly like Burberry Brit new formulation. I love it.

MissyLucy

I don’t understand the bad reviews for this fragrance, but then again maybe I do because the marketing of this fragrance is in my opinion all wrong and that effects expectations, It’s nothing like it’s pillar fragrance, it’s not aquatic and I don’t think it’s a summer scent. To me it’s a light gourmand suitable for Spring and early Fall. Wear it in the heat or in the depths of winter and it’s true beauty won’t shine through. Donna Acqua has one of the most beautiful openings I’ve ever encountered. It smells like the most realistic sugared almonds, very, pretty, airy and delicate. It then develops in a similar vein to Burberry Brit and Black Opium Nuit Blanche, very gourmand but also sophisticated and elegant. It’s one of the best almond scents out there. Worn in the right conditions I get very good longevity and silage is moderate. I’ve been complimented on it when someone gave me a hug, she said how lovely I smelled but it won’t fill a room. It’s light enough to be work appropriate for those days I’m not in the mood for a soapy scent. One of the best fragrances in my collection, I love it.

dglightblue

Summer test, two spritz to elbow, humid

Ok, so this is maybe 2nd or 3rd try, it’s pretty lame on me this one, just sweet, I don’t get layers or distinguishable notes per se.

Anyway, I layered it with a longerlasting scent: issey pure edp, I just had it to hand and didn’t feel like a juicy or woody heavy smell as too humid, it’s giving Donna acqua a kick up the bum though, it’s projucting more and lessening the bitterness I sometimes get from issey pure edp

xx

lmwimsatt

This smells like viva la juicy sucre. I definitely dont get the aqua vibe

pjspaceshit

I tested this fragrance at the airport and it didn't catch my attention anyhow. But two days later, I put on a coat I was wearing the other day and was wondering what is the beautiful scent, that I get occasional strong whiffs of? It was Donna Acqua and I immediately knew I need a bottle in my collection.

As already mentioned here, it doesn't have anything in common with the pillar fragrance. This is gorgeous scent of sweet almonds, pear and flowers.

Update 10/2019: I'm in love!!! Donna Acqua became one of my dumb reach scents this fall.

Update 4/2020: Sprayed Donna Acqua after a while and now I get straight marzipan in the opening.

bibibling

So when I compared the notes between this and the original Donna, I was like "What in the world do these two fragrances have in common?? It certainly isn't any of the notes?? There are literally zero notes in common!" (Also, for something called Acqua, this really isn't aquatic at all!)

But when smelling the two, Donna on one hand and Acqua on the other, there is definitely a DNA that ties them together. I want to say leather and iris, but again, Acqua doesn't have those notes listed, so strange. Maybe it's better to describe it as a 'sweet, powdery, lipstick-like' note.

Anyway, with frangipani and hawthorne, there are similarities to Chanel Beige (esp the EDT version) but not enough for me to enter it into the 'reminds me of' section. The almond and other notes take it towards a different direction for sure, but Donna Acqua & Chanel Beige could be worn for the exact same moments/events (I imagine spring/summer daytime, day out, going to the beach, at home just to feel fresh, clean, and pretty, going to lunch/brunch with friends, gauzy sleeveless shift dresses in pale colors and feminine ribbon strap sandals, etc...)

Try before you buy. The name, the pillar, the notes, everything is a whirlwind of confusion and misdirection, you might have difficulty really imagining what this smells like just from being on this page.

auburnalmond

Sweet marzipan with creamy, tropical frangipani, lots of hawthorns and a subdued plushy pear. Cute.

dglightblue

i second stephanieklein 's review.

summer test
one or two sprays to chest
rainy but warm day

non descript sweet, slightly aquatic at the end, thouroughly generic.
blah

stephanieklein

Opens with Jolly Rancher Apple or Watermelon, but definitely Jolly Rancher in the best way. Then it settles into non-distinct candy. Too sweet to be interesting. Like a dessert that's too sweet, that totally obliterates your palette, so you miss all the detail and nuance that makes something crave-worthy and special.

dahrling

I'm absolutely in love with this one - long-lasting but with moderate projection on me - it's so soft and sweet, perfectly feminine and tender. Just absolutely delicate and pure. I actually FEEL beautiful wearing this one. Wow, I'm amazed.
P.S: I prefer to wear this in the fall/winter - the almonds can be cloying in hot temperatures.

Luciero

I tried this on a vacation with my girlfriend. We smelled it and we both really liked how beautiful this scent is. I knew i had to buy her a full bottle asap.

10/10

lmwimsatt

Acqua is a strange name for this perfume. This is definitely not an aquatic

Smh1191

I get a sweet fruity floral pear opening with a good almond heart. Cozy yet beautiful. The almond is quality like sweet oriental dream by montale but not as powdery which I really appreciate. Will repurchase.

Bicepboy

I bought this for my other half a few months back. I personally love it on her and she is continually asked by friends and family 'oh what's that lovely perfume you're wearing?'
On a recent family holiday, all her female relatives would keep pooping into our room to 'borrow' some!

RoseSoul

It's on my current wishlist because I love almonds, especially when they are sweet and delicious in a fragrance. For example, in Etro Heliotrope I feel like I taste a glass of amaretto, but in this fragrance they are creamy, sweet and intimate. I can feel the presence of a sweet cherry pulp, very strong, almost glazed. Maybe it's juiciness comes from the pear, I don't know actually.

Clearly, this is a perfume made for the cold season!

General impression: Love! A true flanker, not a copy of the very different lipstick vibe that I get from the original Donna (also a true love and a strong presence on my wishlist).

BiancaDrumea

This scent is fantastically sweet and cozy! I don’t think it is a summer scent so the Acqua label doesn’t make sense to me but it will be an amazing Autumn addiction to my wardrobe. It is sugary and syrupy but not too young. I love it and I am happy I do since this was a blind buy.

jenna.kal

Mmm well without knowing the notes ahead of time I had no idea it was almond in it lol but it’s sweet and reminded me of a sophisticated cotton candy:) but a bit of a nutty and dash of spice so yes it’s good! Kind of reminds me of jimmy Choo a little it smells expensive which it is lol

HeavyBeatsUK

I was going to review this once it had a chance to settle into my skin - after about 2 hours - but it has nearly disappeared!

All I can smell now is faint candyfloss.

It started off really well, fairly strong and had a lovely scent of cherry Bakewell tarts. After an hour, it turned into what smelled like cherry shampoo with a hint of green nature. It wasn't radiating at that point.

If you want something similar to this but better, get Montale's Mukhallat or even Cheryl Cole's Stormflower. Both perform much better.

MademoiselleMaya

Starts promising - you can experience the clash of slightly bitter almond note and the sweet pear one. Unfortunately it stays mainly bitter on me, the flowery notes absent. Like an almond medicine, with low projection and longevity. The temperature is now about 20-30 degrees celsius - maybe it needs colder wearher to bloom on me?

blake.lee

Smells like pure almond oil to me. I like it. It's sweet and comforting. If you love the smell of almond oil and almond extract and wish you could find those in perfume, here's your answer. I personally did not smell much of any of the other notes. It was an almond bomb from first sniff for me.

Longevity is very, very poor. You'll need to carry a decant with you for touch up.

denizandbeyond_4

The almond note is very intense, sharp. Almond sharpness is like Elie Saab- Girl of Now.
If you love almond note, you'll definitely love this scent!
Its good scent but not speacial for me.

muahah

Sparkly, sweet, synthetic food/cosmetic pear and cherries. Not too much sweet or gourmand. Feminine, young, cheerful. In a way innocent due to resemblance with sweet fruity candies and chopsticks. Fun fragrance. Later more almonds and wood join, that makes this perfume more elegant and suited for woman. Inoffensive to most people, but not entirely office safe. Bit on candy-woman side.

parfumparfan

I really like this. It’s a sophisticated fruit. It reminds me a lot of Prada Candy Floss in that it’s sweet and there’s like a cherry/almond thing going on in the top notes. It’s interesting and I only tried this on paper so no idea how it develops but it smells more floral and mature/formal than Candy. It’s like late summer, late afternoon, Florence as opposed to Capri. It’s very pleasant, sweet and strong so I imagine it’ll last long. A good blind buy if you like fruity scents with a twist.

bibibling

Why in the world is this called Acqua when it has nothing to do with the acqua(tic) group. (It doesn' really feel like it has watery notes but it doesn't sound fair to call it a watered down version of Donna either because that would make it sound like a rip-off and this totally isn't! Just lighter like an almondy L'eau version of the EDP.)

It actually smells like if Valetino Donna and Chanel Beige EDP met together some dark enchanted night underneath an almond tree in full bloom and had a beautiful perfume baby together.

It's so lovely! I actually have Valentino Donna on my wish-list but these two are similar enough (Donna being much stronger and powerful and longer lasting/sillage like LVEB) that I feel like I can't buy both. I will have to do a side-by-side wrist-by-wrist test to really decide which one I'll have to go with because I really love this version but can't justify getting both (then again, wouldn't the two bottles look so cute next to each other?)

(And yes I know they share no notes together according to Fragrantica but I swear they still share a very strong DNA!)

raiza1990

The opening is a very sweet almond, really gourmand. Later, i get sweet and fresh flowers. It is a very pleasant fragrance, soft, peaceful and carefree. Great for spring. I find the name a bit misleading though, it is not aquatic and is completely different from the original Valentino Donna. This one is younger, more relaxed, a bit powdery. I like both, but don‘t find them really remarkable.
Try this if you like fresh and sweet or uncomplicated sweet florals.

magdalena81.1

Love the frangipani in the beginning but it lasts too short. Sweet pear and a floral powdery part then comes along and a creamy almondy scent lingers rest of the day. It´s a complex scent and quite heavy on me. Not for every day but lovely sometimes. The bottle is the most beautiful ever!

blueberrycheesecake

Mmmm.. Yummy.. This is great!

It's not something i typically would go after. The opening is very fruity, which normally isn't my cup of tea. Also sweet, but not artificially, rather like ripe fruit sweet. But just let it settle - there come woody notes and slight bitterness. This is where i was sold! I don't detect jasmine, but i don't miss it here (although i generally love it).

This perfume is a perfect combination of smth fruity,floral and bitter-sweet. Like contrasts that were put together, but they work. I guess it's what the advertisement shows: modern music and the vibes of old architecture.

This perfume is also a reminder for me, that warmer days are on their way ;-) A yes from me

river breeze.wilson

Very fruity/floral. Smells almost like a Cherry Starburst or Skittles. Slightly cloying but I enjoy it. Very delicious and somewhat fresh. Not like the original Donna which is powdery. In comparison it is more 'aquatic' but I wouldn't have labelled it as such. As it is not a Cool Water or Light Blue.

Lilacs&Lavender

I should just clarify - I can see that this isn't a gourmand, but the very very sweet notes sound like it could be masquerading as one.

Lilacs&Lavender

I've been offered a small bottle but I'd like your advise please. As I don't like gourmands (LVEB for example - sorry to those who adore it, it's just not my taste), am I likely to like this, or should I tactfully decline and let it go to a more deserving nose? Thanking you in advance.

Nynke

Like SailorV said, I don’t get the name either since I also don’t get any ‘aqua feeling’ from this scent.
To me it is quite sweet and powdery and gourmand.
I like it but I am not sure yet if I like it enough to buy.

eamaccready

Cherry chapstick.

Blossom Dreams

This would have been one of the most amazing fragrances ever created ... the top notes are delicious beyond words and the heart notes are pretty and unique which is always a plus for me (I hate smelling like everyone else). The bottle is the most gorgeous bottle I've seen in thirty years (matched only by the original Donna). But like others have said, the show is over all too quickly. It's summer here, so longevity may fare better in cooler months, but so far I'm only getting an hour out of each application, then it becomes a barely detectable skin scent. If you're a perfume fanatic or bottle collector and don't mind a fragrance that disappears faster than a firework, go ahead and purchase. If you're saving your pennies for a perfume that performs ... steer clear. The scent is absolutely stunning while it lasts though. Huge amounts of almond on a floral background ... absolutely divine. Hopefully they'll make an EDP version of this.

CassandraAlexandra

Uniqueness - 4/10
Longevity - 3/10
Sillage - 2/10
Value for money - 3/10

Best for: everyday wear, romantic date
Character: soft, feminine, romantic

I have tested it today, in cold (+1°C) and sunny day on my skin. Almond, vanilla and frangipani sweetness definitely stand out, I didn't get any pear though. On my sleeve the drydown smells like sweet almond.
Overall, a very appropriate daytime or date scent, not offensive or 'in your face'. I won't purchase it just because of quite poor longevity (about 2h on my skin, 4-5 on fabric). Quite quickly it becomes a skin scent, while I like to feel my fragrance at least several hours.
The bottle is gorgeous! Would make a great gift if you know for sure that a person likes almond in fragrances. In my opinion, more blind-buy friendly than Valentino Donna.

SailorV

The name of this fragrance doesn't make much sense to me. It's neither aquatic, nor light and watery, and it's not similar to Valentino Donna EDP at all.
But it's beautiful in its own right!

The main note of Valentino Donna Acqua is almond. There is also a lot of pear, especially in the beginning. Both notes are bittersweet and beautiful. I sometimes get nail polish remover from pear notes and cloying cherry from almond notes, but both is absolutely not the case in this perfume.
The pear moves to the background after some time and at this stage reminds me more of pear juice than fresh pear. The almonds are rounded by a creamy accord, maybe from the florals that I can't really single out and identify here. I do get the sandalwood in the base, giving the scent some slightly spiced warmth.
This is very feminine and deliciously gourmand, sweet, but never too much. Actually quite soft for a scent of this category (maybe that's why it's called Acqua), but still long lasting.
Must-try for almond lovers!

AnitaHendricks

I like the creamy, nutty almonds. Those go well with the slightly mystic sandalwood. The juicy pear smells nice in the opening. It's not too fruity so this note doesn't dominate the perfume. The frangipani note and other florals are very soft and feminine. This is a very likable scent which would make a great blind buy.

Soofiya

I wanted to pass it just because of the term "acqua" in it's name but it caught hubby's eyes and he sprayed it on back of my hand.I lik it.it's pretty,fresh,youthful also classy and there's nothing aquatic in it.as soon as my husband sniffed my hand told me is there almond in it?almond is among my favorite notes and I don't know why it didn't come to my mind.actually when I first smell it,I didn't think of any specific note,just that it's well put together and it's a little delicious but not a gourmand or too sweet at all
I don't find it similar to original Donna,which is among my top favorites.I'm definitely going to test it again.a real test I mean.the only things I know for now is that,this is a spring, summer Perfume for me and that it has amazing longevity and sillage.it's light and soft so I didn't expect such a great projection.none of the perfumes I tested that day could beat it!by the way original Donna also lasts for years on my skin and has great sillage
Edit:I tried it again.
This time I could detect pear and almond from the very first minute.it's all about almond,pear and beautiful,softly creamy florals.it's alluring and refreshing while being sweet.the only reason I didn't buy it was that it's cold here.I'd rather wait for warmer days

Kon-nos91

OMG, I see that even other reviewers have similar reactions trying to describe it with one word! (see WOW from the comment under) This reminds me a lot of Viva la juicy La Fleur EDT by Juicy Couture. They have similar vibes. I cannot disagree with those of you that find Burberry Brit EDT similar, but this is way fresher and younger.

Donna Acqua is elegant and 'mature', not that bubble-gummy/girly, nevertheless delicious. It's 'full' if you get my point perfume with pear shinning bright. I had such a long time to be impressed by a perfume never tried before. Where was I living all this years? From now on I will pay more attention to the house of Valentino and although an EDT, I think it can even stay proudly next to La nuit tresor by Lancome. You can't imagine how curious I am to try the original and very first Donna EDP edition. Strange but it wasn't in the stand.

Conclusion: To me, Donna Acqua is fruity that follows latest trends without being generic. I dislike fruity perfumes as they have a 'cheap' effect (again I am talking only for my taste) but in some climates and summer time they can be nice. As I said pear is the protagonist but it's a natural and yummy type of kind. Immediately almond follows and makes it addictive. It's a type of liquor-amaretto that adds the gourmandise touch that I love. Jasmine makes it strong without being sharp, the ammount of it in the composition is just perfect. Sandalwood is noticeable. I can't say something on frangipani or hawthorn. Lasting power is good and sillage even better. Thinking seriously of including it in my collection or try more from Valentino. A huge like, yet not love.

eu4ia

Wow! Obsessed. This smells so nice & sparkly in the beginning, and upon first sniff it reminded me of Burberry Brit Eau de Toilette, obviously because of the almond + prominent fruit combo. Although, this is almost a lighter version of that combo compared to BB EdT, since there's no vanilla here. I'm kind of happy about that, since the vanilla made the BB EdT a bit too heavy for my liking. Later, it becomes more floral/creamy because of the frangipani, so good. I don't like the Donna EdP (too powdery/rosey), but I'm living for this!

ScarlettX

This is outstanding in my opinion. So different and good. It's fresh and floral, but sweet at the same time.
Almost reminds me of Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire line. Sweet almond, fresh jasmine and delicious frangipani are the main notes in it.
It smells intriguing, so interesting right after spraying.
I think it's my new favorite and the best perfume by Valentino so far in my opinion.

dipisor

Heaven in a bottle. Lovely and delicious almond scent. It has a unique sweetness. And I do believe that Heaven has a soft sweet powdery smell :)

P.S. I don't like it. The top notes are so lovely and delicious, indeed, but the drydown...I feel it a bit cloying on my skin. But I think it's just me, cause my colleagues loved it. I'm so disappointed... It's just not my kind of sweetness.

polkadot27

Scrumptious! Myself and my sister tested this the other day. It is a beautiful mouthwatering scent. My sister said it smells like shortbread and to me it smells of Mr Kipling Angel slices, which are available in most supermarkerts in the UK. Almond and Pear are scrumptious when paired together in this. I own the original Donna which I also love. I really like this one, but as lovely as it is. It is crazily overpriced as projection and longevity are very weak, and this scent is so expensive here in the UK. Beautiful, but due to projection and longevity, I honestly couldn't justify paying anymore than £30 for 50ml. If I see it going cheap on ebay, I will certainly bid for it though- it is lovely. Don't understand the word acqua- it is not fresh and acquatic at all to my nose?!

Shiffy

Completely different from its predecessor: Valentino donna edp is a gorgeous scent, a cyprus, a bit dusty and of great class, this edt version has a completely different olfactory pyramid and in the whole very sweet and fruity. In Valentino Donna Acqua the most remarkable note is almond, and I think it's the fashion of the period, as we find it in many of the fragrances launched on the market in recent months. I think that unlike V.D. original, which is good for both girls and mature women, this flanker is more suitable for young teenagers. I prefer edp version

pauroj

if you like almond this is for you !
it is amazing , super sweet almost syrup like, the sillage is very good it is very thick .

i also have burberry brit and i don't think they have a lot in common burberry brit is fresher and more powdery valentino is richer deeper.

super nice

similar vibe as la petite robe noir

JuliaQueen

It's cute but I don't see how the scent is related to the original Donna? They have nothing in common. Original Donna is so perfect, powdery sweet and sexy. This new Acqua is just like any other generic pink fragrance only with a handful of almond, which makes it more special, but not special enough, certainly not as special as its perfect big sister.

Eicher

Gorgeous fruity-almond perfume. Love at first "sniff". Bought it right away, 100ml. Unfortunately, the longevity is rather weak (less than two hours and it was totally gone). While it lasts, it stays close to your skin. I wish it would last much longer.

Totally different from Donna. Young, fresh, sparkling scent. Suits for all generation and spring-summer time. The almond is rather sweet and is beautifully combined with pear, frangipani and jasmine. These are the component that I sense.
I cannot detect any sandalwood and only a hint of hawthorn. Almost not noticeable. If you look for a beautiful, attractive perfume, go for it. But again: id won't last long.

genny17

It starts off with a strong almondish vibe, then rather quickly the almond dissipates, and it has a bit of a burned nutty undertone...those top notes are challenging to me I admit..
It is very different from the original, definitely not as good..the drydown is rather non descriptive to my nose..although nicely soft and sweet..with a powdery nutty touch..
I think you need to love almond scents to enjoy this one
In truth the whole scent leaves me unimpressed..a blind buy that isn't working so well for me...I didn't really love the original, this one even less!!
I might try it again in the dead of winter !

Rene007

smell like fresh cotton lundery

air wick -fresh cotton Air Freshener have the same smell

Soutty123

Beautiful and delicate, like sugared almonds in muslin tied with a satin ribbon.

bibidee

Update: I tested this for a few more days and ended up going back to get it. Since the weather has warmed, I don't get the dry sandalwood phase anymore. Donna Acqua is a very pretty, light creamy, sweet almond, fruity-floral - smells delicious on my skin. The dry down is so smooth like sweet cream and an all-around easy to wear scent.

I went to get this today but it didn't turn out to be the light and fresh summer version of Donna that I thought it would be - actually, it doesn't have anything to do with Donna at all. Donna Acqua is very pretty with frangiapani, almond, and pear but the sandalwood in the opening seemed a little dry to my nose - so I passed. As I went about my day, I kept getting whiffs of something creamy and delicious and I kept sniffing each of my arms (I tried on E Saab Resort on my other arm) to see which one it was and it was Donna Acqua! After this had warmed on my skin, it transformed into the most pleasantly soft, creamy nutty, sweetish, floral, fruity scent. I may have to get this after all!

Valy in the sky

I was so happy to find it in Müller today! My first impression was a sweet and fresh gourmand (almond and pear), the almond gave also a cherry vibe but not in a super synthetic way (like i.e. Cherry in the air), after ah hour or so I could smell the frangipani that gives a creamy vibe. This is in no way a flanker of Donna (which I love) - it´s going to be my next purchase...exactly what I was looking for!

jeca

It starts very fruity, somewhat raspberry like, very bright and much sweeter than the original. I immediately smelled almond as well, fresher in the top snd much more intense and slightly bitter after a while. It is quite exotic and sweet, and creamy gourmand.

Bad_Girl_Bex

Just tried a sample of this on the back of my hand and absolutely love it - but that might be because it's soooo much like another new favourite I've become addicted to: 'Mon Guerlain' (which I bought 2 weeks ago and now only have about 3 or 4 squirts left, out of a 50ml bottle). I'm loving sweet smells right now.

My next fragrance purchase was supposed to be 'Gucci Bamboo', because its clean fresh scent (that reminds me of 'Boss Woman') is the perfect antidote to the revolting, fetid, stickiness of summer. As I ploughed through my bottle of 'Mon Guerlain' so quickly though, I was considering replacing it with a second bottle first and postponing the 'Gucci Bamboo' until payday next month.

BUT...having just smelled this new flanker (I've never actually smelled the original 'Valentino Donna') and how much it reminds me of 'Mon Guerlain' ('Donna Acqua' has almond and frangipani notes listed and I have sworn blind I can smell almond in 'Mon Guerlain', despite it not being listed as one of the ingredients/notes) only with a slightly fresher vibe (pear notes?) I think I might be splashing out on a bottle of this instead, next week.

I'll try them out side-by-side instore to see how similar they really are, but I also really like the bottle design on the 'Valentino' one, so if they're hard to tell apart scent-wise, I'll go with the pretty crystal faceted 'Valentino Donna Acqua'.

Arlene-Beatrix

Top notes are soft sweet and promising, but later it's just another simple floral, oriental based scent. Shame. I love the bottle.

OlfactoryLover

I agree with the first reviewer. It opens up like Cherry Chapstick and after about 15mins it becomes a very bland fragrance. Imagine Donna EDP is Beyoncé and Acqua is Solange. The only way I can describe it.

auSoleil

We just got this into store today, I'll be honest I'm not too impressed - it's reminiscent of Prada Candy Gloss. Very sweet, but still light. I'm sure many people will enjoy it but at that price point I feel like you can find something much better that's going to last far longer! I'll admit though, I do like the bottle!

*edit* arghh I can be so so critical at first - yes it's expensive, yes it's not hugely long lasting but oh my, I really want this fragrance! The almond and pear notes keep pulling me back, I don't know what it is about this fragrance but I really can't stop smelling it!

 
Perfume Encyclopedia
Perfumes: 89,599
Fragrance Reviews: 1,699,674
Perfume lovers: 1,184,336
Online right now: 2,905
Register
Perfume Reviews
Phlur
Phloria
by laviegourmand
Nautica
Nautica Voyage
by TheFraganist55
Ellis Brooklyn
Rrose
by laviegourmand
Joop!
Joop! Homme Le Parfum
by AbsoluteShambles
New Reviews
Article Comments
Guess Iconic by Urth2Leesha72
Most Popular Perfumes
Most Popular Brands
Jump to the top

Fragrantica in your language:
| Deutsch | Español | Français | Čeština | Italiano | Русский | Polski | Português | Ελληνικά | 汉语 | Nederlands | Srpski | Română | العربية | Українська | Монгол | עברית |

Copyrights © 2006-2022 Fragrantica.com perfumes magazine - All Rights Reserved - do not copy anything without prior written permission. Please read the Terms of Service and Privacy policy.
Fragrantica® Inc, United States