Voce Viva EDP by Valentino

I got a hold of a sample of Voce Viva a while ago, as a part of a major acquisition of samples and new scents to try out. I’d never heard of this perfume before and really didn’t have any excitement to try it out, until I saw it sitting in a box a few days back. Voce Viva was a 2020 release from Valentino, which seemed to pass without much fanfare. What’s it like? How does it smell? Please continue below for my full take.

What does Voce Viva Smell Like?

Notes include: bergamot, mandarin, vanilla, gardenia, orange blossom, and moss

Click here to try: Valentino Voce Viva 3.4 oz / 100 ml EDP Women Spray

My Full Review

A couture and feminine bouquet of white flowers that gives Italian tradition a contemporary edge.

Voce Viva opens up with its bright citrus notes coming through, sitting on top of plenty of orange blossom, and the vanilla which is already peaking up from the base. Right away, I get the sense that this is going to be a warm and sweet floral experience…which I like.

There is a light and fresh spiciness that you can detect underneath the citrus and floral notes. The consensus seems to be an unlisted ginger note, which makes sense to me.

After a little bit, the initial somewhat juicy vibe from the citrus notes goes by the wayside and the gardenia comes up into that position. For me, the orange blossom is the strongest floral note initially, and then the gardenia plays a more prominent role.

The later stages, gives me more of a vanilla aroma with a dry freshness and underlying spiciness. The musky/mossy/woodsy smell does come through, but remains underneath the gardenia, vanilla, and maybe a bit of tonka bean?

The final three notes in terms of strength, seem to be: vanilla, gardenia, and moss. I like it. The aroma coming off of my skin is enjoyable and doesn’t stray into sickly sweet or irritating territory ever.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

The sillage here isn’t super powerful and actually leans towards the lighter end of things, without ever being weak. It’s got an airy sort of demeanor, but actually projects itself quite well from the skin. Don’t expect a beast, but I was pretty happy with what I got out of this Valentino.

The longevity is also good, just not amazing. You might be able to squeeze a full workday from Voce Viva. For me, it did hit that 7.5-8 hour range, on my skin. For most purposes, that will be more than enough.

Seasonally, it’s actually very versatile, if you just stay out of the extreme heat and humidity. It does have that sweetness, that you’d associate with more of a autumn/winter scent (think: Black Opium), though not the same thickness or heavy sillage.

Late spring and for some parts of the world, early summer would be fine. Possibly, you could roll it out for a summer evening.

This would be great for a daytime wear, that could also venture into the nightlife without being a complete bomb. It’s sweet, but has a level of maturity to fit in with a wide swath of the female population.

Personally, I don’t find it sexy, but it is an appealing and very pleasant fragrance to wear and be around in general.

Overall Impressions of Voce Viva

Do I like this perfume from Valentino? I really do. To me, Voce Viva isn’t completely amazing nor super original. However, it is an easy to wear and attractive example of a white floral paired with sweeter notes.

The opening is bright and a very nice blend of spice, sweet, and floral notes. Then, the heart of gardenia and orange blossom is always a pairing, that I seem to like experiencing. Finally, the vanilla and woodsy smell during the latter stages is an interesting take on a familiar composition.

The performance is above average, as is the smell. If you want a versatile, clean, and well put together daily wear…Voce Viva could be a nice option to look into. It doesn’t seem to have any major weaknesses, other than having overlap with a lot of other perfumes. But, so do most scents.

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.