Valentino Beauty has unveiled the campaign film for Vendetta, its new fragrance duo starring Dakota Johnson and Alexander Skarsgård. The campaign puts the actors at the center of a cinematic story about connection and intensity, but the launch also introduces two fragrances with markedly different olfactory profiles: Vendetta Donna and Vendetta Uomo.
The campaign was photographed by Inez & Vinoodh, while Romain Gavras directed the film, which was shot on 35mm. Johnson and Skarsgård are making their first professional collaboration together with the project; they were announced as the faces of the Vendetta fragrances in July.
Valentino describes Vendetta as a fragrance duo built around emotion, intensity and authentic connection. The name also revisits the house's fragrance heritage: the new collection takes its name from an original Vendetta scent introduced in 1991.
Vendetta Donna Centers on Tuberose and Sandalwood
Vendetta Donna takes a floral gourmand woody direction, with a composition structured around Tuberose Osmobloom, Red Orange Nectar accord and sandalwood. Valentino describes the fragrance as a combination of the solar character of tuberose, the brightness and sweetness of red orange and the creamy depth of sandalwood.
The fragrance was co-created by Master Perfumer Dominique Ropion and perfumer Andrew Everett. Valentino identifies tuberose as the central ingredient and says its Tuberose Osmobloom is hand-harvested at dusk in Colombia, at the Finca Mugheeu farm.
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The extraction process is one of the more distinctive technical details behind the scent. Valentino says the tuberose is obtained through a solvent-free and heat-free eco-extraction process, with the development taking place over two years and involving numerous trials; the brand's product page states that each 100 grams of the extract contains the essence of 6,000 fresh flowers.
Johnson also has a personal connection to one of the fragrance's defining notes. In a Vogue interview about the campaign, she said tuberose has long been one of her favorite flowers and described her favorite aspect of Vendetta Donna as its combination of an intoxicating quality with softness.
Vendetta Uomo Takes a Spicier, Woody Approach
Vendetta Uomo moves in a different direction, with Valentino classifying it as a woody spicy fragrance. Its three signature notes are ginger extract, Cinnamon Liquor Accord and patchouli, giving the composition a progression from fresh spice to warmer, deeper woods.
The fragrance was created by Master Perfumer Marie Salamagne. Valentino says its ginger comes from Peru and is processed using supercritical CO₂ extraction technology; the development of the process took two years and around 100 trials.
The Uomo composition also has a direct connection to Skarsgård's own history with the Vendetta name. Speaking to Vogue, the actor recalled wearing the original fragrance before school dances when he was younger, while explaining that his approach to fragrance today is much more restrained.
The two scents are designed as a visual pair as well. Valentino gives both fragrances sculptural bottles featuring a bold graphic V, with Vendetta Donna presented in deep red and Vendetta Uomo in a cognac-toned hue; the bottle designs also incorporate a pleated cap inspired by the folds of Valentino couture.
With Johnson and Skarsgård supplying the campaign's cinematic narrative, Vendetta ultimately gives Valentino Beauty two distinct ways to interpret the same central idea. Donna leans into tuberose, red orange and sandalwood, while Uomo builds its character around ginger, cinnamon and patchouli, making the fragrances themselves an important part of the story rather than simply an accessory to the celebrity campaign.
