There are few things more romantic than a beautiful car, an open road and the feeling that the rest of the world can wait. Add a bottle of perfume and a neon motel sign glowing in the California night, and you have the makings of an American road-trip fantasy.
Think Route 66: classic cars, roadside motels, endless horizons and the promise of somewhere new. In September 2026, Valentino Beauty brought that spirit to Los Angeles with the Vendetta Motel, taking over Burbank’s iconic Safari Inn to celebrate its new fragrance duo, Vendetta Uomo and Vendetta Donna.
At the centre of the story is a vintage silver Mercedes-Benz convertible, its red interior adding a touch of danger to the old-school glamour. In a campaign film directed by Romain Gavras, Dakota Johnson and Alexander SkarsgĂĄrd play lovers setting off on a rebellious escape. The car is more than transport; it is their accomplice, carrying them towards a destination that matters less than the journey.
Vendetta Uomo, created by perfumer Marie Salamagne, combines Peruvian ginger, a warm cinnamon-liquor accord and earthy patchouli. Vendetta Donna takes a different route, with tuberose, red-orange nectar and sandalwood. Two fragrances, two personalities, one shared sense of adventure.
The experience began with a drive through Los Angeles, passing places associated with legendary love stories before arriving at the motel for an evening of fragrance and unexpected encounters. Neon, keys and the familiar silhouette of the Mercedes turned the launch into a scene from a road movie.
Cars and perfume share a curious power: both can take us somewhere else. We fall for a classic car not only for its lines or engine, but for what it promises — freedom, independence and the possibility of being somewhere new by sundown. A scent can do much the same, bringing back a person or a moment in an instant.
Valentino is in good company. From Jude Law’s Riviera drives for Dior Homme Sport to Gucci Guilty’s retro Los Angeles dreamscape, the car has long been a favourite in fragrance campaigns. Different roads, different engines, much the same message: attraction rarely travels in a straight line.
The engine is running. The motel sign is glowing. Somewhere on the dashboard, the keys are waiting. All that remains is to decide whether you’re staying the night — and where the road leads tomorrow.
