Versace
Italian glamour and bold Mediterranean energy
Founded in 1978, Versace launched fragrances in 1981. The house is defined by bold Italian glamour — from the Medusa logo to the bright, attention-grabbing aesthetic. Eros (2012) became the house's defining men's fragrance and one of the most-cloned scents in the dupe market. Capri Holdings acquired Versace for $2.1 billion in 2018.
The Founder's Story
Gianni Versace founded his fashion house in 1978 in Milan, quickly becoming known for bold prints, vivid colours, and a glamorous aesthetic that attracted celebrity clients from Elton John to Princess Diana. After Gianni's murder in 1997, his sister Donatella Versace took creative control and has led the brand ever since. Fragrances have been a core part of the brand's identity since 1981.
Heritage & Timeline
1978: Gianni Versace founds his fashion house in Milan. 1981: First Versace fragrance launches — Gianni Versace for Women. 1994: Blue Jeans launches — a playful, accessible masculine. 1997: Gianni Versace murdered; Donatella takes creative helm. 2007: Versace Pour Homme launches — a fresh Mediterranean masculine. 2012: Eros launches — becomes Versace's most iconic men's fragrance and one of the most-cloned scents globally. 2018: Capri Holdings acquires Versace for $2.1 billion. 2025/26: Capri Holdings-owned. Eros remains the brand's fragrance pillar.
Signature Style
Versace's fragrance identity mirrors the fashion: bold, Mediterranean, unapologetically glamorous. The house favours powerful projection, eye-catching bottles (Eros's turquoise, Crystal's diamond-cut), and scents that demand attention.
Iconic Fragrances
Did You Know?
Versace Eros is one of the most-cloned fragrances in the dupe market — multiple Middle Eastern houses offer near-identical alternatives at 80-90% savings.
Capri Holdings acquired Versace for $2.1 billion in 2018.
Gianni Versace chose the Medusa as his logo because "whoever falls in love with Medusa can't flee from her" — a perfect metaphor for his bold, captivating aesthetic.
Donatella Versace has led the brand for over 25 years since her brother's death in 1997.
