Description
John Varvatos is presenting a new fragrance for men Artisan Black, as a limited edition arriving on the market on April 1st 2010. The fragrance is announced as more long-lasting, woodier and as having more musk than its antecedent.
Artisan Black was composed by perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux, of such notes as tangerine, Meyer lemon, Italian red orange and Givaudan’s calypsone. A heart incorporates Murraya flower, Tunisian neroli, Moroccan orange blossom, Indian Sambac jasmine absolute, ginger, purple ginger, cardamom absolute and coriander seed. A base includes Kephalis, Belambre, Boisiris, Serenolide, Vetyvert CO2 extract, Singapore Orpur patchouli, Mexican cueramo, soft leather and Florentine iris root absolute.
Black flacon of this perfume was created by Jon Cisler. The flacon is covered with black rattan and decorated with shiny finish. The fragrance can be purchased in amount of 125 ml EDT.
lotuss12 – :
Fresh citrus opening. This is labeled for men but the fragrance is unisex enough for a woman. I happen to like men’s colognes and this one’s quite nice.
There’s a hint of spice in Artisan which makes the fragrance more interesting. This should be a good summer scent since it has that strong citrus note.
JEKASSS – :
The scent itself is amazing. Fresh, masculine, unique and interesting. Perfect summer fragrance for a guy of any age. However, you may think longevity is poor, but it’s actually decent. Below is a method that worked for me to get about 4 hours of decent sillage. Still not great but at least it’s better than 1 hour some people are getting…
Important! Do not spray this marvelous juice anywhere near your nose. Avoid the front and sides of your neck and dont bother spraying your chest either. The reason is for some reason this juice causes olfactory fatigue very quickly. Therefore, only spray the back of your neck and back of your shoulders. You’ll need a good 6 to 8 sprays. That is 2 behind neck, 2 to 3 behind each shoulder and maybe 1 on each forearm if you have a short sleeve shirt. I’m confident this will get you better longevity.
SK12051980 – :
To the person below that replied to my original review. You sound bothered by what I said. I never said the fragrance was cloying. I love the scent it just doesn’t last. It’s just a fact, many here have mentioned it. So…
drCVZubff – :
What a disappointment this turned out to be. I purchased a 4.2 bottle after trying a sample and loving it. The patchouli note really spoke to me. Unfortunately this doesn’t last more than an hour or two at most. The longevity is so bad that I’m actually wondering if I got a faulty bottle. FragranceNet doesn’t sell fakes do they? I wish I could return it I’m so disappointed.
artem.suvorov – :
This is a bit of a mish mash of notes… I definitely get the citrus, but it’s distorted by leather and patchouli. It makes for a pungent, dirty citrus. You almost get the feeling that they were really trying to go out on a limb with this one. I don’t find it to be smooth or refined, like many of the other offerings from this house – and that’s okay. While I can’t say that it knocks my socks off – I do think it has a place in this lineup. While all of the other Artisan releases go smooth/citrus, this plays the villain and goes against the grain. It definitely reminds me of Tokyo milk Excess – and not much of a coincidence that it shares the same notes. A nice attempt at going for a homerun contrast between citrus/patchouli, but ultimately, the least pleasing of the line.
Sany-meby – :
I had this back in 2015 and I loved it. It was a good summer scent with a tidbit of spice on the back end. It was a complex and yet pleasing scent. At first I get the citrus and then it goes into a floral. From there it sits with a mild sweetness for a few hours with a back end of spice. It had to be ginger but I would almost want to say kinda woodsy, but tropical woodsy. This is a good spring and summer scent that works for all times of day.
Scent: 9.5/10
Projection: 7/10
Longevity: 8.5/10
vold – :
Finished bottle on 25/03/2017
Final summary- The scent is very nice, inoffensive and has a fairly unique take on freshness. After much wearing, i have gathered that it is also unpredictable. 85% of the time, it has extremely soft projection and moderate longevity even with up to 15 sprays. 15% of the time it’s projection is actually quite decent and longevity has lasted up to around 9 hours. So it seems that this one has a mind of its own! Compliment wise it didn’t do too badly, got a reasonably good amount of compliments but this was on good projection days. Didn’t receive any negative feedback so i stand by my earlier review saying that this is a very safe inoffensive scent. Major downside is projection. Overall i would give it a 7/10.
bunny_20_1990 – :
Dry down has similarities to Club de Nuit Intense for Men. Thinking of buying this as I love the smell but having second thoughts because of longevity issue that people are saying. Tested a few times on my wrist and it actually lasted 4 hours before it turned into a skin scent. Still deciding if it will be full bottle worthy.
[Edit] Finally decided to buy a bottle after finding a good price online. Lasts 5+ hours with the last 2+ hours as a skin scent. Spraying on clothes helps with the longevity issue. I am getting an uplifting ‘neroli-fresh with just the right dose of fruity-sweetness’ vibe with this juice. Calling Artisan Black Intense/Forte/EDP.
balkanshop.md – :
This is a pleasant cologne and i have got a few compliments for it. It doesn’t last too long so you have to spray quite a bit, but that isn’t too much of a problem as it isn’t a really offensive scent. It is ideal for wearing to work and although it isn’t one to blow you away, it is a decent cologne to have in your collection.
Maksetonik – :
It isn’t exactly a grapefruit bomb but it does have an overwhelming amount of it compared to the other notes-in a good way. In order here are the notes I get most of:
Grapefruit, ginger, cardamom, patchouli, and leather-but just a hint.
Its nice, has decent performance and manages to smell clean and rich.
Scent: 6.5-7/10 it does change some on the drydown to be a little more ginger and cardamom forward which is a welcome evolution.
Longevity: 6/10 I do get 4-6 hours of use out of it but most of that time is spent very close to the body.
Projection: 7/10 for the first 30 minutes to an hour then 5/10 for the next 30 minites to an hour, then 2/10 afterwards.
Sillage: 6/10 this does leave a nice trail for the first hour after spraying but dies off rapidly therafter.
Would I buy it again? Yes if discounted, at full retail, no. YSL La Nuit De L’homme does the “job” this frag does a little better in my opinion-especially an older blend if you can get it.
ZAhmed – :
Pleasant citrus, very little leather to my nose and a dash of spice, not much– ginger is a nemesis of mine and if it’s too strong, it’s headache city. But this is a fine, fresh, and fairly unique scent, really only related to JV Artisan as others have noted.
But as with so many JV fragrances, longevity is VERY disappointing. I’ve got the mini bottles of JV, Vintage, Artisan, and Artisan Black, and have sampled Dark Rebel. All are quite nice (Dark Rebel is AMAZING), but none lasts more than about three hours on my skin and projection is maybe six inches an hour after applying a liberal amount. Sad, because these JV scents are fairly distinct.
It might be possible to get more life out of this by the standard trick of applying it to a supporting layer of scentless moisturizer or Vaseline, but be prepared for this not to last. At a minimum, play with a sample or a mini before splurging on a full bottle; there are plenty of other options in this price range that will give you much better performance.
v1967v – :
Scent : 8/10
Sillage:7/10
Longevity:6/10
80% day/ 20% night fragrance
a darker version of artisan
DIM171282 – :
People are going to hate me for this. It last 8 hours on my skin. And it projects till 2-4 hours.
марина. – :
John Varvatos Artisan Black is mainly a citrus scent with some smaller supporting elements. A very pleasant ensemble of orange, lemon, and (seemingly) grapefruit, it’s an agreeable warm weather scent. Opening with a mix of citrus and a generic vegetable smell, fading into a musky citrus dry down. The note list is extensive and I admit that I don’t get nearly that much out of it, just something more generic and simple.
Projection is nice at the opening but it fades quickly to a skin scent, but a pleasant skin scent.
$32 for 125ml on FragranceNet isn’t a bad deal if you enjoy the scent–it’s one I wanted to own, as it feels a generic citrus void that’s missing elsewhere.
6 out of 10
uyda – :
For all intents and purposes, JV Artisan Black is the most expensive fly spray on the market. Every time I smell the stuff, my mind settles on Vapona fly spray as the closest resemblance.
Vapona Fly Spray in a neat looking bottle.
appopyize – :
This perfume attracted me with the name and look of the bottle. Unfortunately, it’s the only good thing with this John Varvatos Black Artisan. This perfume is like lemonade, with the projection of no longer than half an hour, while there is no aura. I can not believe that he was so badly made, almost like citrus juice in a candy store with a daily dose of sugar in the form of cakes, but without the sweetness, or just have a touch of the same and give offers nothing. I just had only this one John Varvatos Artisan Black, and for the other John Varvatos I can not claim, but this perfume is for every shame and criticis. Repeat for end- Endless horror from John Varvatos!
Affendose – :
To me, this one is primarily just citrus with some ginger in the background. It’s almost like spraying some fruit punch on your skin. The sillage is pretty poor, but I’m still testing the longevity. I don’t dislike the scent, but, yeah, performance is weak. By contrast, I get rather good performance from Varvatos Vintage.
romualdini – :
First impression is balsamic. More review after buying.
Teliencushill – :
John Varvatos fragrances are known for their poor performance. This is a classic example of poor performance!! Smells decent, light fruity citrus balanced with a floral orange flower, mellow ginger, musk and barely any leather at the base. I would not recommend this to anyone, better offerings out there!
jyprianskii – :
Love the smell and the bottle too, but
as mentioned it does not last very long, and
thats a pity as i find it very plesant on
my skin.
angeluse – :
I purchased this as a result of a company re within debenhams who was promoting it. The sample he had and used, lasted for a 30+hours [ was sprayed on paper ]
As a result , I brought a bottle [ 125mm ] Umm, should not have bothered. The smell itself is nice BUT it DOES NOT last longer than an hour. That too, if you hold the sprayed section close to your nose. I suspect that the sample the rep used was of a different quality to the ones being actually bottled and sold. Deception in quality terms. AVOID. I really dont appreciate companies which cheat. Yes, I have the SAME sample bit of paper on to which I sprayed the SAME – It DOES NOT LAST – You will be lucky if you get more that an hour of lasting. Avoid Avoid Avoid
doalim – :
Artisan Black is my go to fragrance at the moment and I KNOW THAT I AM BEING GYPPED. I have a love/hate relationship with this stuff, because it smells fantastic, but if you don’t soak your clothes in it even you would never know what juice you wore.
vitos345765 – :
Wonderful,wonderful scent! A blast of citrus on initial spray changes into a flowery oriental vibe that further changes into an earthy, woody drydown courtesy of the vetiver, leather and orris root. My first bottle was gifted to me by my wife. Down the halfway mark of the bottle, I bought another one.It is that good!
If it were longer lasting, I’d give it a 10/10. On my skin it lasts about 2 – 21/2 hours, maximum. Overall score, 8.5/10.
Tip: Spraying on clothes makes it last up to 4 hours.
JeockCakcow – :
All too true. Smells so awesome. Feel so good for about an hour, then barely a trace. If this lasted.. Take notes John Varvatos!! LIsten to the people who really like this.
Tarakan – :
This is a spicy sexy clean that fades into oblivion. I would actually recommend this to young men, as there is no possible way they could overspray themselves. Suitable for office wear or a gift for scent phobes.
hunt2033 – :
remind me of car freshener with a hint of original jv artisan…
I like the original artisan better
evosiussy – :
This stuff is a complete waste of money! I cannot believe that after 20 minutes on the skin and clothing that there is absolutely nothing. Now I love the smell of this fragrance and that is why this is so displacing. The company needs to go back to the lab on this one.
SeM-84 – :
I’m a heavy sprayer but even that did not help with longevity and projection. Artisan Black could very well be one of the first fragrances, with a leather note, that I enjoy but it will leave no reminder that you’re wearing it. This juice is just that transitory!
арт – :
I really wanted to make it my summer night signature, but darn, does it have to project and last so little? The scent is gorgeous, really, but leaves a lot to be desired… Anybody ever heard of an EDP? Looks as though they want you to overspray it in order to get an effect and so buy it more and more… which I would if I could get it, but it still remains so close to skin after some 12 shots I don’t think I’ll make another purchase. Too bad, the scent is fruity,sexy and a bit mysteryous, perfect for a summer date.
kirill.plyusov – :
I received this as a gift from my sister, and though I loved the smell. Once I wore it I feel like it smelled like Vick’s Vapor Rub. It has this artificial minty sterile smell to it.
Has anyone else smelled this with this fragrance.
gros0494 – :
Nice light manly fragrance I’m smelling this scent right now also the original so far the black is better it has a little bit more going on but their both light fresh scents definitely summer spring or office scents non offensive you won’t choke people even with a lot of sprays to sum it up their both nice but not amazing but the black is the clear choice for me
torch1975 – :
I love the smell of this stuff. Dark citrus on top that fades into a masculine patchouli base. This is one that can work as either a day scent, or as a night out fragrance. Very versatile, but definitely targeted toward warmer weather. It loses a lot of its kick within the first hour or two, and is a light skin scent by hour 6. Much longer than that and I’m not sure if you could detect it at all anymore, unfortunately. This is one of those fragrances I could see using 5 or 6 sprays of and not being too pungeant, although, I’ve only ventured to 4 sprays so far myself.
velninch – :
Average scent. Sort of a dark citrus. There is an overwhelming soap note that makes it not for me.
Yrus – :
This is a scent that should not be judged in the opening moments but rather after it is on your skin for more than an hour. If you are on of those people that sprays then waits a few minutes and base your appraisal solely on the opening salvo, you will miss the best part. See, I must concede that I too get that detergent/lemon pledge smell the first few times I tried it. Some doubts were creeping in about this blind buy. I tried to appease myself by thinking “at least the bottle is nice”. The juice is becoming forgettable and I went about my way. Then sitting my car, window down and a breeze blowing nicely on me, I was getting a whiff of something really appealing. Like a bohemian spiciness with a soft citrus and some leather. Could this be JV Black ?….No way. I had applied some to my jacket sleeve and instantly took to see if that is where the wonderful aroma was coming from. Right on . One of most unique and satisfying smells with a freshness that invigorates the senses. Now I think of JV Black as black leather and lemons. A no nonsense lean attractive sensual creation that seduces by surprise.
Flores-Roux has the knack of making perfumes I love.
9/10. Not for everybody ….so try before you buy
D_N_X – :
a banal citrus with some leather and sweet.medium longevity and sillage.i hate mandarine smell,but after one hour became soft sweet with some floral but always too citrus for me,
vote 5/10
jenicanada – :
When I first saw the notes, it seemed like a wonderful fragrance; the original Artisan was decent, so I was excited to sample this and perhaps purchase my first Varvatos. The first time I tested it, I thought it was quite nice. Then I came back to it a few weeks later and something turned me off.
The leather seems too unnatural and plastic, like “pleather” we sometimes see in cheap furniture. I just wish it were smoother because it takes away from all that wonderful citrus.
Laska0387 – :
imho this perfume smells like cheap dish detergent ,smells soapy ,inelegant ,cheapy ,awful sillage and projection definitely a not to buy
4/10
fdp588intitytek – :
JV Artisan Black appeal lies in not how it conforms to current tastes but in how it blazes its own path, unique to many. An unapologetically brisk opening with lemon and orange followed by a gentle infusion of ginger brings a sense of vitality and energy to this cologne. I began to think all that freshness might relegate JV Black to the spring summer daytime wear category. Then, I was lucky enough to apply a couple of sprays to my wrist on a cold Californian evening and the dry down the next morning was enough to have me catching stray wafts of something extraordinary throughout the day. Not everyone’s cologne of choice . But when it works for you, there is no going back. Very nice!
DmitryDD – :
This is a great great smelling fragrance. It`s very light and it opens with a floral almost fruity nuance. I get the tangerine mixed with the watermellon at first but in a matter of minutes it opens up the true heart of floral notes. Be not fooled for this is a pretty complex juice. It`s a very nose-friendly perfume but the biggest problem is the longevity and sillage which are BOTTOM LOW (noticeable for around 30 minutes on my skin). Too bad John Varvatos, too bad ! 🙁
KileshValera – :
This one is definitely on my considering to buy list. It isn’t a mind blowing fragrance, but I just keep wanting to smell myself. Only thing holding me back from getting it is the longevity. If I can get 4 hrs most of the time I will buy it.
ivanandreev17 – :
Wrist spray test: Got a solid 2 hrs. moderate projection in a mostly air conditioned environment. By 3 hours, scent was barely perceptible.
Throughout the evolution, got fruity/leather notes with a hint of woody notes. Scent had a smooth quality to it. As for the strongest JV frag, it’s a close call between “Artisan Black”, and the original John Varvatos (2004 version.) The black wicker bottle pushes Artisan Black into my 1st JV choice, simply because it enables a more solid grip on the bottle. My preferred 2.5 oz. initial buy choice would be even more so. I’m rating this at least a solid “Try”.
Glacing – :
I will write the same post I did on Vince Camuto. Varvatos’ fragrances are bland, one dimensional, simple and downright a waste of money given what you could spend your money on. Why would I buy, an $200 V-Neck Sweater, a $300 sports coat, some $190 jeans and $200 Varvatos Converse. Put together a top shelf outfit and then throw on a fragrance that smells like I just finished shopping at American Eagle’s clearence rack? Again if I sound condescending its because these guys can’t be this creative (as I enjoy his fashion) and expensive (you can take a month’s paycheck) and then when it comes to fragrances be so asinine! Why put your name on something like that? This goes for this entire line and Star USA is infinitely worst than all of the others.
оса – :
Today i checked this on a store and I inspired. Unique smell, very sophisticated. Some similarities with Artisan but this one is bit darker. Will buy it soon. Recommended stuff.
blazZzer – :
by looking to the notes and reading reviews I decided to smell it, is perfect for my dad who is a cowboy outdoors kind of guy most days and the boss at the office other days. citrus at first, then woods for all year. The name and the look of the bottle go very good with the fragance, I hope my father like the gift.
igo6125 – :
This stuff is fantastic for about 4 hours or so. Artisan’s more interesting older brother. Short lived though, and the skin scent left behind is slightly selsun bluish.
Serpex – :
I have had this and Creed’s Aventus for about a year… I put Aventus on yesterday and then Artisan Black on today and was like a light bulb went of..
Some similarities for sure…
Aventus lasts a lmuch longer but Artisan Black has that super quality smell to it…
8-10 stars..
Very versatile in my opinion…
klen-n – :
Very good scent that smells citrus and woody and is very catchy. My friend just couldn’t stop smelling his wrists when he tried it. The worst thing about it is longevity! it just doesn’t last and sillage dies as fast too, sadly. But I still like the scent. One must wear it for candle-light dinner followed by intense love-making but make sure you get done with everything in an hour or so.
cbb529Unlogrere – :
This is one of the most disappointing frags I have ever purchased. First off, I love the original Varvatos and also love Vintage. This I actually sampled on several occasions while at Ulta. I actually think Artisian Black smells pretty good, but the sillage and longevity are just awful. I smell this for about 30 minutes, and for $47 dollars a bottle I expect the sillage and longevity of Varvatos and Vintage, which are very good.
I don’t comprehend how so many scents make it to the shelves, with a retail of $50 no less, with no longevity – are these scents not tested over and over again for quality. HUGE FAIL on this one, even though the scent (what you get of it) is decent.
RED34 – :
As bored as I am with the ‘black’ flanker gimmick, I must confess that I can’t dismiss Artisan Black out of hand. It’s just too pleasant to write off. It’s buoyant, luscious, pert, and perky. In a word, it’s spirited. I rolled my eyes at this when it first came out, but I started some time ago to revisit my earlier rejects to test the sensitivity and intelligence of my sense of smell. Like many others here on Fragrantica, I was smell-blind to so many notes and accords because I didn’t know *how* to smell. Age, experience, and information have combined to make, and continue to make, of me a discerning nez. I’m so glad I came back to Artisan Black, as I am with so many I’ve salvaged from my bin. As I’ve said of other department store designer frags, this one bears no trace of auteur idiosyncrasy; it’s designed to have wide appeal, which it does. But this category of fragrance can, I’m convinced, still surprise and delight even the most jaded of noses. I think that the line thought to exist between mass market fragrances and niche fragrances is, in many instances, a false division that does a disservice to the interactions and continuities that exist between these two categories. There are many criteria other than novelty or complexity through which we can make sense of olfactory experience. There are striking failures and coups de foudre in both the niche and designer categories. Artisan Black is one of those designer scents that is attractive for reasons that could be easily explained with the usual litany of descriptors (e.g., fresh, green, etc.). But this impulse should be resisted. If we eschew easy description and instead look for combinations, nuances, and shades that don’t readily fit into what we know or expect, we might open up possibilities for hearing anew what scent is trying to communicate. If perfume is a message, how do we listen?
tdg699JeomiWogkig – :
Great stuff here. Aside from the semi decent longevity issues I have, I think this is a great fragrance.
John V has a nice line with Vintage being at the top, but this a close 2nd.
You can’t go wrong if you enjoy citrus/aquatic type colognes.
Lakoster-74 – :
a very nice fragrance, that I wish had better longevity , but while it is in swing smells darn good.. artisan with some body to it.. I would consider a purchase on this one, probably one that a small atomizer you could keep close by for a refresher spritz every so often, lots of compliments on this one so far.. I like it but wish for better longevity..
but I would wear this.. and I am thinking about a bottle purchase, not too bad from some the prices I have seen on the web..
sova1 – :
To me this is exclusivly masculine scent. To me is seems restrained, clean and traditional which would be for men in a business environment year round.
yfe686intitytek – :
I’m not a fan of this at all.
The sample smelled good but when I got a bottle, it gave my skin an odd odor. Maybe it’s just my body chemistry with it.
KRAFF – :
This is one of my all-time favorites. It’s a wonderful, warm, dark, rich citrusy scent with a balanced ruggedness that I find very charming. The original Artisan did nothing for me; to me, it smelled like a Glade air-freshener one might use in the restroom. Artisan Black, in the other hand, is a classic fragrance that I want to wear all time time, day or night. Maybe I’m a sucker for “black” versions of fragrances, or double-black in the case of Polo, but the sensual, mysterious nature of this scent creates what I believe is a more lasting impression.
alex34rus – :
Very nice citrus/neroli/coumarin fragrance with a lasting coumarin drydown that has a “hazy” feel to it. Not sure if I’d buy it, but if Artisan is a summer day, then Artisan Black is a summer night.
vovik2856 – :
Just tried a sample that I recieved.. First smell I was like this is awesome.. It is a citrus but I swear I get grape also.. No grape in notes..
I have it on my list of future and I mean within 2 weeks from now I will own this.. Not sure about longevity becasue I only have a sample vile and just applied it..
Very fine interesting smell that I can tell the Ladies would dig.
Easy 8.9 out of 10 stars.. I’ll change that to 10 stars if I can get at least 6 strong hours out of it..
noris59 – :
As a variation on the Artisan, it has the citrus-floral notes tamed and a woody-leathery base which smells a little bit artificial. It’s definitely a nice sensual scent compared to other mainstream ones, but is not as good as original Artisan IMHO! Even the bottle is not as good!!!
Good longevity and projection. Overall: 7 out of 10.
KAI070191 – :
Should have been the original artisan…IMO. This has more of a spicy bite than the original and is simply more masculine. Starts out very citrusy and refreshing, (We’re not just talking orange), which warms its way down to a dark spicy woodiness. Very clean scent with an edge. The added leather really does the trick! I hear a lot people not to thrilled with the original. I actually didn’t mind it to much but this one is better balanced and not as linear. Not to heavy, not to light. Longevity is also better. Solid scent!
altifey – :
At first sniff I get this intense orange and tangerine smell for about 10 minutes. When it dries down it becomes a lot more green and spicy. Overall I would say its a quality scent. Nothing that blows me away but a strong showing by John Varvatos. I was slightly put off by this because of the opening, maybe it smells a little to synthetic on top but I must admit it is growing on me. Projection is mediocre at best. I highly recommend this fragrance if you are looking for a citrus green fragrance. Please try before you buy.
A-Z – :
very nice, very intriguing. the scent develops after some time, and changes on different parts of the body. both for a day and for night. definitely stronger than Artisan! another great composition by Varvatos <3
supermaza – :
Artisan Black is incredible. This is one of the boldest richest fragrances available and in my opinion the best from the Varvatos line.
prierrorp – :
Very interesting smell. Similar to Artisan yet more spice. This smells like something a distinguished gentlemen would wear.
bejuicy – :
SOTD for me – I am a big John Varvatos fan and this bottle doesn’t disappoint! Okay, the remarks of being synthetic – to a fair degree, yes. However, a lot is extraction (by various interesting methods) of essential oils and also compounds that are rather unique in fragrance. The question that I try to answer about scent, first & foremost…do I like how it smells? The issues of longevity and projection are always relevant as to how one wears a certain fragrance, but to me, secondary.
The notes make it seem very fruity and floral with some darker base notes. I have the regular Artisan bottling and while there are some similarities – this is a true “Black” version of a very bright and beautiful Orange Blossom/Mandarin/Clementine that the original is. The original stays there while this really transcends into darker territory of rich, suede leather, warm patchouli and exotic shades of “night”. The original Artisan bottling is a day-time scent, and perhaps evening on a patio in summer (warm weather necessary). This black bottle evokes great top and middle notes, like all the Varvatos bottles I have and the blend is very rich and harmonious. My only complaint is that while the scent is wonderful, sensual and provocative (8/10 for me on scent alone). Initially, it is sharp and the ingredients are deep and penetrating while being very natural. The Italian Red Orange with the other citrus, ginger, and spices (coriandor and cardamom) blend very well with the florals – Tunisian neroli, Sambac Jasmine Absolute and Moroccan Orange Flower. The base notes that show key to me are the vetiver (Vetyvert CO2 extract, leather and Singapore Orpur patchouli).
This is not an overly-synthetic fragrance, although it does contain synthesized, aromatic compounds such as Kephalis in the base that offers a warm amber/tobacco accord (which really shows). It turns into a skin scent with moderate (~ 4 hours) longevity and slightly above average sillage earlier in the wear. For the first couple of hours – this is an attention-getter but it becomes an intimate skin scent after that, which might be what you want for a night-time scent any way…after all, you don’t want your lover to suffocate and get nostril burn while you are in the heat of passion. 😉
Keep this bottle for cooler weather and summer evenings (and be ready for compliments). I find this to be a scent that people always are attracted to…it does leave an aura about you. Kudos to John Varvatos! I would rather have a shorter longevity, high-quality ingredients and a wonderful scent than 12 hours of horrible, synthetic crap that you can’t wait to scrub off. This is very fine indeed – final score 7.5/10. I recommend on scent alone. Also, apply on your shirt to add both longevity and projection and don’t be shy on application (as well as layering it over the After Shave Balm).
Update: Warm (almost 70 degrees) and sunny in California today…layered Artisan Black (moderate application) with a few shots of John Varvatos Artisan EDT and After Shave Balm to enrichen the wonderful blood orange/mandarin/clementine fruit notes along with the nice subtle (but essential) orange blossom. Base notes emerge and breathe through, although this is really about the citrus aromas and various “shades or orange aromas”. This is definitely alive and breathing very well on me – never too strong, but I love how the two play so well together. One can easily transition a daytime wearing of Artisan to Artisan Black as the late afternoon sun fades, or even blend together from the beginning. Very good stuff from John Varvatos! Ahhh….breathe deep and enjoy. Cheers.
josslen – :
Ummm…can I love this and wear this? I am all woman! This is a divine scent! Dare I?
benedek – :
First I heard of the original Artisan. The bottle is a beauty. Its what first got my attention. The burst of the orange scent was very refreshing. Had to buy it. Was the cleanest pleasant scent on a man fragrance i have ever smelled. even more then lemon. possibly because lemon scents are to recognizable. i purchased the fragrance and i wore it the first night. was happy but than i didnt smell it on me. im used to constant compliments by ppl with all my fragrances. i wondered if ppl didnt care for this or if it had no longevity. second time i wore it, i was right, has absolutely no longevity 🙁 i had to keep spraying it on me then it quickly disappeared. Then i learned something in the world of fragrances. Citrus notes have no longevity and any fragrances that contain it is a possibility that it wont last much due to citrus being fresh and toning down other scents. Im still in love with it for some reason but i NEVER choose it to wear anymore 🙁 i used to drench myself with it in stores before i owned it. Now I dont even go to it. BUT NOW… ALAS…They released an intense version of it. Varvatos must have heard me calling. Artisan BLACK!!! you must get it folks. forget the orignal one. Even though this bottle is attractive, Artisan black is the same in a black rattan bottle and the notes are the same with added woods, lavender and leather. but most importantly, it receives compliments, its stronger, and lasts all day and night! 🙂 Im ha