Artisan Black John Varvatos for men

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.

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.

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?

Holy coriander.
This stuff just smells horrendous to me. The leather smells wet, cold and moldy. Good dose of vetiver. I detect no citrus at all.
I have to guess it's the leather + coriander because it's also very prominent in Miss Balmain and that was horrid on me.

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.

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..

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.

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.

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.

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.

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..

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.

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!

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.

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

a wonderful and interesting scent has no sillage anyway, have to over over apply it, I'm talking a fifth of a 125 ml. bottle, too much expensive for this kind of activity
otherwise this could have been a masterpiece.....

I loved a sample I had of Artisan. All 20 minutes it lasted on my skin. So, when I heard that this smelled similar and lasted much longer, I purchased a bottle of this blind. Smells like someone sprayed a dirty laundry hamper with the original Artisan. Smells dirty and musty to me. Now I have a whole bottle of this stuff that won't find it's way into my rotation. I was so eagerly awaiting this. *sigh*.

Maybe sometime I will try it again and modify my post if anything changes for some strange reason.

Artisan Black is incredible. This is one of the boldest richest fragrances available and in my opinion the best from the Varvatos line.

Very interesting smell. Similar to Artisan yet more spice. This smells like something a distinguished gentlemen would wear.

SOTD for me - I am a big John Varvatos fan and this bottle doesn't disappoint! 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 (8.8/10 for me on scent alone) - the longevity is a little lacking. 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 silage earlier in the wear. 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 synthetic crap that you can't wait to scrub off. This is very fine indeed - final score 8.5/10!

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. This is definitely alive and breathing very well on me - not too strong, but I love how the two play so well together. Fantastic stuff from John Varvatos! Does it get any better than this on a warm, sunny Friday in late February with the first blooms of spring filling the air that is a deep blue sky? Ahhh....breathe deep and enjoy.

Ummm...can I love this and wear this? I am all woman! This is a divine scent! Dare I?

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 happy again.

I blind bought this at the airport, expecting a woodsier, stronger version of Artisan. When I first sniffed this, I was terribly disappointed. To me, it just seemed exactly like the original Artisan, with just a hint of woods. I've been wearing it for over two weeks now, and I'm definitely beginning to appreciate it. It's not too overbearing, and it definitely isn't your typical citrus fragrance. It's not as "fresh" as some others, which gives it an interesting character. Silage and longevity isn't great on this though for me.

I dropped by the perfume shop on the way home last night. I found a so sexy bottle there. The outer appearance is so unique that I can't just pass by without testing the perfume. What a sexy and classic perfume it is!!

I also totally agree with other opinions that this black one is better than the antecedent, original artisan.

It started with Bah! Citrus much? Next!

But changed it's tune a few moments later. Tangerine stays, ginger arises, a whole heap of notes I've not heard of, that's why tiny parts if this scent smell new to me, but on a whole, not a new scent. Classic, crisp, maybe good for romantic but very good for office and interviews. Definite Autumn scent.
Bottle is slightly interesting, but definitely not too black a scent

Again, this is a very nice scent for men by Varvatos. So far I liked the complete range (considering men wear it, not me) :)

I've been using this for the last month so I will try to give an idea of the feeling.

First: I have never tried the original one so I can't compare.

For me, this has been a strange experience, full of great moments and some weird ones. I thought it was a bit weak and unnoticeable at first, very nice though, full of citrus but not in the sporty lemonish way. Different, fruitier and definitely not in the fresh way one could have expected from the notes.

It is very well done in terms of quality, you can say you have splashed the brand new mandarine oranges of your garden on you and people would believe it. The vetiver, patchouli and leather are subtle but give it a masculin side. It's sweet but not too much, just the right amount.

However, sometimes this nice perfume can become a bit hard to take when the sweet new tangerines become the too ripe and even rotten ones you were late to pick up from the tree. That happened to me once I applied a bit more of it for a night out. Bad joke, I ended up smelling dirty and bitter-sour, and I hadn't even danced yet! All the magic had vanished and I felt betrayed.

The next days I applied it for casual wear and the result was again great... and even superb. The weakness of the beginning suddenly becomes a sensual aura around you that stays for long time. That ethereal vibe Ryldyl mentions, perhaps. It becomes indeed noticeable, so don't worry for sillage and longevity. I wouldn't use this in hot summer. I fear the monster may appear again lol.

I still like it a lot but think there are some other perfumes close in notes (Fleur du Male, even if it's soapy and creamy, which this isn't at all) that don't have a b side... safer if you want. You should try it yourself and I hope you won't mention the rotten part too.

PS: reading my review again makes me think I gave some sort of negative idea about it... well well... I like it a lot but can't say it ain't risky... like picking up any mandarin... you never know how it'll taste until you peel it and bite.

I wasn't a fan at first, but after testing the other scents from this line and coming back it was clearly better to nose at least. REquested a sample and tried it again at which point the scent smelled much better and had an ethereal quality. It's faintly reminiscent of the original Artisan, but has a more woody aromatic character and is much less cloying. Lasted pretty long, about 6-8 hours, as I could still smell it the next morning. Got to get it but don't want to get sold a knock-off.

The first notes are a clean manly citrus and spicy ginger, then it develops into an irresistible combination of leather and wood. This scent is something a young Robert Redford would have worn. I love this on a man.

I was at Ogilvy today and the lady said this is no longer discontinued and that she had ordered some bottles.

I may have to buy it. The original Artisan, despite its tiny silage and longevity, is one of my favorite fragrances.

On my skin, this is almost imperceptible, which is hardly what Im after in a fragrance.

Disappointing, as I am a fan of the Original and Vintage frags. Perhaps I need to give this one another go, but at the moment, I'd have to call this sub-par.

Artisan was good, but this is 10x better.

all I can say is Leather and lemons- what a great combination. This smells much better than the original

Better than the original artisan. It is more woodier and subdued toward the beginning of the top notes, then turns into the original artisan during the middle and drydown. Overall a solid Spring/Summer fragrance.

No idea what this smells like but its available to buy on the John Varvatos website around a week before its officially released.