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John Varvatos Artisan Black for men
John Varvatos

Artisan Black for men

Citrus
Fresh
Floral
Jasmine
White Floral
Iris
Aquatic
EDC · 2010 · mens

John Varvatos launched Artisan Black in 2010 as part of his successful men's fragrance line, which emphasizes accessible luxury and distinctive craftsmanship. Varvatos, known for his American rock-and-roll aesthetic in fashion, brought that same attitude to his fragrances, creating scents that balance sophistication with edge.

Artisan Black opens with a bright citrus burst of blood orange, tangerine, Amalfi lemon, and watermelon that immediately establishes a fresh character. The heart shifts into warmer, spicier territory with ginger, cardamom, and coriander playing against African orange flower and neroli, creating an aromatic sweetness. A substantial leather and woody base anchors everything with vetiver, patchouli, white amber, and orris root, giving the fragrance surprising depth and longevity for an EDC.

This is a fresh citrus fragrance with real backbone, making it versatile enough for work but interesting enough to hold your attention. It works year-round, though the brightness shines brightest in warmer months. If you gravitate toward fragrances that balance brightness with subtle earthiness, Artisan Black sits at the intersection of The Aristocrat, The Sensualist, and The Tactician.

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ModerateLongevity
$35Best · 75ml
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Main Accordsreported by community
Citrus
100%
Fresh
90%
Floral
43%
Jasmine
21%
White Floral
21%
Iris
22%
Aquatic
19%
Aromatic
70%
Woody
60%
Patchouli
22%
Earthy
22%
Musky
22%
Powdery
22%
Amber
22%
Warm Spicy
22%
Spicy
43%
Sweet
60%
Leather
80%
Clean
22%
Fragrance Notesbrand verified
Top · 0–30 min
Blood Orange
Blood Orange
Darker and more complex than regular sweet orange, blood orange has a berry-like, slightly tart quality alongside its citrus brightness. The pigment responsible for its deep crimson colour also gives it a richer, more brooding character. It bridges citrus and fruity families in a way that feels distinctly Mediterranean.
Tangerine
Tangerine
Bright, sweet, and slightly candied, tangerine sits between mandarin and orange in character, with a juiciness that makes it feel more casual than other citruses. It adds a cheerful, uncomplicated freshness to light fragrances. At its best in transparent, easy-wearing compositions rather than serious, complex ones.
Amalfi Lemon
Amalfi Lemon
Grown on the dramatic cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, Amalfi lemons are unusually large and fragrant with a particularly sweet, aromatic rind and minimal bitterness. In perfumery they represent the idealized Italian lemon experience: luminous, floral-citrus, and vivid. The benchmark for high-quality lemon notes in classic Mediterranean fragrances.
Watermelon
Watermelon
Clean, watery, and slightly sweet, watermelon is one of the lightest and most transparent fruit notes in perfumery. It's more aquatic than fruity, with a fresh, cooling quality that evokes summer and heat. Often combined with aquatic notes for maximum freshness. Best used in light, contemporary fragrances rather than complex orientals.
Heart · 30 min – 3 hrs
Ginger
Ginger
Warm, zesty, and slightly medicinal with a bite that sits between spice and citrus. Ginger root adds a lively, invigorating quality to fragrances, it energises rather than soothes. Depending on how it's used, it can read as fresh and zingy or warm and earthy, making it unusually versatile across fragrance families.
African Orange Flower
African Orange Flower
Orange blossom from African-grown bitter orange trees with a slightly more animalic, honeyed depth than the Tunisian or Moroccan varieties. It has a rich, full-bodied sweetness with a waxy, indolic quality that makes it intensely floral. Used in high-end oriental fragrances when maximum floral richness is required.
Neroli
Neroli
Distilled from bitter orange blossoms, neroli sits at the intersection of citrus and floral, bright and slightly waxy, with a honeyed depth that other citrus notes lack. It's one of the most complex natural ingredients in perfumery, simultaneously fresh and rich. A little neroli makes almost any fragrance feel expensive.
Jasmine
Jasmine
Intoxicating, heady, and slightly animalic, jasmine is one of the few flowers that smells as rich in a bottle as it does climbing a garden wall at dusk. It has an almost fleshy, indolic quality that stops it reading as purely 'clean.' Jasmine is a workhorse in both feminine and masculine perfumery, adding depth and soul.
Cardamom
Cardamom
Aromatic, warm, and slightly eucalyptus-like with a spiced green freshness that is entirely its own. Cardamom is one of the most elegant spice notes in perfumery, exotic without being heavy, warm without being sweet. It appears frequently in Middle Eastern-inspired fragrances and modern masculine compositions.
Coriander
Coriander
Warm, spicy, and faintly citrusy, coriander seed smells quite different from the green herb, with a dry, woody warmth and a slight floral quality. It adds a spiced, slightly exotic character to masculine fragrances without the sharpness of pepper or the sweetness of vanilla. A supporting spice note that adds complexity.
Base · 3–12 hrs
Leather
Leather
One of perfumery's most complex accords, smoky, animalic, and slightly woody, evoking tanned hide, polished saddles, or fine gloves depending on the recipe. Leather adds sophistication and edge simultaneously, and is deeply associated with masculinity in Western perfumery (though the best leather fragrances transcend gender entirely).
Vetyver
Vetyver
Woody Notes
Woody Notes
White Amber
White Amber
A lighter, cleaner, and more transparent version of amber that emphasizes warm, powdery, and slightly sweet facets without the heavier, darker qualities of traditional amber. White amber reads as modern and approachable, with a skin-like warmth that feels fresh rather than opulent. Common in contemporary clean and transparent fragrances.
Kephalis
Kephalis
Patchouli
Patchouli
Dense, earthy, and darkly sweet, patchouli is the scent of damp soil and dried herbs with an almost chocolatey richness. It polarizes people because in high concentrations it's overwhelming, but as a supporting note it adds depth and longevity that almost nothing else can match. The backbone of countless oriental and chypre fragrances.
White Musk
White Musk
Clean, soft, and slightly soapy, white musk is the scent of fresh laundry and warm skin. It's the furthest from the animalic origins of real musk: approachable, inoffensive, and universally flattering. Almost every mass-market fragrance uses white musk as a base, which is why it reads as 'clean' rather than specifically musky.
Orris Root
Orris Root
Who Wears ThisScent DNA matches
🎩
The AristocratBest match86% match
Timeless doesn't try. It simply is.

Cool, clean, commanding. Heritage aromatics, classic citrus, dry fougères, refined woods.

🔥
The Sensualist84% match
You fill the room without trying.

Warm, smooth, projecting. Leather, tobacco, dry amber, bold woods.

📐
The Tactician83% match
Precision over excess. Always.

Crisp, dry, clean, worn close. Citrus, aromatic herbs, light woods, soft musks.

Based on this fragrance's accord profile · Find your Scent DNA →
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Rate this fragrance
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Most Popular with this Scent DNA Type?
🎩
The Aristocrat
Timeless doesn't try. It simply is.
Cool, clean, commanding. Heritage aromatics, classic citrus, dry fougères, refined woods.
Discover your type →
Scent Profile
Citrus100%Fresh90%Floral43%Jasmine21%White Floral21%
Fragrance Family
Fresh Citrus
EDC

John Varvatos Artisan Black for men— Prices, Coupons & Buying Guide

Best price today: Artisan Black for men is $34.99. Without a coupon the lowest price is $34.99. Gush tracks 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.

Are grey market retailers authentic?

Yes. Jomashop, FragranceNet, and MaxAroma sell 100% authentic John Varvatos fragrances through unofficial distribution channels. The fragrance is identical to department store stock. Grey market refers to the supply chain, not product quality. The price difference comes entirely from the distribution channel.

Frequently asked questions

Cheapest price for John Varvatos Artisan Black for men? +
$34.99 at Jomashop. Gush compares 47+ retailers updated every 2 hours.
What does John Varvatos Artisan Black for men smell like? +
John Varvatos launched Artisan Black in 2010 as part of his successful men's fragrance line, which emphasizes accessible luxury and distinctive craftsmanship. Varvatos, known for his American rock-and-roll aesthetic in fashion, brought that same attitude to his fragrances, creating scents that balance sophistication with edge. Artisan Black opens with a bright citrus burst of blood orange, tangerine, Amalfi lemon, and watermelon that immediately establishes a fresh character. The heart shifts into warmer, spicier territory with ginger, cardamom, and coriander playing against African orange flower and neroli, creating an aromatic sweetness. A substantial leather and woody base anchors everything with vetiver, patchouli, white amber, and orris root, giving the fragrance surprising depth and longevity for an EDC. This is a fresh citrus fragrance with real backbone, making it versatile enough for work but interesting enough to hold your attention. It works year-round, though the brightness shines brightest in warmer months. If you gravitate toward fragrances that balance brightness with subtle earthiness, Artisan Black sits at the intersection of The Aristocrat, The Sensualist, and The Tactician.
What are the notes in John Varvatos Artisan Black for men? +
Top: Blood Orange, Tangerine, Amalfi Lemon, Watermelon. Heart: Ginger, African Orange Flower, Neroli, Jasmine, Cardamom, Coriander. Base: Leather, Vetyver, Woody Notes, White Amber, Kephalis, Patchouli, White Musk, Orris Root.
What fragrance family is Artisan Black for men? +
John Varvatos Artisan Black for men belongs to the Fresh Citrus fragrance family. It is an EDC.
What other fragrances smell like John Varvatos Artisan Black for men? +
Based on shared notes, Armaf Club De Nuit Private Key To My Life (Leather, Patchouli, Jasmine, Tangerine), Caron Le 3rd (Vetyver, Patchouli, Jasmine, Coriander), guess Original for women (Patchouli, Orris Root, African Orange Flower, Jasmine), balenciaga Ho Hang Club for men (Leather, Patchouli, Jasmine, Cardamom), histoires de parfums 1826 (Woody Notes, Patchouli, Ginger, Tangerine) may smell similar to Artisan Black for men.
What is a grey market fragrance retailer? +
Grey market retailers sell authentic fragrances sourced through unofficial distribution -- typically excess inventory from authorized distributors. The product is real and identical to retail. FragranceNet (est. 1997), Jomashop, and MaxAroma are well-established with millions of verified reviews.

Gush earns a commission on purchases at no cost to you · Prices update every 2 hours · Coupon success rates based on affiliate feed data · Grey market = authentic, unofficial supply chain