When I got my first whiff of Artisan in the store, it was all I could do to restrain myself from an immediate purchase. The “Prince” is finally satisfied and comfortable. Artisan’s floral notes never completely fade away - they are noticeable from start to finish and they are JUST RIGHT to my nose and on my skin. After the green notes disappear, we’re left with the scents of orange blossoms and a stark, not too sweet, woody-amber aroma. Mixed into the aromas of oranges and orange blossoms is a green-herb accord (very ephemeral and smelling more of marjoram than anything else). Then…Artisan utilizes a Benjamin Button approach, taking ‘oranges’ into reverse - going from mature fruit, to perfumed blossoms. The first minutes of Artisan’s development smell of orange peels and pulp - brisk, clean, and juicy.

I’ve spent many an hour in my kitchen slicing and squeezing basketfuls of oranges, clementines, and tangerines while making marmalades and jellies, and Artisan, as it opens, reminds me of that experience. (You must admit those notes DO sound “princely.”) Varvatos worked with perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux to develop Artisan and the fragrance contains notes of tangelo, winter mandarin oranges, clementines, thyme, marjoram, lavandin, North African orange blossom, Indian murraya (reportedly used for the first time in a men’s fragrance), a trio of gingers, including an engineered “purple ginger” from Givaudan, belambre, kephalis, serenolide** and georgywood.

Just in time for spring, John Varvatos is releasing Artisan - a new orange blossom-rich cologne that’s meant to evoke the aroma of pure, fresh, springtime air.* Artisan is Varvatos’ third men’s perfume, and he wanted Artisan to have a “lighter” aroma than his other two fragrances: John Varvatos and Vintage. I try orange blossom fragrances, one after the other, and think: “too syrupy sweet” “too spicy” “too light” “too feminine” “too powdery” “too sour” “too strident”…too too! You’ve probably heard of The Princess and the Pea, but have you heard of The Prince and the Orange Blossom Cologne? Well, the “prince” is me, and though I love the scent of orange blossoms, especially on the tree, it’s been hard for me to find an orange blossom perfume that “sits comfortably” on my skin.

John varvatos artisan notes