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5 Best John Varvatos Colognes (2023) Full Review

John Varvatos.

An underrated brand with quality fragrances.

Here are the best John Varvatos colognes for men. In this review, I will describe their smell, performance, and anything else you need to know.

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#5 – Dark Rebel Rider

The opening is led by subtle citrus and herbaceousness and resins with a deep nature. The citrus is not particularly strong. It is drowned out by the other top notes. Of the other top notes, I can’t pick out anything specific. The general idea is dark and resinous – outdoorsy qualities.

After a few minutes, the dark opening is contrasted by an intense dark violet and iris duo. Neither make the fragrance feminine nor lighten it. Instead, they add an additional dark faucet.

As the scent progresses into the mid. It is still dark and dense but picks up more smoky resins and dark leather. The leather jumps to the forefront. It is undoubtedly intense but not so overwhelming that it “slaps you in the face.”

The intensity of dark and resinous leather recedes in the dry down. Slightly sweet cocoa becomes more noticeable. The sweet nuances aren’t prominent, nor is the cocoa note. Instead, they balance out the intensity of leather.

In the background are a variety of woody notes, but none jump out at me. The rest of the wear is primarily dark and resinous leather with sweet nuances and woody background. Together there is an animalistic tinge but not off-putting.

Dark Rebel Rider lasts five hours on the Skin with intimate projection. It has a consistent one-foot projection for most of the wear. This is exclusively fall and winter wear. The woods will get too intense in the heat. As for occasions, it is all but great for dates.

#4 – John Varvatos

The opening starts in equal parts, sweet and fruity, balanced by a leathery depth. This combination comes from tamarind and dates. This is the first fragrance I’ve smelt with tamarind, and I’m pleasantly surprised by the spicy nature.

Though the sweetness and fruitiness are intense, it remains a fresh fragrance. Heading into the mid is more leathery nuances with additional greens. The dry down stays quite similar. The fruity sweetness lingers while an ambery, leathery, and woody depth sits in the background.

This lasts five hours on the skin with light projection. The first two hours, it pushes out well. After this period, it becomes a skin scent for the rest of the wear. This is exclusively fall and winter wear but for all occasions.

#3 – Vintage

The opening feels chaotic. The general idea is a heavily spiced aromatic blend. Though strong, it is exceptionally refreshing. Faint fruity tones linger in the background. For a while, the opening is fresh.

As the scent progresses, the juniper becomes present. This was most likely the fruity nature in the opening, but it has been better developed. At this point, it comes across as gin nuances but is still fruity. In the background, earthy patchouli and a hint of florals add a nice contrast.

In the dry down, Vintage only gets better. It’s gourmand, warm, and alluring. Heavy tonka bean adds to the mid-notes. And I pick up a note almost reminiscent of caramelized chocolate.

No cocoa notes are listed in the scent profile, but it has the accent. Dominant woody tonka bean is paired with slightly herbaceous resins. The resins are new, but the herbaceousness plays off the backbone of the mid-notes.

Vintage lasts six hours on the skin with average projection. It pushes one to two feet for the first few hours before receding, never becoming a skin scent. This is best worn in the fall, winter, and early spring. As for occasions, it is all.

#2 – Artisan Pure

The opening starts with an intense combination of marjoram and orris root. The marjoram has a semi-sweet, woody and herbal tone. It’s easiest to think of it as aromatic. The orris root has iris and powdery accents.

After a few minutes, the citrus, thyme, and ginger are allowed to shine. The overarching emphasis is extreme powderiness. The citrus is fresh; the thyme amplifies the aromatic nature, while the ginger gives an alluring, spicy touch.

The dry-down stays similar and light. There are still prominent citruses and aromatics, a hefty powder dose, and a new addition of musk. This is what you’ll get for the rest of the wear.

This lasts four to five hours on the skin with moderate to light projection. The first two hours, it pushes out well, about two feet. After this period, it recedes, sitting close to the skin but never becoming a skin scent. This is exclusively spring and summer wear for all occasions.

#1 – Dark Rebel

The first few minutes are an overwhelming trio of pepper, rum, and tobacco. The black pepper is the most prominent. The first couple of minutes, it’s almost sneeze-inducing.

After ten minutes, it finally calms down. Sweet tobacco washes over the other two notes, bringing sugary vanilla. This intense swift in the fragrance pushes the pepper notes to near extinction. 10 – 15 minutes in this smells much better and is easier to wear.

Tobacco is the most prominent in the mid. There’s a newfound addition of leather. Slightly spicy rum lingers with a woody depth that has an herbal quality. This is what I get for the rest of the wear. The herbal quality from fir, sage, and cardamom comes out to play more, but that’s it.

This lasts seven hours on the skin, with moderate projection. The first few hours, it pushes out a few feet. It then recedes and maintains a one-foot ambiance for the rest of the wear. This is exclusively fall and winter wear for all occasions.

Final Words

John Varvatos is an underappreciated brand in perfumery. Many of their fragrance can be purchased for an affordable price, and you’re provided with a quality and charming aroma. I enjoy having a few John Varvatos colognes in my collection.

After you try a John Varvatos cologne, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

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