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Artisan Blu John Varvatos 2016

7.4 / 10 306 Ratings

A limited perfume by John Varvatos for men, released in 2016. The scent is fresh-aquatic. It was last marketed by Elizabeth Arden.
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Main accords

Fresh

Aquatic

Citrus

Green

Spicy

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Basil

French lavender

Bergamot

Bitter orange Chayote

Chayote

Heart Notes

Egyptian geranium

French clary sage

Orange blossom absolute

Palmarosa

Florentine iris

Base Notes

Cedarwood

Patchouli

Stone pine Tamarisk

Pistachio tree resin

Perfumer

Rodrigo Flores-Roux

Ratings

Scent

7.4306 Ratings

Longevity

6.2276 Ratings

Sillage

6.1275 Ratings

Bottle

8.4300 Ratings

Value for money

7.8151 Ratings

Submitted by Franfan20 · last update on 02/10/2026.

Source-backed & verified

Interesting Facts

The fragrance was awarded the "Fragrance of the Year – Men's Prestige" prize by the Fragrance Foundation in 2017.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Acqua Essenziale Colonia

Drakkar Noir Eau de Toilette

Lanvin L'Homme Sport Eau de Toilette

Signature Seraphim Blue

Luna Rossa Ocean Eau de Toilette

Gentle Fluidity (Silver)

Reviews

19 in-depth fragrance descriptions

09/12/2022

7.5Scent 6Longevity 6Sillage

Dixieland88
14 Reviews

Dixieland88

Helpful Review 4

Modernized Drakkar Noir

Smells like a sweeter, more modern version of drakkar noir. Love the stuff. Performance is better than the complaints, does not smell old but definitely masculine. Not really a blue fragrance at all to me, more green and soapy. Nice stuff. Nothing aquatic here. Good for all age men, but may lean a little mature. Barbershop with some twists.

05/12/2024

7Scent 7Longevity 6Sillage

StarA1
144 Reviews

StarA1

3

Artisan Greenish

A blue fragrance, but not specifically aquatic, not contain any aquatic notes except for the blue color of the bottle, notes mixed with high craftsmanship, dominated by the scent of French lavender, basil and Egyptian geranium, and they are very noticeable.

A light, clean, easy to accept, not repulsive at all, and practical fragrance suitable for mature men on spring days and mild summer evenings.

Performance is slightly below average:
- Longevity: about 4 hours at best
- Sillage: 2 hours at most

The fragrance bottle has a very distinctive design and comes in an emerald blue color surrounded by a burlap fabric, It is considered one of the distinguishing features of John Varvatos perfumes from others.

I heard some rumors about John Varvatos going bankrupt, so if you find one of the fragrance bottles, I advise you to buy it, you may never find it again.

Updated on 05/12/2024

06/15/2024

8.5Scent 8Longevity 7Sillage

Guitar2016
233 Reviews

Guitar2016

3

Fresh and Clean with Depth

This aromatic citrus fragrance is very fresh, airy and elegant. My wife bought it for me as a gift. It opens up with like fresh soapy citrusy then dry down is green woody.It is perfect for the spring and summer. The art of bottle design is amazing. I love Artisan Blu by John Varvatos, A beautiful marine scent. Longevity is good, l'm so happy that I have it in my collection. Highly Recommended.
Two Thumbs Up.

Rating : 8.5 / 10

02/08/2021

7Scent 5Longevity 5Sillage

ScentSlave
254 Reviews

ScentSlave

TJ Maxx had it for $20

So I grabbed it. Complete blind grab, but what the hell, right? I just finished watching Tom Brady win his 7th Super Bowl, so it’s bath time. After a long, hot shower, I give it a shot (actually 5), right before bed.

Honestly, it reminds me of the original Cool Water. It’s got a REALLY soapy, freshie vibe, with a hint of some green notes. Personally, it feels like one of the “I wish I smelled like GIT” scents on the market, but much closer to Cool Water. Seriously, when I smell my wrist, I picture a post workout shower. The kind that follows an intense workout, completely going 200%, sweating head to toe. A LOT of strong soap, and some serious scrubbing. As the opening fades, it really reminds me of Tres Nuit, as it’s not as green as GIT. It feels like an evolutionary scent; in between Cool Water and Tres Nuit... soapier than TN, but not as soapy as CW. Does that make sense?

Performance wise, it’s quieter than all of the previous comparisons, with the opening being the loudest state. Sillage is minimal, and projection wise, it’s pretty much a skin scent from drydown and beyond. Longevity is also a non-factor, but at $20, you shouldn’t be complaining.

I’lol rock this on a scorching hot day in the sun, when I know I’m gonna be sweating. No more, no less.

05/24/2016

8.5Scent 5Longevity 5Sillage

Leimbacher
2878 Reviews

Translated · Show original

Leimbacher

Top Review 16

An Italian Goes Blue

Actually, I was firmly convinced that I would buy the new John Varvatos Artisan Blu this year before my vacation in the Duty Free area - but no, they didn't have it there, and they didn't even know about it. Even worse: I was informed that the brand would soon no longer be carried there. Crazy, especially since so many of the fragrances are perfect for summer vacations in the south. Anyway, that's the loss of the Düsseldorf Duty Free area. So, I went ahead and got it a few weeks later, as it really appealed to me during the first test. It bears a strong resemblance to the Artisan Acqua, which I got at the airport last year, but that doesn't bother me much. Especially since that one has been extremely depleted due to numerous decants & constant wear. The original Artisan has very little to do with Blu; I would say 50% Acqua, 15% Artisan & the rest its own accents. The John Varvatos DNA is also present again, so fans of the brand know what they are getting into. You really can't go wrong with this spicy blue suit this summer.

Artisan Blu has aquatic facets & feels somewhat reminiscent of sea breezes. It also has a citrusy side, quite hidden at the beginning & very subtle. And yet, it is neither really, and it is a summer fragrance that finally takes a different approach. Sharp, piercing, spicy, and racy. Not a macho, but closer to that than to a softie. Southern through & through, in the style of some Italian summer & sports fragrances from the early 90s. More tequila than cocktail, more pepper than salt, more chest hair than metrosexual. A hit for any summer vacation. Whether in Croatia, Cote d'Azur, or the Dominican Republic. If it really is limited, then don't hesitate to grab it. Bergamot is masculine, lavender is sharp, sage even sharper. Flowers are edgy, the sea wild & even the orange blossom slightly sassy. Each component has been given its sharp, temperamental side, resulting in a beacon of light in the swamp of dreary summer releases. The Acqua was already that, even more so, but Blu feels a bit more accessible &, who would have thought, bluer.

Bottle: wonderful as always - it hardly gets better, both in the designer field and in niche!
Sillage: like a spicy sea breeze - always a go-to in summer.
Longevity: JV is slowly improving - 4-5 hours.

Conclusion: once again, a wonderful fragrance from John Varvatos that you only don't need if you already have the Artisan Acqua... unless you are as crazy as I am ;). Summer & vacation can be different; it doesn't always have to be citrusy or purely aquatic.

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