Artisan Pure John Varvatos 2017

Being outside in the fresh air these past few days has been an absolute must. Enjoying the sun, soaking up Vitamin D3, strolling alone in the park or lying in the garden and thinking about a vacation that won't be happening anytime soon. Wearing the perfume John Varvatos Artisan Pure, and suddenly summer feels just within reach.

Artisan Pure embodies everything that makes it an all-rounder for summer: a white bottle adorned with light wood, the cloudy white color reminiscent of a Frozen Margarita, lemon, petitgrain. You feel like you're lying in the sun under a beach umbrella. Yes - the Frozen Margarita fits perfectly into this scene. It doesn't take much; in a simply crafted fragrance, everything is already there to evoke a summery atmosphere. Also: If a man were to star in a Raffaelo commercial, on that dream beach with palm trees in the background and vibrant blue water - that would be the scent he would wear. But that doesn't mean the fragrance needs coconut; that would certainly make it interesting, but no, it's not necessary here.

This simplicity makes Artisan Pure a linear scent that hardly changes at all. From start to finish, it's the same - lemon, petitgrain, a bit of wood, and a bit of soap. I’ll assume this soapy touch hints at iris, but it does come across as very artificial. However, I can't expect expensive natural iris oil at this price. By the way, petitgrain is derived from bitter oranges, specifically from the unripe fruits or the leaves. This gives a very zesty and sour impression at first, but it is by no means overpowering. Over time, during the drydown, white floral notes emerge, adding lightness and a bit of creaminess to the fragrance. However, this creaminess is not the same as what I find in Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche, but rather significantly weaker. I find it a little difficult to compare the two fragrances. Both are citrusy but in their own ways different. The citrus notes in Artisan Pure are noticeably more synthetic, but certainly not to be dismissed as "cleaning product." In Edition Blanche, the lemon feels of higher quality, and overall, it has more of a scent progression than Artisan Pure.

Still, this John Varvatos creation confuses me. I bought the fragrance about a year and a half ago and enjoyed that it had decent longevity. With fresh scents, this is certainly not a given. But these days, I am negatively surprised. Either I have perceived the scent completely wrong or I sprayed too little. Nowadays, it barely lasts over 4.5 hours on the skin, and the sillage is unfortunately very faint. So actually, the scent is quite safe on warm days. But if it could shine a bit more, it wouldn't hurt. I believe most people around me would like it. As it is, it's too shy, even though it doesn't need to be.

Be that as it may. Artisan Pure remains a solid addition to my spring/summer fragrances in my collection - at least for now. But we'll see if I buy it again when the bottle is empty. To be honest, I’m indifferent about that. Nevertheless: It evokes wanderlust in me, no matter where I go with it, and it feels good!