Dark Rebel John Varvatos 2015

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7.8 / 10 437 Ratings

A popular perfume by John Varvatos for men, released in 2015. The scent is leathery-spicy. It was last marketed by Elizabeth Arden.

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Main accords

Leathery

Spicy

Smoky

Woody

Sweet

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Jamaican rum

Cardamom absolute

Cuban sugar cane Davana

Davana

Clary sage

Heart Notes

Black leather

Fir balsam Nutmeg

Nutmeg

Styrax absolute

Black pepper

Snapdragon

Base Notes

Tobacco leaf

Canary Islands juniper

Castoreum

Mexican vanilla

Akigalawood®

Balsa wood

Perfumers

Rodrigo Flores-Roux, Givaudan

Videos

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Ratings

Scent

7.8437 Ratings

Longevity

7.0393 Ratings

Sillage

6.8402 Ratings

Bottle

8.5412 Ratings

Value for money

8.0157 Ratings

Submitted by Franfan20, last update on 06/21/2025.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Tobacco Oud Intense

Kuhuyan

Dirty English Eau de Toilette

1881 Signature

New Orleans Datura Eau de Parfum

Bvlgari Man In Black

Reviews

20 in-depth fragrance descriptions

02/19/2017

8
Sillage 8
Longevity 9
Scent

Hitchslap
106 Reviews

Hitchslap

Very helpful Review 6

Damn good

Man, where to begin? There's darkness that comes from the black leather, booze and castoreum notes but what I think draws the younger crowd and women is the vanilla, clary sage and sugar cane.

If you've been collecting scents for a while you know the big negative mark with Varvatos scents is the lack of projection and short longevity. Dark Rebel may not be the boldest and longest lasting male fragrance but compared to its predecessors from this house this release is pretty good.

In the world of perfumery it seems that oud is the big note right now, quite often it seems to pop up where you least expect it, though there is none here this Varvatos scent's dark start on my skin has me thinking of that note.

Such a great concoction of many notes, what I think bridges the dark and sweet/greenish notes is the tobacco, definitely evening wear and for cooler temps. Impressive and not ridiculously expensive. This and Platinum from this house really stand out.

01/04/2018

10
Bottle 5
Sillage 6
Longevity 8
Scent

Elysium
888 Reviews

Elysium

Helpful Review 3

The Intoxicating Shadow

"What is that smell?" "Ah, is the smell of the beast that is London," he said. "Best prepare yourself, my lady. On a warm day such as this, the odour does not improve." His words were, unfortunately, prophetic. Still, the smell was not as overwhelming as she had feared it might become and not all of the elements that made up. - The Dark Knight, Elisabeth Elliot.

Luckily, John Varvatos Dark Rebel is anything but a bad smell, packaged in a very bold, elegant, and unique way. The cap bears the exclusive JV mark embossed with an impressive silver Fleur de Lis, while a twisted rubber thread wraps the bright black bottle in rebellious fashion. When I first encountered this cologne, I knew immediately that I was drawn to it. What makes this fragrance truly exceptional? I cannot pinpoint a singular element, but after wearing it multiple times, I've discovered its mysteriously captivating appeal. Allow me to share my personal journey with this remarkable scent.

JVDR opens with an intoxicating blast of boozy sugarcane rum, reminiscent of a well-crafted daiquiri, followed by an undertone of spicy cardamom and aromatic sage—the latter gradually becoming more dominant. Though lacking zesty notes, the opening remains surprisingly fresh, medicinal, warm, and balsamic.

The spice journey continues as black pepper and beautiful nutmeg provide a seamless transition to the leather accord at the heart. Every black leather jacket I've owned carries this same distinctive smell—animalic with a touch of oiliness. The snapdragon's presence adds a darker jasmine-like quality and introduces a slight edge of danger. This particular aspect evokes the Dark Knight reference—it embodies the very essence I imagine when contemplating that character.

The leather, made black and intensely dark through the masterful use of fir and styrax, establishes the fragrance's primary accord.
The base reveals a lovely golden tobacco, expertly roughened by woody notes and the innovative Akigalawood—a softer version of patchouli with reduced earthiness and enhanced herbal and spicy facets. Both vanilla and cedar contribute creamy and buttery dimensions, creating a warm and enveloping dry down.

This aromatic masterpiece blends boozy, woodsy, and smoky notes into a decidedly masculine composition that exudes mystery and excitement—highly provocative and bold without becoming overwhelming.

Its longevity is exceptional, persisting for several hours, while the sillage makes a confident statement. JVDR is perfectly suited for nighttime wear and special occasions, whether you're embarking on a romantic evening or commanding attention in a business setting. The sophisticated arrangement of notes suggests this is a cold-weather companion, ideal from late autumn through early spring.

-Elysium

12/21/2020

10
Pricing 10
Bottle 5
Sillage 6
Longevity 8
Scent

Nwhite
31 Reviews

Nwhite

Helpful Review 1

John Varvatos Dark Rebel

Longevity and projection are always connected to this line, but I enjoy the John Varvatos line for the exact opposite reason that it gets heavily criticized - I don’t need my fragrance to create a scent bubble a 1/4 mile out while continuing to pound off me for 12 hours.

For $30 bucks if it isn’t a synthetic mess and smells good then frag on baby. If I need 6-8 sprays then so be it.

Dark Rebel reminds me of a more tobacco smoke forward Halston Z-14. It has a mild cinnamon sweetness in the heart and leather in the base. Z-14 is more complex, but the vibe is similar overall.

3.5 stars

08/15/2017

8
Bottle 7
Longevity 8.5
Scent

Oske7
7 Reviews

Oske7

2

Surprised me

I received a sample of this not knowing what it was, and ended up liking so much that I ordered a full bottle. Dirty boozy opening that settles down into a mix of tobacco and a campfire. This is nice for summer nights, and though I haven't yet owned it during a fall season, I imagine it will be perfect once that comes around. I'll have to give it a few more wears before coming back to rate its longevity.

09/27/2024

7
Pricing 8
Bottle 6
Sillage 6
Longevity 9
Scent

WolfHunter
54 Reviews

WolfHunter

2

A Pirate’s Life For Me

JV Dark Rebel is probably one of the best releases from the whole house. This is the fragrance that would be worn by Killian Jones from Once Upon a Time. Notes of rum, sugar cane, leather, pepper, and tobacco conjure imagery of swashbuckling on the Jolly Roger. There is a note of castoreum in the base that gives this fragrance just a little bit of skank, but not nearly enough to call this challenging.

Unfortunately Black Rebel suffers the same affliction that all JV fragrance suffer from. It lasts two to three hours before it is hardly noticeable.

The bottle is one of the coolest I’ve seen with its leather wrapping and the cap with its fleur de lis. It matches the scent of the juice perfectly.

Since JV is no longer producing fragrances, and this was arguably their best, it can only be found on resale sites these days. And you can expect to pay anywhere from $60 to $100 for a 2.5 oz bottle. I expect those prices will continue to creep up.

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