Artisan Acqua

I’ve only had Artisan Blu and Acqua for a week as I know warmer weather is approaching and wanted something new for my warm weather rotation and I really enjoyed Artisan Blu and it was close to being a love for me but unfortunately didn’t quite make the cut. Acqua however I did end up clicking the LOVE button for ! This opens up with a bright but bitter citrus mixed with some green herbal notes that just like the Blu had a very uplifting vibe that will get you ready for the day. Once Acqua dries down however it goes into more of that fresh,citrusy barbershop type of vibe reminiscent of some old school frags but with a modern fresh twist ! This gets richer,more smooth and aromatic the longer it dries down. Also a nice edition to my collection as it’s diffeirent for a summer freshie. This to my nose has similarities to JV Vintage as it has a familiar richness that vintage has but without being syrupy. This could have been a Vintage Sport ! Also it’s kind of similar to the CO bigelow frags from Bath n Body works but much better blended. Performance is sadly below average but this does project nicely for an hour but only lasts 3-6 hours. I love this scent enough though that I don’t mind reapplying and now it’s very affordable. Overall rating —- 8.25 out of 10 ! Very unique scent that’s great for office wear,casual use and this could also be used for going out as well. Sidenote—- I don’t know why but this just smells like what you would expect a very dapper young professional would smell like if they were on vacation.lol

LEAGUES better than the original Artisan. I now own this one, the blue bottled one, and the original Artisan. I don't own Dark Rebel or Vintage yet. Tobacco scents aren't my thing. But I love a good summer freshie whether that be citrus, aquatic, or what have you. The original is just a tad too sharp for me. I see where they were going with it but it's just too sharp and too orange-juice-like that it borders on "cleaning product" to me. This one on the other hand...is beautifully masculine and so well done. Fresh and green...pretty much sums this up. This is the PERFECT hot weather scent. Like a good scent for those scorching hot days smack dab in the middle of summer. Smells like you just stepped out of the shower after using a masculine body wash. Bottle is beautiful of course. The weaving actually provides a pretty dope grip for spraying. Not sure if people just have ridiculous expectations regarding performance...but I personally get decent performance out of this everytime. Projection - About 3 feet. Longevity - 6-7 hours depending on amount of sprays. This lasts like 12-24 hours on fabrics as well so a good tip is to spray your neck AND shirt. Even if your nose can't detect it any longer...people WILL get whiffs of it off your clothes. Overall Score - 9/10. Easily one of the best men's summer scents ever created right up there with Nautica Voyage, Club De Nuit Intense, and Sean John Unforgivable. Two thumbs up to John Varvatos! I love this.

This is a masterpiece to me. It captures the essence of the 1980s, and gives it a slight, modern twist. The difference is that a lot of the household names from the powerhouse decade were very loud, while this one simply speaks confidently. It doesn't need to raise it's voice to get noticed. Artisan Acqua opens very green, bitter citrus smelling, with dashes of some herbal notes. As it dries down I get a hint of Drakkar Noir's vibe in there, minus the crude and synthetic aspects. It's smells very reminicent of how men's aftershave smells when you first splash it on, except imagine those notes stretched out over the duration of the dry down. It's a very classic-smelling scent without smelling too classic if you get my drift. John Varvatos is criticized for having poor longevity, but this one is pretty good. I get, at minimum, 6+ hours. SIMILAR TO: If you like Drakkar Noir, Lacoste Original (1984) and Gillette Cool Wave, you'll like Artisan Acqua. CONCLUSION: This is easily one of the best retro-modern releases to come out. It very much smells like it could have been released sometime in the 1980s, yet it doesn't have an overly musky or dirty smell that men's fragrances of that era have. The "acqua" label seems misleading when you think of things like Acqua di Gio, but this is more like what aquatic might have been like if the term had existed in 1983. A personal favorite. 8.5/10

I wasnt familiar with the Varvatos line personally until this weekend. I had the opportunity to try all of the mens scents. I am considering selling everything i own as far as fragrances for Varvatos. Absolutely loved every scent. Masculine, traditional, definitely for anyone over 30 as some had said. This bottle caught my attention though. Looking at it immediately made me think of laying in a hammock underneath palm trees. the notes in this acqua are something a bit different. if you are not familiar with any of these scents in an aquatic, i suggest you immediately give this a sniff. it's something like how tabasco can make something even better. the angelica, the fir in the base with the patchouli, the blend of fruits, this is something special. First smell it hits something like that of playing in the ocean with your girl during a long walk on the beach in the evening during the sunset while drinking your favorite beverage. it's masculine, majestic, yet playful and confident. this is a scent that makes you confident. I wore it for the first time yesterday. I got some decent longevity out of it. i waffed my clothing later in the night and i would say it does have some pretty good sillage as well. I think it could pass as an amazing office scent as well in the summer. in a line of gems, this one is right up there with varvatos, varvatos vintage, and double rebel.

Don’t be fooled by the beach-hut looking bottle, this one is a green scent. I can’t believe I’ve never heard anyone compare this to Irish spring soap, because to my nose that’s exactly what it reminds me of. A spicier cologne version, but definitely reminiscent of that green soapy smell which I find to be nostalgic and endearing. What’s really nice about this one is ladies seem to love it too. I’m in my early 30s and I’ve received some great compliments with this. Perfect for daily wear in the spring+summer for office, casual or even formal outings in the daytime. Might be discontinued, but still available online at the moment. If you like fresh and masculine green scents such as Green Irish Tweed by Creed, then Artisan Aqua by John Varvatos is a moderately-priced gem worth checking out.