John Varvatos Artisan is a fresh, citrus-driven men’s fragrance that was launched in 2009 and has become one of the most recognizable scents in the John Varvatos lineup. It was designed to feel like a “handcrafted” or artisanal take on a classic Summer cologne. Artisan is built around a bright, natural citrus opening with a slightly herbal Mediterranean feel. Its top notes are Clementine, Mandarin, Thyme, and Marjoram, giving it a very fresh and zesty feel right from the first spray. It has a slightly floral and spicy heart composed of Orange Blossom, Ginger, Jasmine, and Lavender that lingers just long enough to enjoy before possibly needing to reapply, but the base is worth waiting for. Its drydown is clean, woody, and slightly musky with a base of Amber notes that concludes this fragrance very well. Artisan makes for a great Spring or Summer scent as it can be very light and airy, giving the feel of wandering through an Italian citrus garden, clean but slightly rugged. As mentioned before, it doesn’t have much projection, and it may take a few extra sprays throughout the day to maintain that “fresh out of the shower” feeling. I quite like it because it’s very easy to wear, not too conspicuous, and is perfect for office, daytime, or casual settings. A very clean, luxury fragrance that is never too loud or heavy.