XX Artisan by John Varvatos

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Choosing a summer scent is always a challenge: heat and humidity are the enemies, and whether your collection is vast or modest, the quest remains.

This year, my top pick is XX Artisan by John Varvatos, an American designer of Greek heritage. Regrettably, I haven’t been able to track down XXX Verdigris by Ermenegildo Zegna; they seem to have vanished from the radar just when comfort was needed most. This fragrance is above all fresh and metallic, qualities that work in your favour during the summer months. It isn’t sweet; it opens with a citrusy burst of bitter orange. In the heart, it navigates beautifully with a hint of spice that soon fades, leaving a rich base of green vetiver tones that blend perfectly with the orange. It’s nothing maritime, and I find no similarities to other scents, unlike what some reviews suggest. To me, John Varvatos represents quality and good taste; their fragrances often don’t last long but leave lovely trails, and in this XX line, they’ve extended the longevity slightly, which I appreciate. In summer, it depends on your budget: neither the very cheap ones, as they don’t perform, nor the very expensive ones, as using them for less than three months isn’t worth it unless you travel constantly. I consider ARTISAN XX by VARVATOS a very honest and well-composed perfume that can see you through a summer far better than anything else. Quality. PS: The combination of green vetiver with citrus is brilliant, giving it great character. Despite being fresh and metallic, it’s a niche scent at a reasonable price, and for me, a wonderful fragrance.

• Longevity
• Citrus
• Bitter Orange
• Vetiver