John Varvatos’ target audience for the Star USA line, clothing and fragrance, is “adults” (men in their 20s and beyond), but the effect of the name “Star USA” coupled with the new fragrance’s container — part beer bottle (note the metal-spring cap), part subway token (top) and part “microphone” — is more ‘Adolescent Avon’ than ‘Modern Metro-Man.’ (The bottle does fit with the Star USA m.o.: “being a little off.”¹)

Star USA was developed by perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux and includes notes of red ginger, juniper berries, cédrat, blue spruce, cardamom, osmanthus, vetiver, Belambre and tonka bean. Star USA starts off with a sheer, very mainstream (verging on generic) accord of citrus, ginger (zingy, but fleeting) and juniper-spruce. The opening is crisp and a tad menthol-y. I don’t detect any osmanthus (too bad!), but there is a hint of cardamom in Star USA’s early and mid-development.

Judging from past Varvatos perfumes, I assume the designer or his creative team — or Flores-Roux (a Givaudan perfumer) — adores Belambre and Serenolide...

John Varvatos will launch Star USA, a new fragrance for his men's apparel line of the same name, in September...

John Varvatos will celebrate 10 years of business with John Varvatos 10th Anniversary Special Edition, a new limited edition fragrance for men and the designer's first scent with Elizabeth Arden ...

From John Varvatos, the Artisan fragrance in a gift set with Eau de Toilette, After Shave Gel, Hair & Body Wash. $58 at Nordstrom...

Usually, when a perfume house decides to make “extreme” or “black” versions of fragrances, what you get is a “flatter/fatter” take on the original scent, with most of the sparkle and vivacity removed. John Varvatos has just launched Artisan Black, a “more woodsy and musky” interpretation of 2009’s John Varvatos Artisan — a scent I love.

Artisan Black was created by perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux and lists notes of Meyer lemon, tangerine, blood orange, calypsone (a watery melon note), Murraya flower (orange jessamine), neroli/orange blossom, jasmine, Nigerian ginger, purple ginger, cardamom, coriander, Kephalis, Belambre, Boisiris (woody iris note), Serenolide (white musk), vetiver, patchouli, Mexican cueramo (wood), soft leather and Florentine orris absolute.

Artisan Black begins with a strong citrus peel combo of lemon and blood orange aromas...

John Varvatos will launch Artisan Black, a new limited edition flanker to last year's John Varvatos Artisan, this April. The new scent is said to be "a longer lasting — more woodsy and musky — version of Artisan"...

John Varvatos has launched John Varvatos Rock Volume One, a new limited edition fragrance for men "inspired by John Varvatos’ passion for rock ’n roll":

A surprisingly edgy interpretation of the signature John Varvatos scent...

You’ve probably heard of The Princess and the Pea, but have you heard of The Prince and the Orange Blossom Cologne? Well, the “prince” is me , and though I love the scent of orange blossoms, especially on the tree, it’s been hard for me to find an orange blossom perfume that “sits comfortably” on my skin. I try orange blossom fragrances, one after the other, and think: “too syrupy sweet” “too spicy” “too light” “too feminine” “too powdery” “too sour” “too strident”…too too!

Just in time for spring, John Varvatos is releasing Artisan — a new orange blossom-rich cologne that’s meant to evoke the aroma of pure, fresh, springtime air.* Artisan is Varvatos’ third men’s perfume, and he wanted Artisan to have a “lighter” aroma than his other two fragrances: John Varvatos and Vintage.

Varvatos worked with perfumer Rodrigo Flores-Roux to develop Artisan...

Diesel will launch Only The Brave (shown above left), a new fragrance for men, in March, although it is not expected to reach the US until May. The new fragrance was named for Diesel founder Renzo Rosso's Italian holding company and his charitable foundation, both of which have the same name. The bottle is modeled after Rosso's fist...