24 community ratings

John Varvatos XX Intense

2024MenModern

7.6/ 10

Community score
24 ratings

John Varvatos XX Intense opens with bergamot, vervain and ginger flower, then settles into cedarwood, tonka bean and coffee, a fresh, spicy men's scent.

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Skunky's take: A card-carrying member of the fresh club.

How does it perform?

From 26 community ratings, all out of 10.

Longevity

7.4 /10

Holds up through the day and fades gently toward evening.

Sillage

7.0 /10

People close to you notice, nobody gets overwhelmed.

Bottle

8.1 /10

Sits nicely on a shelf.

Value for money

8.0 /10

Most people feel it is worth the price.

Blind buy risk

Low risk

79% of votes are positive and opinions barely differ.

Notes

They open one after another, from the first spray into the evening.

Top notesfirst 15 minutes

Vervain Bergamot Ginger flower

Heart notesfirst few hours

Cyclamen

Damascone

Geranium

Base noteswhat stays into the evening

Cedarwood Tonka bean Coffee

Accords

From most dominant to most subtle.

Fresh
Floral
Fruity
Sweet
Synthetic
Spicy
Woody
Creamy

What does John Varvatos XX Intense smell like?

Voters rate both longevity and sillage as good, a little above the middle of the scale, though the vote counts are small, so this is only a rough guide. Value for money is rated well. There are no season or occasion votes, so it is hard to say when it suits best; it is positioned as a men's fragrance.

It starts fresh and floral: bergamot and vervain lead while ginger flower adds a light spice. In the heart, cyclamen, damascone and geranium bring a fruity, floral sweetness. The base is built on cedarwood for a woody frame, with tonka bean adding a creamy softness and coffee a smoky darkness.