5 Colognes Similar To John Varvatos Vintage [Tested in 2024]

John Varvatos is a men’s luxury brand, but in the fragrance industry, they are known to produce good quality designer colognes at a decent price.

However, some of their colognes have been discontinued or are pretty hard to find – Vintage is one such cologne by the brand.

Hence, after many requests, I have searched the market, tested countless fragrances, and listed the best dupes or alternatives of Vintage by John Varvatos.

So, if that’s what you’re looking for, keep reading.

What Does Vintage By John Varvatos Smell Like?

Vintage by John Varvatos was released in 2006 and created by Rodrigo Flores-Roux.

Vintage is a well-blended woody, spicy, leathery cologne that reeks of masculinity. There is a touch of sweetness that makes the cologne even more likable, adding a twist that increases its appeal.

It begins with a blend of citrus, green, woody, and spicy notes. The core brings in more herbal notes, cinnamon, some greens, and some light florals.

There is a good balance of being both airy and mysterious or dark in this cologne because the suede, leather, and tobacco are consistently present in the background since the start, and they keep getting more potent with the dry down.

The base is heavy, dark, and filled with leathery, smokey, woody notes completing the cologne and the experience.

Below is a breakdown of all the notes present in this fragrance so that you can better understand the aroma and compare it to other colognes.

Top Notes: Rhubarb, Quince, Pepper, Wormwood, Basil, and Fennel

Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Juniper Berries, Lavender, Green Leaves, Orris Root, and Jasmine

Base Notes: Tobacco, Suede, Balsam Fir, Tonka Bean, Woody Notes, Oakmoss, and Patchouli

Overall, it’s an excellent fragrance that smells like luxury and makes you feel like you are wearing something very expensive.

However, it is very reasonable in price and offers a great scent at an affordable range.

It is a classy scent for any confident man, however, the only shortcoming of this cologne is that it doesn’t last very long. It lasts around 4 to 5 hours and has moderate projection.

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What Colognes Are Similar To John Varvatos Vintage?

Even though John Varvatos Vintage has a pleasant scent and has been used and loved by men from all over the world, it has been discontinued by the brand.

You can still get mini-sized bottles from their website as a part of a set, it’s just not enough.

Hence, I embarked on my journey to pick out the closest alternatives and clones of Vintage. While I found many similar scents, not all of them were up to the mark.

Hence, I shortlisted my picks and presented the best picks in detail so that you can get the one that suits your preferences.

So, here is my list of the best and closest dupes of Vintage by John Varvatos:

Azzaro Pour Homme Night Time by Azzaro

Azzaro Pour Homme Night Time by Azzaro is the first cologne on my list as I found it to be one of the closest to Vintage.

Azzaro Pour Homme Night Time was created by Christophe Raynaud and Michel Girard and launched in 2011.

If you check out the notes present in this scent, you will see that there are some distinct overlaps, however, Pour Homme Night Time has far fewer notes.

Nonetheless, it still recreates the overall aroma of the John Varvatos quite well and has a mature, masculine aroma.

When you first spray it you are greeted by the sweetness of rhubarb and tangy citruses. There is an edgy spiciness that comes from the heart notes but is present pretty much the entire time.

The closing notes give the cologne a warm, cozy finish as you get a deep woody scent along with some vetiver.

If I have to talk about the differences, I’d say that the prominent suede, leathery vibe of Vintage is missing in this scent and it’s much sweeter.

Pour Homme Night Time has very impressive longevity with moderate projection and comes at a very affordable price – so, it’s an excellent cologne to get.

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When to Wear

Pour Homme Night Time is ideal for winter and fall, but its use is not limited to those seasons. You can wear it all year round and it’s great for formal, semi-formal, and professional events. I’d also say that it’s great for date nights.

Why You Should Buy

London for Men by Burberry

Next, we have London for Men by Burberry. Created by Antoine Maisondieu and launched in 2006, Burberry London is one of the brand’s best-selling men’s cologne besides being a great alternative for John Varvatos Vintage.

The opening of this cologne has a sharp blend of lavender and bergamot that is accompanied by sweet cinnamon.

The core has a touch of pleasant and gentle mimosa, but there is a leather note that gives all the character to the scent.

The leather becomes one of the key players in this cologne and sets the similarity between these two colognes.

The base notes of Burberry London are beautifully sensual, mysterious, and masculine. The moss, wood, and smokey tobacco create a wonderful experience and addictive scent.

It is a great aroma at a great price, however, it doesn’t last very long and has weak sillage and projection.

When to Wear

Burberry London, despite being a warm cologne, can be worn during any season. After wearing it sort of becomes a skin scent, so it won’t help you make an impression if that’s what you want.

I’d suggest wearing it for casual events or as regular wear, to work, or for running errands.

Why You Should Buy

360° Black for Men by Perry Ellis

360° Black for Men by Perry Ellis is another cologne that is very close to what we are looking for. Released in 2006, it’s a spicy, leathery aroma for men who like a classic scent.

This close dupe of Vintage has a spicy, smokey, suede-like aroma.

Right from the beginning, you get an energetic splurge of spices, tamarind, ginger, and basil.

These herbal, spicy notes are accompanied by an ever-present tobacco, suede, and amber scent which stays throughout the time and gets more intensified during the dry down.

Smokey tobacco, nutmeg, suede, and amber complete the scent and give it the characteristic fragrance.

This smokey scent has a decent projection, good longevity, and a very reasonable price point.

If you want a more rugged, smokier alternative to Vintage, then 360° Black is a good option for you.

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When to Wear

360° Black is a cologne strictly for the cooler seasons, so I would recommend wearing it during winter and fall and laying it off during the warmer months. You can wear it to any sort of event whether it’s casual, formal, or professional.

Why You Should Buy

Mauboussin Pour Lui by Mauboussin

Another cologne that has a close scent to Vintage is Mauboussin Pour Lui by Mauboussin. Launched in 2012 and created by Violaine Collas, this cologne is a concoction of fresh, woody, spicy, and amber notes.

This dark, woody, yet soft cologne starts off with a brilliant woody aroma that has lavender notes accompanying it.

The heart of the scent is full of spices that make the scent very interesting while keeping it really warm and spicy.

The closing notes create a warm base filled with woodsy notes, amber, and oakmoss – creating a classic, luxurious and masculine aroma.

It has really good longevity and projection. So, overall, it is an excellent fragrance and definitely one of my favorites on this list.

When to Wear

Mauboussin Pour Lui smells like all things high-end, so it’s ideal for when you are feeling fancy, going on a date, or a formal night event. It’s best for the cooler seasons, but you can wear it to black-tie events during any season.

Why You Should Buy

Nemo by Cacharel

The last cologne on the list is Nemo by Cacharel – a woody, spicy, leathery, amber cologne that is very close to John Varvatos Vintage.

The opening has a slightly bright and spicy mix of lavender, cardamom, and pepper. The outcome is very aromatic and pleasant.

The core brings in even more spices with a gentle touch of white floral notes.

However, it is the base notes that are the key players. The leather and cedar are somewhat lingering in the background throughout the entire time.

During the dry down, they become much stronger and there is pleasant creamy vanilla and patchouli present to enhance the aroma.

Nemo has average projection and lasts for a good amount of time, however, it does have a hefty price tag. So, if budget isn’t an issue for you, you can give it a try.

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When to Wear

Nemo by Cacharel is great for formal events all year round. However, it’s best to avoid it during very hot and humid days. It’s also a good option for date nights and parties.

Why You Should Buy

Wrapping Up

Classic moody and masculine aromas are not that uncommon, but when you have a fixed scent in mind, finding a good alternative for it can be challenging.

John Varvatos Vintage has a balance of dark, mysterious aroma and fresh, airy scent – and all the alternatives and dupes mentioned in this article give you a similar aromatic experience.

So, whichever one you go for, you won’t be disappointed.

I have included some sweeter, spicier, smokier options so that you can go for whatever suits you best. I hope you can find the right Vintage alternative for yourself.

Let me know which cologne you’d like for me to cover next!