Polo Explorer by Ralph Lauren

This was a gift from my dad when I was at school… I absolutely die to smell it again.

The bottle and cap were handsome, but the liquid was bland. Generic aroma; it doesn’t smell bad, but lacks personality. At the Polo line’s price point, one expects better quality. I used samples that used to be given away for free, and it fell short. The word ‘Explorer’ already sounded like something better than the iconic ‘SAFARI’, but it lacks even the bandana from the advert. It smells of yerba mate and woods, which I do remember, but the rest is generic. I think that’s why it wasn’t successful and was discontinued.

AROMA: GOD TIER. PROJECTION: POOR. LONGEVITY: GOOD. QUALITY: EXCELLENT. BLIND BUY: YES, PLEASE LET IT RETURN. 10/10 BUT THE PERFORMANCE… 7/10. A pity this was discontinued. It smelled like paradise.

The Explorer opens with clean, citrusy, and spiced wood, light and luminous, ethereal like a ray of light. It didn’t have much personality and could be confused with other late-90s colognes, sweet and crystalline, and honestly, it didn’t need history because smelling good was enough. However, when it launched, that style was already in fashion with the ‘for everyone’ perfume trend, so a neat, spiced, and pretty cologne like this, though pleasant, wouldn’t last long on the market. It seemed like Ralph Lauren Romance, rich and clean, but then it dried down to something very similar to the first Baldessarini, with woods, amber, and mandarin, which had a ‘bastard’ that was prettier: Tom Ford’s first men’s fragrance before he sold Nenuko for two hundred euros. It’s a fragrance I like but don’t love; that type of cologne where if you like it, you don’t care. It’s still available at a good price, but with it being discontinued, it has little left to become a hype. PS: The bottle can work against it by being indefinite, but I absolutely love it for its sheer simplicity.

A good fragrance from this house, light, elegant with a woody and leather aroma that wraps you in class, leaving a lordly aura. The citrus opening is harmonious and slightly sweet, very pleasant. The longevity seems normal and offers a soft trail leaning towards moderate, but the perfume is truly top-notch, so I don’t understand the reason for its removal from the market. A good option for the colder months, with an affordable price for the quality it offers, it is a beautiful masculine fragrance, with the only drawback being the non-excellent durability. Recommended, regardless.

In my opinion, Polo Explorer shares a quality with Polo, Safari, and Black that is hard to find: class. It’s arid, thoroughly masculine, with character, dry and strong but not intrusive. I see a gravity proper to the first era of Ralph Lauren, which perhaps didn’t fit the user of Blue or Black at the time. I agree it’s very 90s, a look back at the new olfactory masculinity. The dark green bottle with a rubber cap encloses an adventurous and American aroma. Like in the advertising, when I put it on, I imagine myself in a Land Rover driving through Africa, the Middle East, or the Nevada desert, perfuming myself with the dust of the road. The sandalwood and wood remain from the start, where an unusually matte, sober mandarin stands out, along with a dry and incisive cilantro. Along with the leather and that amber that renounces excess, they walk towards a beautiful dry-down with impressions of tyre rubber and leather jacket. It’s strangely formal because the adventurous character is engraved in its DNA. It’s the perfume I’d put Indiana Jones on to attend a reception with Roosevelt. I like it more in autumn and spring, but also in winter. It lasts a good ten hours, with a heavy trail at the start. I administer it with care from a bottle kept in the darkest part of my wardrobe. It’s so opaque I don’t know how much is left. And it’s a pity, because it’s tremendously special. Glorious. 10/10.

Agreed, I don’t understand why it has been discontinued; it’s the best Ralph Lauren scent I’ve tried. This Explorer is a showstopper and ranks in my top 10. While some criticise the bottle or the name, I find it incredibly original; it’s the one that makes me feel most ‘flashy’ when displaying my collection, both for the scent and the canteen-style bottle. I see it as highly versatile, suitable for day and night, and all seasons. The fragrance is very 90s, but to me it feels timeless, with moderate sillage and longevity. I recommend it 100%. I have the 40ml version and plan to buy another before it runs out; a fantastic find. My rating is 9.

The Polo Explorer is an olfactory marvel that deserved a better name, one that would give it a dignified and timeless place worthy of Ralph Lauren’s history. You can tell class and talent; it’s another feat by Harry Fremont and Honorine Blanc with that ‘ozonic’ style that makes their fragrances super clean, bold, and masculine in a distinct way. It’s a pity that the name, a product of the 90s adventure craze, has doomed this discontinued gem. When applied generously after a shower, it starts generic and explosive, but within three minutes, that nervous cilantro emerges, alongside the mandarin and leather, creating that tenacious, clean, mentholated ozonic tone. It’s semi-linear and wonderful. Mid-development, it’s clean and mentholated, with very evident cilantro and leather. In the dry-down, a sweet cedar amber dries out and becomes talc-like over the leather, with a veiled but persistent cilantro. Longevity exceeds eight hours; the trail is moderate but punchy and reactivates with heat. Undoubtedly, it’s the best Polo of the 90s, even rivaling Polo Blue. It’s versatile, suitable for ages 25 to 50 (better from 30), ideal for semi-formal or daily wear. Perfect for spring/summer or spectacular evenings. Excellent for daytime formal events, wine on a terrace, or dinners with friends. It’s a pity that passing fads and a ugly canteen bottle have cast a shadow over its distinguished spirit. Highly recommended, worth trying.

The mandarin note at the start is super dominant and pleasant; you can definitely smell the bergamot. The sandalwood, sweet leather, and cilantro notes are exceptional. Out of all the Polos, this is the best. It’s very masculine, citrusy yet woody, jovial but serious. I’ve received many compliments. It has great longevity; although I don’t feel much projection, people around me confirm the trail is excellent.