Polo by Ralph Lauren

My batch has arrived and transported me straight back to the 1990s. That opening of green pine, vetiver and woody leather is the foundation of every true gentleman. To say it’s for old men is to ignore the bedrock of 20th-century perfumery: woodland walks, suspenseful nights and classic drinks like an English whisky. A classic of the classics, essential in any collection.

I gifted this to my father, who is 81 and well-versed in the brand. Although it was a blind purchase, I did my research and knew it was worth it. It’s a classic, vintage and iconic scent. I imagine it perfect for a cold afternoon in the woods or countryside. It has rich nuances and an excellent leather development. It’s worth having something like this in your life for the history it represents. Very satisfied, rating 8.0/10.

Not for me. It smells like an English gentlemen’s club.

Hello @marchello, also from Uruguay. That’s what reformulations are about. Oakmoss is heavily regulated now; it is 100% synthetic (it previously had natural extracts) and surely the pine and leather are too. That’s how perfumery works: the jewels remain but never with the same performance. I would give anything for a good Antaeus or an old Polo Green…

I met it years ago; it was my father’s favourite and I gifted it to him at Christmas. I know they are expensive status perfumes. I love it; it makes me think of successful men and a prestigious law firm (it delighted me when it mixed with coffee in my office). I love smelling it so I don’t spray it thanks to its longevity. They say it’s ‘bottled testosterone’. Ideal for cold climates, for men who know and have good taste.

Ralph Lauren Polo. My mum gifted it to me when I was a teenager because my dad used to wear it. It has a brutal cedar and resin opening that, over time, reveals black pepper and vetiver. I’ve come to appreciate it more with the years. It is perhaps the most traditional pine scent around, with a projection and trail that few fragrances possess today. Recommended for men over 40, for business meetings or night outs; ideal for autumn and winter. Rating: 8/10

Buy blind and without regrets! This smells like traditional masculinity, chest hair, and a flat cap. There are thousands of reviews for this classic, so here is just my experience over a year and a half: it doesn’t suffocate at 25 degrees in the sun, and as a coat, it beats a jacket on cold days. The slight sweet touch moves away from those affected, gourmand, and spicy oriental fragrances that bore me so much. Its virile turbulence will scare off the gatekeepers who want to take the dog to the park, but it will attract solemn ladies who respect the freedom of a falcon, preferring to watch it quietly from a forest ridge, at a prudent distance. Warning: with Polo Green on, you won’t leave a club embraced by a modern woman, nor will you receive compliments from a ‘tradcon’. This aroma is worn without the desire to please anyone. It is used for individual exclusivity. In one sentence: ‘The man who is not afraid to remain single and assumes singleness if marriage threatens his authenticity’.

It is in my top 10. One of the most long-lasting fragrances in my collection. Over 20 hours on skin. Bestial projection. A rich aroma with basil, patchouli, cedarwood, a citrus touch, green pine, pepper, and oak moss, among the notes that stand out most. It is addictive. I love this perfume.

It was my first perfume and my first review. I bought it at 25 looking for something woody, with cedar and pine in mind, and I found it. It has that hit of green aromas alongside leather and tobacco; the pine and moss combine perfectly to give it life. I used it for almost three years straight, and at 32, I am on my third bottle (all 237ml). I never cared that they said it was ‘for adults’, nor did I even know that when I bought it. I heard it on my skin, it fascinated me, I bought it, I used it, and even received compliments. I have used it with a suit, jeans, on dates, nights out, work, and at home, just to smell it. In all four seasons and whenever I fancied it. I enjoyed every moment without fear of ‘but what will they say?’, because for me it was never about that, but about using what I like. It still is. I have a huge affection for it; with the years and knowing more aromas, regardless of whether they are warm, spicy, sweet, vanilla, or aquatic, Polo will always be a fragrance I will return to and definitely will. 7/10 longevity, 7/10 projection, 9/10 price (especially the 237ml presentation), 10/10 scent, 11/10 overall. I don’t care if it doesn’t add up; it is impossible for me to be impartial with Polo. Thanks.

I agree with everyone who talks about it being a perfume very much for gentlemen over 50; in fact, it is my father’s favourite who is already 60. It was very popular in a historical moment and I consider it iconic for a generation. I don’t know how to describe it with words, but it smells like tobacco and pine; it makes me think of pique shirts, straight Wrangler jeans, and cowhide leather wallets. Obviously, this particular perfume reminds me a lot of my father, I think that is why I have such great esteem for it.

Very serious, but wearable after 25. That said, it’s best for cold nights or autumn days. It shines there; in the heat, it doesn’t work.

I find it incredible. There are few mass-market iconic fragrances as legendary as this; without doubt, it belongs in the hall of fame, a true masterpiece. What does it smell like? Old-school gentleman. If I imagine a man in an 80s/90s flat cap, I unconsciously see myself wearing this. I detect plenty of pine, tobacco and leather, though I can’t distinguish all the notes. Usage? Not on a date, unless you’re over 50 or you’re heading to meet his dad. Suitable for a beer with friends. I wore it with my girlfriend and she liked it, but it’s not for someone you’re just getting to know. Longevity and projection: it’s a 2017 batch and I didn’t measure exactly, but I wore it the next day and it was still detectable. It’s atomic: the first two hours project beastily, then it fades, but it remains noticeable throughout its life. In summary: don’t buy it blindly. It smells vintage but in a good way, like Creed Aventus. Even if you’re near 30, go ahead and try it if you happen to be an oblivious fan who doesn’t know it. It lasts and projects a lot (this batch certainly does) with an incredible, unique scent. Polo immediately comes to mind. Perhaps it’s not for dates or doesn’t flatter as much due to its vintage character, but what matters? It’s for personal enjoyment, though you’ll surely receive compliments. Fragrances are worn for oneself, to feel good. When I put it on, I remember why I love it so much, it makes me smile, and I keep smelling my wrist. It takes me back to happy moments from my childhood. Thanks to Ralph Lauren for this gem; there are many fragrances, but masterpieces like this are few and far between.

A classic. Neither the best nor as bad as the youngsters claim. Like anything that endures and remains relevant, it becomes a classic. Undeniably masculine, woody, persistent; it marked an era and is still here. Intense as the hours pass. Dark and elegant, with considerable sobriety. One must know how to wear it.

I loved it. At first impression it’s a common aroma, but seconds later you find a difficult-to-explain scent that compels you to smell it over and over again. It’s a pity it’s being discontinued in Peru. I can’t find it anymore; I saw it last in Brazil.

Ralph Lauren Polo is a green, spiced, leathery and woody fragrance. Its opening is very aromatic, loaded with herbal and leather notes, perceptible from the start. Once the aromatic charge fades, a dry, tobacco, leathery and woody aroma remains, with some bitter elements. It is undeniably masculine; I couldn’t imagine a woman wearing it. It could almost be worn in any season except summer. Given its launch year, it has characteristics no longer used today; it is very dry and contains no sweet notes, which leads me to believe it will be more appreciated by people of mature age, and I’m sure many will have it as their signature. Despite 45 years having passed and it surely having undergone reformulations, its longevity has been over 8 hours and its projection is not monstrous, yet it doesn’t stay close to the skin. I think for those who enjoy fragrances, trying it is mandatory, as it is a classic of perfumery and still has a faithful following.