Polo Red by Ralph Lauren

I was gifted this years ago and hold it dear; it smells woody and delicious, though the longevity and projection aren’t its strongest points. I can’t comment on the value as I don’t know the price.

It brings back so many memories; I used to wear it a lot when I was young and would receive compliments. Now I’m not sure if it’s due to overuse or changed tastes, but I wouldn’t buy it again. It’s sweet, warm, and woody, with red fruits dominating; as it dries down, the wood becomes very prominent. It’s rich and youthful, but for the price, I’d look elsewhere.

This perfume marked my childhood, and now at 21, having it again feels like a time travel. The scent remains intact and true to its essence. Moreover, the new bottle design is beautiful and elevates the experience. The best part is its versatility: a true all-rounder that adapts to any weather or occasion, from casual to formal. It’s true that compared to recent launches, its presence is more discreet, but it has nothing to envy; its essence remains charming and functional.

Charming, with a winning opening: the blueberry with grapefruit and lime leaves an extremely fruity, citrusy, and sweet aroma, full of vibrant colours. It also gives a talc-like sensation reminiscent of oil-based paint. It settles into something more floral and dark, giving way to amber, coffee, and wood, without losing that bright, fruity, sweet, and zesty citrus opening that is the protagonist, even though it fades over time. It’s a versatile, timeless, fresh, fruity, chocolatey, citrusy, sweet, floral, slightly talc-like, and delicious fragrance. I thought it was overhyped, but now I see I wasn’t wrong; it’s a well-balanced and pleasant formula that’s a pity it doesn’t project and last as long. As sweet as it is bitter, as warm as it is fresh. It reminds me of L.12.12 Noir, another one I underestimated and which is a marvel of balance. Both have poor performance for what they smell like; they should project for miles. No one will dislike them, although sometimes people associate them with older ages due to their launch year, but that doesn’t ignore their incredible proposition. A unique DNA.

I owned it and wore it in warm climates, but I had better options and put it aside. I gifted it away; I wouldn’t buy it again. It’s not that I don’t recommend it, but there are better options within the price range.

Smells amazing, super balanced and seductive, perfect for any occasion. It’s not overly complex; ideal for adults of any age, a true ‘pick up and go’. Note: it’s an EDT, so with 6 sprays it lasts about 5-6 hours; if it hits 7-8, celebrate! The projection is normal for its format. I absolutely love it for the office because of that coffee note which sets a great vibe; I reapply at lunch and finish the day happy. If all EDTs were like this, I’d stop buying so many EDPs. Try it on skin in a shop and ignore the wipes or poorly preserved decants.

I like it; it’s super versatile, balanced, soft, masculine and fresh, with a medium-sweet, creamy chocolate touch that adds masculinity without being overbearing. The woody notes of cedar settle in, soft and gentle, while the bergamot and lemon stand out in the opening. Some compare it to Esika’s Kromo, but they don’t resemble each other at all; Kromo is rich but flat, muuuy sweet, almost like that old Axe chocolate 😹. Polo Red is soft and creamy, Kromo is invasive and lasts much longer. Polo Red is elegant and daily. Cons: moderate/low longevity and weak sillage.

My husband wears it; it’s rich but doesn’t last at all, only on the skin.

The accords are citrus, fruity, amber, warm spicy and woody. It opens fresh and fruity, dominated by blueberry, along with bergamot and Italian lemon. Then the citrus settles and saffron appears with a warm, spicy touch, accompanied by imperceptible sage. In the heart, blueberry and saffron prevail. At the end, intensity drops and a sweet amber highlights, giving body without being invasive, combined with a slight but bearable bitter coffee and dominant woody notes. It’s peculiar, pleasant, simple and shy, not suffocating. The negative is that it’s too soft, lacking in longevity (5-6 hours) with weak sillage and projection. On the plus side, its versatility for heat; in the cold, it goes unnoticed.

WAY TOO EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT IT OFFERS. The aroma is rich, sweet/fruity/citrus, then coffee and wood come out, giving it originality and seriousness, making it versatile and easy to like. Compliments were sporadic because the fragrance isn’t noticeable. Performance was poor; it didn’t pass 5 hours and projection is limited, only felt close up. The price is exorbitant for what it offers; there are better, cheaper fragrances. For informal use or the office, it’s not bad, maybe even for the gym. It’s not cloying. Compliments: 7, Longevity: 6, Projection: 5, Price: 4, TOTAL: 5.5.

Smells nice and is harmless, but it vanishes in a jiffy. At this price, it should last longer; I’ll stick with Polo Black even though it shares the same flaws.

Reviewing the original version, which I believe has been reformulated. Opens with blueberries and light citrus that soon yield to saffron. After half an hour, only woods and amber remain; I don’t detect any coffee. It lasts at most an hour, projecting little and leaving no lasting impression on clothes. The new formula has more blueberry and lasts a bit longer, targeting a younger audience. The original is dispensable and offers nothing beyond that fleeting fruity note. Adding poor performance to the price, I only recommend it to those who truly fall in love with it.

I went to try Polo Black due to good reviews, but the tester was empty. They offered Polo Red, which has mixed opinions, and the truth is: everything was wrong for me. It opens with red fruits, not blueberries, followed by a delicious amber, spicy notes, sage, and coffee. Up to that point, it was fine, a pleasant and simple scent, exactly what I imagined in my wardrobe. But after half an hour, pressing my nose 30cm away, it smells absolutely nothing. Not even in the spray zone do I detect faint fruity notes and a very bland coffee for a designer. I have apothecary perfumes that last longer. It’s a rip-off. I no longer want to buy or try anything from Ralph Lauren. Scent: 7/10, Longevity-Projection-Value: -10000/10.

At first, it’s cloying, but rich when it dries as the blueberry blends with the coffee. The problem is that it projects nothing and doesn’t last. As I already had a 125ml bottle and liked it, the solution was to apply it generously on clothes.

A scent to get by, for those who like sweet and cloying fragrances. Smells of woods and blueberries, with good initial projection that vanishes incredibly fast. It’s for a youthful segment aged 20-25, nothing more. It’s not complex, but pleasant enough to please everyone. I rate it as masculine but with a very sweet character.