Romance for Men by Ralph Lauren

The best perfume in history. Elegant, subtle, and absolutely rich. I was receiving compliments from every angle. What a pity they’ve taken it off the market.

I stumbled upon a small, old sample while cleaning out the wardrobe. I’d never heard of it; I suppose it’s from before 2006. Upon opening it, without knowing anything, I was reminded of the scent of the late 90s and early 2000s. A green, fresh, slightly spicy essence. You can tell there’s a very fresh, lively pine. It’s one of those fragrances that makes you imagine a long-sleeved shirt, shades of green, leaving a trail with Romance by RL. Note, although it’s been abandoned for over 18 years and feels a bit bitter, in the morning you can sense the path it wanted to follow. In short, I want to go back in time and get it (apparently it’s discontinued). Undoubtedly, it would go in my collection, front row alongside Issey Miyake. It doesn’t smell like anything I’ve ever smelled before… they wanted to open a new path with this. Rating: I heard the Bulgari Aqua Pour Homme today and they are almost identical. Yes, although they have different notes, both give me that “salty” sensation and that same aroma. If you miss the RL Romance, you can go for the Bulgari one without fear.

A clean, spiced, crystalline scent in an American preppy style. It’s that geranium and spice lotion but with a spongy green touch instead of dry or dusty. The edible, innocent notes like mandarin and pistachio are well-blended, giving it youth and shyness. I usually don’t like these aromatic lotions, but this one is lovely because it smells of carefree innocence and that lack of awareness of mortality that only youth possesses. The dry-down is delicious and melancholic, making you wonder what the hell we’re doing in this world and if we could travel back in time to just turn on the TV and watch cartoons while eating cereal with milk. It captures the spirit of its time perfectly. Edit: it has no sillage and the longevity is terrible.

In 2006 I bought this fragrance blindly because I was attracted by its packaging (it must have been a fairly old version as I bought it in a pharmacy). I loved every drop that came out. It had an incredible, masculine, fresh, yet persistent smell. A longevity of over 8 hours and a heavy trail, everything I always look for in my perfumes; it was really incredible. A few years later I bought it again, I think around 2010; that was my first perfumery disappointment. I even thought I’d been cheated. Now it was a watery cologne, with no trail and very poor longevity; the scent was even different, in small details barely perceptible, but different. That was also when I experienced the myth of reformulations firsthand (what a disappointment and what anger against IFRA, whatever they say, it’s the organisation that killed quality perfumery). Perfume companies act today like confectionery firms; when they launch a new chocolate, they make it a certain size, but once the chocolate is established in the collective taste, they change the mould for a smaller one. It’s the same with perfumes; the first version is a beast in aroma, longevity, and projection. Once established, they dilute it with more alcohol and change the raw materials for synthetics that smell like metal.

Many times, when a fragrance is discontinued, we tend to get that nostalgia effect and exaggerate it. This perfume is a clear example; it’s hard to get, and on the internet prices are very high, yet it’s not much of a thing. It’s not ugly at all, it’s very pleasant, but it doesn’t justify paying what they ask. The perfume opens with sweet citrus, probably due to the blackcurrant note. And as time passes, it becomes slightly green and woody. It has very discreet longevity, about 6 hours, very tight. I think the best from this house is: Polo Green, Safari, and perhaps Polo Blue.

A good friend told me he used to wear a great perfume from the past called Romance and that he couldn’t find it anymore, so, motivated by that and the comments on this forum, I bought the set with EDT 100ml, shaving gel, and liquid soap because I found it at a reasonable price of around $80. Considering how hard it is to find given it’s discontinued and people ask for up to $280 online (what a nonsense, what a scam would that be at that price), the truth is the reviews don’t match what I acquired, unless they sold me a pirated copy or one already degraded. But I checked everything and it is the original. It gives a smell of chilled celery, a bit spicy, then watery sandalwood, quite bland. It doesn’t seem evocative of anything and far less romantic. I can spray it 10 or 15 times and in less than two hours it’s just a pleasant skin scent that has nothing to do with other perfumes I know that cost less. Before four hours, no trace of the original Romance. This is certainly a romance, but an adolescent summer one: ephemeral. The good thing is the packaging is ideal for gifting and I already have the perfect candidate.

Forget it: it’s a 50ml bottle barely used once. I’m looking to swap it for another fragrance, which doesn’t have to be discontinued.

For me, the opening was semi-sweet citrus with green notes, I think pistachio leaves and soft lavender. At six hours, basil, geranium, florals I can’t quite isolate, and a hint of pine. At eleven hours, musk, moss, and vetiver, all soft. It fulfils the role of an American aromatic woody, but it didn’t win me over. Unlike previous works by the brand, this is too subtle and eclectic for my taste. And the truth is, it doesn’t evoke ‘Romance’ at all. Using the full 1ml sample, the trail was moderate and persistent (sometimes it seemed to disappear then return), lasting over twelve hours. I see it as appropriate for spring and summer, daytime and office wear.

It’s quite a particular fragrance: on one hand, it follows the classic line of Polo Green and Safari, but breaks the mould to focus on the renewal of Polo Sport. As for the style, I’d say it’s semi-formal. Sticking to its name, the scent inspires feelings of a well-groomed, balanced gentleman, which favours female reception without falling into paternalism; it radiates the image of a man who cares for his appearance, fitting an elegant-sport style.

My dad has the EDT, but I’ve taken it upon myself to put it on him. Why? I don’t know, I like it a lot. He used to put a drop on daily to go to secondary school. I think it was the first men’s perfume I wore for pleasure, not just to try it. It has a woody touch that refines the other notes, staying fresh. Ideal for summer; I don’t think it suits other seasons. It’s more noticeable when it’s hot or raining. It smells very pleasant. It’s for men who maintain class and elegance even in informal settings. As others say, it’s not for super-formal events; it’s a healthy middle ground between formal and informal. The longevity is about four hours and the trail is only strong for the first hour, afterwards it fades to skin scent. For those looking for something fresh but not generic or overdone, Romance by RL is a good option.

I completely agree.