Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren is an Aromatic Fougere fragrance for men. Polo Blue was launched in 2003 as an Eau de Toilette. The fragrance was created by Carlos Benaim and Christophe Laudamiel.
This fragrance is part of the Polo Blue collection. It’s the original in the collection and has inspired a range of flankers. Ever since its release, it’s always been a very popular scent.
The keynotes of this Aromatic Fougere fragrance are Cucumber, Melon, Mandarin Orange, Basil, Sage, and Musk.
A description by the brand:
Polo Blue features an invigorating blend of melon de Cavaillon, basil, verbena, and washed suede, evoking the freedom of the big, blue sky; the energy of open waters; and an invigorating blast of fresh air.
| Perfume Name | Polo Blue |
| Brand | Ralph Lauren |
| Year Released | 2003 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | Aromatic Fougere |
| Gender | men |
It’s been years since I wore this scent, so I decided it’s time to revisit old favorites. This is my experience wearing Polo Blue over the summer.
What does Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren smell like?
Polo Blue smells like cucumber and melon, and these fruity notes are followed by a deeper second wave of spices and musk that turn a relatively linear fragrance into one with more character and complexity.
Polo Blue strikes my nose as bearing quite some resemblance to Eternity Aqua by Calvin Klein.
At the same time, it smells fresh and pleasant, like the boy next door. It’s an inoffensive scent, just like the nice guy. It doesn’t give off bad-boy vibes, which isn’t necessarily bad, of course. It’s an easy-going scent that is uncomplicated, like long, lazy summer days by the beach.
The aquatic notes in the scent make me think of blue pools of water, so I think the color of the bottle is absolutely perfect. It’s giving off lounging around on a yacht in Croatia or Italy during summer in Europe.
| Top Notes | Cucumber, Melon and Mandarin Orange |
| Middle Notes | Basil, Sage and Geranium |
| Base Notes | Suede, Woodsy Notes and Musk |
My Experience
The opening of Polo Blue is a beautiful fresh blast of melon, cucumber, and mandarin orange. It’s a super fresh scent, and I can clearly pick up some aquatic notes.
As the scent progresses, I can start noticing more of the basil and sage, which adds an interesting bit of spice. I’m not able to pick up the geranium so well. At this point, the cucumber from the opening is still pretty dominant, but this eventually gives way to the melon.
Although, if I’m being honest, sometimes I only pick up cucumber or only melon as these notes can be hard to distinguish from each other at times.
As the scent continues to dry down, the herbal notes never really dissipate, but instead, it’s complemented by the musk and woodsy notes. The addition of these notes gives the scent more depth and character. I feel the base notes do a great job of anchoring the scent and giving the fragrance more complexity.
Sillage & Projection
The overall projection and sillage of Polo Blue are moderate, in my opinion. It hits that sweet spot of being noticeable without being too much. It won’t overwhelm anyone but still gives you enough freshness for people to notice that you smell good. For an Eau de Toilette, I really think it does a good job.
Longevity & Versatility
The longevity of Polo Blue is really good, as I can still detect it after a long day at the office after only applying it in the morning. Again, that’s a pretty stellar performance for an Eau de Toilette. I get around 7 to 9 hours of wear, although it sticks around longer on my clothes.
This is a great fragrance for spring and summer, but if you really want to, you could wear it year-round. The opening leans towards the summer, but those herbal notes definitely make it possible to wear it during the colder parts of the year. Personally, I’d opt for something different for the winter, but that’s just me.
It’s very versatile, and you could wear it to the office as I do. You could really wear this anywhere, whether you are heading to work, the gym, or on a date. It’s clean and fresh and will work anywhere. Although it’s not a very sultry scent so if you are really looking for something seductive, then this isn’t it.
Closing thoughts
If you’re looking for something that smells clean and fresh, then this is for you. This scent is the definition of a dumb reach no-brainer. It’s something you throw on in spring and summer, and you know it won’t offend anyone. The flip side is it definitely isn’t a compliment beast or even a very unique smell by any means.
It does it’s job really well, but if you are looking for something that will make people literally come up to you to compliment you on how you smell, then this one is a hard pass, in my opinion. Then again, not all fragrances need to do it, so if you are in the market for something simple, then this is worthy of a full bottle.