Polo Red by Ralph Lauren is a Woody Spicy fragrance for men, released in 2013. The nose behind this Eau de Toilette is Olivier Gillotin.
This fragrance is part of the Polo Red collection. Polo Red was followed by two flankers: Polo Red Intense and Polo Red Extreme. Ever since the release of Polo Red, it has always been a relatively popular scent on the market.
The keynotes of this Woody Spicy fragrance are lemon, cranberry, and amber.
A note from the brand:
Polo Red is a fiery blend of spicy red saffron, fresh red grapefruit and deep redwood that ignites the thrill seeker in every man.
| Perfume Name | Polo Red |
| Brand | Ralph Lauren |
| Year Released | 2013 |
| Concentration | Eau de Toilette |
| Scent Family | Woody Spicy |
| Gender | men |
I recently got my hands on a small decant of this fragrance. This is my experience wearing Polo Red.
What does Polo Red by Ralph Lauren smell like?
Polo Red is sweet, spicy, and warm. It’s a very masculine scent that’s heavy on the cranberry and lemon that sits on a base of amber.
When I smell Polo Red, I think of Versace Eros, which has some similar notes, although Eros has a bit more of a woodsy vibe to it. To me, it also smells similar to Armani Code Absolu.
The scent’s base notes remind me of the discontinued Givenchy Play. Overall, I think they did a good job of making this juice feel red, like the color of the bottle.
| Top Notes | Cranberry, Grapefruit and Italian Lemon |
| Middle Notes | Saffron and Sage |
| Base Notes | Amber, Coffee and Woodsy Notes |
My Experience
The opening of Polo Red is a beautiful mix of cranberry and citrus that’s quite tart but also still sweet. The cranberry note is definitely the most prominent and the star of the show at this stage of the fragrance.
Just as I get used to the fruity notes, a rather strong amber note starts coming to the fore. It adds a bit of depth and warmth to the scent that’s still rather fruity at this stage.
I can also pick up the heart notes – saffron and sage as the scent continues to dry down. I think the addition of these notes transforms the scent from the tart opening to something that’s more complex as it adds a bit of spice to the mix.
Later on, I can detect some of the woodsy notes. I’ve worn it a few times now, and sometimes I think I’m picking up the coffee, but other times I don’t get anything. It’s definitely a nice fragrance with a bright opening that develops in a lovely manner.
At the end of the day, this isn’t a scent I dislike, but I’m not yearning to buy a bottle of it either. I love cranberries and coffee, but together like this in a scent simply isn’t a combination I love.
Sillage & Projection
Sillage-wise, Polo Red performs pretty well on my skin and leaves a nice scent trail. I’d rate the sillage as moderate overall. I initially expected a much stronger projection, or at least that’s the vibe I get when I first spray it, but it quickly becomes something that’s more moderate.
Longevity & Versatility
I can bet on at least 6 hours of wear of this fragrance. Some days it’s a bit more, and some days less. This is something I’d reach for in spring and fall when it’s a bit colder. It could also work in winter, but this isn’t a summertime scent.
Overall, it’s a pretty versatile scent that won’t be out of place anywhere. Although for something like a hot date or a more formal event, I’d rather opt for something else. I wore Polo Red as just a casual scent that I didn’t have to overthink, and it always worked really well. This is still a scent that will garner you some compliments.
Closing thoughts
If you don’t like cranberry, then this fragrance is not going to be for you. Similarly, if you aren’t a fan of a coffee note, then you probably won’t love Polo Red. Overall, this is a nice EDT. It’s nothing show-stopping, but it’s versatile, and at this price point, it’s something you can experiment with.
That being said, I almost never blind buy something without testing it, and even then, I like to try out a sample first before buying it. Polo Red will most likely be more appealing to a younger crowd, so if you are on the younger end looking for a nice and easy-going scent, then Polo Red is well worth a try.