Ralph Lauren

Polo Black vs Polo Blue Cologne Comparison

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In this post, I’d like to do another cologne comparison between two scents from the Ralph Lauren line, Polo Black and Polo Blue. These are two of the more popular scents from Polo and seem to be common foes in terms of choice, even though they are quite different fragrances.

Anyways, I’m going to break down how each one smells, performs, when they should be worn, and which of these is a better buy in my opinion.

Quick Overview

šŸ† My Verdict

Polo Black wins overall because it has the more interesting scent, better versatility, and a stronger balance of fruit, spice, and woods. Polo Blue lasts longer and is the better choice if you specifically want a cold aquatic fresh scent, but Black is the better buy if you want the more distinctive fragrance.

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Category Polo Black Polo Blue Winner
Opening Fruity mango, tangerine, sage, spice, and woods with a brighter feel Cold cucumber, melon, tangerine, suede, and aquatic freshness Polo Black
Projection Moderate projection Moderate projection Push
Longevity Around 6+ hours, but not much beyond that Around 7ā€“8 hours Polo Blue
Versatility Casual, school, office, and nearly year-round wear outside extreme heat Casual, school, office, and mostly warm-weather wear Polo Black
Overall Scent More distinctive fruity-spicy-woody scent with mango, sage, and sandalwood Fresh aquatic scent with cucumber, melon, musk, moss, and amber Polo Black
Best For Guys who want the more unique and versatile Polo scent Guys who want a colder aquatic scent with better longevity ā€”

Polo Black vs. Blue

Polo Black Tale of the Tape

Notes include: Ā mango, sandalwood, tonka bean, tangerine, sage, lemon, patchouli

Click here to try: Polo Black by Ralph Lauren for Men – 4.2 Ounce EDT Spray

My review: Polo Black Review

Polo Blue Tale of the Tape

Notes include: amber, melon, patchouli, geranium, cucumber, tangerine, moss, musk

Click here to try: Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren for Men, Eau De Toilette Natural Spray, 4.2 Ounce

Read my original review: Polo Blue Review

Opening

Polo Black is noticeably fruity from the start. Now, this isn’t a very sweet type of fruity smell (think dried fruit pieces), the mango note is prominent from the get go but it does have a spicier profile at the start. It also feels much ‘brighter’ as a fragrance than does Polo Blue.

Black kicks things off with that mango note in the lead. A juicy tangerine note is also present, helping along the tropical sweetness. Although, that’s not the entire story as sage and woodsy notes also come in to give it more depth.

Blue is a fresh and crisp use of cucumber and suede notes with a distinct aquatic profile. Blue is a much colder scent than is Black.

The cucumber is also joined by melon and citrus. The cold crispness of the cucumber and mainly melon notes, give Blue its ‘aquatic’ character. I like it, the freshness of the melon and cucumber is nice and the tangerine is bit of a change from the usual citrus notes.

Polo Black doesn’t really conform to its name with it use of citrus notes and has a much more interesting aroma, in my opinion. Between the two, I’ll go with the way that Black opens versus what I get from Blue.

Edge: Polo Black

Projection

Both are fairly moderate scents and I really don’t notice a difference between the two in this regard. On my skin, at least, they are equals.

Edge: Push

Longevity

Black is decent and actually slightly better than its flanker fragrance, Double Black. Black can get you 6+ hours of wear but not all that much beyond that.

Blue, on the other hand, is good for 7-8 hours and has the edge in this category.

Neither of these is an amazing performer, as with most of the Polo lineup. However, even as an edt, Blue has always been pretty good for what it is. I haven’t noticed a downward trend in its performance, but I haven’t tested out the latest batch.

In any case, Blue beats Polo Black here.

Edge: Blue

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Versatility

Both of these colognes are great for casual wear in both school and the office. Neither is really a date night or club type of fragrance, though, they wouldn’t be totally out of place either.

However, Polo Blue is mostly just a warm weather scent while Black can function well in pretty much any climate (probably except extreme heat and humidity) and can fit in even during summertime.

It’s not too much of a distance between these two colognes. After all, each is designed to be a mass appealing and versatile wear.

Edge: Black

Overall Scent

I like Polo Black better. Blue EDT has always felt really generic to me. Though, I do like the way it smells. If you want more of an aquatic scent, go with Blue (actually, I’d personally go with Blue EDP or Deep Blue).

Blue is enjoyable and I don’t have really anything too negative to say about the fragrance.

Black is a very nice scent and even if the longevity isn’t quite as good as Blue, I still think that it is a superior fragrance in terms of smell.

It has the right balance of unique fruitiness, spice, and a woodsy heart. Honestly, it’s one of the best releases the Polo has ever done.

It isn’t an overwhelming and definitive win for Black, but I do think that it has more advantages versus the better selling Blue EDT.

Winner: Polo Black

Who Should Buy Each?

Choose Polo Black if:

You want the better overall scent
You prefer mango, tangerine, sage, sandalwood, tonka, and patchouli
You want something fruity, spicy, and woodsy instead of purely aquatic
You need better year-round versatility
You want one of the more distinctive fragrances in the Polo lineup

Choose Polo Blue if:

You want the better longevity between the two
You prefer cucumber, melon, tangerine, musk, moss, and amber
You want a colder aquatic fresh scent
You mainly need something for warm weather
You prefer a clean, casual, easygoing fragrance for school or office wear

Polo Black vs Blue FAQ

Which one is better for summer: Polo Black or Polo Blue?

Polo Blue is better as a fragrance for the warmer weather. Black isn’t bad in the heat, but the melon and fresh aquatic style of Blue just works better in that situation.

Is Polo Black sweeter than Polo Blue?

Neither is super sweet, but Polo Black probably is a tad more so. At least early on in the wear. Though, the melon and citrus do add some fruitiness and not a sugary sweetness in Polo Blue.

Does Polo Blue last longer than Polo Black?

In my experience, yes. It’ll get you a couple more hours of wear versus Black. Neither is amazing, but Blue is a bit better.

Polo Red Intense EDP by Ralph Lauren

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It’s been a few years, since I initially tried out Polo Red Intense, and never got around to doing a review of it. So, when I saw it online, I grabbed a sample vial to go along with the rest of my latest fragrance order. Intense was released in 2015.

In this post, I am going to finally give this Red flanker, a proper review and provide my full thoughts on its performance. Is it any good? Does it last a long time? Please continue below for the complete breakdown.

What does Polo Red Intense Smell Like?

Notes include: cranberry, grapefruit, coffee, leather, ginger, amber, lavender, lemon, cedar, sage, saffron

Click here to try: Ralph Lauren Polo Red Intense for Men 4.2 Oz Edp Spray By Ralph Lauren, 4.2 Fluid Ounce

My Full Review

Polo Red Intense opens up with a mix of spices and the familiar lemon and cranberry, that was found in the original, Polo Red. You definitely notice the similarities between the two fragrances, only with a heavier dose of: saffron, sage, ginger, and coffee.

It is a blend of citrus sharpness/sweetness and the herbal spices. The original goes really strong with the tart cranberry note, but it is much tamer, here.

As it moves along, I start to pick up more leather and lavender, in the mix. Intense is more of a fresh take on these notes, than the super sweetness, that is found with Polo Red. Intense especially, has less of the citrus notes, after about 15-20 minutes.

The cranberry is still there, but the fragrance, is strong with notes of amber, leather, and the coffee.

During the rest of the dry down, the cologne stays pretty consistent with the smell. You do get periods, in which the herbal notes reappear, where the coffee and fruit notes remind me of Red Extreme, and some other note combinations playing around.

Ultimately, what I get is a amber soaked cranberry note with warm coffee beans, and a smooth leather/lavender pairing. Everything else plays a bit part. It does have a really intense sweetness, at times, which can be hit or miss. However, it is generally pleasing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage of Intense is pretty strong at first, but mellows out into something that is more of a moderate. People close by, will notice, but it doesn’t fill a room, in my experience. That initial burst, will bring some power, but never completely hits beast mode.

The longevity is better than the original Polo Red, but isn’t insane. It seems to go somewhere in the 7-9 hour range, depending on the day, and climate. Not bad, but not a superstar, just a very solid wear.

In cooler weather, the performance holds up much better, and will go towards the 9 hour range more often.

Seasonally, I like Red Intense for all climates, except for the hottest days. When it gets too warm, it has a tendency to get a bit messy. Cold to warm weather. It is a very versatile fragrance, that tends to skew towards a younger man, wearing it.

This is one that can go casual or into the nightlife. It smells really good and has a certain sexiness to it. Women have responded well, when I’ve worn it around. That sweet and warm freshness, will have a lot of fans, and enjoy some wide popularity.

Red Intense isn’t one to spray on, for the office. It feels out of place, in a more formal setting. As such, I wouldn’t expect to use it as a daily wear, unless you’re a teenager or college-age.

Overall Impressions of Red Intense

Overall, do I like Polo Red Intense? I do. In my mind, it is better than the original, which I also enjoy. The longevity problems, that the initial release had, are made better. Plus, the warmer and spicier composition, is a joy to smell.

It’s not a fragrance that I want to wear, all of the time. The sweet and spicy blend, can become a bit too much, at times. But, generally, Red Intense is something that I can like wearing.

Update: Trying this again, after a few years, I’m not as high on it. The mix of notes does get on my nerves after a while. Still a nice cologne, but Polo Red Intense, isn’t one that I’d want a full bottle of personally.

(newer update: From what I can tell, Red Intense is now discontinued.)

I definitely do still like Polo Red Extreme more, but that is heavy with orange and coffee notes, which won’t be for everyone. Red Intense feels like it is more of the crowd pleaser and one that a lot of guys would gravitate to.

Polo Red Parfum by Ralph Lauren

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Polo Red Parfum is another flanker in the long line of Red colognes, put out by Ralph Lauren. This one was released in 2023. I’ve already tried this one out once before, but now I’ve gotten a sample size sprayer in order to do a full review. How does it smell? Does Red Parfum last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Polo Red Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: blood orange, bergamot, pink pepper, absinthe, lavender, orris, musk, cedar, opoponaxĀ 

Click here to buy: Polo Red Parfum

My Full Review

Red Parfum starts out with a prominent blood orange note, like in Red Extreme. This time, however, it isn’t flanked by coffee and wood. Instead, early on, you get some assistance from a citrus bergamot note and some like warmth/spice of pink pepper.

The pink pepper is pretty subdued to my nose, especially when I compare it to other fragrances with a heavy use of that note.

I was interested in this scent, after reading about the absinthe as a note. Maybe a bit of bitterness in the first hour, underneath everything else. Other than that, it really doesn’t show up on my skin.

One thing that I will note, is the cranberry found in Polo Red EDT, does seem to be here to some limited extent. Not listed, but I keep getting hints of it coming through. So, it probably actually is a part of this blend.

A difference with the others in the line, is that the citrus loses much of its strength after 15 minutes or so. By this time, the lavender and orris notes have moved in. Now, the orris root adds a touch of powder to the scent, but is vastly overshadowed by lavender.

At this point in the wear, it’s: lavender, blood orange, pink pepper, musk, and orris.

Quite fresh, clean, warm, with some increasing resin in the base from the opoponax. In the end, it’s still sweet with the blood orange residue. But, mainly Red Parfum is about the lavender, musk, cedar, opoponax. Orris and pink pepper have faded to basically nothing.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Red Parfum isn’t a super heavy fragrance that bogs down. It does open up with a strong projection and a further reach than Red EDT.

From there, it’s in the upper range of moderate for a few hours, before it slides into something lighter to middling. Pretty good with the power, just not amazing.

On my skin, I get somewhere in the 6-7.5 hour range. It might go 8 hours, at times. Beyond that, I wouldn’t expect much. It’s above average and good for most uses.

Seasonally, Polo Red Parfum can work pretty much whenever, outside of the hottest days of the year. I’d go with something else during the summer months.

It is more of a casual and daytime wear. I think it can fit in more places than Red EDT since it doesn’t have that lemon and strong cranberry coming through the entire time.

Especially, once the citrus notes tone down, this will be able to be worn at the office or school without trouble. It’s not a formal sort of fragrance, but can fit in for the nightlife, without being a ‘club beast’.

Overall Impressions of Polo Red Parfum

Overall, do I like Red Parfum? I do. It’s about on par with the original Polo Red. I might like this one slightly more, but that could change day to day. Nonetheless, it is one of the better releases from this series, while still trailing Red Extreme.

I do love the return of the blood orange note, with the bergamot, and phantom cranberry note giving a nod to the original. It’s got a great citrus blend, fresh spice, clean lavender, and a woodsy base.

The back half of the wear is more basic. Polo Red Parfum loses some of its luster. Though, I find it to still be pleasant enough, and not bad at all.

The performance is better than the EDT and is above average, while not being elite. I never expect Ralph Lauren colognes to have crazy performance, but this is one that I have no real problems with.

All in all, it’s worth checking out, if you like this series. One of the better releases from this brand as of late.

It’s different in some ways, with familiar elements poking up throughout. Less tart and candy sweet than the EDT, over the long haul. It’s probably safe enough for a blind buy, but I might wait for it to go on sale, before grabbing a full bottle.

Polo Blue Parfum by Ralph Lauren

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Polo Blue Parfum is one that I had encountered once last year in 2022, when it was released. This year, I finally got a sample, in order to test out this latest incarnation of the Blue formula. I had pretty much forgotten what it was like, so, this was almost like a new experience for me. What does it smell like? Does Polo Blue last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Polo Blue Parfum Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, cardamom, pink pepper, clary sage, vetiver, lavender, jasmine, oak, olibanum, patchouli

Click here to try: Polo Blue Parfum

My Full Review

Here’s how Ralph Lauren describes it: Ā (Polo Blue Parfum) is an enveloping and seductive fragrance that adds a new intensity of rich sensuality to the iconic fragrance collection.

Blue Parfum starts off with its top notes different from the usual Polo Blue formula, but I can tell that this is a Polo Blue fragrance. It’s just using some different notes.

Actually, one thing I noticed is how this also resembles an Acqua di Gio scent. For me, it comes across as a spicier and less marine version of AdG eau de parfum. Also, lacks the metallic note of the Armani.

These two colognes do have a lot of overlap: mandarin, vetiver, patchouli, clary sage, and lavender.

So, Blue Parfum is like a Polo Blue (maybe closer to EDP) and Acqua di Gio EDP.

Anyway, Parfum starts off with its mandarin note, being quite apparent. Not as standalone powerful, as in AdG, but its there and noticeable. For me, I get clary sage, with the pink pepper and cardamom not overwhelming me with their intensity.

Yes, this is spicy and fresh, but it’s totally balanced with that citrus note.

The next phase comes in, with more of the vetiver and lavender. It’s smoother, less spicy, and the mandarin takes a back seat. The fruit, will stick around just not to the same extent.

Woodsy, clean, aromatic, with some earthy smokiness popping through. No worries though, this isn’t going to go completely ‘dirty’, sticking close to a mainstream wearable fougere fragrance.

As I get further into the dry down, it’s really woodsy. Oak, vetiver, patchouli, sage, and the rest all working in a balanced harmony with one another. Nothing too complex here, but clean and fresh and easy to wear.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

This one is none too heavy, but has a decent projection radius of 6-7 feet, in the early part of the wear. That will come in towards you, to become a more intimate fragrance shortly thereafter.

However, it’s certainly not weak and can hang in the air quite nicely.

On my skin, it’ll go 6-7.5 hours. The others in the series tend to be in the 5-7 hour range, but this gives me about an hour more, on the whole. Though, it seems to have made it to at least six hours each time that I tested Parfum out.

Blue Parfum is of course a very wearable fragrance for most of the year. It works well in warm weather, is decent on the hotter days as well. It’s one that is designed to be an easy to grab daily wear and it fits the bill.

It’s suitable for all ages. Can be worn to work, school, etc. Not a club beast or one of the ‘sexiest’ colognes out there, just smells nice and has a good balance.

Overall Impressions of Blue Parfum

Overall, do I like Blue Parfum? It’s pretty good. After testing this one for a while, I think I enjoy others in the series like EDT, EDP, and Deep Blue more than this.

Parfum certainly has its moments of being enjoyable. I like how they changed up the usual formula, while still managing to keep it a recognizable Polo Blue scent. Again, I don’t believe it to be better, but it certainly can compete with others in the series.

You get a woodsy rather than citrus and woody finish. More nuance than the EDT, depth, and a change in the notes. So, it has that going for it, if you happen to dig this style versus what you get with the others.

It’s still not completely unique, what with the overlaps between the other Blues and Acqua di Gio.

The one drawback is the price. This one is expensive for retail, especially considering that it might not be better (or that much better, depending on you tastes) versus others in the series.

I’d almost certainly go with an AdG or Chanel scent, if the choice was between them and Parfum, at this price point. With a good discount? Sure, this isn’t a bad selection.

4 Fragrances that Smell Similar to Polo Blue EDT

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Polo Blue has been a massive hit for the brand over the past decade. That being the case, it is only natural that people start looking for scents that smell similar to this cologne. Either, to find a slightly better take on the composition or to provide a cheaper alternative which can come close to the Polo Blue smell. In this post, I am going to suggest some options which can do just that.

Colognes that Smell like Polo Blue

If we’re talkingĀ  fragrances with nearly the same aroma or cheaper options versus buying Polo Blue EDT, I’ve only come across one real alternative, that satisfies this question specifically. Update: I’ve found a few more that closely matches what we want.

The Inspired By Option

Another Blue Dua– The Dua Brand’s Another Blue Dua is your best bet if you want something that tries to match what you get from Polo Blue EDT. It’s inspired by the original vintage formula of Blue.

Eternity Aqua, listed below, is similar but ultimately a different fragrance. So, this is going to take over as the best option for a lot of people.

I haven’t tried Another Blue Dua, as of yet. I have owned 10 or so other inspired fragrances from Dua and they all hit very close to the mark. I can’t imagine that they don’t get Polo Blue correct. Very affordable and in a more concentrated Extrait de Parfum.

Melon Madness

Aromatic Watermelon– This is a newer entry to the list, as Dossier has now put out their interpretation of the Polo Blue DNA.

Aromatic Watermelon seems to take a bit of a different tact to accomplishing this. Noticeably, suede and cucumber are not listed in the notes here.

Instead, you’ll get cardamom, orris, and verbena in support to accomplish something that smells akin to the Ralph Lauren scent.

Does it accomplish this? I’m not sure, as I haven’t tested this fragrance out. But, I’ve tried Dossier in the past and they’ve done a good job with their versions of designer scents. It’s just another option for a good price to choose from.

The Best Alternate

Calvin Klein ETERNITY for Men AQUA Eau de Toilette, 3.4 Fl Oz– Eternity Aqua is the closest thing you will get to the aroma of Polo Blue EDT. Actually, it comes quite close to replicating it exactly, but there are a few differences.

Mainly, the opening act, is what is so similar to Blue. Eternity shares the cucumber note and that aquatic type of scent, but also features a plum note and citrus, to separate it from the Polo. It turns into a citrus spiciness with Sichuan pepper, with elements from the original Eternity for Men.

Is it better than Polo Blue? In terms of smell, they are really close, but I’m actually partial to Aqua. The longevity of Polo Blue is better, but I get 5-7 hours from this Calvin Klein. It would ultimately come down to price.

Right now, you can find full bottles of Eternity Aqua at some places for under $30, which is a saving versus Blue. If you can get one of the cheap bottles, go with this on over Ralph Lauren. Eternity Aqua Review

Tommy Bahama Option

Maritime Deep Blue– Maritime Deep Blue is one of the more recent releases from Tommy Bahama and it smells quite a bit like a batch of Polo Blue.
There’s not nearly as much of the aquatic-like elements and the citrus notes are toned down. Still present, just not with the same opening intensity.
It’s base has a certain dryness to it, with a really solid juniper note, which is the main distinction from the Polo Blue’s of the world.
As it dries down, it becomes a bit more unique with its cardamom and fresh juniper. It feels dry, fresh, and spicy. Plus, the nice floral and woody touches. Maritime Deep Blue Review

Any Other Alternative Choices?

There aren’t really any other choices for a one to one experience from cheaper brands. However, another option from just the popular EDT version of Polo Blue, is to go with the EDP. I actually enjoy the EDP Polo Blue more, as it has a spicier edge than does the EDT.

To me, it is underappreciated, and provides a similar yet different enough experience from the original to be a great alternative.

Alright, this is my list as it stands of similar men’s fragrances to Polo Blue. I will update this page, as needed, if I happen to come across any other options of colognes that could fit the bill.