Polo Sport EDT by Ralph Lauren

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Polo Sport was an insanely popular release back in the 1990s. I remember so many people wearing this, back then, and occasionally using some myself when I could get ahold of it. Since then, the ubiquity of use has calmed down, while this Ralph Lauren scent has pretty much achieved classic status. I grabbed a small sprayer of this cologne recently and wanted to give a full and proper review to Polo Sport. 

What does Polo Sport Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin orange, mint, neroli, artemisia, lavender, bergamot, ginger, musk, sandalwood, and more

Click here to try: Polo Sport by Ralph Lauren for Men 4.2 oz Eau de Toilette Spray

My Full Review of Polo Sport

Obviously, I’m going to have to do this review with the current formulation of Polo Sport. Does it smell the same? My memory says no, but it doesn’t feel so radically different, that I couldn’t be wrong.

The opening act is a fresh burst of subdued citrus with fresh and quasi-soapy elements. I pick up plenty of orange, some lemon, as the man fruit notes. Then, there is the mint, lavender, and neroli. Up top, I mostly get mint and neroli, but the lavender will come on stronger later in the wear.

It’s got an absolutely chilled spice, with floral, and light aquatic smells due to the inclusion of seaweed. I appreciate the seaweed, in this Ralph Lauren cologne, versus something like Bvlgari Aqua. In the latter, I feel it becomes too much and distracts from my enjoyment.

The spice is fairly concentrated in the start, but within a few minutes, Polo Sport becomes smoother and more inviting with the citrus. This is when, I really begin to love this scent. The super cleanliness, vague watery pops, mint, and light floral touch. 

Then, there is that aquatic sweetness. It’s a smell that I find difficult to describe in words, but it’s exactly how I’ve always identified Polo Sport, and really haven’t found it in any other scent. There’s just something with the way the citrus blends with the aquatic notes and other ingredients, that has always stood out to my nose.

During the dry down, things are pretty set. However, Sport does add a slight muskiness and woodiness, later on. The fresh spice, doesn’t bite as hard, and it really lingers as a true sporty/aquatic cologne.

Sillage, Longevity, Versatility

Projection wise, Polo Sport has never been super powerful. It’s got decent sillage, in the first few hours, and then hangs closer to the skin. Even with this newer bottle, it doesn’t strike me as ever being weak. 

The longevity, seems to sit at about 5-7 hours on my skin. Not all that great, but still very useful. For me, the performance is better than Polo Blue EDT, which seems to get more attention these days. 

Does is have the same level of power as before? Probably not. Is it terrible now? No. 

 

Seasonally, this is a summer gem. Actually, any moderate to warmer weather situation will do, as Polo Sport is absolutely great. It’s a ‘colder’ sort of fragrance, so, it somewhat feels out of place during the winter. 

Polo Sport is like the ultimate casual cologne, that can still venture into semi-formal occasions. Warm weather daily wear, mostly, but there have been plenty of guys who wear this out on a date. This such an easy reach, as a daily wear fragrance.

Really doesn’t require much thought at all, as it won’t offend and has a great soothing character. It’s such a near all-around fragrance, which is why it has stood the test of time for decades now.

One of the best aspects, is that it can be a fitting choice to wear for teenagers, as well as older men. It simply has that dynamic energy to it, without being childish, or cheap smelling. Again, though, if you need something formal look elsewhere.

Overall Impressions of Polo Sport

This is a nostalgia cologne for me and a lot of other people, who are old enough to remember the 1990s. But, in the fragrance game, things can change a lot. The scents you once loved can be destroyed by reformulations.

Is that the case, with Polo Sport? Not really. It’s different, in some ways, but still retains its soul and what made this perfume work. Is it as good? Again, not really. Though, it’s still very nice to wear, and they haven’t killed it. 

Polo Sport is a classic, that is well worth giving a try to. I’m glad I bought a small travel sprayer, so that I can revisit this one. I’ll probably be wearing it, as the mood strikes me, over the ensuing months. 

Has it lost a step? Almost certainly. Though, when compared with some other options from older eras that are still produced, the decline isn’t as noticeable. It’s still a fun scent with its strengths and it’s not a performance beast…but I still enjoyed coming back to this cologne.

Update: Having finished the travel sprayer, I have to say that I do still enjoy wearing Polo Sport. Definitely not my favorite or anything, but it still has the ability to charm. I mostly wore it casually around town or to the gym, as a quick freshener. I don’t think I’d pay full price for it, but with some discounts in place, I’d give it another round.

Pure XS by Paco Rabanne

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For today’s review, I’m going to take a closer look at one of the newer Paco Rabanne releases, Pure XS. This cologne was released in 2017, and I’ve been wearing this scent out of my sample vial, in order to collect my thoughts. How does it smell? What are the notes? How long does it last? Is Pure XS even worth a purchase? Please continue below for my full wear review of this fragrance.

What does Pure Xs Smell Like?

Notes: ginger, vanilla, myrrh, thyme, sugar, leather, musk, liquor, cinnamon, cedar, and grapefruit

Click here to try: PACO RABANNE Pure Xs Eau de Toilette Spray, 3.4 Ounce

My Full Wear Review

Before we get into my review of Pure XS, let’s see how Paco Rabanne describes it: Pure XS. Excess in its purest state. An overflow of ginger. The temperature rises. Carnal vanilla and myrrh release. Skin over-heating. An untamed-Oriental, on-fire and fresh, decadent and raw.

Pure XS opens with a boozy and sugary ginger note, that is really quite fresh. It’s a blend of sugar sweetness and spice from a dash of cinnamon that is added at the top. There is the slightest hint of citrus thrown in there to add to that clean feeling.

Immediately, I am reminded of both Code Profumo and La Nuit Eau Electrique. Not because the smell exactly like Pure XS, but that is sort of the same family of fragrance, I’d put this one in.

Warm, spiced, boozy, and sweet. Very nice and confident start to this scent. I actually had no idea what to expect before trying this Paco Rabanne out and was pleasantly surprised by the aroma that I was met with.

It isn’t all that spicy, which is what you’ll get to the follow up Night edition (linked at the bottom). Smooth and enveloping, even if it isn’t an overly heavy fragrance. It produces a nice coziness over  your skin.

As it dries down, the myrrh comes in and gives Pure XS its Oriental edge. I like this note being included here, as it is usually paired with oud a lot, and it’s a nice change of pace within this context. It’s warm, there is a resinous quality, and it is met by an undertone of leather.

Ultimately, what I get with this scent is vanilla and myrrh, as the two main notes. With ginger, leather, and a sugary mix of a few other notes. Myrrh becomes dominant in the composition, the further that it moves along in the wear.

While myrrh isn’t really a mainstream note, that’s in a ton of popular colognes, Pure XS definitely brings the mass appealing elements and is easy to enjoy.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Projection wise, the sillage starts off moderate and within a few hours becomes much lighter. That’s my biggest disappointment with Pure XS, is that, the sillage is kind of weak and it becomes a skin scent too quickly.

Much too soft for what it seems like they’d be going for, with this sort of scent.

I hope they make an intense version or a L’excess variant of this one (update: they released Pure Xs Night, review linked in bottom section). Despite that, the longevity is fairly good, even if it’s a skin scent for most of the wear.

It’ll last around 7 hours or so, on my skin. Again, only for a portion of that time, is it truly noticeable. At first for others, then, for you to be able to detect it.

Seasonally, I feel like this one could be worn year round without much problem. Maybe skip wearing it on the hottest or most humid days, but it’s fine in cold weather or a more moderate springtime. It’s got great versatility as well.

I wouldn’t go for summer, as there are plenty of better options available for those months of the year.

Since it’s light, you could wear this to work or school. It’s fine for casual events. Plus, it’s got a sexy aroma, and would be great for nights out…as long as you’re fine being low key after a few hours. Pure XS seems best for a guy in his 20s to early 30s.

Though, teens can totally use this as well, for a something a bit more mature than the average fare.

Overall Impressions of Pure XS

Overall, do I like Pure XS by Paco Rabanne? Yes. I think that it smells really great. The ginger, vanilla, and myrrh create a nice dynamic and the boozy warmth is almost always something that I enjoy.

There are other colognes that smell similar to this one and it’s projection could be much better, but it’s still a worthwhile wear. I’ve been spraying a bit more than I’d usually wear and that’s boosted it to more of a moderate fragrance for a longer period of time.

Still, the power is the weak spot with this cologne. I might try the Night version, that seems to have a lot of overlap with this original. Update: Pure XS Night review. The Night version has a lot more spice, particularly the ginger note in the opening.

All in all, I think that this is a solid addition to the Paco Rabanne lineup. I don’t think that this was has gotten as many fans as others from this designer, but it is certainly one to check out.

7 Best Lavender Scented Perfumes for Her

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Lavender often gets used in the fragrance world, though, probably more so in the men’s space. At least, as a lead note. But, there are plenty of women out there who also want this clean floral note, as the main attraction in their daily wear perfume. On this page, I will be keeping a running list of what I consider to be the best smelling lavender scents for women. It’s obviously not ‘exhaustive’, but can absolutely serve as a great starting point in your search.

What are the Best Smelling Lavender Fragrances for Women?

The Tom Ford Option

TOM FORD LAVENDER EXTREME EAU DE PARFUM– Lavender Extreme is certainly a lavender fragrance for a colder day. It is headed up by the title note, but joined mainly by vanilla and some tonka bean.

Though, you also get some further spice from cinnamon and a violet note, which helps to add a slight powdery quality to this perfume. Unisex scent like most Tom Ford fragrances. Very cozy and inviting, with a warmer embrace.

Soft and a bit sweet, but a pretty darn realistic lavender note. It’s not one of my personal favorite Tom Ford’s and is probably overpriced at retail, but almost undeniably a great one for those who are seeking out this note.

Light Citrus Herbal Lavender

4711 Acqua Colonia Lavender and Thyme Eau de Cologne Spray, 5.7 Ounce– Simple. Lavender and thyme are what this one adds to the 4711 mix. The thyme note adds a different dynamic to our target ingredient versus others on the list. Plus, it’s really affordable in large quantities.

It’s not entirely lavender dominated, as the herbal notes and citrus are pretty prevalent, especially at the start. But, the lavender is a lovely inclusion, which you will catch wafts of throughout the wear.

Very light with the sillage and that citrus is pretty sharp. But, the dry down is clean and calming with the lavender taking control of the composition.

Chanel Wildflowers and Lavender

Jersey by Chanel– Not my favorite fragrance from the Les Exclusifs line by Chanel, but Jersey is the one to go with, if you want lavender. Also, maybe, Boy. But, that one doesn’t have the same level of our target note, while being a better smelling fragrance.

It kicks off with cold aldehydes, lavender, and a grassy and herbal aroma. The lavender is going to lead the way, but interestingly, those aldehydes stick around for the duration.

The wildflowers will flank the lavender for a while. But, as this moves along you will get a muskier finish with a creamy quality from vanilla and tonka bean. Nice performance at around 8 hours of wear and pretty versatile. One to check out for lavender lovers. Jersey Full Review

The Best Selling Blended Perfume

Yves Saint Laurent Libre Eau De Parfum Spray for Women 90ml/3oz, clear– I actually prefer Libre Intense, but you get the stronger lavender (and still a nice perfume) with the ever popular YSL Libre.

Orange blossom and a touch of citrus juice start things off with this one. Lavender will be the main attraction, but it will take a back seat in the opening stage. Soapy clean with some early touches of vanilla creaminess. Almost bitter, with a stronger musk.

Then, it will shift to lavender. The orange blossom and musk both significantly weaken and all of the other notes just play a support role to our target. Vanilla will be the co-pilot. Nice performance and easy to wear, with an already proven mass appeal. YSL Libre review

One from Memory

Serge Lutens Gris Clair Eau De Parfum Spray for Women– It’s been a few years since I have smelled this one, but I thought that I’d include it on the list, because of what a popular lavender option it has been.

The gist of what I remember? Warm, slightly bitter, floral mix. Big dose of lavender in a blend that gets sweeter as it dries down. I’ll update this entry, once I come across Gris Clair again.

Masculine, but Fine Lavender Example

Czech & Speake Oxford & Cambridge Cologne Spray 3.4 Fl Oz– Oxford & Cambridge is one that has been around for decades now. Yes, it’s a men’s fragrance, but I think plenty of women could pull it off just fine.

This is a green and pretty mossy lavender interpretation. The lavender is the star, but you get a fresh rosemary, cool mint, and dry oakmoss. It’s outdoorsy, but naturalistic, especially the lavender oil that they use in this.

I get more of the mint for most of this fragrance, with more hints of rosemary. It settles down into something lighter and more pure lavender. Nice performance, not huge sillage. Can be tougher to find nowadays, it seems. I wouldn’t pay an arm and a leg to acquire, but solid at a better price point.

Super Popular, Lavender Focused

Guerlain Mon Guerlain Eau De Parfum Spray 100ml/3.3oz– Mon Guerlain is a very popular option for perfumes in general and not just lavender specifically. The opening act is actually fairly candy-like and has always reminded me of other popular scents, like BonBon.

However, at its core, this Guerlain is about the lavender and vanilla combination. It is just presented in a very mass appealing way. It becomes a smoother and less sweet aroma, dotted with further floral touches of jasmine.

Easy to wear, nice performance, and extremely versatile outside of a pure lavender play. Yet, it can certainly attract those who love that note as well. Mon Guerlain Review

Allure Homme Sport by Chanel

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Chanel’s men’s lineup of fragrances has a lot of great selections. One of the main titles, other than the popular Bleu line, is Allure. Particularly, the Allure Homme Sport releases. The first of which was released back in 2004.

I grabbed samples of this one last year to give an updated review of how things currently stand with Allure Homme Sport. How does it smell? Does it have good performance? Is it worth a buy?

What does Allure Homme Sport Smell Like?

Notes include: mandarin, musk, tonka bean, cedar, sea notes, aldehydes, vanilla, pepper

Click here to try: Chanel Allure Homme Sport Eau de Toilette Spray for Men, 5 oz

My Full Review

Allure Homme Sport starts off with a very nice and rather unique blend of freshness and sweetness. At one end, you have the citrus of the mandarin orange and infused sea notes. On the other end, is the vanilla and tonka bean providing a sweet creaminess.

The mandarin is really great here. Not super heavy, but it gives you that nice juiciness out of the gate.

All of that is tied together by the inclusion of aldehydes which gives Allure Sport a cold air quality to it. That really helps to give Sport that distinct Chanel style. However, the vanilla and tonka bean will play a larger role later on. At first, it’s more of a supporting role and other notes play their part.

That freshness is enhanced by the cedar and pepper note. The pepper is pretty noticeable early on, but it is probably the first note that fades away in the composition.

As it moves along, the marine notes will recede also. Vanilla, cedar, musk, tonka bean, and some mandarin/neroli will pretty much jockey for control throughout the rest of the way. Musk becomes stronger as the aldehydes weaken.

The floral neroli note will take over for the juicier mandarin citrus aroma, that is found at the top. Allure Homme Sport takes on a creamier/muskier finish towards the end. The vanilla and tonka bean really stand out on my skin.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Sillage wise, it is a pretty light to moderate fragrance throughout the wear. You do get a nice initial ability to project itself fairly far. However, that will change into a more personal scent bubble, and ultimately sitting close to the skin.

Not terrible, but not exactly a powerhouse.

With this batch from 2020, I get about 5-6 hours of wear from Allure Homme Sport. With older bottles, it was probably closer to 7-8, at least for me. Never was one that would be going on and on, but it used to bring more to the table.

Update: Here years later, I’ve tried this one once again, and I’m still getting the same five or six hours of wear. So, it hasn’t completely fallen off of a cliff since 2020.

Seasonally, I’ve worn this one year round without much issue. Though, it’s best in moderate to warmer temperatures. It can come across as a bit too fresh in the depths of winter. But, I like it in autumn and late spring.

A great feature of Allure Homme Sport is just how versatile it really is. It isn’t just a ‘sporty’ cologne. In fact, it might not even conjure up that kind of imagery for people. It can be worn as a daily wear, in semi-formal scenarios, just around town, and even venture into the nightlife if necessary.

Now, I’d probably wear something else as a nighttime cologne, but this one is up for the job.

It can also be worn by men of all ages. It’s well put together, but not stuffy. Dynamic, but not too youthful. Great balance.

Overall Impressions of Allure Homme Sport

Overall, do I like Allure Homme Sport? Yes, I really love the way that this Chanel smells still. The play between the citrus, aldehydes, vanilla, and marine notes is fantastic. It’s a bit simpler than Eau Extreme, but it works and the dry down is awesome.

From a smell and versatility perspective, Allure Sport can have a place in almost any man’s rotation. The problem comes with the merely okay performance nowadays. It isn’t entirely worthless, but Eau Extreme exists, and gives you a bit more power and longevity.

As such, I’d go with that version if I wanted to buy from the Allure line. Update: Coming back to both of them, I did go with Eau Extreme, when I bought a full bottle. I came close to going with Allure Sport, but the performance just doesn’t do it for me. Still a very likeable fragrance with some really great moments.

This is still nice and sometimes I actually prefer the smell to Allure Sport of its flanker.

Allure Homme Sport is a classic. It’s a solid buy, but not a necessary one, when you can get Extreme instead.

Coach Floral EDP by Coach

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Coach Floral is a perfume that I’ve come across a number of times since its release in 2018, and I’ve always appreciated it. Recently, I got a sample included in an order from Macy’s, which gave me some time to further test it out and finally post a full review. How does Floral EDP smell? Does it last long? Is it worth a try?

What does Coach Floral EDP Smell Like?

Notes include: citrus, pink pepper, pineapple sorbet, rose tea, jasmine, gardenia, musk, patchouli, wood

Click here to try: Coach Floral Eau De Parfum 1.0oz Spray

My Full Review

Before we get into my review, let’s see how Coach describes it: Coach Floral EDP is inspired by Coach’s signature leather Tea Roses. Combining fruity and floral notes with crystal musks, the unique scent perfectly embodies Coach’s feminine, free spirit.

Bright, sweet, fruity tart opening. The early stages are definitely leaning to the fruity floral end of the spectrum. The pineapple leads the way and is fantastic. Reminds me of the same note found in Coach Platinum for Men.

The pineapple is flanked by citrus notes, think lemon. The pink pepper is present giving it some further warmth and kick of spice. Fresh opening but the sorbet aspect of the pineapple, keeps Coach Floral feeling cold at the start.

It will quickly turn into a white floral with sweet fruity highlights. The gardenia will actually play the largest role, to my nose. The rose tea is the second strongest and not the actual focus.

Finishes into a fairly creamy white floral with woods and musk. Still sweet, just a pretty far distance from the opening act, but leans more tart to my nose. The shift from fruity/floral to the floral notes leading the way is fairly drastic, but it doesn’t completely change.

Sillage, Longevity, and Versatility

Coach Floral does start out with a bit of a powerful punch, but it will settle into something that is slightly above average in terms of how it projects. One thing’s for sure, it’s not a weak fragrance, it just won’t completely take over a room with normal amounts of spraying.

The longevity was also pretty darn good on my skin. During testing, it would stick around for 7-8 hours before completely fading away.

Seasonally, spring and summer. This is really great when it is warm outside and is my favorite from Coach’s women’s line for that purpose. The fruits will probably be out of place in the winter months, but from moderate to higher temperatures, Floral can be a go to.

It’s not particularly a formal fragrance, but it can be worn in most other situations during the summer. Leans more towards a daytime kind of perfume, but it could be utilized at night also. It has a fun attractiveness, rather than being sexy, but it should be pretty easy to pick up complements with Floral.

Overall Impressions of Coach Floral EDP

Do I like this perfume? I do enjoy it quite a bit and it’s the best current option from Coach for summertime wear. Is it super amazing or groundbreaking? No, but it smells nice and is a dynamic fruity floral that gives you plenty of real highlights.

Personally, I love the pineapple note that they’ve been using in Coach fragrances over the past few years. The opening act with the tart citrus and the pineapple is fun and upbeat.

You get that initial freshness, a bit of spice, and then a transformation into a gardenia and rose led scent. Creamy, woody, with the opening act still hanging around.

The performance is good enough for most purposes and it Coach Floral presents you with plenty of opportunity to wear it. Some may not like the tart/sweet aroma or find it to be somewhat basic. However, this one has plenty of mass appeal and is  just very pleasant and easy to wear. Pretty safe as a blind buy.