Polo Red Extreme vs Polo Blue Comparison

For this entry into the men’s fragrance comparisons, I am going to be taking a closer look at two scents from the Ralph Lauren line up: Polo Red Extreme vs. Polo Blue EDT. I will break down each by different categories and deciding factors to determine, which one smells better? Which lasts longer? Ultimately, which men’s cologne is the better buy?

Tale of the Tape

Polo Blue

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

Polo Red Extreme

Notes include: blood orange, coffee, ebony wood

Click here to try: Polo Red Extreme Eau de Parfum Spray 4.2 Ounce, Ralph Lauren Men

Read my review: Polo Red Extreme

Opening

Polo Blue opens with melon and cucumber notes, giving it a cool, familiar, and crisp aroma. There is a constant aquatic note, at the heart of the fragrance, with tangerine and amber adding a bit more to the composition. It smells nice and has a rather simple aroma.

Red Extreme is also pretty simple, in its presentation. You get a big burst of blood orange and coffee notes. It’s simple, but is actually quite unique versus most of what you’ll get on the market. There is also a hint of that tart cranberry, which is found in the original Polo Red.

Which is better? Polo Blue is pleasant, but I prefer the opening of Red Extreme. That blood orange and coffee combination is just great, it does its own thing, while staying somewhat true to the original.

Edge: Red Extreme

Projection

The sillage of Polo Blue is pretty solid throughout, but not a bold fragrance. It is more of a moderate, that will get noticed close by, but not take over a room. It’s also an EDT, so the power is going to be less than the EDP, Red Extreme.

Extreme is quite strong and stays that way throughout. It’s probably not as ‘extreme’ as the name would suggest, but it has no problems projecting.

Edge: Red Extreme

Longevity

Polo Blue is a good performer overall. I have always gotten 7-8 hours of wear, on my skin, while wearing that cologne. However, it again falls short of the performance of Red Extreme. That fragrance will go 8-10 hours of wear.

Edge: Red Extreme

Versatility

In terms of occasion, they are pretty equal as to when they can be worn. However, in terms of climate, I think that Polo Blue has the advantage. It can be worn year round and will hold up way better in the heat, than Extreme.

Extreme can go into moderate temperatures, but is not a summertime scent. The Red is much more limited with its wearable opportunities.

Edge: Blue

Overall Scent

Polo Blue EDT is a nice scent. It’s never amazed me, as it’s pretty basic, and there are lots of similar scents. To me, I like the aquatic elements and the hints of citrus within that. Price wise, I would probably get Eternity Aqua over Polo Blue, as it’s similar and usually cheaper nowadays.

It does have the advantage, in that, it can be worn pretty much anytime. That’s usually a big selling point with Blue.

Red Extreme is also quite linear but it smells better and has greater performance versus Polo Blue. The blood orange and coffee are really nice, and then, there is the ebony wood note which brings its own unique element to the cologne.

Not everyone is going to like the notes in this, but it is a better composition in my mind, versus Blue.

Winner: Red Extreme

Best Men's Colognes

Best Men’s Colognes started back in 2013, as a way to share my learning experiences with different fragrances, as I dove head first into the hobby. Since then, I have written hundreds of reviews and other pages about perfumes and colognes.