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It’s been a minute since I’ve done a head to head fragrance comparison, so let’s get to it. In today’s post, I am going to be covering a contest between Ultra Male vs. Polo Red Extreme. I have worn both of these colognes many times, but which smells better? The Jean Paul Gaultier or the Ralph Lauren scent? I will break down each by different metrics, before ultimately declaring one, which I consider to be the best.
Tale of the Tape
Ultra Male
Notes include: vanilla, pear, amber, woods, cinnamon, cumin, sage, lavender, mint
Click here to try: Jean Paul Gaultier Ultra Male for Men Intense Spray, Eau de Toilette, 4.2 Ounce
Read my original Review: Ultra Male
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
Ultra Male kicks things off with its sweet and somewhat candy-like aroma, that is joined by the warm spiciness of cinnamon and sage. Beyond that is the pear note, vanilla, and mint; which brings a cooler sensation.
Polo Red Extreme goes in with a bold blend of blood orange, some cranberry, and coffee. It is delicious, with it’s own DNA, but just a nod to the original Polo Red by using the cranberry note.
Which is better? That’s tough. I really like how both of these fragrances start off. If I have to pick? I think I’ll give the nod to Ultra Male, as it has more depth, and its nice aroma.
Edge: Ultra Male
Projection
Ultra versus Extreme, both should have huge sillage, do they? Well, yes, both are strong colognes. Polo Red Extreme is definitely powerful, but it doesn’t have that top tier sillage. Ultra Male does, it is strong and definitely a bold scent. It has the edge.
Edge: Ultra Male
Longevity
Here, we are are about the same. Both of these scents, usually give me around 8-9 hours of wear, each time. Both are very good with their longevity, but not elite.
Edge: Push
Versatility
The two of these fragrances are best reserved for the colder months. Ultra Male is pretty much a nightlife fragrance and isn’t going to find too much use as a daily wear. Polo Red Extreme, leans in that direction, but can actually be used casually or even at the office.
Edge: Red Extreme
Overall Scent
This is a fairly close call, as I really do enjoy both of these scents. Polo Red Extreme is the best incarnation of the Polo Red line. It’s pretty straightforward with the blood orange, coffee, and the later ebony wood base. It’s unique and offers a good performance. Plus, is slightly more versatile.
Ultra Male, is just a bit better smelling, in my opinion. It’s bold, warm, fresh, with a great sweet and spicy profile. It is an upgrade over the still very popular, Le Male. Yes, it has a limited use, but this stuff is a beast, in the winter months.
When it comes down to it, I would prefer to wear Ultra Male, a higher percentage of the time versus Polo Red Extreme. Though, I do recommend either.
Winner: Ultra Male
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( votes)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.