One thing that has been common across all the Polo colognes I’ve tried is that they consistently punch above their weight in terms of price.
I often receive more compliments wearing a $60 Polo fragrance than when I wear something two or even three times as expensive.
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Date Night
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Masculine Pick
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Best for Freshness
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4.2
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4.4
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3.9
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N/A
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N/A
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$72.00 ($17.14 / Fl Oz)
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Pros:
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Pros:
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Pros:
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- Classicly masculine with combinations of leather and pine.
- Perfect for a mature Gent in winter or fall.
- A casual cologne perfect for daily wear.
- Feels fresh and clean with refreshing minty notes.
The best polo colognes are all well-balanced blends with healthy longevity, but each has its own particular use case.
My top pick, the eponymous Polo, delivers a classy and gentlemanly palate of pine, leather, and muskiness – while something like Polo Red is a far brighter, sweeter affair.
You can be pretty specific about what you’re looking for, and chances are, Ralph Lauren has you covered.
Best Smelling Polo Colognes for Men
Polo by Ralph Lauren – Best Polo Cologne for the Gentleman
Polo Red by Ralph Lauren – Best for a Casual Date
Polo Sport – Best for an Active Lifestyle
Polo Deep Blue – Best for Kicking it by the Beach
Polo Red Extreme Ralph Lauren – Best for Energizing Any Room
Polo Black by Ralph Lauren – Best for Dressing to Impress
Polo Supreme Leather Ralph Lauren – Best for Classy Winter Wanders
Polo Supreme Cashmere Ralph Lauren – Best for Quiet Confidence
Best Polo Colognes in 2022
Polo by Ralph Lauren Eau de Toilette – Best Polo Cologne for the Gentleman
Polo is one of the most established colognes by Ralph Lauren. It draws on traditional accords to produce a mature and refined fragrance.
Classicly masculine with combinations of leather and pine.
Perfect for a mature Gent in winter or fall.
| Occasion: Classy maturity | Longevity: 8 hours |
| Age group: 30 – 50 | Performance: Strong |
| Season: Winter/Fall | Value for money: 5/5 |
It’s a little ‘old school’, better for the gentleman than the party boy; Polo might feel a little out of place in a nightclub, for example.
Polo is classically masculine, so if you’re after floral or sweet notes you’ll want to look elsewhere.
Instead, you’ll find complex and dark combinations of pine and leather. Grassiness and tobacco radiate in the body, before shifting into a smokier and woodsy drydown.
I’d stick to using Polo in winter/fall. There’s something about the heavier notes that feels a bit out of place in warmer weather. Cool and fresh evenings on the town are where Polo shines.
In terms of performance, Polo does well off 1-2 sprays. It’s quite easy to go overboard if you’re not careful, and 3-4 sprays might take you from pleasant to overbearing. Having said that, the heavy potency makes your bottle- and buck- go further.
I’ve had my 50ml for around a year and I’m still only around halfway through!
Longevity also stacks up. Polo can handle a full 8-hour day at the office, no worries.
| Top Notes | Basil Coriander, Bergamot, and Juniper Berries |
| Middle Notes | Pepper, Leather, Chamomile, and Pine |
| Base Notes | Cedar, Vetiver, Musk, Amber, Oakmoss and Tobacco |
Polo Red by Ralph Lauren Eau de Toilette – Best Polo Cologne for a Casual Date
Polo Red is a great example of the right way to incorporate sweetness into a masculine fragrance. This sporty, outdoorsy Eau de Toilette is sweet, without wandering into the feminine territory.
Bright, sweet, and sharp cranberry wrapped in a warm ambery cloud.
Girls seem to love it. A real compliment collector.
| Occasion: A date to an outdoor cafe | Longevity: 8 hours |
| Age group: 25 – 35 | Performance: Moderate |
| Season: Spring | Value for money: 5/5 |
The main event here is a super bright and tart cranberry note, complemented by citrusy grapefruit. The combination is sharp and sweet, wrapped up in a warm cloud of amber to mellow it all out.
There’s depth in the base with coffee and saffron adding some masculine character without being too heavy. There’s also a lovely touch of spice that I can’t quite put my finger on- perhaps ginger.
It’s seductive and classy, and the sweetness seems to appeal to women in quite a useful way. Just saying.
It’s best for adding some zip to a cool springtime walk and perfect for a casual coffee with a friend or date.
| Top Notes | Cranberry, Grapefruit, and Lemon |
| Middle Notes | Sage and Saffron |
| Base Notes | Coffee, Amber, and Woodsy Notes |
Polo Sport Eau de Toilette – Best Polo Cologne for an Active Lifestyle
This wonderful all-rounder has been around for decades, and for good reason. It’s an excellent example of how to pull off an aquatic sports cologne.
A casual cologne perfect for daily wear.
Feels fresh and clean with refreshing minty notes.
| Occasion: Running errands around town | Longevity: 5 – 7 hours |
| Age group: 22 – 35 | Performance: Moderate |
| Season: Spring/Summer | Value for money: 4.5/5 |
As the name suggests, Polo Sport is full of energy and dynamism, without coming off as immature or cheap. It’s a casual cologne, perfect for daily wear when you’re looking to feel fresh rather than dress to impress.
The top notes are clean and citrusy with a floral twist. Don’t let that worry you; the floral element is neutral and doesn’t ever threaten to turn feminine. The middle opens up smooth and inviting jasmine and seagrass. It’s all pinned down by a touch of ginger spice, before moving into a musky base packed with sandalwood, cedar, and amber.
This is an Eau de Toilette for warmer weather, for sure. The minty notes make Polo Sport feel a little ‘cold’. That’s great when worn in the sunshine, but might feel a little out of place in winter.
Longevity and projection are a little like Polo Red; not bad, but not as powerful as some of the other Polo colognes. You’re looking at 5-7 hours of worthwhile projection, which is still a meaningful amount but by no means great.
However, the nature of Polo Sport might save it here. It’s a perfect scent for active and sporty souls, so it’s no major hassle to reapply as part of your post-workout shower routine.
| Top Notes | Mandarin, Lemon, Neroli, Lavender, Bergamot, and Mint |
| Middle Notes | Ginger, Jasmine, Rosewood, and Seagrass |
| Base Notes | Cedar, Amber, Musk, and Sandalwood |
Polo Deep Blue Eau de Toilette – Best Polo Cologne for Kicking it by the Beach
Polo Deep Blue is one of the best spring/summer fragrances I’ve come across at this price point. It’s my favorite blue offering from Polo, for sure.
| Occasion: Kicking it by the beach | Longevity: 7 – 9 hours |
| Age group: 22 – 40 | Performance: Light |
| Season: Summer | Value for money: 4.5/5 |
It’s full of aquatic and citrusy charm. Perfect for casual days at the beach, or semi-formal drinks on a Mediterranean plaza.
Deep Blue revolves around a core mango note. It’s absolutely delicious and distressingly underused by other fragrances. It’s blended with bergamot and grapefruit which adds a refreshing citrus accord.
It’s followed by woody and herbaceous notes like cypress and sage which add some welcome grounding to the fruitier top notes.
Deep Blue is a real compliment collector, and suitable across most age ranges. It’s not stuffy and over-mature, or too youthful to be taken seriously. It’s a crowdpleaser across the board.
With that in mind, don’t pick up Deep Blue if you’re looking for a complex, signature fragrance. This is a sunny crowd-pleaser rather than an exercise in reinventing the wheel.
The performance is similar to most other Polo colognes, clocking in around 7-9 hours of meaningful longevity. In other words, plenty.
Projection is excellent for the first couple of hours, but I did notice Deep Blue clinging close to my skin after that.
| Top Notes | Bergamot, Grapefruit and Mango |
| Middle Notes | Sage, Geranium and Cypress |
| Base Notes | Aquatic Notes, Patchouli, and Musk |
Polo Red Extreme Ralph Lauren Eau de Toilette – Best Polo Cologne for Energizing Any Room
There’s a definite similarity between Red Extreme and the original Polo Red. The tart cranberry note is still present in Red extreme, but it’s less sweet, rounded out by more woodiness and warmth.
| Occasion: Adding edge to dive bar drinks | Longevity: 10 hours |
| Age group: 20 – 35 | Performance: Strong |
| Season: Year-round | Value for money: 4.5/5 |
It’s darker and smokier, with energizing coffee the central accord here. It’s vibrant, more like freshly harvested beans than a brewed cup of Joe. Then there’s a chocolatey note combined with blood orange in a way that’s zingy and full of life.
Red Extreme is a moody and decadent cologne. I’d almost call it a “goth” fragrance, dark and mysterious but still exciting and alluring.
The performance here is excellent. You’ll get a full day of use from Red Extreme, to the point that if you spray on your clothes, you’ll get a blast when you open your closet. It’s the longest-lasting Polo Eau de Toilette, for sure. Red isn’t bad, but Red Extreme borders on excellent.
With that in mind, you’ll only want to use one or two sprays max. Any more than that and you’ll risk flooding the room with that primary coffee accord.
| Top Notes | Blood Orange, Cranberry, and Coffee |
| Middle Notes | Sage and Chocolate |
| Base Notes | Amber and Woodsy Notes |
Polo Black by Ralph Lauren Eau de Toilette – Best Polo Cologne for Dressing to Impress
Polo Black is like something from a Bond movie. It’s smart and sophisticated, and an excellent choice for a suit-and-tie function.
| Occasion: Black-tie events | Longevity: 6 – 7 hours |
| Age group: 28 – 38 | Performance: Moderate |
| Season: Year-round | Value for money: 4/5 |
It’s from a world of cascading poker chips, clinking cocktails, and secret shared glances across the room.
Women seem to like it. When I wear Polo Black, I get so much attention that my male friends will stop and ask me what I’m wearing and how they can get a bottle.
If I’m going on an evening date, Polo Black is my go-to fragrance. There’s nothing too experimental going on here. Polo Black has a pretty universal appeal without any particularly “out there” accord.
The closest it comes is bringing back that underused mango note I mentioned in the Deep Blue review. Beyond that, the fragrance presents more commonplace notes, like citrusy lemon and tangerine.
These fresh fruits combine to produce a quality watery fragrance that refreshes and energizes.
Underneath, there are herbal and spice elements from sandalwood, tonka bean, and sage that add some welcome masculine bite.
Some of the best black colognes, while more expensive, can’t compete with the impeccable balance here.
But here’s the catch. The projection and longevity could use a little work. It’s not terrible, but I find that by the afternoon Polo Black starts to cling to the skin a little. You’ll get 6-7 hours of meaningful projection at most.
This is pretty surprising given that Polo colognes are generally quite potent, but Black seems to be an exception.
That being said, picking up a bottle is still a worthwhile investment if you’re happy to reapply throughout the day. It’s not weak by any stretch, but don’t expect mind-blowing strength.
| Top Notes | Tangerine, Mango, and Lemon |
| Middle Notes | Sage, Tonka Bean, and Patchouli |
| Base Notes | Sandalwood and Wormwood |
Polo Supreme Leather Ralph Lauren Eau de Toilette – Best Polo Cologne for Classy Winter Wanders
Polo Supreme Leather is an accessible fragrance that is perfect for winter. It’s a masculine fragrance, perfect for formal gatherings or an evening in a high-end bar.
| Occasion: Formal parties or expensive bars | Longevity: 10 hours |
| Age group: 28 – 50 | Performance: Strong |
| Season: Winter | Value for money: 5/5 |
Elegant and simplistic without ever becoming boring, Supreme Leather is a genuine crowd-pleaser in my experience.
Supreme Leather smells premium and refined, rather than rugged and dirty (as is often the case in other leather-inspired fragrances).
The leather is more of a co-star than the lead role, balanced with a creamy and sweet blend of tonka, honey, and cardamom.
These elements, along with nutmeg and saffron, help brighten things up and stop the leather short of being too aggressive.
It reminds me of a combination of my two favorite Tom Ford colognes, Ombre Leather and Tobacco Vannile, like a biker jacket dunked in a tub of ice cream.
If you’re looking for a leather fragrance that is neither domineering nor docile, you’re in the right place with Supreme Leather.
Gun to my head, I’d call it my favorite leather-inspired fragrance (I’m sorry Ombre Leather, but versatility wins the day here).
The projection and longevity is almost absurd here. I still get compliments from spraying on my clothes the previous day, for goodness sake.
With that in mind, if you want to get away with Supreme Leather in the office, handle it with care. Leather is still a bold accord, so using more than 1-2 sprays at work might come off as a little obnoxious.
| Top Notes | Cardamom and Nutmeg |
| Middle Notes | Saffron and Leather |
| Base Notes | Tonka Bean and Honey |
Polo Supreme Cashmere Ralph Lauren Eau de Toilette – Best Polo Cologne for Quiet Confidence
Supreme Cashmere is rich and alluring, like walking into an ancient temple as incense wisps through the air.
| Occasion: Versatile, subtle masculinity | Longevity: 7 – 8 hours |
| Age group: 35 – 55 | Performance: Light |
| Season: Year-round | Value for money: 4/5 |
To my nose, it’s a cashmere/oud mix, held down by a musky woodiness that adds some much-needed bite to the incense sweetness.
It’s not the most masculine cologne I’ve ever come across, prioritizing grace and poise over brute strength. Supreme Cashmere is not an in-your-face, alpha male offering. Still, there’s enough grounding from deep musk to prevent it from wandering off into feminine territory.
It’s all about balance and nuance, and I’d recommend it to a well-mannered individual in an equally well-tailored suit, looking for an elegant and simple Eau de Toilette. Some people compare it to Creed Aventus, but I’m struggling to make the connection. If anything, it’s closer to a dialed-back Royal Oud.
Longevity is a respectable 7/8 hours, but Supreme Cashmere is not the strongest in terms of projection. It seems to have difficulty cutting through the cold, so it’s best suited to spring or fall.
| Top Notes | Bergamot and Cardamom |
| Middle Notes | Myrrh and Incense |
| Base Notes | Cashmere and Agarwood |
F.A.Q – What You Should Know About Ralph Lauren and Polo Colognes
How Much Does Polo/Ralph Lauren Cologne Cost?
Polo and Ralph Lauren colognes are an affordable way to get a hold of a high-quality Eau de Toilette. They occupy the mid-range of pricing, costing between 50-90 bucks for a 50ml bottle.
That’s a great price point for a fragrance that will often outperform colognes that cost twice as much.
Is Polo and Ralph Lauren the Same?
Not quite. Polo is a sub-label designed to appeal to a particular segment of the market.
Ralph Lauren was a rags-to-riches story and came to prominence for its chic and preppy stylings.
They emphasize sophistication and comfort in their releases. They’d suit a student of a high-caliber university, for example, or a classy young professional.
Think of Polo as Ralph Laurens’ more casual, sporty cousin. It’s aimed at a slightly younger demographic, focused on activewear and pieces inspired by the traditions and trends of sport.
What both brands have in common are principles of high quality and attention to detail- which I appreciate!
Where Can I Buy Polo Cologne?
As Ralph Lauren is first and foremost a clothing brand, the in-store selection of colognes tends to be a little sparse.
They’ve discontinued some of their best offerings (like Supreme Leather and Supreme Cashmere), so you won’t find them in-store at all!
I recommend ordering online so you don’t have to compromise. Also, in my experience, that’s where you’ll tend to get the best deals, with many retailers offering savings on the RRP.
So What Next?
Unlike more premium houses, even the best Polo colognes are affordable. This makes it possible to pick up 2 or 3 bottles so you’ve got the right fragrance for any given moment.
I’d recommend starting with one of the base fragrances like Polo Red or Polo Black. Once you know which direction you want to go in, you can move on to more intense flankers like Red Extreme or Deep Blue.
For the discontinued Supreme collection, I’d look to act fast. As the supply dwindles, the price is only going one way – so pick up a bottle today while they’re still a good value!
Want to see how your other favorite brands stack up? Check our guides below:
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