Polo Blue vs. Polo Red (2023) – Which is Better?
Polo Blue vs. Polo Red.
The backbone of Ralph Lauren Polo colognes.
This review will compare Ralph Lauren Polo Blue EDT and Polo Red EDT. I will detail their smell, performance, and anything else you need to know. At the end, I’ll break apart which is best for you.
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Table of Contents
Ralph Lauren Polo Blue EDT
The opening is led by a mix of cucumber, melon, and subtle citric orange. It is less about the aforementioned notes and more about the fresh and clean nature. Underneath is a crisp aquatic aroma with herbal spice accents. I smell a slight, soapy character in the opening, but nothing overpowering.
In the beginning, it is more about the cucumber note. After a while, the melon becomes more prominent. The herbal qualities have stuck around in the dry down, and the base gains a musk note.
The further into the dry down, the more noticeable the musk note. It emphasizes the cleanliness of the lingering citruses. In the background are woody nuances that never allow the fragrance to get too light or airy. The entire wear was all about invigorating freshness.
Polo Blue lasts five to six hours on the skin with light projection. The first hour and a half, when the citruses are strongest, it pushes out a couple of feet. After this period, it recedes to a light ambiance for the rest of the wear. This is exclusively spring and summer wear for casual occasions.
Ralph Lauren Polo Red EDT
The opening is a sharp and fruity pairing of citruses and cranberry. The lemon is the most prominent, with a citric bitterness. While the fruity accord has a degree of sweetness, it’s just a subtle dose and more charming than syrupy.
The overarching emphasis in the opening is the dominant cranberry note; make sure you enjoy its tart sweetness. Amber nuances linger in the mid, giving the fruity top notes a decent depth. It smoothes cranberry’s sharp and tart nature while retaining the bright citric and fruity mixture.
Into the base, woodier and spicer qualities are added. They complement the coffee note well. The rest of the wear consists of coffee, wood, and spices with lingering notes from before.
Polo Red EDT lasts four to five hours on the skin with light projection. It pushes out the first half an hour before receding, becoming a skin scent. This is all-season wear, except the hottest days of summer and coldest days of winter. As for occasions, it is all.
Comparison
Smell
Polo Blue is by far a fresher and more aquatic-based fragrance. Polo Red is on the heavier and sweeter side. The biggest difference is Polo Red’s heavy emphasis on bittersweetness. Besides, these both are fresh in their respective way.
As the scent develops, the initial freshness deviates between the two fragrances. Polo Blue maintains the fresh and aquatic nature. It is a light and bright fragrance. Polo Red gets warmer and heavier with the amber and coffee.
Red and Blue finish with wood nuances, but like the mid, the main emphasis in Red is warmth and depth versus bright, freshness in Blue.
Performance and Versatility
The longevity and projection of each are quite similar. They are so close that they are negligible. The biggest difference comes from the versatility. Despite the warmth and depth of Polo Red, it is more versatile.
The same can be said for occasions. If you have a date or a formal occasion to attend, you’ll want to reach for Polo Red, as it is the more unique and interesting scent. If you needed a grab-and-go that was easiest to wear, that’s when you’d reach for Polo Blue.
Final Words
This is all the information you need to know about Polo Red and Blue, except for one thing… which is best? Neither. They are equal in their own right. You’ll have to decide based on why you want the fragrance.
I am a sucker for easy-to-wear fragrances. Thus, I naturally gravitate towards Polo Blue. However, if you started your collection with a blue fragrance like many of us and now want to spice up your collection, Polo Red will be the better choice.
After you try Polo Red and/or Polo Blue, I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.