Reviews of Polo Blue by Ralph Lauren
Polo Blue is an aquatic fragrance released in 2002. Polo Blue is a fresh, clean and sporty scent. The fragrance opens with fresh, juicy, and ozonic accords with pleasant melon, tangerine and cucumber notes. The heart is herbal and green with basil, clary sage and geranium notes. Polo Blue dries down to a dry, mossy, suede, patchouli, slightly musky and woody base. The fragrance smells synthetic, but appealing on the whole. The scent is competent but uninspiring. Years ago, Polo Blue was one of my favorite scents. Now I find it somewhat interesting, inoffensive, but mainly a “dumb reach”. I prefer Polo Blue to other aquatics, such as Acqua di Gio, BVlgari Aqua pour Homme, and Dolce & Gabanna Light Blue. I do enjoy Polo Blue edt more than the less fruity Parfum version, especially the opening.
Polo Blue is an average performer with good projection and adequate sillage. The fragrance is good for casual and office use and performs well in warm weather. While aquatics are not my favorite genre, I do enjoy Polo Blue from time to time during the spring and summer seasons. Recommended, but almost a neutral due to its synthetic nature and uninspiring design. Primarily a nostalgic scent for me.
Polo Blue is an average performer with good projection and adequate sillage. The fragrance is good for casual and office use and performs well in warm weather. While aquatics are not my favorite genre, I do enjoy Polo Blue from time to time during the spring and summer seasons. Recommended, but almost a neutral due to its synthetic nature and uninspiring design. Primarily a nostalgic scent for me.
This is a competent aquatic scent. Convention requires that I write more, though, but it is really, exactly, and utterly what you would expect from a designer “blue” fragrance. Clean, refreshing, but little of substance here. Described as an “aquatic fougere”, there are notes of apple, lavender, and some of the usual fougere components.
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I am of an age where Polo means a green bottle—no messing with the OG. Except for Polo Crest which was wonderful. When this flanker came out, I dismissed it out of hand. To make it worse, my daughter’s boyfriend wore this (given to him by my daughter) so I just felt it was out of time and place for me. Benaim and Laudamiel barely even referenced the original Polo especially in its fresh, fruity opening and herbal heart. Way down in the base there is a whisper of the original Polo—the moss, the woods and Patchouli see to that. If Blue had even just a touch of the pine and tobacco of the original, along with its fruity freshness, this would be more interesting to me. Taken on its own merits, this is a well-crafted freshie which I will leave to a younger crowd while I revel in the manly aura that is the original Polo.
This is the quintessential aquatic, fresh, citrusy, woodsy scent for a man. I’m met by bergamot on the opening with saline and a kiss of cardamom that’s afraid to show itself. In the heart I can smell basil. The crux of many perfumes. The base notes are comprised of woody notes, vetiver, and patchouli.
This is good to wear during sports and for going out as it has an outdoorsy feeling. I love this scent and its general profile.
This is good to wear during sports and for going out as it has an outdoorsy feeling. I love this scent and its general profile.
I'm really digging this blue Polo, just trying it now for the first time. I see that it's from 2002 but I think it's probably still one of the best blue fragrances on the market right now. Like top 3 material.
In fact it already has me kind of second guessing having bought Acqua di Gio Profondo here recently. Profondo is definitely stronger but that's also because of the hedione and that original AdG backbone. However, the marine accords in Profondo and Polo Blue are both similarly nice!
Polo Blue is well put together. It steers clear of that Axe/Lynx vibe you'll get from for example a Versace Eros. It's also not screechy ambroxan loud like Sauvage (edt) and Dylan Blue are.
It's just a fresh, in-your-face herbal aquatic with a good dose of geranium, aided by lavender, calone and some coumarin. Which is how I like my blue scents. Of course more work was done here to the top, heart and base but I hope you catch my drift. Other highlights are the velvety smooth base and the fruitiness in the top.
To me Polo Blue is one of the 3 best blues out there, the other ones being AdG Profondo and Dunhill Century Blue.
In fact it already has me kind of second guessing having bought Acqua di Gio Profondo here recently. Profondo is definitely stronger but that's also because of the hedione and that original AdG backbone. However, the marine accords in Profondo and Polo Blue are both similarly nice!
Polo Blue is well put together. It steers clear of that Axe/Lynx vibe you'll get from for example a Versace Eros. It's also not screechy ambroxan loud like Sauvage (edt) and Dylan Blue are.
It's just a fresh, in-your-face herbal aquatic with a good dose of geranium, aided by lavender, calone and some coumarin. Which is how I like my blue scents. Of course more work was done here to the top, heart and base but I hope you catch my drift. Other highlights are the velvety smooth base and the fruitiness in the top.
To me Polo Blue is one of the 3 best blues out there, the other ones being AdG Profondo and Dunhill Century Blue.
One of only a few fragrances I cannot tolerate. A basil and cucumber mix that resembles more of a stale salad dressing than a cologne. I can live with most of the other Polo line, Green, Black, Double Black, Sport etc. but Polo Blue has a veggie medicinal smell that is anything but "blue". I'll never understand this mess.
The opneong is a fresh and bright melon aroma, mainly a ripe watermelon, with a sell-executed cucumber note added in. A slightly ozonic citrus undertone of tangerines enhances the sunny feeling, although this is not a Cologne-style very refreshing experience.
The drydown turn herbal,with a lovely clary sage on centre stage. with basil as an adjunct. At times floral hunts break through, mainly geranium and whiffs of apple blossoms, which result in a sweeter mix.
The based is dominated by a soft patchouli and a lots of white musks. A background of a mossy nature (as artificial as it gets) with a very restrained note of new suede.
I get moderate sillage, good projection, and eight hours of longevity on my skin.
The agreeable opening of this discreetly summery scent, and the top notes that are standard issue but quite attractive, do not distract from this creation's flaws: the egregiously synthetic and generic base notes. Overall middle-of-the-road. 2.75/5
Not bad, not bad at all. Generic but pleasant. Longevity and sillage are both leaning to the bad side though. A nice, everyday, mild, never overwhelming scent. You cant go wrong with this one. But nothing special. Overall 7/10
This is the first cologne I ever owned growing up, I remember running across a sample in a magazine and being blown away. Therefor, nostalgia will factor into my review. For me, this is one of my top fragrances of all time, even if I have much more complex and sophisticated scents, this one was a milestone that introduced me to the fragrance world and will always remind me of those early teenage coming of age years, so for that reason alone it will always be special :)
The feelings I get when I smell Polo Blue are fresh, crisp, adventure, freedom. It's a fresh/spicy, musky aquatic and the initial blast can be a bit much with the alcohol and intensity (in fact I remember being disappointed as a kid bc my bottle didn't smell quite like the magazine sample), and as I'm older I can smell the small similarities between this and the classic Polo Green (a scent I truly hate on me but it establishes the Polo DNA which still runs strong with every Polo cologne), with just a bit of that classic spice, and really appreciate it. The fresh spicy quality helps push this frag into a higher level of the overpopulated fresh/aquatic scents, it's far from one dimensional and it's just exceptionally put together, though definitely a bit dated today in 2019.
It feels modern and classic at the same time, with fresh melon and cucumber mixed with musk and suede. I feel, along with the subtle spice, the suede is what makes this nearly perfect as an introductory scent. I will admit it's too musky for me, but in general I really dislike musk on my skin, I much prefer a deep, woody base over a musky one, which is precisely why I prefer the EDP version.
Blue is an overall crowd pleaser, which will not offend anyone and will always keep you smelling good , as it's not overly sweet and fruity or just one dimensionally fresh, but balanced quite well. For me personally it is the best of the Polo colognes (besides the Blue EDP) and a true modern classic, the definition of casual freshness and elegance, though it will be a bit too preppy for some. I can honestly wear this any day, any weather, night time, work, gym, everything. I'll probably always have some on hand, just for nostalgia and because it's always reliable on a hot day.
This, along with Nautica Voyage are probably my favorite scents on a hot day, like after mowing the lawn or working out, they are just so fresh and clean, absolutely rejuvenating! I've yet to find a better basic fresh casual scent (though many that are more complex and classy, don't get me wrong) to be honest, and that's saying something as it was released in 2002 and I've tested hundreds of frags :)
-8/10, would rate higher, as this is a true classic, but the reformulation has reduced performance and projection it seems, sadly, and it honestly does not smell the same (obviously similar, but there is much more musk which gives it a sort of clean linen scent that was never there in my original bottle.). It is still very good but doesn't quite smell or perform like it used to :(
Old formulation (my original bottle from 2004): 9.5/10
Current:
Opening - 9.25/10
Dry down - 6.5/10
Longevity - 5/10
The feelings I get when I smell Polo Blue are fresh, crisp, adventure, freedom. It's a fresh/spicy, musky aquatic and the initial blast can be a bit much with the alcohol and intensity (in fact I remember being disappointed as a kid bc my bottle didn't smell quite like the magazine sample), and as I'm older I can smell the small similarities between this and the classic Polo Green (a scent I truly hate on me but it establishes the Polo DNA which still runs strong with every Polo cologne), with just a bit of that classic spice, and really appreciate it. The fresh spicy quality helps push this frag into a higher level of the overpopulated fresh/aquatic scents, it's far from one dimensional and it's just exceptionally put together, though definitely a bit dated today in 2019.
It feels modern and classic at the same time, with fresh melon and cucumber mixed with musk and suede. I feel, along with the subtle spice, the suede is what makes this nearly perfect as an introductory scent. I will admit it's too musky for me, but in general I really dislike musk on my skin, I much prefer a deep, woody base over a musky one, which is precisely why I prefer the EDP version.
Blue is an overall crowd pleaser, which will not offend anyone and will always keep you smelling good , as it's not overly sweet and fruity or just one dimensionally fresh, but balanced quite well. For me personally it is the best of the Polo colognes (besides the Blue EDP) and a true modern classic, the definition of casual freshness and elegance, though it will be a bit too preppy for some. I can honestly wear this any day, any weather, night time, work, gym, everything. I'll probably always have some on hand, just for nostalgia and because it's always reliable on a hot day.
This, along with Nautica Voyage are probably my favorite scents on a hot day, like after mowing the lawn or working out, they are just so fresh and clean, absolutely rejuvenating! I've yet to find a better basic fresh casual scent (though many that are more complex and classy, don't get me wrong) to be honest, and that's saying something as it was released in 2002 and I've tested hundreds of frags :)
-8/10, would rate higher, as this is a true classic, but the reformulation has reduced performance and projection it seems, sadly, and it honestly does not smell the same (obviously similar, but there is much more musk which gives it a sort of clean linen scent that was never there in my original bottle.). It is still very good but doesn't quite smell or perform like it used to :(
Old formulation (my original bottle from 2004): 9.5/10
Current:
Opening - 9.25/10
Dry down - 6.5/10
Longevity - 5/10
To me, Polo Blue is an upscale version of a mass-market men's fragrance. It's like a double quarter-pounder with cheese from McDonalds, except made with Wagyu beef.
It starts out with the oft-used melon and cucumber note found in hand soaps and other skincare products layered on, essentially, a Cool Water by Davidoff (1985) foundation. This is not something that comes across smelling unique because of the variety of the ingredients. Rather, it comes across as an extremely well-crafted version of scents that you've smelled countless times, just not as expertly blended as they are in Polo Blue. This has zero resemblance to the original Polo from 1978, but it is exactly the type of scent that I would imagine Carlos Benaim putting out as the 2002 spiritual successor to the original. It definitely has the synthetic qualities that were prevalent at that time, but it's not one of those overpowering and overly synthetic fragrances that resembled some sort of delousing fluid that flooded the market at the turn of the millennium. Again, it's the highest rung of mass-market fragrance.
There's nothing here that knock my socks off as far as originality, but the composition is just superbly done. This is a classed-up aquatic that doesn't smell like a Cool Water flanker or something best used instead of a shower after playing a pickup game of basketball. It works great as a warm weather scent, and performance is good, with decent projection. It's a good everyday generalist that I would qualify as a "dumb grab," but a good one at that.
Thumbs up.
It starts out with the oft-used melon and cucumber note found in hand soaps and other skincare products layered on, essentially, a Cool Water by Davidoff (1985) foundation. This is not something that comes across smelling unique because of the variety of the ingredients. Rather, it comes across as an extremely well-crafted version of scents that you've smelled countless times, just not as expertly blended as they are in Polo Blue. This has zero resemblance to the original Polo from 1978, but it is exactly the type of scent that I would imagine Carlos Benaim putting out as the 2002 spiritual successor to the original. It definitely has the synthetic qualities that were prevalent at that time, but it's not one of those overpowering and overly synthetic fragrances that resembled some sort of delousing fluid that flooded the market at the turn of the millennium. Again, it's the highest rung of mass-market fragrance.
There's nothing here that knock my socks off as far as originality, but the composition is just superbly done. This is a classed-up aquatic that doesn't smell like a Cool Water flanker or something best used instead of a shower after playing a pickup game of basketball. It works great as a warm weather scent, and performance is good, with decent projection. It's a good everyday generalist that I would qualify as a "dumb grab," but a good one at that.
Thumbs up.
Oh man where to begin?! One of the first fragrances I have ever owned. I got it as a gift from my father (R.I.P.) when I was like 15/16 years old. Back then, I really didn't care about fragrances, how to wear them, or even how they smelled. I just sprayed it on and out the door I went.
Fast forward quite a few years later, and I'm still rocking it. I don't grab for it as much as I do several others in my collection, but I still reach for it. Mainly casual usage.
For those that are new to it or have never sniffed it, here's my take on it:
Scent: The first spray really takes me back as I spray it on my skin. To a time where I didn't pay bills, haha. I have to say, spraying it now, it's undeniably a old school designer scent. I can get that vibe from it. The initial spray consists of that synthetic melon and cucumber combination. Polo Blue is very linear on me. It doesn't change much at all. Even when it eventually dries down, I still get that melon/cucumber combo, plus the musk. The musk, in my opinion, is what carries this scent. There are a ton of notes in the breakdown and I don't get that many to be honest. It does last about 6-8 hours on me before it's gone.
Rating: 8/10
Projection: This one is not going to score high in the projection department. It's a solid 3/5 stars in my opinion (or a 6/10 if you're using the numerical rating scale). For what the scent tries to achieve, I'd say the projection is right where it needs to be - in the middle. Polo Blue is a very casual scent. It's not meant to be "loud" or "in your face." After the first hour or two, it tones down quickly to a skin scent. If you're just relaxing or at work, the last thing you're going to do is spray on something like Jubilation XXV. You'll either annoy everyone around you or annoy yourself. Polo Blue sits in that happy medium. As a result though, if we're doing this by the "if it's less than 8 hours it takes a hit" rule, then it's going to lose some points here.
Rating: 6/10
Versatility: I wear this stuff anytime, anywhere. I don't care which season. I will say, however, that this scent performs BEST in the spring/summer (primarily summer). It is such a versatile scent. Casual, office, home, date, night out, you name it. High marks here.
Rating: 10/10
Longevity: Like I said in the scent section, it lasts 6-8 hours and then it's gone. Pretty straightforward.
Rating: 7/10
Fast forward quite a few years later, and I'm still rocking it. I don't grab for it as much as I do several others in my collection, but I still reach for it. Mainly casual usage.
For those that are new to it or have never sniffed it, here's my take on it:
Scent: The first spray really takes me back as I spray it on my skin. To a time where I didn't pay bills, haha. I have to say, spraying it now, it's undeniably a old school designer scent. I can get that vibe from it. The initial spray consists of that synthetic melon and cucumber combination. Polo Blue is very linear on me. It doesn't change much at all. Even when it eventually dries down, I still get that melon/cucumber combo, plus the musk. The musk, in my opinion, is what carries this scent. There are a ton of notes in the breakdown and I don't get that many to be honest. It does last about 6-8 hours on me before it's gone.
Rating: 8/10
Projection: This one is not going to score high in the projection department. It's a solid 3/5 stars in my opinion (or a 6/10 if you're using the numerical rating scale). For what the scent tries to achieve, I'd say the projection is right where it needs to be - in the middle. Polo Blue is a very casual scent. It's not meant to be "loud" or "in your face." After the first hour or two, it tones down quickly to a skin scent. If you're just relaxing or at work, the last thing you're going to do is spray on something like Jubilation XXV. You'll either annoy everyone around you or annoy yourself. Polo Blue sits in that happy medium. As a result though, if we're doing this by the "if it's less than 8 hours it takes a hit" rule, then it's going to lose some points here.
Rating: 6/10
Versatility: I wear this stuff anytime, anywhere. I don't care which season. I will say, however, that this scent performs BEST in the spring/summer (primarily summer). It is such a versatile scent. Casual, office, home, date, night out, you name it. High marks here.
Rating: 10/10
Longevity: Like I said in the scent section, it lasts 6-8 hours and then it's gone. Pretty straightforward.
Rating: 7/10
This is a good scent, not a great scent. This is an original scent, but not a powerful scent. I feel like Polo Blue is the lens through which I view most aquatics.
From the moment you spray it you know what it is. It is bright, fresh, and the melon, oh lord, the melon! I really appreciate the opening on this fragrance.
If you like Nautica Voyage, you can probably blind buy this with pretty certain success.
Where this fragrance falls short: its longevity. Applied at 9am this is faint by noon. It projects a fairly small radius. I wish I knew more about the dry-down, but I feel like it is still changing by the time it disappears. It is one of those fragrances where I feel like I never really get to experience the base notes.
A summer fragrance, for sure. Not quite for the beach, but definitely for a day on the boat, a day at the golf course, a day in the park. Not for nighttime, dates, or formals.
Scent: 7/10
Longevity: 3/10
Sillage: 4/10
From the moment you spray it you know what it is. It is bright, fresh, and the melon, oh lord, the melon! I really appreciate the opening on this fragrance.
If you like Nautica Voyage, you can probably blind buy this with pretty certain success.
Where this fragrance falls short: its longevity. Applied at 9am this is faint by noon. It projects a fairly small radius. I wish I knew more about the dry-down, but I feel like it is still changing by the time it disappears. It is one of those fragrances where I feel like I never really get to experience the base notes.
A summer fragrance, for sure. Not quite for the beach, but definitely for a day on the boat, a day at the golf course, a day in the park. Not for nighttime, dates, or formals.
Scent: 7/10
Longevity: 3/10
Sillage: 4/10
My best way to describe Polo Blue (2002) to the old heads is an "aquatic made like a chypre", and to younger fragrance fans as "a sweaty aquatic", because it is both of those. Truth be told, Polo Blue exists as Carlos Benaim's return to the series he started in 1978 with the original Polo, reinterpreting that mossy gentlemanly scent themed after a sport only one-percenters play, but for the Y2K crowd obsessed with freshness and dynamic. Polo Blue subsequently renewed interest in the aquatic genre that was starting to cool its heels after "radioactive grapefruit" ozonics rose to plague shelves with their feckless attention grab for the emerging affluent "sons of the establishment"; the Donald Trump Jr's of the world that wanted to smell loud and decorated in opulence they didn't earn but not in the gentrified way their parents did. All that stuff eventually fell downmarket anyway and was forgotten as it became discontinued, while Polo Blue gave the more-populist aquatic an upper-class shot in the arm which renewed interest not only in the Polo fragrance line for younger people, but in the aquatic genre itself. I actually encountered Polo Blue at Walmart, however ironic as that sounds, because they attempted for a while to sell high-end new releases (when they weren't stolen) to show their fragrance aisle was more than a place to buy Calgon and Axe sprays. The "made like a chypre" factor comes from it's use of dry mossy textures and sharp, slightly virile tones, while the "sweaty aquatic" comes from the prominent but bleached-out bay note floating in the dry-down. It's not the average blue juice for sure, at least not until copied.
Polo Blue opens with a kerfuffle of juicy fruitiness and cucumber. Carlos Benaim wasn't messing around with his core audience for this and went right for the throat with bouncy melon and tangerine. This isn't quite ozonic territory but it definitely feels like the average aquatic opening but with a prescription of Vivance fed to it, with a side of trendy cucumber water. The middle comes from basil, clary sage, and geranium, which is pretty crisp and green standard-issue fare for masculines going back 50+ years, and likely Benaim's nod to tradition that helps anchor this down so the older crowd, more likely to buy Ralph Lauren suits than scents at that point, might see it as adequate. There's quite a lot of fantasy notes here which I'm trying to ignore, the kind of thing Calvin Klein is known for and not Ralph Lauren, so the base regardless of what's listed has a slight dry moss and patchouli, with Iso E Super, amber, a musk molecule called galaxolide, and bay leaf. These were the days just before norlimbanol or ambroxan, so none of that is here, but the stuff is totally aswim with and hedione, plus a little dihydromyrcenol (a.k.a. the "Cool Water" smell), a bit of calone for the melon accords, and the aforementioned Iso E Super in the nose-tinge woody base, so in strictest terms, Polo Blue is a chemical scent that super-hardline indie niche or vintage purists will hate. I'm sure those folks are not even remotely considered by the perfumer or house anyway, but it bears mentioning. Wear time is about eight hours and sillage will remain present throughout, while projection is good for about half that time, and Polo Blue is the rare aquatic with strong enough legs for winter. This can be signature scent worthy too.
Polo Blue served a niche that I don't think anyone knew existed initially: a crowd of young professionals looking for a slightly formal and forthright masculine but in aquatic form. All the 90's aquatics were casual, sporty, slightly androgynous and laundry-clean affairs that were fine for day-running in summer or inoffensive fragrance bubbles within one's own office cubicle, but didn't serve the suit and tie upper management guy. If you're forced into a 3-piece suit 365 days a year and are a guy who normally wears stuff like Terre de Hermès (2006) but want something fresher for days commuting in high heat without losing the formality, this scent is a serious option for you. Polo Blue has enough manly dryness to recall the starched collars of mid-century masculinity, hence my link to the chypres of that era, but the sweat factor also plays into usability at the gym too, since it won't stand out a ton but will deodorize nonetheless, making it a great office to gym then home or out kind of smell. The success of Polo Blue spawned Nautica Blue (2005), Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme (2005), Versace Pour Homme (2008), and even distantly Bleu de Chanel (2010), which itself ushered in the post-aquatic "blue fragrance" craze. Polo Blue is arguably the most popular Polo creation in the 21st century, dwarfing the original in use for the 35 and under crowd, and it's easy to see why. Folks who hate the use of any post 1990 aromachemicals or aquatics will hate this too, so there's nothing to see here for them, but for a person who just sorta likes (but doesn't love) the aquatic genre, Polo Blue is certainly one of the better entries and presents the aquatic in a dressed-up and classy form, worthy of at least sampling. 2016 saw the introduction of Polo Blue in parfum form, which like with the Bleu de Chanel line, adds increased sillage, warmth, and heft, but loses some of the freshness this genre is all about. A solid blue juice and one of my faves in the genre. Thumbs up!
Polo Blue opens with a kerfuffle of juicy fruitiness and cucumber. Carlos Benaim wasn't messing around with his core audience for this and went right for the throat with bouncy melon and tangerine. This isn't quite ozonic territory but it definitely feels like the average aquatic opening but with a prescription of Vivance fed to it, with a side of trendy cucumber water. The middle comes from basil, clary sage, and geranium, which is pretty crisp and green standard-issue fare for masculines going back 50+ years, and likely Benaim's nod to tradition that helps anchor this down so the older crowd, more likely to buy Ralph Lauren suits than scents at that point, might see it as adequate. There's quite a lot of fantasy notes here which I'm trying to ignore, the kind of thing Calvin Klein is known for and not Ralph Lauren, so the base regardless of what's listed has a slight dry moss and patchouli, with Iso E Super, amber, a musk molecule called galaxolide, and bay leaf. These were the days just before norlimbanol or ambroxan, so none of that is here, but the stuff is totally aswim with and hedione, plus a little dihydromyrcenol (a.k.a. the "Cool Water" smell), a bit of calone for the melon accords, and the aforementioned Iso E Super in the nose-tinge woody base, so in strictest terms, Polo Blue is a chemical scent that super-hardline indie niche or vintage purists will hate. I'm sure those folks are not even remotely considered by the perfumer or house anyway, but it bears mentioning. Wear time is about eight hours and sillage will remain present throughout, while projection is good for about half that time, and Polo Blue is the rare aquatic with strong enough legs for winter. This can be signature scent worthy too.
Polo Blue served a niche that I don't think anyone knew existed initially: a crowd of young professionals looking for a slightly formal and forthright masculine but in aquatic form. All the 90's aquatics were casual, sporty, slightly androgynous and laundry-clean affairs that were fine for day-running in summer or inoffensive fragrance bubbles within one's own office cubicle, but didn't serve the suit and tie upper management guy. If you're forced into a 3-piece suit 365 days a year and are a guy who normally wears stuff like Terre de Hermès (2006) but want something fresher for days commuting in high heat without losing the formality, this scent is a serious option for you. Polo Blue has enough manly dryness to recall the starched collars of mid-century masculinity, hence my link to the chypres of that era, but the sweat factor also plays into usability at the gym too, since it won't stand out a ton but will deodorize nonetheless, making it a great office to gym then home or out kind of smell. The success of Polo Blue spawned Nautica Blue (2005), Bvlgari Aqva Pour Homme (2005), Versace Pour Homme (2008), and even distantly Bleu de Chanel (2010), which itself ushered in the post-aquatic "blue fragrance" craze. Polo Blue is arguably the most popular Polo creation in the 21st century, dwarfing the original in use for the 35 and under crowd, and it's easy to see why. Folks who hate the use of any post 1990 aromachemicals or aquatics will hate this too, so there's nothing to see here for them, but for a person who just sorta likes (but doesn't love) the aquatic genre, Polo Blue is certainly one of the better entries and presents the aquatic in a dressed-up and classy form, worthy of at least sampling. 2016 saw the introduction of Polo Blue in parfum form, which like with the Bleu de Chanel line, adds increased sillage, warmth, and heft, but loses some of the freshness this genre is all about. A solid blue juice and one of my faves in the genre. Thumbs up!
quintessential aquatic, with lots of melon and cucumber (they smell very similar actually), a bit of citrus, fresh and masculine and slightly spicy; however it has weak sillage and longevity. Very ozonic. In any case, I like the scent itself a lot.
To me it smells really fresh. A bit soapy, but not in a bad way. Great choice for summer indeed, but can be worn all around the year imo. Longevity is pretty good as well as projection.
Not overpowering, which is good. Pleasant and soft, fresh scent. Kinda reminds me of holiday time.
Not overpowering, which is good. Pleasant and soft, fresh scent. Kinda reminds me of holiday time.
Boring. I had tried this last year, and by the time I got home I forgot what it smelled like. I don't get melon or green notes, that may have pushed it into the unique realm, but it is just non-descript.
Very mediocre. It's compared to Eternity Aqua. Aqua has more going on, but Polo Blue smells better. Polo Blue is a bit dated for an aquatic. I mostly get the clary sage, geranium, and a ton of white musk. I wish there was more cucumber and melon to smell, but there isn't this has a very transparent feel, and also and aquatic feel, but it lacks those key aquatic notes in full force.
This smells more like a deodorant than anything to me. Longevity and projection are both weak.
This smells more like a deodorant than anything to me. Longevity and projection are both weak.
I really enjoy the smell of this perfume despite the melon notes. I just got the RL gift set containing Polo Blue, and I was kind of expecting to never wear this, as I already knew the ingredients, and I can't stand the flavour of melon (which led me to believe that I'd despise the smell of it, too). When I whiffed this, I was pleasantly surprised because I actually didn't find it to be bad at all. The watermelon and cucumber are much more dominant than the 'regular' melon, and this is good, 'cause the smell of watermelon does not resemble the taste of it (at least not in my view). That means that the top notes are basically just very fresh and clean and not at all sweet and nauseating. After application, the basil, sage and moss start to be quite dominant, and the musk is also easily detectable. This is, in my opinion, perfect, because the scent does not become too sweet at any point, and it definitely stays masculine from beginning till end.
It's a really good everyday-scent, as it is not very peculiar and not very overpowering, but it has a very clean smell.
I never found myself to be a sports-kind of guy (I usually prefer elegant over sporty), but I actually really like this perfume even though it is sort of a sporty scent; but there is something classy about it at the same time (I guess polo is quite a classy sport, so why am I surprised?), so I find this to be a brilliant perfume for casual wear. I wouldn't wear it on formal occasions or on a date (I'd probably go for a spicier, woodier scent on these occasions), but I find that to be a positive feature because I love to be able to swith between scents.
As for projectivity/longevity I'm not the best person to ask, as all perfumes (except really low-quality ones, that is) last all day on me and maintain quite a good projection.
For casual wear: 8/10
All in all: 7/10
It's a really good everyday-scent, as it is not very peculiar and not very overpowering, but it has a very clean smell.
I never found myself to be a sports-kind of guy (I usually prefer elegant over sporty), but I actually really like this perfume even though it is sort of a sporty scent; but there is something classy about it at the same time (I guess polo is quite a classy sport, so why am I surprised?), so I find this to be a brilliant perfume for casual wear. I wouldn't wear it on formal occasions or on a date (I'd probably go for a spicier, woodier scent on these occasions), but I find that to be a positive feature because I love to be able to swith between scents.
As for projectivity/longevity I'm not the best person to ask, as all perfumes (except really low-quality ones, that is) last all day on me and maintain quite a good projection.
For casual wear: 8/10
All in all: 7/10
Great scent for daily / work/ casual wear. I used to love this to the point where to many people asked me what it was and then bought it so i no longer wear. But it was a great one while it lasted!
Very nice, now classic scent that doesn't resemble the original Polo too much. Polo Blue definitely has a nice, watery quality with interesting notes like cucumber and melon, covered securely in a mossy, slightly musky and woody base that can be worn by young or old wearers.
Polo fragrances do well on my skin. this one is a very unique one from the line. the melon note is my favorite and it lasts a long time. longevity is excellent! I get at least 10 hours from any polo cologne that I wear! this is my 3rd favorite from the line behind polo black and polo red.
Perhaps another victim of a disappointing reformulation - and therefore a victim of its own success. I generally love all Polo fragrances, but as others have noted, there is a distinctly irritating, acrid top note which kills the whole experience for me. I am sure when i first got this in the early 2000's it wasn't this bad.
The problem with that overpowering top note is that i can detect any others - be it in the middle or the base. All i get is this nasty nostril irritant the whole day long. I really wanted to like this they way i remembered it. But alas i don't. Disappointing.
The problem with that overpowering top note is that i can detect any others - be it in the middle or the base. All i get is this nasty nostril irritant the whole day long. I really wanted to like this they way i remembered it. But alas i don't. Disappointing.
Polo Blue smells very fresh and has a piercing, striking opening that could be slightly cloying but settles nicely without too much power.
A young, summer scent good for active wear. Never worn it before my trying today but instantly recognized it from smelling on others so it is not the most original scent.
Projection is strong during the first few hours.
A young, summer scent good for active wear. Never worn it before my trying today but instantly recognized it from smelling on others so it is not the most original scent.
Projection is strong during the first few hours.
Polo Blue actually reminds me of Versace Eau Fraiche, which I also like. Generic, but effective.