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So this week, I tried out Ralph Lauren Polo Red Parfum for the first time. Not a fragrance I would usually gravitate towards, but I am a fan of the Polo brand, so I decided to try it.

My usual go-to of Ralph Lauren Fragrances is Polo Green, and you can also check out my review of that version here if interested.

Polo Red Parfum is an iconic fragrance inspired by Ralph Lauren’s classic car collection. It’s a modern perfume with a warm and fiery intensity and a new take on the original Polo Red EDT by Olivier Gilloti, released in 2013. If you haven’t heard of him, he’s pretty big in the industry and has produced some decent scents in his time, most noticeably some of the more prominent Tom Ford Fragrances.

To clarify, as this could get confusing, there are a few versions of the Polo Red fragrance, which are listed below.

• Polo Red Eau De Toilette
• Polo Red Eau De Parfum
• Polo Red Parfum (the one I am reviewing)

As you would expect, the “Parfum” version is the most concentrated and, thus, the most powerful, with the Eau De Toilette being the weakest. Now that we have that cleared up, let’s get into the review.

Appearance

I like how it is presented. The polished red bottle follows the same simplistic design as most of Ralph Lauren’s Polo fragrances, although the red makes it look a tad bolder than the rest. It is proudly featuring the guy on the horse playing polo, as you would expect.

It isn’t my favourite colour, although I can’t deny that It is presented in a way that looks and feels high quality. It would look great as a cheeky little addition to any man’s collection.

Ralph Lauren is known for his love of the classic sports car, and I can see where the design inspiration has come from to some extent. I can’t seem to relate the scent to a sports car, but the colour of the EDT bottle certainly has that fierce rosso corsa (“racing red”) feel to it. On the other hand, the Polo Red Parfum bottle looks more like ruby red to me but is still somewhat sporty nonetheless.

Where to buy?

So let me start by saying Ralph Lauren’s Polo Red Parfum isn’t cheap by a long shot, so make sure you test spray it first or at least read a few reviews before you purchase. You cannot throw it in your shopping basket as a blind buy.

I saw Polo Red in stock at Beauty Base for around £100, the most expensive Ralph Lauren fragrance I have seen. The other Ralph Lauren fragrances they had in stock were not as expensive as that, and it’s not even the best one, in my opinion.

Is it worth that kind of dosh? Well, that depends, and I’ll get into that in a bit, but that is expensive for any fragrance, so expectations are high here.

When it comes to getting the best deal, your best bet is almost always the discounters — especially when they’re running coupon codes. And the one that’s never let me down is FragranceX.

They ship worldwide, they only deal in authentic stock, and they’ve got a solid 30-day return policy, which keeps things risk-free.

Prices do move around (sometimes daily, especially during holiday sales), so it’s always worth checking the current deal. 👇

Polo Red Notes

Top Notes – Blood Orange, Bergamot, Pink Pepper

Middle Notes – Absinthe, Lavender

Base Notes – Musk, Opoponax, Cedar

My thoughts on the notes

Proudly featuring a simple but unique array of notes, Polo Red Parfum opens with fresh, vibrant, citrusy and fruity notes that are a little on the wild side. It’s the sort of fragrance you would wear to a party or a nightclub, along with your best shirt and jeans.

It becomes warm, with a fiery blend of woods and spices as it progresses to the heart notes. The heart notes are interesting, daring and a little cocky, well suited to a man in his 20s or early 30s.

General thoughts about this fragrance

You could make a statement with Ralph Lauren Polo Parfum, which would turn some heads for the right reasons. Red masculine scents like this usually remind me of the more flamboyant guy willing to take a risk or two. If you are that daring guy, you’ll love this for sure.

Another similar scent to Ralph Lauren Parfum, which has an equal charm, would be One Man Show Ruby Edition, and I have a page dedicated to that fragrance you can view here. If you do not have the money to drop on the Polo Red, I recommend One Man Show Ruby Edition as a fantastic (and much cheaper) alternative.

Ralph Lauren Polo Red Parfum is a crowd-pleaser if worn in the right setting. It has an alluring and fierce masculine quality, and few will dislike it. Even myself, someone who prefers the more traditional scents, find myself drawn to it. Even though a classic car collection inspires it, it is still a modern-smelling fragrance, and they did a pretty good job of it.

Performance

The performance of Ralph Lauren Polo Red Parfum has an extended-lasting depth, although it is not a powerhouse. It is much better than its Eau de Toilette counterpart, which leaves something to be desired. It will project nicely for the first few hours before it becomes a skin scent. It lasted for the best part of the day, and I could still smell it slightly after my shower, so overall, not bad at all.

🔥NEW FRAGRANCE!

Application

2-3 sprays of Ralph Lauren Polo Parfum are more than enough. Any more than that may become overpowering and will not be appreciated by those around you. We all know that guy who overdoes it with the spray and looks like he’s trying too hard, so don’t let that guy be you.

Where to wear it?

As I said before, Ralph Lauren Polo Red Parfum is a nighttime scent best saved for dinners, parties, clubbing and things of that sort. You may be able to get away with it in the office, but I would opt for something much lighter with a clean, freshness.

On the subject of office scents, check out my last review of the James Bond 007 fragrance, a perfect office scent with a clean freshness. Before you roll your eyes, as I probably would have if someone suggested it to me, I recommend you check it out, as you might be surprised.

When to wear it?

Polo Red is not an all-rounder; with its warmth and fiery intensity, I can see it becoming too cloying for the hot weather. Stick with mild to cold weather for the best results, or you might want to take a fresh, cold shower a few hours after application.

Conclusion

So there you have it: a pretty decent fragrance with a fiery blend and long-lasting depth. I wouldn’t purchase Polo Red Parfum at that price, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t.

It isn’t my bag, but for what it is, it would be worth the money if you were a fan of the original EDT version. I would happily pay 100 bucks for Polo Green any day of the week, but Polo Red? I don’t think so. It’s horses for courses at the end of the day (no pun intended).

If you have tried Polo Red or any other Polo Fragrances, let me know your thoughts, as I am always interested.

Other Ralph Lauren fragrances to check out

Customers of the Polo series may be interested in what else the brand has to offer, so I have listed some of the other editions below, some of which are on my wishlist.

• Polo Blue
• Polo Green (my fav)
• Polo Red Rush
• Polo Red Intense
• Polo Supreme Cashmere
• Polo Explorer
• Polo Double Black
• Polo Sport
• Polo Ultra Blue
• Polo Supreme Oud
• Polo Black

READY TO GRAB THIS FRAGRANCE?

If you’re ready to add this to your collection, here are two reliable places to check:

• FragranceX – usually the best prices, discount codes, and a wide selection. They also ship worldwide.
• Amazon – great if you prefer Prime delivery speed, just make sure to buy from a trusted seller.

👉 Pick the option that works best for you.

No matter where you’re reading from, smell good, spend smart.

WANT TO FAST-TRACK ALL OF THIS STUFF?

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It’s built for guys who want to smell sharp without overthinking it.