Ralph Lauren
A unique visual signature based on accords, character, and seasonality
The grapefruit and bergamot assault with citric precision, immediately undercut by that slightly unnerving synthetic shimmer of Cristalfizz. It's bright, yes, but with an artificial gleam that feels almost like cologne viewed through frosted glass—crisp and intentionally cool rather than naturally effervescent.
The herbal verdancy truly reveals itself here as cypress and clary sage emerge from beneath the citrus haze, creating a green-aquatic hybrid that's more landscape than linear scent. The geranium absolute weaves through with peppery nuance, preventing any oceanic sweetness from settling, keeping everything austere and contemplative.
The base notes arrive with surprising transparency—balsam fir resin and marine notes create an impression of misty air and seaweed rather than substantive projection, whilst the musk and ambroxan provide skin-like warmth without earthiness. What remains is primarily an aquatic-green whisper, nearly indolic in its skin-scent intimacy.
Polo Deep Blue arrives as a studied contradiction—a fragrance that insists on freshness whilst harbouring an undeniable synthetic backbone. Carlos Benaïm has crafted something deliberately cool and cerebral rather than immediately seductive. The Hawaiian green mango opens with a waxy, almost plasticky sheen, immediately complicated by the grapefruit's sharp bite and bergamot's herbal edge. There's a peculiar candy-like quality to the Cristalfizz accord that prevents this from becoming a straightforward citrus proposition; it's synthetic in the most honest sense, leaning into its artificiality rather than masking it.
This is fundamentally a green fragrance dressed in aquatic clothing. The cypress and clary sage establish themselves early, building a herbaceous scaffold that feels more architectural than organic—these aren't soft, pillowy florals but rather angular botanical lines. The geranium absolute adds a peppery, slightly medicinal counterpoint, preventing any softness from creeping in.
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3.5/5 (73)