Polo Blue Ralph Lauren 2016 Eau de Parfum

Polo Blue is a classic, an aquatic fragrance with recognizability, even today. In many countries around the world, it’s a bestseller, especially in warm places & at airports. Can this new, heavier EdP version keep up? No, in my opinion, hardly. A similar case to Chanel's Bleu, Kenzo's Homme, or Acqua di Gio - all cases where the EdPs just don’t deliver, or at least not like the originals. You see, perfume industry? Making EdPs from aquatic scents is suboptimal - but it seems this hasn’t quite sunk in yet. So I continue to hope for a great Acqua EdP - or perhaps for the late arrival of insight in the industry.

The original Polo Blue stood out with one of the most successful "cucumber-like" undertones, skillfully and intuitively breaking away from the mire of aquatics. The EdP tested in the duty-free area of Düsseldorf Airport is, in 2016, far from such a unique selling point, and it would have been even back in the 90s. Polo Blue EdP is damn boring & unremarkable - a gray mush of vetiver, bergamot & maybe powdery iris? No real idea, just as I dared to recognize directions & focuses, the scent became weaker & more boring. Like a gray, outdated suit or a dull pencil. No pep at all. A kind of slightly heavier Acqua di Gio, neither cucumber nor really maritime mood. Very strange, maybe the 10-hour flight to the Dominican Republic was too much? If that’s the case, there will be many disappointed spontaneous buyers at the airport this year :(. I warned you, I would have liked to reach for it - and then grabbed the Supreme Leather for the (evenings in the) Caribbean - doesn’t that say it all about this EdP? Doesn’t stink, doesn’t disturb, doesn’t please. One of my disappointments of the year. Bad Polo.

Bottle: robust & the metal shoulders match the metallic undertone of the fragrance. Still the best part of the overall package of disappointment.
Sillage: a small radius & only reachable by others in more intimate moments.
Longevity: 3 hours - EdP? :( Embarrassing & inappropriate.

Conclusion: a clear case - not the first & not the last - of: I like the EdT much more! Almost always the case with EdP versions of blue/fresh/light scents! And that’s putting it nicely - Blue EdP is a wannabe-aquatic that reminds more of pencils than of the sea.