Bottle Design:
David Antonuccio

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Polo Ralph Lauren 1978 Eau de Toilette

7.8 / 10 641 Ratings

A popular perfume by Ralph Lauren for men, released in 1978. The scent is green-spicy. It is still in production.
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Main accords

Green

Spicy

Woody

Earthy

Leathery

Fragrance Pyramid

Top Notes

Juniper berry Basil

Basil

Caraway

Coriander

Tarragon

Bergamot

Heart Notes

Pine

Carnation

Chamomile

Geranium

Leather

Pepper

Jasmine

Rose

Base Notes

Oakmoss

Tobacco

Cedar

Musk

Patchouli

Amber

Vetiver

Perfumer

Carlos Benaïm

Videos

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Ratings

Scent

7.8641 Ratings

Longevity

8.0529 Ratings

Sillage

7.7511 Ratings

Bottle

7.6515 Ratings

Value for money

7.5290 Ratings

Submitted by DonVanVliet · last update on 02/06/2026.

Source-backed & verified

Interesting Facts

The fragrance was awarded the "Fragrance of the Year – Men's Prestige" prize by the Fragrance Foundation in 1979.

Smells similar

What the fragrance is similar to

Polo After Shave

Des Cendres

Highness III

Bogart Eau de Toilette

Fougère

Figolo

Reviews

50 in-depth fragrance descriptions

12/04/2013

6Scent 5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Gmmcnair
40 Reviews

Gmmcnair

5

My Old Friend Has Changed

The mini review on the vintage juice is dead on. I have a tiny bit of the vintage and it just sings. Beautiful and brilliant stuff. Powerful and masculine but elegant and refined.

My new bottle arrived today. While I still recognize it...time and reformulation have not been kind to my old friend. While the notes are still there, they've become harsh and bitter where they were once so lovely. Most of the staying power is now gone.

This version makes me think of an old high school friend. We were close in our younger days but a lot of hard life and bad decisions have given him a bitter and unpleasant edge. I still see the person he was but his bitterness has caused me to distance myself. I get the feeling this is going to happen with my former signature scent as well. Sad.

11/12/2015

7Scent 5Longevity 7.5Sillage

K1
121 Reviews

K1

Helpful Review 4

Green leather, gray oakmoss

It is not a surprise when Polo has that much fans. Everyone with least tendency to classics drops in its trap.
Polo is a grassy patchouli and smoky fresh pine. The opening is intense green and sport by all mean. Classic sports and combed hair. Then the greenness goes over-hued and animality appears. The complete fragrance is mossy grassy pine and musky gray leather. A real powerhouse.
Still one of the best to celebrate classics. Or you can go on with more vegetal version by Loewe Esencia pour homme. Great longevity, immensely great projection.
7/10

10/08/2021

10Scent 10Longevity 10Sillage

Eriqesque
12 Reviews

Eriqesque

7

Still a masterpiece

A lot has already been said over the years, so I’m not going to harp on the notes composition etc.
however every time I wear Polo Green I ask myself, why do you ever wear anything else? I’ve worn vintage when it wasn’t. I don’t care to go to the past. I live in the present and I’m happy with the current formula and stubby sprayer. Absolutely gorgeous.

12/28/2012

10Scent 7.5Longevity 7.5Sillage

Drseid
828 Reviews

Drseid

6

Benaim's Legendary Masterpiece...

*This is a mini-review of the vintage juice.

The original Polo was one of the first scents I ever was exposed to, and it was my "go to scent" throughout my high school days and into early college. Twenty-five years later, I do not wear it as frequently anymore but I still love the scent and find it has held up over time. A classic woody mossy and coniferous scent that screams masculine and powerful. The first Polo and still by far, even after all the various flankers and expansions of the brand, the best. Polo is an absolute classic and earns a well-deserved "masterpiece" rating of 5 stars out of 5.

10/14/2024

7Scent 7Longevity 7Sillage

Missk
1350 Reviews

Missk

Helpful Review 4

Chocolatey Patchouli Classic

Polo is a controversial yet legendary fragrance. I really like it despite its heaviness. I'm actually quite sad to see it relegated to the discount stores. Polo is easily one of Ralph Lauren's better masculines.

The opening of Polo is super strong and almost dated in its approach. A fair amount of patience is required in order to enjoy the heart and drydown. Thankfully, once settled, Polo is a smooth, delicious and woodsy aromatic.

The most dominant accords to my nose are the pine needles, tobacco, amber and patchouli. It almost smells like a Thierry Mugler fragrance, in that strong, chocolatey kind of a way.

I honestly cannot stop sniffing Polo, and I have been utterly enchanted by it since the heavy top notes faded. It's a pity that Polo has decreased in popularity over the years. It still deserves to be at the top.

None of my family members nor past lovers ever wore Polo, so I have no nasty associations when smelling it. To me it's new and exquisite. I wouldn't mind wearing it myself, as it's not so masculine that a woman should steer clear of it. I highly recommend.

Original review written: April 2013.

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