Polo Explorer Ralph Lauren 2007 Eau de Toilette

The Polo Explorer was one of my first fragrances. In my now too large collection, it holds a firm place because it has a very distinctive scent. With its name and uniqueness, it reminds me of times gone by, of old stories, either read or told. The best ones are those that are well embellished, perhaps with a bit of light but creative exaggeration, and that stimulate the imagination. Water music ;-). Close your eyes, and you find yourself tracing the footsteps of Livingstone through the savannah in search of the legendary source of the Nile. You wander through the tall, dried grass, where something fruity-spicy is blooming somewhere. A mild, fresh morning breeze blows over from the lake. A few tree stumps, and it lightly smells of exotic wood. Just a quick sip from the tin water bottle hanging from the old leather belt before moving on. The water is still cool, but not for long, as the day will get hot again...

Anyone who makes it to Oxford to the Museum of Natural History can discover the Pitt Rivers Museum of Ethnography and Archaeology at the end of the impressive dinosaur skeleton collection, right behind the giant jaws of the Tyrannosaurus Rex. There, one could, at least some time ago, browse almost alone, open the heavy drawers of the long rows of wooden display cases, and among the seemingly randomly collected finds of numerous past explorers, surprisingly come across a few shrunken heads - not as well preserved, of course, as the exhibits in the glass case a bit further on.

Alright, back to the practical information. The brew from Rommel's old field flask opens with a mandarin-coriander seed mix that reminds me a bit of a clone of Gucci Envy, which I have in my sample collection. However, the Explorer quickly shifts to freshness, but I can't quite say where that comes from. Perhaps sandalwood freshness? Four to five sprays on the inside of the undershirt, plus the same amount on the chest, and the longevity issue is resolved. It easily lasts for a softly perceivable personal scent bubble of tropical wood and leather with a fresh undertone throughout the entire day of exploration. Not a knockout, but a persistent quiet presence, like a lone explorer on the long journey into uncharted territory, who doesn't provoke wild animals, and whose trail is hard to find. It's a shame, as the scent is unfortunately only rarely available on eBay.