Polo Red

Polo Red opens loud and red, cranberry, grapefruit and Italian lemon pushed together into something tart and slightly candied rather than a straightforward citrus blast. Olivier Gillotin composed it for Ralph Lauren in 2013, and saffron and sage move in fairly early, pulling the sweetness toward something drier and more herbal before the base takes hold.

Amber and coffee dominate the drydown, giving it a dark, slightly bitter warmth that plays directly against the bright red fruit up top, with woodsy notes filling in underneath both layers.

This is where the composition runs into its limits. Staying power is moderate at best, the fruity opening fading well before the amber and coffee have their full say, and it wears as a skin scent throughout, felt more by the wearer than by anyone else nearby.

Its range is wide for something built on a citrus opening, comfortable in most seasons and at either end of the day. Set a paper cup of black coffee steaming beside a bowl of fresh cranberries and the pairing holds, bitter and tart sharing the same cold morning air.

Smells similar

We matched these by the notes each one lists, giving more weight to the unusual ones they share. Sharing materials does not make one a copy of the other.

Dua describes Bet on Red as inspired by Polo Red:

“our version of Polo red by Ralph Lauren, and only the vintage formulation was worthy of recreation”

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