With all this talk about the emergence of quiet luxury and old money-inspired aesthetics across the many facets of beauty and fashion, I find myself seeking comfort in the fact that while trends may come and go, household names possess the ability to re-spark interest in today’s youth while maintaining a recognizable image and voice for older generations. One that I’ve always possessed affinity for (perhaps more now that I’ve experienced the beauty and appeal of the 867 Madison Avenue store) is no other than Ralph Lauren.
Yes, we’ve all come across the infamous Polo Bear and classic Americana imagery at one time or another, but you may be surprised to know that they also hold their own when it comes to the art of perfumery. With each fragrance released by the brand, consumers can be further engrossed in all that is associated with the Ralph Lauren legacy. Whether you’re after a chic perfume that transports you to the fragrant fields of Provence or a candle lit dinner spent in the company of a significant other, there’s a scent that belongs with you.
Read on to dive in to the world of Ralph Lauren’s fragrances through nine of the brand’s best eau de parfum and eau de toilette compositions that I can’t seem to get enough of!
Key notes: Rose damascena, geranium, patchouli, pink pepper essence, jasmine, musk. Celebrating the distinct feeling of falling in love and the intimacy that comes with it, this eau de parfum offers a lush bouquet of florals underscored by bright pink peppercorn, juicy mandarin, and pure musk. I can’t imagine a more perfect fragrance to wear while being wined and dined. Customer review: “I started wearing Romance in the early 2000s, and for some reason I gravitated away from it and opted for other new scents. I decided to buy my old favorite again (Romance), and the first spray brought back so many memories. It is a beautiful scent! It’s soft, but still noticeable, and complex without being complicated. So glad to have this back in my collection after more than a decade.”
Key notes: Green mandarin, bergamot, sage, Turkish rose, Haitian vetiver, lavender, cedarwood. Polo Earth captures the beauty of nature with a blend of seven sustainably-sourced ingredients from around the world used to formulate this vegan, 97% natural origin fragrance. It’s a timeless aromatic blend that’s altogether sheer and luxurious. Customer review: “Polo Earth by Ralph Lauren is a super clean classic gender neutral fragrance. It’s fresh, spicy with a light fruity scent like. It starts feminine and ends with a few masculine notes. Great for summer as a refreshing day wear, has good all day lasting power and very unisex. I like this vegan formula with plant-based alcohol, no artificial preservatives or colorants and it uses no animal-derived ingredients. Definitely worth trying.”
Key notes: Raspberry coulis accord, mandarin essence, bergamot essence, lily of the valley accord, modern woods. What’s beyond the very idea of romance, you ask? An eau de parfum that wraps it wearer in a sugary, sweet embrace. Ralph Lauren’s daringly sweet perfume is tempered by sensual black vanilla and juicy raspberry coulis. Customer review: “Ralph Lauren Beyond Romance is one of my all time favorite scents. It is the most lovely combination of floral, vanilla, and warmth. It is great for day or evening and the scent is long lasting. The bottle is a beautiful glazed/iced pink. You really can’t go wrong with this one. I highly recommend giving it a try! You just might fall in love like I did!”
Key notes: Bergamot, green mandarin, neroli, sage, lysylang extract, vanilla bourbon, cedarwood oil. My first impression of Ralph Lauren’s Polo Earth Antilles Vetiver? It’s as effortlessly classic and playful as the traditional polo matches Ralph Lauren is so heavily associated with. Thousands of glowing reviews highlight a similarity to another one of the brand’s best selling fragrances, Safari. Customer review: “I was overall pleasantly surprised at the high quality and great blending. The vetiver is earthly and lighter than I expected it and is pretty pleasantly and significantly buffered by the ‘bourbon vanilla’ profile, which is somewhat playful, burly, and only very lightly sweet. I would say that is element is more a combination of scotch and natural vanilla than anything else.”
Key notes: Black currant, rhubarb, pear, tuberose, orange blossom, Turkish rose, sandalwood. You’ve never met a powdery, fresh white floral fragrance like Ralph Lauren’s Woman. Softly sweet and sensual, it makes me want to opt for high heels and even higher expectations. Customer review: “Lovely white floral and then you do get that tangy rhubarb which sets it apart from a standard floral fragrance. Lasting power is very good, projection is fairly close to the skin. Very good for daytime office to an evening out, it’s elegant and not overwhelming. It’s not a sexy, date night fragrance but for just about anything else, it’s perfect.”
Key notes: Green mandarin, sage, rosemary, neroli, lavender, bourbon geranium, sandalwood. A tribute to the rich heritage and lush botanical gardens in Provence, France, this eau de toilette is formulated with seven sustainably-sourced ingredients. Harvested by local communities, one of its most prominent notes, heart sage, even supports the economy in the region. Customer review: “I’m very sensitive to perfumes so I hardly change once I found one that doesn’t give me a headache. I smelled this beautiful scent and I was hooked, it’s very natural, just wonderful.”
Key notes: Green apple, freesia, pink magnolia, Mediterranean tangerine, white iris, musk. Ask any beauty editor, and there’s a good chance they’ve had this youthful eau de toilette in their collection. It’s absolutely bursting with a composition of fruity floral notes inspired by today’s generation of confident young women. Customer review: “I’ve been wearing Ralph by Ralph Lauren for years and I doubt I’ll ever be without it. The best words to describe this fragrance would be ‘clean’ and ‘fresh‘. It’s a light scent that’s not overpowering, overwhelming, nor offensive. It definitely goes very well with the spring and summer months, but it’s my go-to fragrance year round.”
Key notes: Moroccan Neroli, ambrette, grapefruit, clary sage, guaiac wood. The freshness of Moroccan Neroli Blossoms combines with sparkling bergamot and the softest whisper of lavender is what keeps me coming back to this unisex fragrance. Like many Ralph Lauren scents, the addition of ambrette allows for the perfect balance of grounded sophistication and luxury. Customer review: “I’m no perfumer but I know what I like in a fragrance. I like my new Polo Earth Moroccan Neroli very much. In fact, it’s my new favorite fragrance. What’s particularly nice about it is that it lasts almost all day for me. It lingers as a subtle but unique fragrance that doesn’t overpower you or those around you. Yet, I get a real sense that those around me are enjoying it too. It creates an aura of positivity! Man, I never thought I would say something like that about a fragrance. I’m hooked on Moroccan Neroli!”
Key notes: Artemisia, coriander, neroli, lavender, jasmine, patchouli, sandalwood. Although Ralph Lauren’s Safari can be challenging to find (it’s no longer carried by the brand in stores or online, but can be scoped out as an antique fragrance), this fragrance is by far one of their most popular. With an exotic aromatic blend of woodsy notes and warm amber, I completely understand the hype. Customer review: “An earthy dream. This is ethereal to my nose and transports me to open areas basking in the sun with the scent of bitter vegetation radiating in the heat. Also, warmed skin (amber?). It’s powdery and clean, yet green and gritty at the same time. A floral green chypre that seems to be very popular to this day! I love the bitter greenness of this and the earthy vetiver, woods, and patchouli.”
