Polo

Polo is a woody chypre for men, composed by Carlos Benaïm for Ralph Lauren in 1978 and one of the house's first two fragrances. Juniper, basil, artemisia and caraway open it green and bitter over bergamot and coriander. Then pine needles and leather take over, with chamomile adding grass rather than flowers, and pepper and carnation keeping it spicy. The base is the part people recognise: tobacco and oakmoss with patchouli, cedar and vetiver, dark and mossy. It lasts a long time and projects strongly, and it works in autumn and winter, day or night.