Purple Label (2003)
by Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Purple Label is the longstanding exclusive fragrance of the house--that is, most retailers don't sell it. I only see it online at the RL website and Barney's. It lingers between the main collection and the high-end collection, and to many, conjures Bond No. 9 Bleecker Street.

While I wasn't a fan of Bleecker Street, I'm a fan of Purple Label. It's a great floral/fruity bouquet on top of a woody base, with notes of blackberry, coriander, citrus, woods, and musk factoring most prominently for me.

It's unfortunately not much of a performer but lends itself to light and casual wearing, particularly in warmer weather. Pricing isn't bad, either, at $105 for 125ml, surely cheaper at retail than Bleecker Street on discount, if nothing else.

There have been rumors over the past couple years of its discontinuation but it remains available online at Barney's and I've seen it in my local RL store where I bought my bottle.

It's a nice grab, a reasonable casual option for light wearing that is by no means cheap but still agreeable and much more affordable than niche counterparts, performance notwithstanding.

7 out of 10