Polo Explorer (2007)
by Ralph Lauren

I have no idea what it is, but once every thing in the top and middle notes as disappeared there is a spicy something or other that is breathtaking. That said for the first 4 hours all I smell are synthetic cedar wood chips (like the stuff used to line pet cages) and a green fresh mandarin and something metallic. Its not gross but not good among its contemporaries either. If only wish I could figure out what was in the spicy base and make just that into a scent....

3rd August, 2011.

Green, acidic -- very acidic and metallic.
Hmmm.... pickle juice in an old tin can. What kind of pickle juice, you ask? Bread-and-butter pickle juice. Fairly sweet yet acidic, some peppercorns in the background, perhaps accompanying some cheese whiz on stale bread...
These actually are sincere descriptions of what I'm encountering. Quite an odd scent.

7th January, 2011.

You're not sure if you would like vetiver scents or think that you may be too young to wear that kind of scent? You're tired of the typical aquatic or fruity frags and may be interested in trying out something slightly dirtier?
Polo Explorer is at the crossroad of all these genres. I guess the name Explorer is just like the scent: an invitation to try something different. At the same time, aren't real Explorers supposed to be more daring? Not screaming love because of its ambiguous nature which makes it a little generic by trying not to offend anyone (or please too much?), I can on the other hand agree that it's is easily likeable.

20th December, 2010. (Last Edited: 21st December, 2010.)

This lasts 8+ hours on my skin in the cold weather. Beautifully blended fresh citrus, warm amber, woods, and a little bit of leather -- a unique, masculine fragrance.

2nd December, 2010. (Last Edited: 21st January, 2011.)

Opening notes???, what opening notes? this fragrance goes directly to the heart, yelling CORIANDER so loud that if there was any mandarin or berganot in here, it got steamrolled by the coriander.
Very similar to Drakkar Noir at first impresion, but in a few minutes it takes a completely new direction and it becomes closer to Tsar IMO. The drydown is magnificent once the loud coriander is gone (Don't get me wrong, I like the coriander very much, but as I say, it is a bit too loud) the woods come with full glory and it is a real treat to your senses.
I would tame a bit the coriander and get more citric notes in the opening and then this scent would be a truly champion. To me, this is the best Ralph Lauren ever, but not good enough for thumbs up

1st December, 2010.

I'm having a hard time understanding how people can not like this fragrance.

Anyway, if you can distance yourself from the "explorer" name, you might be able to smell this objectively. I get an almost aquatic, fresh, apple pie. As it dries down the mild leather and woods will begin to emerge, but for me, the apple pie note remains dominant. I'm of the mindset that you can't really go wrong here. I suppose the sillage and longevity could be better, but that really is my only issue with this.

I just don't get the hate.

Ya'll be hatin'

Haters.

10th September, 2010.