New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

1978 Polo

post #1 of 36
10/18/10 at 1:53pm
Thread Starter 
Why do so many people profoundly dislike polo?

Please do not say...
1. Over-applied in the 80's

2. Out-dated.

3. Smells like urine cakes (the quick response of many regarding any 80's frangrance.)
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
post #2 of 36
10/18/10 at 2:00pm
Not sure....I certainly don't hate it. Used to own it. Not alligned with my current tastes.

My best guess (and I'm not going to say it!) is probably the middle choice for most people.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 36
10/18/10 at 2:24pm
Thread Starter 
OK. Could someone explain how a frangrance could become "out-dated?" Out-dated based on who/what?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 36
10/18/10 at 2:28pm
Different strokes, for different folks...as they say.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 36
10/18/10 at 2:44pm
Because, I guess, its powerhouse feel is not for anyone (apart from truly not intending any offense, I dare to say that the term powerhouse may seem inaccurate, since this one is from 1978 and not the 80s, but it already anticipates to me one of the dominating trends during the next decade)

As for me, I developed a crush for this fragrance during me freshman year at the university, because, at the expense of scaring off most people around me, I felt it could make anyone- including me- seem very manly
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 36
10/18/10 at 2:46pm
I have a love/hate relationship with it. I love to smell it on other people, but on me it tends to smell like wet cigarette ashes.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 36
10/18/10 at 3:04pm
I think Polo is very masculine, too much masculine for actual days (think about the great-seller Dior homme).
And that's the reason why last week I bought a 118 ml bottle of this Ralph Lauren legend. It's different from everything in my wardrobe, it's green and strong, the drydown is absolutely fantastic,the pine note dominates,and it's very long lasting.
So it's a edt for men from a perioud where men were men, this is Polo's charme.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 36
10/18/10 at 3:23pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken_Russell View Post

Because, I guess, its powerhouse feel is not for anyone (apart from truly not intending any offense, I dare to say that the term powerhouse may seem inaccurate, since this one is from 1978 and not the 80s, but it already anticipates to me one of the dominating trends during the next decade)

As for me, I developed a crush for this fragrance during me freshman year at the university, because, at the expense of scaring off most people around me, I felt it could make anyone- including me- seem very manly

OK. Then are you saying it is not a Powerhouse scent?
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 36
10/18/10 at 4:52pm
I think it's a matter of style trends.....let's be honest: overtly masculine behavior is falling more and more out of fashion. 20 yrs ago something along the lines of a "metrosexual" would be looked at askew, now it's embraced. A guy who is overtly masculine is looked at like a caveman. This is what is meant by "out-dated". If you like it and it's your style, by all means go for it. I'm right there with you. But the majority of people follow the herd.

"the nail that sticks out gets hammered down"
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 36
10/18/10 at 5:25pm
I love Polo.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 36
10/18/10 at 5:52pm
I liked it then, and still like it now.
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 36
10/18/10 at 6:18pm
  • kbe
  • offline
  • Gender:
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hamp View Post

OK. Could someone explain how a frangrance could become "out-dated?" Out-dated based on who/what?



Much the same as Flapper Dresses and Bell Bottom Jeans. New blood identifies it with previous generations they do not want to be identified with. Personally, I love it and consider it in the same class as great vintage wine, which I also love. Out of date? Not for me.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 36
10/18/10 at 6:25pm
I like it, but for me it takes me back to an earlier time when I wore it A LOT. I know you've asked that no one respond "over applied" but my recollection is that is that it was a huge seller for Lauren, and pretty much established him as a power in the frag business for men. I'm not a historian on such matters, but I think it was a scent that really got the men's fragrance industry rolling pretty strong.

I wore pretty much exclusively for a time. That "dates it" to a large degree in my mind (and nose).
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 36
10/18/10 at 7:02pm
I don't think Polo is profoundly dislike like Kouros is - it is still make and sells well - it is a classic in men's fragrances.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 36
10/18/10 at 7:04pm
I used to love it, and a lot, but lately its opening is bothering me more and more, to me it smells like a bonfire, nasty, acrid, choking smoke that lasts at least half an hour or more, after that it mellows a bit and the drydown is just wonderful. But I hate it now because I can not get through the smoking opening. Was it reformulated?
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 36
10/18/10 at 7:13pm
Love it, still abused by many so I don't use it that much.
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 36
12/22/11 at 1:52pm
Does Polo share some similarities with Santos Concentree?
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 36
12/22/11 at 3:15pm
Just don't care for the way it smells.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 36
12/22/11 at 3:45pm
Iconic.

I think it to be one of the true masterpieces in men's fragrance.

I also happen to like the smell now every bit as back then... in the right measure.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 36
12/22/11 at 4:12pm
I loved it in 1980 and I love it now. THE classic coniferous scent IMO. Polo is not even in the frame of reference of most guys under 35. Too bad for them.
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 36
12/22/11 at 5:34pm
I think it was one of the first scents to successfully capture the style of a designer. When you smell and see the bottle you can't help but vision an old English manner style of Ralph Lauren
Reply
Reply
post #22 of 36
12/22/11 at 6:17pm
Polo was one of the most popular men's fragrances of the 1980's especially in the bar scene. Don't even try to compare the new and old. Yes, many people complain that the original version was over powering. Guess what, so were the 1980's! The new version is terrible and a pale shadow if it's previous self. Only if I could get my hands on a vintage bottle.
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 36
12/22/11 at 8:00pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by petruccijc View Post

I liked it then, and still like it now.

Me too!!!
Gary
Reply
Reply
post #24 of 36
12/22/11 at 8:17pm
One of my all time favorites even after all of the hundreds (maybe nearly a thousand) frags I've laid my nose on in the past few years. I always find at least one day during the holidays to wear it because it is a comfort scent for me (my first ever frag purchase at the age of 13). Unfortunately I don't feel comfortable wearing it in public due to its reputation and the negative associations that a lot of people have with this one. But, it will always be a guilty pleasure to wear around the house when the occasion arises.

I don't say use the term loosely by any means, but this one is a masterpiece.
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 36
12/22/11 at 8:47pm
The handful of people outside of BN that I've discussed Polo with have liked it. It may not be a great work of art but most people seem to think it smells quite good.
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 36
2/14/12 at 12:46pm
I like CHANEL Antaeus and Santos Concentree. Will I like Polo classic?
Reply
Reply
post #27 of 36
2/14/12 at 12:59pm
Polo Classic = Smells like urine cakes??? Absolutely not.

Maybe a little out-dated but I think its a great classic.
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 36
2/14/12 at 1:05pm
Not outdated at all, IMO. Incredible when it came out, and still incredible now. It is a timeless classic.
Reply
Reply
post #29 of 36
2/14/12 at 1:09pm
if you like tom ford italian cypress you will probably like it
Reply
Reply
post #30 of 36
2/14/12 at 1:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by drseid View Post

Not outdated at all, IMO. Incredible when it came out, and still incredible now. It is a timeless classic.

+1.... Well said.
Reply
Reply
post #31 of 36
2/14/12 at 1:16pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by heperd View Post

if you like tom ford italian cypress you will probably like it

I like (and own) Italian Cypress. Are they very similar?
Reply
Reply
post #32 of 36
2/14/12 at 1:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oslo-Fjord View Post

I like (and own) Italian Cypress. Are they very similar?

The Tom Ford rep i know said it reminds him of "Polo Green" and 2 other people said the same thing about IC without me mentioning anything about Polo.
Reply
Reply
post #33 of 36
2/14/12 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oslo-Fjord View Post

I like (and own) Italian Cypress. Are they very similar?

Somewhat, but Polo features a loud accord of birch tar "leather" which sets it apart (and makes it unwearable for me).

Italian Cypress is much more like Halston Z-14 (old formulation) and Valentino Vendetta.
Reply
Reply
post #34 of 36
2/14/12 at 7:52pm
It's iconic, well made, and not overtly friendly like the cucumber calone hairsprays that pass as fragrance nowadays. Plus, the bottle is green. It is therefore trendy to hate on Polo.
Reply
Reply
post #35 of 36
2/14/12 at 7:55pm
Polo Green as we now call this still does very well in sales.....This is a fantastic fragrance and one that has stood the test of time.....I do like this and feel that it is a classic!!!
Gary
Reply
Reply
post #36 of 36
2/14/12 at 7:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by MOONB View Post

It's iconic, well made, and not overtly friendly like the cucumber calone hairsprays that pass as fragrance nowadays. Plus, the bottle is green. It is therefore trendy to hate on Polo.

Yes. Every once in a while I sniff my vintage Polo to remember what fragrances *could be*.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: MFD Archive

Features on Basenotes

Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs