Ralph Lauren has launched Polo Modern Reserve, a new take on the original Polo fragrance intended to capture a younger audience — “the sons of the Polo customer”:
Much like a special vintage, Polo Modern Reserve is a unique blend, crafted in the spirit of the original scent, using advanced ingredients of the highest quality. The exchange of chamomile for cool, cardamom spice in the top notes introduces an entirely new level of clarity and energy to this invigorating fragrance. A refined vetyver-leather blend elevates sophistication in the mid notes by taking the place of classic tobacco, while creamy, sueded leather meets deep woods in the base notes for undeniable rugged sensuality.
Polo Modern Reserve was developed by perfumer Carlos Benaïm (who also created the original Polo in 1978); the notes include cardamom C02, basil, pimento berry, vetyver-leather, liquid jasmine, myrrh incense, humidor wood, patchouli and sueded leather.
Ralph Lauren Polo Modern Reserve is available in 120 ml Eau de Toilette or in a limited edition 240 ml bottle “which uses 24-karat gold and comes in a limited numbered leather box”. The smaller size can be found now at Sephora. (first and third quotes via wwd, second quote and additional information via sephora) Update: see a review of Ralph Lauren Polo Modern Reserve.
Other recent launches from Ralph Lauren: Notorious, Love, Ralph Lauren.
19 Comments
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I smelled this back in August, and this is the only fragrance that has ever made me ill. I immediately got a headache from it. It was potent.
Ouch!
To get the younger audience, you'd think they'd have gone lighter.
The fragrance for Alex P. Keaton's hypothetical son.
I don't know. The original Polo is pretty good, imo. A nice dry oakmoss-y thing that should offend no one, save the fact that every man who went to college in the early '90's (like my DH) associates that innocuous enough smell with “FRAT BOY.”
Anyway, in my opinion exchanging cardamom (which I love) for camomile is a bad idea.
LOL!
Wonder what the frat boy fragrance of today is?
Around here, the 21st century “frat boy scent of choice” is Acqua di Gio, though Le Male is gaining ground fast…
Another 'frat boy' fragrance is D&G Light Blue, and Burberry Touch.
I like classic Polo, I don't have any problem smelling it. But there's something in the Modern Reserve that affected me. And I work in Fragrance, so I have a pretty open nose!
MFfan310, really?? I would have thought something much newer.
Those surprise me too. Would've thought the Frat boys would be wearing the latest thing. I guess the Light Blue is new though.
Doesn't sound very promising to me. Neither is 120ml as the smallest size option.
I like the original too, if applied sparingly. It seems like many teenage boys douse themselves not realizing the punch it has!
The size seems crazy, and not the best way to get the young customer.
The Modern Reserve was designed to appeal to the original Polo customer.
I was looking forward to trying this because, as much as I like the original Polo on *other* people, I can't seem to wear it. The tobacco dominates on my skin and I end up smelling like a musty ashtray. Absolutely none of Ralph Lauren's men scents have ever worked on me, but I've been known to wear Lauren from time to time.
The Modern Reserve description is very accurate: it's greener, the tobacco notes either muted or missing entirely. It's a subtle variation on the original, enough to breathe a bit of new life to those who have worn it in the past and want to revisit.
Then they really misled Women's Wear Daily!
Thanks, sounds worth a shot!
My Macy's SA has more than once said that Acqua di Gio is still one of their biggest sellers, so it doesn't surprise me. The 100ml I bought 3-4 yrs ago before my perfumania will last me the rest of my life.
I'm not sure if I find it depressing (or rather, just plain shocking) to have the copy read, “For the sons of the men who wore Polo.” I may be hypothetically old enough to have a 20-something child, but I don't necessarily want that spelled out for me so explicitly. HA! At least Guerlain isn't marketing with copy that says, “For the great-great-granddaughters of women who wore L'Heure Bleue…”
Well, bear in mind that isn't the ad copy — it's what the brand told WWD, which is a trade publication. So it isn't for public consumption, in other words.