Andrew R

Personal: 9/10 – It’s an amazing designer fragrance that’s on the border of a masterpiece just due to how fun and wearable it is. It’s chic but masculine, and very pleasant. Mass appeal: 8.5/10 – Nobody’s gonna hate it. The bright citruses might cut a bit too much for some, but just don’t go crazy with the sprays. Overspraying this one is a concern. Performance: 7/10 – Doesn’t last as long as a parfum concentration usually would, but not disappointing. Just a bit sub-par. Value: 7/10 – Would be higher if it dropped below $80 on discounters. Still expensive as far as Polo fragrances go, unfortunately. Uniqueness: 6.5/10 – Not groundbreaking, but a fresh, fruity-woody take that feels modern compared to other Polo flankers. SCORE: 76/100 Full bottle buy? YES, it’s one of my most used fragrances. Blind buy? YES, it’s approachable, mass appealing, and easy to wear. Dissimilar from other Red flankers (except the EDP), so DNA is hard to predict. Recommend? YES, it’s a great option for anyone wanting something a bit citrusy and fruity but still masculine and professional. Date night? YES, playful enough for casual dates, classy enough for evenings out. Office safe? YES, fresh and professional, just watch the trigger finger. Pros: Unique, fun, and very wearable. Good for all 4 seasons and both day and night. Office and date friendly. A great GADA (go anywhere, do anything) fragrance. Cons: More expensive than other Polo fragrances on discounters, doesn’t last as long as a parfum should, surprisingly linear. For my twelfth review, I’m going back to Ralph Lauren, but visiting one of their most recent fragrances. Polo Red Parfum is my favorite in the line, and my favorite Polo fragrance currently in production (yes, even more than Green). It opens with a bright burst of aromatic, citrusy, fruity freshness that I really enjoy, and to my nose, it has a very strong misc. red berry note. It’s got great citrus and woods to keep it fresh, even through the dry down, and it stays smelling great. Though it’s linear, not complicated, and somewhat generic, it’s a very pleasant designer fragrance. It lends itself well to both day and evening wear and is absolutely office appropriate. It’s a bit more adventurous than other Polo fragrances, and other Red flankers. It’s not the most groundbreaking fragrance, at all, but it’s very pleasant and easy to wear, and I don’t actually miss the coffee note from the other Red flankers. An amazing twist on a classic, minus the polarizing coffee note!

Sweet woody vanilla with a slightly weird metallic undertone Personal: 7/10 – I like this more than I expected to. It’s warm, sweet, and woody with a slightly synthetic, almost metallic edge that keeps it from feeling flat, despite its weirdness. Mass appeal: 8/10 – Very approachable. Sweet vanilla and soft woods are easy to enjoy and broadly appealing, though metallic juniper isn't for everyone. Performance: 7/10 - Performance is average. Nothing disappointing, though not beast mode. Value: 8/10 – Solid value, especially at discounter pricing. It smells more expensive than it is. Uniqueness: 6.5/10 – Familiar modern designer territory, but competently executed with the aforementioned slightly weird, metallic juniper that's something different. SCORE: 73/100 Full bottle buy? NO, enjoyable, but not distinctive enough to earn a permanent spot. Blind buy? YES, relatively safe if you like sweet, woody, modern designers, and enjoy juniper. Recommend? YES, especially as a cozy, mass-appealing option. Date night? YES, warm, sweet, and inviting without being overpowering. Office safe? YES, if applied lightly, I find the juniper overwhelming in this particular case. Pros: Warm and sweet, mass appealing, reasonable performance, solid value Cons: Slightly synthetic edge, not very original, limited evolution, designer-safe Coach Platinum feels like a very calculated modern designer release. It leans into sweet vanilla woods with a clean, slightly metallic sheen that gives it a polished, contemporary feel. Nothing here is challenging or experimental, as it's designed to be an entirely unobjectionable bottle. The sweetness is, although synthetic, smooth rather than syrupy, and the woods keep it grounded enough to avoid going full gourmand. That balance makes it easy to wear and easy to recommend, especially if you enjoy cozy, modern scents that don’t demand attention, don't take any avant garde or difficult to follow routes, and stay smelling consistently... slightly above average. While it doesn’t bring anything new to the table, it does what it sets out to do quite well. Coach Platinum is comfortable, likable, and reliable. It's a reasonable semi-budget bottle (sub $40 on discounters) for beginners, or anyone who wants something that's, well, fine. Also, I feel particularly motivated to say this, anyone comparing this to Sauvage is kind of off crazy. Yes, they both maintain a fresh spicy profile, mostly from the peppery geranium/patchouli blend, but they're entirely different fragrances.

A gem that's been sadly discontinued. Personal: 9/10 - A gentle, citrusy woods with a soft-fresh spicy edge that makes it interesting. I really enjoy it, and think it's one of the very few masculine white floral executions. Mass appeal: 8/10 – Very easy to like. Clean woods and soft spice make this broadly acceptable. Performance: 7/10 – Solid, steady performance. It lasts long enough without becoming loud or intrusive, and is quite reasonable for a freshie. Value: 6/10 – Discontinued and resale prices are only going up, but can currently be found on Fragrancenet for $75. At that price, it's a solid freshie, but not an instant buy. Uniqueness: 6.5/10 – Familiar woody-spicy DNA, but executed with a classy, old-school restraint. SCORE: 74/100 Full bottle buy? YES, a very pleasant and refined citrusy white floral, though increasingly hard to find. Blind buy? YES, fairly safe if you enjoy clean, masculine, woody fragrances and realistic florals. Recommend? YES, especially for someone who wants something mature and understated. Date night? YES, confident, mature and composed, though not overtly seductive. Office safe? YES, professional, polished, and very controlled. Pros: Clean and refined, classy woody-spice profile, gorgeous florals, versatile Cons: Lacks excitement, a bit too old-smelling, limited evolution Dunhill Icon feels like a fragrance designed for someone who values polish over flair. It opens with a smooth blend of citrus and spice that quickly settles into clean woods with a subtle peppery edge. A soft white floral presence is maintained throughout its evolution, with the neroli being one of the stars here. Everything in Icon feels intentional and well-balanced, but also very safe. This is not a fragrance that tries to stand out in a crowd. Instead, it aims to be quietly confident and pleasantly mature. There's nothing trendy or youthful about Icon, and it does the job of being a very smooth, masculine, old school summer freshie without needing strange synthetics or gimmicky notes. I just love how beautifully the pepper, cardamom, and oakmoss play together here. They're softly spicy with a beautiful woody twist, amplified and deepened by a smooth, unobtrusive oud base. I truly do appreciate the refinement and craftsmanship. This smells like what someone in a linen button down shirt, driving a Bentley would smell like. The imagery is of a British, upper class summer, and I'm enjoying every sniff. Had it not been discontinued, this would have absolutely entered my must-buy shortlist, but in its stead, I'll begin a journey to find a sufficiently similar, highly polished summer freshie that captivates me for the same reasons as Dunhill's Icon.