From neckties to fragrance: the Ralph Lauren story
Ralph Lauren was working for the necktie maker Beau Brummell when, in 1967 in New York, he persuaded the company to let him start a line of his own. The following year he named his first complete menswear collection "Polo," a name borrowed from sport. The fragrances arrived in 1978, when Lauren for women and Polo for men were introduced together at Bloomingdale's, the first time a designer had launched a men's and a women's fragrance at the same time. Polo was composed by Carlos Benaïm, and today the brand's fragrances are produced under license by the L'Oréal group.
The Polo family in our range
Polo, the original
Polo Eau de Toilette is the 1978 fragrance where it all began, a woody chypre with notes of pine, juniper, artemisia, leather and patchouli.
Polo Red in two concentrations and a variation
Polo Red comes as an eau de toilette, with Polo Red Eau de Toilette, and as an eau de parfum, with Polo Red Eau de Parfum and a second size of the same eau de parfum. Alongside them is Polo Red Racing, a variation that carries the same name.
Polo Black
Rounding out the family is Polo Black Eau de Toilette, which, like the original, is available in our range as an eau de toilette.
Polo Est. 67
The Polo Est. 67 eau de toilette came out in 2024, created by perfumer Marie Salamagne, and its name recalls 1967, the year Ralph Lauren founded his company. The house describes the eau de toilette as fresh and sporty, with bergamot, pineapple, geranium and vetiver, in a refillable dark blue bottle with a glossy blue cap. It comes both as Polo Est. 67 Eau de Toilette and as Polo Est. 67 Eau de Parfum.
More fragrances for men
If you're looking for other men's fragrances, see our men's selection and woody fragrances; for a gift, there are the gift sets.
Frequently asked questions
Who created Ralph Lauren Polo cologne?
Ralph Lauren Polo was created by perfumer Carlos Benaïm and came out in 1978 as the brand's first men's fragrance, introduced together with the women's Lauren. It shares its name with the designer's first complete menswear collection, "Polo," from 1968.
What kind of fragrance is Polo Ralph Lauren?
Polo Ralph Lauren is a woody chypre for men, with notes of pine, juniper, artemisia, leather and patchouli. There are also aromatic herbs, spices, oakmoss, vetiver and tobacco, and the only floral note is chamomile. Polo Eau de Toilette is the version in our range.
When was Ralph Lauren founded?
The Ralph Lauren house was founded in 1967 in New York, when Ralph Lauren started his own line of neckties. In 1968 came the first complete menswear collection, named Polo, and ten years later the same name was given to the first men's fragrance.
What were the first Ralph Lauren fragrances?
The first Ralph Lauren fragrances were Lauren for women and Polo for men, launched together in 1978 and introduced at Bloomingdale's. It was the first time a designer had launched a men's and a women's fragrance at the same time, and of the two, Polo Eau de Toilette is in our range.
Who makes Ralph Lauren fragrances?
Ralph Lauren fragrances are produced under license by the L'Oréal group, which makes fragrances and cosmetics for the American brand. The first fragrances, Polo and Lauren, launched in 1978, were instead produced by Warner-Lauren, Ltd. Today our range includes the Polo family in eau de toilette and eau de parfum.
What is the difference between Polo Red Eau de Toilette and Eau de Parfum?
Polo Red Eau de Toilette and Polo Red Eau de Parfum differ in concentration: they are two formulas from the same line, both in our range, and the eau de parfum also comes in a second size. Alongside them is Polo Red Racing, a variation that carries the same name.
What does Est. 67 mean in Polo Est. 67?
Est. 67 recalls 1967, the year Ralph Lauren founded his company in New York: the name pays tribute to the year the brand was born. The eau de toilette, composed by perfumer Marie Salamagne, came out in 2024 in a refillable dark blue bottle.
What are the notes of Polo Est. 67 Eau de Toilette?
Polo Est. 67 Eau de Toilette opens with bergamot and a pineapple accord, has a heart of geranium and clary sage and a base of Haitian vetiver. The house describes it as a fresh, sporty fragrance, and in our range you'll also find it as an eau de parfum.
Which Ralph Lauren fragrances come in two concentrations?
In our range, Polo Red and Polo Est. 67 are available both as eau de toilette and as eau de parfum, so you can choose the same line in two formulas. Polo, the 1978 original, and Polo Black, on the other hand, are offered as eau de toilette.
