Polo Explorer

I got this by accident, confusing it with Modern Reserve when I placed the order. I didn't really take it seriously at first because I don't normally like fruit fragrances, but I later discovered it to be pretty nice in spite of myself. It's kind of quiet at first, with banana and either mango or passion fruit I'd say, and a bit of the Ralph Lauren / Calvin Klein synthetic sweetness. This of all things should be too sweet and in-your-face for me, which is why I'm normally averse to this type. Yet for some reason I totally buy it, and I'm completely convinced that it's a tropical fruit salad sitting on a wooden table. The sparkle of the more exotic fruits dissipates leaving a metallic banana, almost like a summer version of Acier Aluminium, with other fruits added instead of spices...maybe strawberry? It doesn't evolve a whole lot, but in the base the fruit backs off a little, leaving a light blonde wood underneath, akin to Canali, my next subject. A little fruit remains, but it's thankfully devoid of that synthetic leather/musk monster that dominates the base notes of cheap fruit fragrances like Curve or Lucky You. So for better or for worse, I ended up with a fruity fragrance by mistake, but at least it restored some of my faith in the genre.

I've liked Explorer for years, inspire of the mixed reviews it seems to get, and the fact that now it seems mostly forgotten. One of the few Polos I ever really cared for, I've spent some effort and $$ looking for a reasonable in-production replacement. At first I latched onto Banana Republic Black Walnut (another Harry Fremont scent), similar in character, though I found it lacks even Explorer's midling longevity. Recently I've settled on Mancera Wind Wood as giving me a similar vibe. On comparing Polo Explorer, BR Black Walnut and Mancera Wind Wood, I find Wind Wood to open a bit drier with more emphasis on a peppery note; while Black Walnut and Explorer open a bit sweeter. Explorer seems to me to have a bit more of a spicy sparkle (sorry I cant seem to put a finer point on it) than the other two for the first half hour. The Black Walnut dies off quickly, but after an hour all three exhibit to my nose a strong similarity. At dry down Wind Wood is still a bit drier, and personally I still prefer the slightly fuller and sweeter Explorer, but they are nevertheless quite similar. Wind Wood seems to somewhat improve on Explorer's longevity, giving me myabe 5-6 hours to Explorer's 3-4. Explorer still gets my nod for its scent, though.

This was my signature scent throughout my 20s for fall, winter, and spring nights. Has the perfect amount of citrus/green top notes with a masculine smoky/woody base and a distinct pine note that ties everything together. Very well balanced and unique. Probably my favorite scent of all time. Bummed that this has been discontinued and is only available at crazy prices on eBay. Been trying to find something like it ever since. Thought Polo Green would be similar but Polo Green is much heavier and more harsh to where it drowns out the fresh green and pine notes, whereas they shine through in Polo Explorer. If anyone knows of anything that smells like this PM me. The closest I've found is Kuro by Ajmal, believe it or not. Although that one doesn't have the same smoky pine note as this, which is what put this one over the top.

Polo Explorer is one of my favourites. Though it's got an undeniable Polo DNA I can't help thinking of it as an "eau fraiche" version of John Varvatos EDT, with the similar fruity-smoky leather vibe but considerably less powdery and more breezy thanks to the huge sandalwood note; less noir, more air. Drydown is not without glitches (leading to some reviewers here finding it unpleasant, perhaps not without a reason, but that depends on the nose) and longevity is just so-so. Still, an extremely versatile scent that clearly stands out.

The most misunderstood and under rated fragrance ever to be prematurely discontinued. This was never given a fair chance to really take off. The branding was too outdoorsy and safari-ish. This would be a perfect alternative to the blues and freshies that absolutely dominate the market. It was distinguished and masculine with woody, musky and great sandalwood notes that are reminiscent of a hunting lodge. Whoever decided to discontinue this should be fired.

Super masculine and outdoorsy. Opens very spicy, orange, and green. Dries down to a spicy, woody, and leather scent, still with a dash of orange. Fairly classy and mature. Spring, Fall, Winter. Day or Night. Could get away with it on summer nights if it’s cool. Decent performance. Smells like Indiana Jones, Teddy Roosevelt, or Hemingway freshening up for a social gathering after hunting or exploring. I wish it was still around. 8/10

It had one of the most proudly woody scents, matched only by Vetiver by Guerlain. Wearing it was like stepping into a freshly furnished hardwood library, whose sweet leathery aroma lingered way after you opened those maps and atlases. And its bottle, unforgettable: a safari cap, dark olive green/khaki-ish attire, and no label. Which major designer frag didn't carry a label? That was Polo Explorer. Sadly missed.

Een heerlijkheid uit 2007 De fles is prachtig, maar het water is bij vergissing verkeerd bottled. Deze hoort in het rijtje van Issey Miyake en heeft wellicht model gestaan voor de Gentlemen Only serie van Jean Jacques ... of gaat iemand me nu vertellen dat alles toen in die tijd zo rook. Nee deze fles mag niet volledig op !

Adore this. I wear this in autumn and early winter as I lead into stronger colognes. I get plenty of compliments about it too and love the smell myself. A great, deeper, less citrusy, wonderfully woody fragrance from Polo. A shame it has been discontinued, better stock up!

I just received a sample of Polo Explorer - ordered because the notes looked good to me. OMG it's better than I thought it'd be. It's a beautiful rich woody leather. In fact to me, it smells very much like Axe Instinct (which I miss). Gonna have to get a bottle eventually

(Very bad, Bad, Good, Very good , Amazing, God level) Smell: God level Projection: Bad Sillage: Bad Quality: Amazing Similarity: Prefer not compare Blind buy: Yes if it comes back 10/10 but for performance 7/10 Its a shame its discontinued. Smells like mens heaven

Just wore this to the gym, the increase in sillage made me think it smelt like a less dated Obsession. Anybody else pick this up at times? Must be the sandalwood and amber - the heat would have produced the bergamot similarity too.

I still have half a bottle of this from 2008 50-60/125ml. I used to really like this, but kind of forgot about it for a while. I wonder if it's still fashionable to wear this!?

This is one of my favorite perfume. The problem is its sillage is too soft. The longevity is quite short. I like both top and base not. So sorry that it already discontinue.

Very nice frag. Opening does somewhat resemble Burberry London. Good for evening usage. Pick up a bottle before they discontinue it! One of few Ralph's worth owning

This smells great, I reckon the best POLO. It lasts 2-3 hours on my skin and smell isnt THAT scuttle as others mentioned. I reccommend this, great smell@!

I got this as aftershave from my cousin, and what a wonderful scent!! Very sophisticated, urban and clean fragrance. Recommended for all!

Long lasting fragrance from ralph lauren. Drydown smells like mancera cedrat bois. A 9/10 rating for this one. It is hard to find though

very fine green army accord scent .bottle is shaped like a army canteen very bitterly lovely green . kinda smells like rl red

One of my man's current scents, dark and woodsy. It doesnt seem to last very long though which is my only fault with it.

@jacobbulls I sold it already to lamoliver . Next month I am going get more

So much that I love it, I got myself cologne and after shave. I love it.

I love this on my husband. So woodsy and masculine and clean.

I have 2 bottles sealed 4 sail . US ONLY.1 left 110

You are on a luxurious safari wearing this!

I have a sealed bottle 125 ml us only

Explorer opens with fresh citrus, sweet and mandarin, goes through a velvety, kind-of-resinous spicy transition into a smooth, subdued ambery wood vaguely reminiscent of some Japanese temple incense - the effect is calming and uplifting, classy. Always imagined there was cinnamon or nutmeg in there somewhere ... The dry down is woody and sublime. Safe, pleasant, inoffensive and somehow its Polo DNA shines through. Something in either its structure or notes identifies it as a Polo - or as a variation on a theme - but I cannot tell exactly where exactly the sense of recognition comes from. Explorer worked well in an office (even an extremely high stress work environment) all year round, and performed admirably in Summer. It doesn’t project much, sits close to the skin after the first hour and has longevity of around 4 hours, however others could often detect it even when I couldn’t. I used to wear Explorer mainly at work, after-work functions and the gym, for which it was ideal. It did exactly what I needed it to do in that context. Polo Explorer feels like a compromise, as though instead of boldly asserting its own identity it opted to be as self-effacing, uncontroversial and inoffensive as possible. Like that friend who says “sorry” all the time. The name suggests a safari suit clad, pith helmet-wearing adventurer - Dr Livingstone, I presume? - a theme consolidated by the khaki bottle and canteen cap, but the fragrance itself feels more like an armchair adventurer. Now it’s been discontinued, Explorer is more likely to appeal to someone who collects Polo, or to a design student. It smells great, could easily be unisex, and if only it had been more self-confident and less self-effacing it might have been a classic.

Ralph Lauren Polo Explorer is a deep, dark and seductive scent as opposed to a crisp, light outdoor adventurous type scent. For me(my opinion) the problem with Explorer was the branding. From the name to the bottle it promised an outdoor adventure, but what it delivered was a very romantic evening. I think(my opinion only) this is why the scent is now discontinued. Wrong target audience for this bold woody aromatic. It opens with a bubble gum ultra sweetness that doesn't last long before it shifts to a woody richness that lasts on my skin for a good 6 hours. It seems to get richer and deeper and drier. It has a slight peppery/spicy almost smoky note to it that I really like. Is it the mahogany? I think of the color amethyst and crushed velvet for some reason. Projection is good, and for me continues to be so even after several wearings. Be careful not to over spray. Two or three sprays are enough. I recommend Explorer for Fall and Winter evenings. The cooler the better. It's more dressy than casual despite the style of it's bottle. Appropriate for formal occasions as well. I agree, it probably was the best of Ralph Lauren's fragrances for men. Long after it is gone and impossible to find the multitudes will be yearning for it and declaring how great it WAS.

O Polo Explorer, de Ralph Lauren, lançado em 2007, é um perfume que evoca aventura e o espírito explorador, ideal para homens com um estilo de vida ativo e amante da natureza. Esta fragrância amadeirada aromática, criada por Honorine Blanc e Harry Fremont, exala uma aura de frescor robusto, ao mesmo tempo em que traz uma sofisticação discreta. Performance e Versatilidade – Polo Explorer é uma fragrância de moderada projeção e ótima fixação, ideal para uso diário, mas também versátil o suficiente para ocasiões noturnas ou eventos casuais. Sua assinatura é marcante, mas sem ser invasiva, o que o torna perfeito para homens que buscam uma presença autêntica e naturalmente sofisticada. Conclusão – Em resumo, Polo Explorer é um perfume para o homem moderno que valoriza a liberdade e a aventura, com uma fragrância que combina frescor e profundidade de forma equilibrada. É uma escolha sólida para aqueles que apreciam perfumes que expressam um lado ousado e, ao mesmo tempo, sereno e autêntico

Explorer's a really great, enjoyable scent. It has a fruity/spiced/gourmand flavor similar to Polo Double Black. The citric notes adopt the sweeter side of the two fruits with no sour tang. The pepper and woods give a spicy freshness found only in the jungle. Explorer is truly an adventurous scent, and the bottle style is more to that point. A masculine, adventurous, empowering scent. A must have in my opinion. Ive turned down some of your Armanis, Guccis, Bosses and Burberrys, imo Explorer still came out in the top half with not a bad word to it. When it comes to what is widely thought of as boring, I can easily say there are many much more boring scents out there. I will freely admit that I have tried it before today and wasn't impressed, but I was already in love with the likes of A*men and JM Pomegranate Noir. Without expecting alot, Explorer was a pleasant surprise, but with high expectations it will come off as a told story.

I'm not sure what to make of this one. I got a sample mostly because I heard that this is similar to Chanel Allure Homme and I liked the unique bottle design. For the first 15 seconds after spraying, Explorer is similar to Allure, but after the 15 seconds, the coriander/sandlewood take over and dominate the scent. It smells very piney to me, but in a good woodsy way, not a Pine-Sol way. After an hour or so, it fades to a dry, flat sort of base scent. It is woodsy and still a little piney. The projection is weak and I only got about 6 hours total out of it - faded to a skin scent after 3-4 hours. I actually like the marketing package on this one, the name and bottle go together and fit perfectly with the scent. It's just that I'm not in love with the scent itself. It is OK and I could see myself wearing it once in a while, but I can't see myself buying a full bottle.

I got this the other day in the mail with polo modern reserve. I really like this fragrance but it lacks longevity for me unklike the modern reserve. The smell is very casual and on opening smells like oranges and spice. As it starts to dry down, it smells a little off to me though... a little stale but still intriguing. When it is finally at the dry phase, the woods come out to play and sandalwood is definitely a key. It is something to wear in spring-fall when humidity can play a factor in keeping it going. I would give it a 7.5/10 overall and not recomend anyone under 20 to wear it and 20 is pushing it...

More of a night out fragrance. It's definitely masculine. This is amongst the best from the house of Ralph Lauren. It's ideal for a night out, dates, clubs, etc. Although it can be worn daily or casually, so it's versatile and not offensive. I wouldn't recommend it for the hot summer days. It is a good overall fragrance, ideal for Spring, Fall, and maybe Winter. (3-4 sprays max) Age group: 21+ Projection: 4 stars Longevity: 4 stars Versatility: 4 stars Smell: 4 stars Overall: 4 stars

Polo explorer is a woody oriental fragrance standing out of a crowd well, IMHO. The smell is really nice and unique probably thanks to corainder and mahogany. IMHO, the bottle design is creative. Ralph Lauren tried to interpret what it means by "Explorer" and here comes a military-style flask. Sillage is below average, very subtle indeed. Longevity is appalling. It evaporates within an hour or less. All in all. 7/10 for me. Thank you for reading :)

A pleasant men's scent. Woody and fruity. I can smell patchouli in this though it's not listed - maybe it's the fruit and sandalwood. Drydown is a bit dry and dusty. Overall, it reminds me of Onyx by Azzaro, though Onyx has more character. Staying power is OK. The bottle is like an Indiana Jones jungle water canteen. Not a bad fragrance, though I would only buy it again if it were in a sale.

While I only half agree with vinny8888's post, this a spicy wood shop fragrance, however it's still not bad. I think it's a little too green for my taste. Got a 15ml travel spray on a blind buy. Maybe I'll try this again in the spring and fall and see where it sits with me. If it still isn't good, it's going to my little brother. That's all! 6.5/10

I bought this back in 2007 when it came out. It's a decent bubblegum woody scent. This is comparable to 1 million, and I prefer this over 1 million. Don't understand the low rating in fragrantica, but it is not a standout scent. Out of the polo scents, I would rank this 4th after polo blue, double black, and original (green).

A solid offering from Ralph Lauren. A winner that is different from the usual mall juice produced now from the big name designers. A fall / winter scent and wearable on cooler spring days. The juice itself is a nice blend of citrus and spice with decent longevity and projection. A buy for sure. Enjoy!

surprisingly i like it. im more into smelling the fruity sweet peppery watery smell on a man but for the first time im loving the all masculine woodsy outdoor smell. polo explorer will keep me under my mans neck all damn day!!

I reaaly don't see this as an outdoorsy fragrance, nor a light one. On my skin it's quite powerful and I'd consider wearing it on a mild night, since it can too strong IMO. My favorite Ralph lauren scent.

A bit sad to say that I finished the last of my bottle tonight. It was a great fragrance and not a style that is done at the current times. Does anyone know anything similar?

You will either love it or hate it, no middle ground with this one. I wear it in the winter because I find it extremely bold and the cold weather helps to tone it down.

I think I have three unused aftershave bottles (maybe 125mm)

Overall the weakest smelling fragrance, I've ever owned (on my skin). I was happy, when I finished the bottle back in the 00 years. Smelled pleasant fro the first hour, than it disappeared. Performance: 1-2 hours Sillage: Within elbow length For whom: Gentlemen >20 My background: I only write reviews about scents I have worn already (until the bottle is finished) or are in current use. I'm a Gentlemen - middle aged - predominantly in an executive office environment wearing suits and representing with many official gatherings.

I smell this and I feel like I'm walking through the woods. Rugged jeans. Boots. Checkered lumber jack shirt. Walking stick. It's the middle of the afternoon. There's no dew here. It's hot and I'm starting to sweat. It's me and nature... that's it, that's all. The top notes aren't a citrusy and fruity as I thought they would be. Then again why would it be for a frangrance called Explorer? Can I say citrus-spicy? I smell the coriander. A fresh spicy scent. Reminds me of when I'm choping it up while preparing dinner. I don't smell leather. The bas notes are woodsy and it combines the spicyness and bergamot from the previous stages. I love the smell. I love the bottle. It's simple like I am. It smells the way I always thought men's cologne should smell when I was younger. It's subtle but not too subtle. It's the smell I was and am looking for... BUT the sillage and the longevity is no good for me... sigh... if only...

At first a watery waft of non-descript citruses followed INSTANTANEOUSLY with a blast of coriander spices. Kind of like a peppery and heavy aquatic for the first few minutes before it becomes unbearably woody and spicy. The citruses fall away within five minutes and Polo Explorer becomes entirely woody and dry. Way too heavy and abrasive for me. I'm sure the right skin chemistry could pull it off, but please use a light hand for warm days and close spaces. Unique, but not a hit for me, sorry.

You are the explorer trying to explore the notes while they last for a fleeting few seconds. The opening catches your attention and reels you in to buying this one, it is a nice scent but if you are going to pay your hard earned money there are better alternatives. I liked this one but I wasn't keen on buying another bottle. Personally not worthy of the RL house and not surprised it was discontinued.

Actually I take it back for longevity. I was at a bar last night and it was about 2:30am and a girl I was talking to could still smell it. I put it on at around 9:30-10:00pm. Longevity is pretty decent I guess :P Sillage is ok. She caught a whiff of it after I passed her by earlier in the night. She liked it. She liked that it wasn't overpowering and subtle but noticeable :P

Polo explorer, though widely marketed as a scent for the outdoors or the adventurer, it feels otherwise. It feels more suited as a night scent rather than a scent for the adventurer. There's just something in it that I don't like. Maybe the fragrance is just too strong for me.

I got a sample of this a few years ago, smelt amazing! But when I got the real bottle and started to wear it more it was terrible. Very bad projection, very bad longevity lasted not even 2 hrs. Was just boring. Never getting this again. 3/10