Ralph Lauren launched Polo in 1978. The fragrance was created for the American fashion brand and became one of the earliest major designer scents marketed specifically around a strong masculine lifestyle image.
Polo was created by perfumer Carlos Benaïm. Its original composition is generally described as woody chypre, combining green and herbal impressions with leather, tobacco, pine, oakmoss, and other earthy materials. The result was notably richer and more traditional than the lighter aquatic fragrances that became prominent later.
The green bottle and polo-player logo connected the scent to Ralph Lauren’s sportswear and country-club imagery. “Polo” can be confusing because it is also the name of Ralph Lauren’s clothing line and a sport, but in this context it identifies the 1978 fragrance.
Ralph Lauren later released Polo Blue, Polo Black, and other flankers. Those newer perfumes should not be mistaken for the original green-bottled Polo.