The sensational Polo Oud by Ralph Lauren is a new hype on the internet.
As a perfume enthusiast, I had to try it out, and when I did, its enchanting, woody, floral aura blew my mind on the spot.
However, my husband thinks it is a bit ordinary compared to other well-known woody scents.
That’s why I sorted out some Polo Oud substitutes with better quality and polishness. And now, I’m going to describe them all here.
Let’s begin, then.
What Does Polo Oud Ralph Lauren Smell Like?
Polo Oud by Ralph Lauren has a smooth, smoky, woody aroma. It starts with the spiciness of pink pepper. Rose and cinnamon keep the spicy, floral vibe going until the base appears. The closing comes with the classy, masculine tone of oud, incense, and guaiac wood.
Released in 2023, Polo Oud is the latest addition to Ralph Lauren’s Polo line.
Now, let’s check out the note profile of Polo Oud by Ralph Lauren:
Top Notes: Clary Sage and Pink Pepper
Middle Notes: Cinnamon, Rose, and Orange
Base Notes: Incense, Oud, Guaiac Wood, Vetiver, and Patchouli
Immediately after you spray Polo Oud, you’ll feel the spicy, aerial pink pepper along with a smoky touch of incense.
The core mainly highlights the spicy, sweet nuance of cinnamon. Yet I could distinctively pick the rose underneath, adding a fresh, floral vibe to the aroma.
The oud is powerful in the dry-down but never smells like those off-putting dense oud scents you find in the stores. Here, it is perfectly cushioned by all the smoky, spicy, floral accords.
Incense brings a sexy evening edge to the scent, making it extremely inviting for the fall and winter time.
Finally, it settles with the masculine, semi-sweet quality of patchouli.
What Colognes Smell Similar To Polo Oud Ralph Lauren?
I believe Polo Oud is one of the most wearable designer oud scents ever created. However, it fails to give the premium feel that you might get from other designer woody colognes.
That’s why I will now tell you about some Polo Oud alternatives that smell similar but in a more premium and sophisticated way.
Here are the sorted Ralph Lauren’s Polo Oud alternatives:
1. La Collection M7 Oud Absolu By Yves Saint Laurent
Top Note: Mandarin Orange
Middle Note: Patchouli
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Myrrh, and French labdanum
La Collection M7 Oud Absolu was launched back in 2017 by YSL. It comes with the refinement, elegance, and serenity that a perfect oud scent should have. Hence, I think this could be a great alternative for Polo Oud.
M7 Oud Absolu has a unique way of expressing the masculinity and fidelity of a man. Through this, it successfully makes itself distinguishable from all the contemporary designer colognes out there.
In the first sniff, it offers the freshness of mandarin orange nicely blended with a mild touch of smoky oud and patchouli.
Patchouli’s green, warm, edgy aspects get intense with time.
Finally, the base emerges with a woody, smoky, spicy, slightly sweet blend of oud and myrrh. The dry-down is extremely enticing and mysterious.
Even though it gets a bit denser towards the end, it still perfectly confers the modern and chic YSL finish.
Plus, you’ll feel its head-turning allure even after 10 hours of applying.
When To Wear
M7 Oud Absolu is perfect for formal, casual, or dressy occasions in the chilling evenings and nights of winter or fall.
Why Should You Buy
- Perfect balance of refreshing and woody tone.
- Expensive and classy aroma.
- Good lasting power.
- Strong sillage.
- Huge compliment-getter.
- It will make you stand out in the crowd.
- Good value for the money.
2. Dunhill Icon Absolute
Top Notes: Black Pepper and Bergamot
Middle Notes: Saffron, Black Rose, and Jasmine
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Leather, and Tobacco Leaf
If you need a solid hunch of oud, rose, and spices in a cologne, Dunhill Icon Absolute by Alfred Dunhill would be a great pick.
It starts with the invigorating, racy nuance of black pepper. Soon, the refined saffron takes over. And you’ll feel its spicy, flowery texture for a while.
Rose isn’t that strong here, yet I could feel its fresh, sweet presence that makes the woody base a lot more pleasant.
However, the dry-down is the most attractive part for me which is masculine, classy, and a bit dark. Here, the smoky, herbal leather and tobacco essence, balance out the intensity of oud just perfectly.
Dunhill Icon Absolute can surely be a great dupe when you wanna get a similar fresh, woody, floral feel as Polo Oud.
Overall, I would say this is one of the best smelling Alfred Dunhill colognes to date.
The only downside is it lasts only for about 5 hours with moderate sillage. But price-wise, I think it still offers a good deal.
When To Wear
From formal parties to romantic dates, Dunhill Icon Absolute can give you a classy, mature, and sensual aura on any occasion throughout the winter and fall.
Why Should You Buy
- Affordable.
- Balanced woody tone.
- Gorgeous floral, airy undertone.
- Smells luxurious with saffron.
- Interesting peppery twist.
3. Intense Oud Gucci
Any list of premium oud colognes will be incomplete without Intense Oud by Gucci. This is another great designer woody fragrance that both my husband and I adore.
Aurelien Guichard created this scent so amazingly that people still crave this masterpiece even years after its first release.
This sweet, spicy, woody-scented perfume creates such a smokey aura that I can never resist wearing Intense Oud in the Fall.
It starts off with a sweet, refreshing, fruity tone nicely blended with oud and incense. The scent gets sexier and more alluring as time goes by.
I especially like the cologne when it starts to dry down. Because, at this stage, the luxurious woodiness of the oud comes out properly. And the warm, exotic hint of olibanum smells riveting and masculine till the closing.
Overall, it exerts the premium feel that you might miss in Polo Oud. In fact, I think Intense Oud offers a lot more newness than you can ever think of.
On top of that, you can expect over 14 hours of longevity and enormous sillage from this best-smelling Gucci cologne.
When To Wear
Special or dressy occasions during the colder months are the best time to wear Intense Oud. This is basically a night scent but works great in the daytime, too.
Why Should You Buy
- Luxurious and posh quality.
- Gives off a classy, confident vibe.
- Mysterious and dark oud essence.
- Perfect balance of sweetness and smokiness.
- Long-lasting aroma.
- The ultimate attention grabber.
4. Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir
Top Notes: Black Pepper, Bitter Orange, and Neroli
Middle Notes: Saffron, Cardamom, and Olibanum
Base Notes: Agarwood (Oud), Patchouli, and Leatherwood
If you are so into woody ambery colognes with a fresh spicy hint, You can surely count on Versace Pour Homme Oud Noir.
What I like the most about this fragrance is its way of presenting masculinity and seductiveness. It starts with the spicy allure of cardamom, tuned with neroli’s freshness.
Apart from the powdery fineness of saffron, the core delivers olibanum’s warmth and sweetness in the best way possible.
The scent finally presents a modern and well-groomed woody tone, having the right amount of oud, patchouli, and leather in the base.
Overall, this is a classy and sophisticated woody cologne that lasts on the skin for over 8 hours. And on the clothes, it extends even more.
Above all, the cologne stays within the budget yet offers a superior quality throughout its life. That’s why you’ll find a lot of other colognes similar to Oud Noir Versace in the market.
When To Wear
Versace Oud Noir has a versatile aroma that goes brilliantly with any kind of event on the fall, winter, and spring days or nights.
Why Should You Buy
- Reasonable price.
- High-end quality.
- Fresh, riveting vibe.
- It will get you tons of good compliments.
- Ladies find it really attractive.
- Strong sillage and projection.
- Intoxicating saffron note.
5. Carlisle Parfums de Marly
Top Notes: Nutmeg, Green Apple, and Saffron
Middle Notes: Tonka Bean, Rose, Osmanthus, and Davana
Base Notes: Patchouli, Vanilla, and Opoponax
Even though it doesn’t have any oud, I find PDM Carlisle a lot like Polo Oud. They both have a similar fresh, spicy, woody vibe that is further enhanced in Carlisle with the addition of vanilla.
So, if you’re an admirer of fresh, woody aromas, you should definitely try out this PDM masterpiece.
When I first sprayed Carlisle, I found a sexy, nutty aroma hovering around me, spreading the fresh, elegant aura of apple and saffron.
It gets spicier after a while, but I could also feel the heaven-like floral tone of rose and osmanthus in the background.
The base smells fierce and mysterious, which successfully exerts the fidelity of a man with a heavy dose of vanilla and patchouli.
Overall, Carlisle has such an intoxicating aroma that I can smell it on my husband for the whole day, yet never feel bored.
As a PDM fragrance, this cologne is quite pricey. So, if you’re on a limited budget, opt for cost-effective colognes that smell similar to Parfums de Marly Carlisle.
When To Wear
PDM Carlisle smells the best in cold winter or fall evenings and nights. This one is really luxurious. So, wear it at such events where you need to express your elegant and seductive nature.
Why Should You Buy
- Niche quality.
- Smoother and classier than Polo Oud.
- Better and well-crafted composition.
- Sexy, mysterious, woody tone.
- Eternal longevity.
- Enormous sillage.
- It can be a brilliant gift option for your partner.
Final Words
Polo Oud is the perfect scent to give you a classy and confident feel with its mind-boggling composition. However, as it was released pretty recently, you won’t find an exact clone for this one.
Anyway, all the substitutes that I’ve listed above come in a similar vein to Polo Oud. Even though they are not replicas, they will live up to your expectations, which I can assure you.
So, check out the list and pick your next buddy for the winter.
And don’t forget to write your feedback in the comment box below.
