Polo Green vs Polo Red: which Ralph Lauren Polo to buy him this Christmas

Polo Green vs Polo Red: which Ralph Lauren Polo to buy him this Christmas

The short answer: Polo Green at Grace Beauty is Polo Cologne Intense. Ralph Lauren calls it "the iconic men's Polo scent… reinvented with the fresh intensity of grapefruit and cooling sage balanced by the signature smooth tones of intense patchouli." Polo Red is the spicy, woody one: "a fiery blend of spicy red saffron, fresh red grapefruit and deep redwood." Red comes as an eau de toilette (EDT) and as an eau de parfum (EDP). Ralph Lauren builds the EDP around ginger, aromatic sage and rich woods. Shop Polo Green Cologne Intense, Polo Red EDT or Polo Red EDP.

Polo Green vs Polo Red at a glance

Prices and stock were correct at the time of writing (4 November 2026) and may change.

Polo Green Cologne Intense Polo Red EDT Polo Red EDP Polo Blue EDT
Bottle Deep green, gunmetal cap Red Red Blue
Type Eau de parfum Eau de toilette Eau de parfum Eau de toilette
Ralph Lauren's top notes Basil oil, spearmint oil, grapefruit oil Lemon, bergamot, juniper Ginger oil, red grapefruit oil, cranberry accord Cantaloupe melon accord, cucumber accord, watermelon accord, bergamot oil
Size we sell 125ml 125ml 125ml or 75ml 75ml
Price £67.90 £78.90 £67.90 (125ml), £51.90 (75ml) £48.90
Shop View View 125ml / 75ml View

First, which "Polo Green" do you mean?

The two green bottles are easy to mix up, so check before you buy.

  • The original Polo was launched in 1978. It's an eau de toilette in a green bottle with a gold cap.
  • Polo Cologne Intense is a 2021 eau de parfum in a deeper green bottle with a gunmetal cap. Ralph Lauren calls it "a new classic for a new generation".

Grace Beauty stocks Polo Cologne Intense. If he already wears a green Polo, take a quick look at the cap on his bottle. A gold cap means he has the original, so Cologne Intense would be something new for him. A gunmetal cap means he already has the one we sell, and Polo Red might be the better surprise.

Polo Green Cologne Intense: what it smells like

Ralph Lauren calls it "a new classic for a new generation", with "the fresh intensity of grapefruit and cooling sage balanced by the signature smooth tones of intense patchouli."

  • Top notes: basil oil, spearmint oil and grapefruit oil
  • Middle notes: clary sage leaf, violet leaf absolute and thyme oil
  • Base notes: patchouli, Ambroxan, vetiver oil

Might suit him if: he likes fresh, herbal scents with an earthy finish, or he loves the Polo name but wants something more up to date than the classic.

Ralph Lauren Polo Green Cologne Intense 125ml EDP: £67.90

Polo Red: EDT vs EDP

Polo Red Eau de Toilette

Ralph Lauren calls it "a fiery blend of spicy red saffron, fresh red grapefruit and deep redwood that ignites the thrill seeker in every man."

  • Top notes: lemon, bergamot and juniper
  • Middle notes: red saffron, clary sage and lavender
  • Base notes: cedarwood, vetiver and vanilla

Ralph Lauren Polo Red Eau de Toilette - 125ml: £78.90

Polo Red Eau de Parfum

Ralph Lauren says it's "crafted with a mix of rich, natural woods, ginger and aromatic sage, leaving a lasting impression of warm sensuality and pure sophistication."

  • Top notes: ginger oil, red grapefruit oil and cranberry accord
  • Middle notes: lavender oil, clary sage oil, cistus absolute and elemi resinoid
  • Base notes: rich woods accord (guaiacwood oil, cedarwood oil), benzoin resinoid, opoponax resinoid and musk accord

Available in two sizes:

The difference in one line

They're two different scents in the Polo Red family, not just two strengths of one. The EDT leads with saffron, citrus and redwood. The EDP leads with ginger, sage and rich woods.

Which one should you buy him?

There's no single right answer, but these pointers can help:

  • If he likes fresh, herbal scents: Polo Green Cologne Intense.
  • If he likes spicy, citrusy scents: Polo Red EDT.
  • If he likes warm, woody scents: Polo Red EDP.
  • If he already has one of them: try the other colour, or the other Polo Red.
  • If he prefers light, fresh, aquatic scents: Polo Blue EDT might suit him better than either (see below).

Polo Red gift sets

Both of these come ready to give:

You'll find more boxed ideas in our aftershave gift sets for him.

More Ralph Lauren scents we stock

There's more to Ralph Lauren than green and red. Here are the other Ralph Lauren fragrances in stock at the time of writing.

Polo Blue Eau de Toilette

Ralph Lauren says it "features an invigorating blend of melon de Cavaillon, basil, verbena, and washed suede, evoking the freedom of the big, blue sky; the energy of open waters; and an invigorating blast of fresh air."

Big Pony 1 Blue for men

The blue bottle in Ralph Lauren's Big Pony collection for men.

Big Pony 2 Pink for women

For her rather than him: the pink bottle in Ralph Lauren's Big Pony collection for women.

Sizes, prices and delivery before Christmas

Product Size Price at the time of writing
Ralph Lauren Polo Green Cologne Intense 125ml EDP 125ml £67.90
Ralph Lauren Polo Red Eau de Toilette - 125ml 125ml £78.90
Ralph Lauren Polo Red Eau de Parfum 125ml 125ml £67.90
Ralph Lauren Red Polo Eau de Parfum 75ml Spray 75ml £51.90
Ralph Lauren POLO RED Eau De Toilette Gift Set 125ml EDT + 15ml EDT 125ml + 15ml £73.90
Ralph Lauren Polo Red Gift Set 75ml EDT + 50ml Shower Gel 75ml + 50ml £79.90
Ralph Lauren Polo Blue Eau De Toilette Spray 75ml 75ml £48.90
Ralph Lauren Big Pony 1 Blue Eau De Toilette Spray 100ml 100ml £35.90
Ralph Lauren Big Pony Collection 1-Blue 50ml EDT Spray For Men 50ml £28.90
Ralph Lauren Big Pony Collection 2-Pink for Women 100ml EDT Spray 100ml £44.90
Ralph Lauren Big Pony Collection 2-Pink for Women 50ml EDT Spray 50ml £23.90
  • UK delivery: £3.90, or free on orders over £50.
  • Discount: use code WELCOME10 for 10% off orders over £80.
  • Returns: within 30 days.
  • Questions: contact us by email.
  • Outside the UK: perfume ships abroad to EU countries only.

Order early if it's a Christmas gift.

More gift ideas for him

Browse our aftershave gift sets for him, our full fragrance range, or the Christmas beauty gift guide 2026 for every budget.

FAQs

What's the difference between Polo Green and Polo Red?

At Grace Beauty, Polo Green means Ralph Lauren Polo Cologne Intense, an eau de parfum that pairs "the fresh intensity of grapefruit and cooling sage" with "intense patchouli". Polo Red is Ralph Lauren's "fiery blend of spicy red saffron, fresh red grapefruit and deep redwood". It comes as an eau de toilette and as an eau de parfum built around ginger, sage and rich woods.

Is Polo Green Cologne Intense the same as the original Polo?

No. The original Polo, from 1978, is an eau de toilette in a green bottle with a gold cap. Polo Cologne Intense is a 2021 eau de parfum in a deeper green bottle with a gunmetal cap. Its notes include basil oil, spearmint oil, grapefruit oil, clary sage leaf, patchouli and vetiver oil. Grace Beauty stocks Polo Cologne Intense in 125ml.

What's the difference between Polo Red EDT and Polo Red EDP?

They're different scents in the same family. Ralph Lauren's Polo Red Eau de Toilette is built on red saffron, red grapefruit and redwood, with lemon, bergamot and juniper on top. Polo Red Eau de Parfum opens with ginger oil, red grapefruit oil and cranberry accord, with a base of guaiacwood and cedarwood.

What other Ralph Lauren fragrances does Grace Beauty stock?

At the time of writing, alongside Polo Green and Polo Red, we stock Polo Blue Eau de Toilette 75ml, Big Pony 1 Blue for men in 100ml and 50ml, and Big Pony 2 Pink for women in 100ml and 50ml.

How much is UK delivery and can I return it?

UK delivery is £3.90, or free on orders over £50. Returns are accepted within 30 days. Perfume ships abroad to EU countries only.

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