Explorer Ultra Blue

Is this the red-headed step-child of the Explorer line? Based on reviews you'd think the inspiration comes from Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Eau Intense Pour Homme having a secret love child with Ralph Lauren Polo 67 EDT, but I think I get more Polo Blue with different fruits and more pepper. The opening is sharp bergamot, pink pepper, and exotic fruits (I don't really think Polo 67 here, but I sort of get it, just dialed back fruit). The heart is the marine accord coming from the Light Blue Eau Intense concept: salty, airy, and watery. It is also a little bit ambery. In the base I get peppery patchouli, light woods, and just a hint of leather. It is not nearly as salty as Issey Miyake Le Sel D'Issey but it goes in that direction, and is considerably peppier than what people might think. If you took Le Sel, Polo Blue, a splash of Polo 67, and a pepper shaker, you'd get Ultra Blue. Somehow it works.

This is arguably masterful at what it's trying to do (be a generic mass appealing fresh dumb reach.) It is handsome, grown shower gel masculine scent. It's refreshing to have an all rounder/fresh fragrance which isn't sweet nor overdosed with citrus or aquatics. Has a classic feel. Definitely a shower gel fragrance. Performs better than the original and has that similiar musky "mens cologne" drydown. At the price in discounters you really can't go wrong with it. I don't love it or anything but I got 100ml for £29 and it gets more compliments and positive feedback than many of my more expensive frags. I prefer it to most blues. Give it a try, it is the ultimate npc/normie frag which means everyone likes it. It is a very sensible scent.

I agree most with the urinal cake and seafoam review. I read another review elsewhere that said 'smells like expo cleaner.' My own take is that it's like a bar of Coast deodorant soap mixed with Windex. In other words, I do like it, but it has some very powerful ammonia and alcohol notes, and the rest is sort a soap and cleaner smell. It's actually very masculine, and I do enjoy it. I wouldn't recommend it because I think a lot of people are going to be put off by the 'cleaner' vibe. 3.5/5.0 is about right. I'm still glad I bought it. For a perfume that smells like an expo marker, you would expect the projection and longevity to be better, but it's only about average. I know I sound like I'm coming down hard, but I do like it.

This first thing I thought of when I smelled this? Acqua di Gio. I'm surprised more people haven't said this. I have the Acqua di Gio edp and that's what I compare it to, although I see people comparing it to Profondo which I don't have, so I can't comment on that one. I even did a side by side and it's pretty damn similar. This isn't a bad thing, and this would be a great, if not perfect, every day cologne. It smells good, it lasts, it's not over the top, nor is it offensive, a general crowd pleaser, and I believe this to be a compliment getter. For the price, I'd say go for it, unless you already have Acqua di Gio. Spring time, indoors, maybe on a walk outside, during the day, or summer nights, would suit this best.

I love this fragrance! It's the first cologne I've tried with a "Sea Notes" accord that I actually enjoy. Explorer Ultra Blue features this accord without the "Calone" note. Instead of citrus, I get more fruitiness from the "Exotic Fruits" note, which is great for me since I don’t particularly like citrus scents. I also appreciate that the Ambroxan in this cologne is more tolerable compared to other fragrances containing Ambroxan. I can detect all of the base notes, and the leather note is not animalic, which I find pleasing. I believe this scent is versatile enough to be worn year-round during the day. Currently, I experience about 6 hours of longevity, and I hope that improves over time.