I have this ongoing obsession with a perfume from my teenage years that truly marked some of the best times in my life back in Chile. I wore it for a few years and even shared it with friends. We genuinely felt special with it on. That perfume was YSL Jazz.
It’s discontinued now, and if you manage to find a real bottle online, the prices are crazy. Even then, there’s always the risk of getting a fake. So I never pulled the trigger.
Over the years I kept seeing people say that one of the closest things to Jazz is Polo Safari. I was always curious about that claim, so one day I finally said screw it and got a bottle. This is my honest take after wearing it quite a lot.
The way it looks
The presentation is very nice. The bottle is gorgeous! A little on the wider side but not too big of a deal. It has that proper vintage cologne look that makes the warm amber tone juice inside look majestic. The glass has this cool diamond cut pattern all over it that catches the light really well. In the middle there’s a big shiny silver emblem with the RL initials and two lions. The silver cap is simple but elegant. The sprayer, though… it really sucks. The mist is short and narrow, not great at all. But the perfume itself is so good that I can live with it.
The box is a sturdy paper one with a crocodile skin print. It feels elegant and actually matches the whole safari name perfectly. This one comes in a generous 125ml bottle, which is a nice bonus specially when you look at the price.
Now, the smell.
This is one of those fragrances that immediately speaks manliness and pure 90s energy. At this point in my life, I’ve been really craving and obsessing over those old-school aromas, and Polo Safari delivers.
This one starts with a strong blend of lavender, bergamot, and neroli, plus a peppery touch and carnation. There’s a very noticeable soapy feeling right from the start. It’s fresh but opulent, borderline dense. Remember, this is an “à la powerhouse” type of scent.
In the middle it becomes mossier with some floral nuances. I can’t pinpoint the exact flowers though, but they exist. It feels clean and bright. The spicy vibe is still there underneath with a veil of sweetness and a herbaceous hint of rosemary. The drydown stays soapy with extra woods and a borderline ethereal note of patchouli. I read that leather is listed in the notes, but I honestly don’t get any leather at all. To me it feels more like a spicy and bright perfume rather than a warm cologne.
Maruša says it smells very classy, manly, and old-school. She mentioned that this perfume smells like a vintage barbershop cologne rather than a commercial fragrance, and I completely agree.
If I have to rate it, it’s a solid 9 out of 10.
Versatility and Performance
Versatility is excellent. I can wear Polo Safari all year round without hesitation. I know I’m a bit biased because I love this type of aromatic beasts, but still… it just works amazingly well.
That said, I wouldn’t recommend it for most young guys today. What worked great in the 90s feels pretty different in 2026. That’s just my personal opinion though. If you’re a teen and you really want that old school alpha male vibe, then go for it 😀
Performance surprised me in the best way possible. A lot of people say it disappears fast, but on my skin I’m easily getting 4 to 5 hours before it fades away completely. That’s pretty solid for an Eau de Toilette. On clothes it stays even longer. I can still catch whiffs the next day. I’ve tested it multiple times now and it’s been reliable every single wear.
Now the odd part
The whole reason of getting Polo Safari was to see if it actually smells like YSL Jazz. After wearing it many times… I still can’t tell. My olfactory memories from back then have faded too much. I guess the only real way would be to smell an actual bottle of Jazz again. The vintage one, the one that looks like piano keys 🙂
Even so, I’m really happy with this one. It gives me that manly boost and the “transported back to the 90s” feeling I’m constantly looking for. It might not be Jazz, but it’s a damn good fragrance on its own. It’s perfect for wearing with linen shirts or pleated trousers… just like back in the 90s 😀
Official notes from the brand:
- Top Notes: Lemon oil, Bergamot oil, Tarragon oil, Eucalyptus oil
- Mid Notes: Rosemary oil, Geranium oil, Lavender oil, Clove oil
- Base Notes: Vetiver accord, Oakmoss accord, Patchouli accord, Leather accord
Disclosure: This is a fully independent review. We purchased the bottle ourselves. No free samples or deals involved. Everything we wrote comes from honest wearing and our genuine experience.
Living fully, lightly scented 🌿
Thanks for stopping by. See you next time.
