Big Pony 1 Ralph Lauren 2010 male 99

The Verdict

Ralph Lauren Big Pony 1, created by perfumer Yves Cassar and launched in 2010, is one of four fragrances in the Big Pony collection, each represented by a different sport. Number 1 represents the sporty lifestyle with a composition built on lime and grapefruit. It is a fragrance designed for accessibility rather than artistry, and it delivers accordingly: a pleasant enough citrus burst that vanishes almost as quickly as it arrives.

The Big Pony series was conceived as a gateway collection for younger fragrance enthusiasts, and in that narrow role, it serves its purpose. However, the consensus among the fragrance community is that Big Pony 1 falls short even by the modest standards of a budget sporty fragrance, primarily due to performance issues that border on the non-functional.

What It Smells Like

The opening is the best part of Big Pony 1, and for a brief window, it is genuinely enjoyable. A fizzy, crisp burst of lime and grapefruit hits the skin with refreshing energy. One reviewer compared the sensation to a drink made of spicy ginger ale mixed with Fresca, capturing the effervescent, slightly tart character of the citrus blend. There is also a hint of lemon peel and bergamot adding sparkle to the top.

Beyond the citrus opening, there is very little to describe. The fragrance has minimal base notes, with only the faintest trace of light musk appearing in the extreme dry-down. There is no woody depth, no aromatic complexity, and no real development. What you smell in the first ten minutes is essentially the entire experience, and even that fades rapidly on most skin types.

When to Wear It

Big Pony 1 is strictly a warm-weather, casual-occasion fragrance. It works best on hot summer days when you want a quick burst of freshness and do not need your scent to last through extended activities. Beach days, poolside gatherings, and casual outdoor hangouts are its natural habitat.

Do not expect it to carry you through a full day at the office or an evening event. The fragrance simply does not have the staying power for extended wear, regardless of how many sprays you apply.

Longevity & Projection

This is where Big Pony 1 receives its most consistent criticism. Longevity is poor by any standard, with most reviewers reporting the scent disappearing within 1-2 hours. Some report even shorter lifespans, with the fragrance becoming undetectable after just 10-15 minutes on skin.

Projection is equally disappointing. After the initial burst, Big Pony 1 becomes a skin scent almost immediately, and even that fades quickly. Multiple sprays do little to extend the experience. The general consensus is that longevity falls between 2-3 hours during most wears with very limited projection, settling in as a skin scent rather quickly.

The Community Says

Community reviews are predominantly negative, though not unkind. Basenotes reviewers describe the fragrance as cheap and artificial with a very one-dimensional character. Fragrantica users note it has no depth, no complexity, and no sillage, calling it a fragrance that disappears faster than your patience.

Defenders of Big Pony 1 tend to frame their appreciation within context: it is fresh and interesting for its price point, and it is unmistakably Ralph Lauren in its preppy, clean character. Now Smell This ranked it among the more enjoyable entries in the collection, praising its good lasting power and sillage, though this positive assessment appears to be an outlier.

Who Should Buy This

Big Pony 1 is best suited for teenagers and young adults who are just beginning to explore fragrance and want something inexpensive and easy to wear. It can serve as a pleasant body spray alternative for casual summer activities where lasting power is not a priority.

Anyone with even moderate experience in the fragrance world will likely find Big Pony 1 underwhelming. There are numerous affordable citrus options on the market that offer better performance and more interesting compositions at similar or lower price points.

The Bottom Line

Ralph Lauren Big Pony 1 delivers a brief, enjoyable lime-grapefruit opening that fades to nearly nothing within the hour. While it functions adequately as an introductory fragrance for younger wearers, its near-complete lack of longevity and projection makes it difficult to recommend to anyone seeking a functional everyday scent.