Ralph Lauren Safari (Vintage): A Green Floral Masterpiece

In the pantheon of 1990s fragrances, few have achieved the cult status of Ralph Lauren’s Safari. Launched in 1990, this green floral masterpiece was a bold departure from the sweet, gourmand trends that would later dominate the decade. It is a fragrance that speaks of untamed wilderness and refined sophistication—a paradox that Dominique Ropion orchestrated with breathtaking precision.

The vintage parfum, in particular, is a treasure: a deep, resinous, and uncompromisingly green composition that unfolds like a walk through a dew-laden forest at dawn. The top notes hit with a bitter, almost astringent galbanum, softened by the honeyed warmth of marigold and the narcotic sweetness of narcissus. It is a scent that demands attention, yet rewards patience.

Sadly, the 2013 EDP reformulation is a pale shadow of its former self—a fleeting whisper where once there was a roar. This review focuses on the vintage parfum, the true embodiment of Ropion’s vision, and a fragrance that remains a benchmark for green florals.