Big Pony 4 for Women

The Verdict

Big Pony 4 for Women by Ralph Lauren launched in 2012 as part of a women's companion line to the men's Big Pony collection. Number 4 in the women's lineup is the richest of the group: an amber-cherry-fruity oriental that Ralph Lauren marketed as a fragrance for "dynamic women ready for challenges," built around wild cherry and violet amber. With 549 community votes and a 3.81 average, it has settled into the kind of fragrance that functions reliably as an entry point to richer Oriental compositions without demanding the kind of patience or wardrobe adjustment that serious oriental fragrances require.

What It Smells Like

The opening comes in fast and loud: Black Currant, Watermelon, and Blood Orange create an immediate burst of fizzy, sweet fruit. One community member described it accurately as "like a fizzy cherry soda on my skin — not a serious scent, just fun and playful." The watermelon lightens the blood orange, preventing it from reading as heavy citrus, while the black currant provides a richer purple-fruit darkness underneath.

As the opening settles, Magnolia and Cherry emerge in the heart. The cherry is the focal note here and the community focuses on it almost exclusively in reviews: sweet, slightly animalic as it develops, richer than a typical fruity-floral cherry. Several Fragrantica reviewers called it "the best cherry fragrance I have smelled," while others found the transition from opening to heart brought something unexpected — "a few minutes into the drydown the cherry disappears and I'm left with an earthy floral."

The base settles on Cedar, Amber, and Sylkolide — warm, woody, slightly sweet. The overall accord trajectory (amber, cherry, fruity) gives the fragrance a warmth that makes it more interesting in cooler months than a typical summer fruit formula.

When to Wear It

Community voting runs 27% day vs 12% night, suggesting daytime dominance, but the night percentage is notable for a fruity fragrance — suggesting the amber base gives it enough warmth to transition into casual evenings. The community broadly agrees it suits spring and summer best, though the amber base and cherry richness make it genuinely comfortable in fall as well. Deep winter is the exception; the fruit notes read thin and out of place against cold weather.

Longevity & Projection

Performance reports vary widely. Some community members praise strong sillage and all-day longevity, with one noting it becomes "very animalic" as it wears and "the sillage is strong and it lasts all day long." Others cite the opposite: "lack of longevity and one-dimensional scent pyramid," with wear times around three hours before needing reapplication. The community consensus lands somewhere in the 4-6 hour range with moderate projection. Given the relatively affordable price point, generous application is reasonable.

Skin chemistry plays a significant role here. Some wearers report the fragrance smelling "way deeper and sweeter" in the store, only to turn slightly sour on their own skin. As with most amber-heavy compositions, a wrist test before full application is advisable.

The Community Says

Fragrantica discussions on Big Pony 4 are consistent: this is a crowd-friendly, accessible sweet-fruity oriental that appeals broadly to younger wearers or those earlier in their fragrance journey. The 24% love / 54% like split is actually quite strong — only 20% expressed dissatisfaction. For a fragrance this explicitly sweet, that level of acceptance is notable.

The criticism that recurs is "one-dimensional": some community members appreciate the cherry in the opening but find the fragrance fails to develop meaningfully from there. The comparison to a "cherry soda" appears repeatedly, which for some is a compliment (fun, upbeat, wearable) and for others a criticism (no depth, no complexity, nothing to discover over the wear time).

Its use as a layering base also comes up frequently — the cherry-amber combination pairs well under woods or musks when worn over another fragrance.

Who Should Buy This

This is a strong pick for anyone who enjoys the amber-cherry-fruity Oriental territory without wanting to commit to heavy, demanding compositions. It reads as youthful and accessible, which is either its appeal or its limitation depending on where you are in fragrance exploration. Entry-level Oriental enthusiasts will find it an excellent and approachable starting point.

Those who prefer clean, fresh, or green fragrances will find nothing here. The commitment is to sweetness, and if sweetness doesn't suit you, no amount of cedar or amber in the base will change the fundamental character.

The Bottom Line

Big Pony 4 for Women is a well-executed sweet-fruity oriental that delivers on its promise without pretending to be more than it is. The cherry is genuinely good, the amber base provides warmth, and the community reception reflects an honest appreciation for a fragrance that works on its own terms. Variable longevity and limited complexity are real trade-offs. Worth owning if you love the genre; pass if you don't.