Rive Gauche (1971)
by Yves Saint Laurent

I wore Rive Gauche when it first was introduced, and believe me, the new version is not "it", not even close! This is the only fragrance on any of the Turin & Sanchez best lists with which I find fault. The new reformulation is horrible. Period. PS Now I understand why Calandre smelled so familiar to me when I first tried it recently. It's more like Rive Gauche than Rive Gauche! Do yourself a favor. Buy Calandre!

EdT. (New formulation)

I must admit that I am not the biggest fan of this. It is something that I don’t need in a sense or another.
Well engineered aldehydic rose with crisp green balsamic/mossy undertones. Overly feminine with very much lady-like feel. It smells quite old yet I wouldn’t call it dated.
It has a slight bit of animalic feel to it for sometime. The smell after many hours after application is very “make-up-like”. Perhaps it reminds me of the smell of lipstick or face powder, I am not quite certain of that.

Not terribly bad and actually on a right person it might be quite capturing.
The bottle design is a bullseye.

I fell in love with BOTH Rive Gauche and Calandre in the same year, 1974....
Their incredible similarity and their HUGE diffference (to my memory and even now on re-smelling in 2009) made me realise just how wonderful, fun and serious fragrances could be.
Needless to say I use BOTH unabashedly, despite being a chunky monkey of a man....
Rive Gauche (even after the reformulation) is the more playful of the two... the irresponsible, more outgoing of the Twins and the less polite....
which suits me fine 60% of the time...
It's a masterpiece... very Paris, slightly dated (but that to my nose is a nice thing!), very floral, very aldehydic, nicely spiced, superbly balanced and always on the move, glinting with various shades of blue, green, silver and white (unlike its pour homme counterpart that stays rooted flat-footed albeit in a very sexy way...)
In 2009, with all these fashionable 'florals for men', it's a no-brainer for a sexy guy to wear....
It's got enough to play against in your black singlets, muscles, jeans and trainers guys!
time to steal some more from the women!

Rolfs_sister is right on the money with her review. I used to wear this when I worked in customer service. I didn't want a scent that was too heavy during the day, but could go from day to evening. I received so many compliments from men while wearing this.

Haven't tried the new version but definitely will, now I've been reminded of it. Another I used to wear many years ago when I was a student and loved but 'grew out' of. I could never isolate individual flower smells in it - unlike Paris - but loved it's unusual vibrant freshness and - for its time - edgy sophisticated distinctiveness when it was up against all the Charlies and Tabus.

Rive Gauche suits day and nighttime/evening wear: it can be colourful and vibrant (even 'sporty') during the day, and completely sensual in the evening. I love wearing it in the summer best, when the heat changes it on your skin only for the better. Not right for formal occasions, think of Rive Gauche as your favourite pair of vintage jeans, or your best little black dress (see above, it suits both day and night).