Reviews of Rive Gauche (1971)
by Yves Saint Laurent

I wore this fragrance in its original formulation as a student. It made me feel cofident and self assured, and very Parisienne chic, and I loved the blue/black bottle. Feeling sentimental about my student days, I purchased a bottle recently and this is the new formulation. It seems softer than the original, but just as perfect in its balance and distinctiveness. What I particularly like about RG - old and new - is the drydown, which smells to me of vetiver, oakmoss, and rose, and lasts for hours. This is a scent which can be worn day or night, summer or winter, and is truly different from anyhting else on the market. The British perfumer Miller Harris rates this fragrance highly and refers to it as a true classic which has inspired her.

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.

Happiness is finding Rive Gauche after over 1o years! First bought in 1980s when a guy I had a thing for mentioned it was his favorite. That didn't work out, and I had to wait a few years for the fragrance to not be associated with "him."

The Perfume Dictionary calls RG a perfect rose,and it seems some people smell the rose and others don't. I don't catch the rose, in fact I find it hard to isolate the notes in this magnificent fragrance; I'm just swept away by its sparkling brightness and powdery drydown. It's good for at least 6 hours, and lasts forever on a scarf or sweater. Despite the boyfriend history I opened with, now I wear it just for me!

A definite must-try for lovers of bright aldehydes. RG (the original) is all about lightness and brightness and all things Parisian. It may well be a tad dated, yes, butby no means so much that it's unapproachable. A true classic here, and one that's especially good in summer months.

This review is buy a man for the most modern and timeless ladies classic. In my youth, I remember my mother wearing it. I loved it then, 1977. Fashions change and as a special treat, I picked up a new bottle for her 80th birthday. I was afraid of the reformulation. How could one improve perfection? The only difference I could tell was the opening note with this "green note". It reminds me of ladie's hairspray. I didnt like it at first. Opening notes are generally wierd. Then came the wonderfully familiar and soothing middle notes, that remained intact.
Gardenia, honeysuckle, rose and jasmine do not fail in strength and potency, Simple and feminine. Truely modern and not just for "old ladies". That is the timeless appeal this conveys. Very chic and stylish, and this is one of the best bottles I ever encountered. It looks like class and success! Go ahead and try this treasure! You wont be sorry!

Rive Gauche (2003 version) in my opinion is not much different from the original, launched in 1971. The current product lists Aldehydes - Rose - Oakmoss - Vetiver in its notes. For some reason I can never isolate the rose in it! Rive Gauche is not a recommendation for anyone having a serious aversion to aldehydes...you would most definitely not appreciate this scent...now that's out of the way, to the rest of you I say "dive right in" this mix of softness is actually sharp!?! Very clean. I would also think of this as a unisex fragrance...kind of suprised they bothered with a male formulation. Wonderful year around scent. It takes heat very well.

I love the original - so glamorous, sophisticated. The new version barely has anything in common - smells so different to me. It is much more modern, in the sense that it is like all the generic department store scents - no longer unique and kinda cheap. The Intense version is much closer to the original; not quite as good, but good enough.

these were still times..........but these times are gone.....evrything has been said-great and outstanding fragrance!sophisticated,elegant and classical-a perfectly composed feminine fragrance.A really wonderful opening of aldehydes but at the same time a perfect drydown-you cannot get enough!Very well balanced and orchestrated.This is a fragrance that makes you dream of more.....Cool, glamorous and sexy!And a nice bottle!

A sample of this was included in my purchase of Rive Gauche Pour Homme so here’s the review: Rive Gauche is an extremely nice fragrance. Aldehydes and citrus in the opening, a well done, discreet mixed floral accord in the heart, and a subtle and well made wood dry down. I don’t get any rose out of the floral accord. Except for the aldehydes in the opening, I find the scent quite delicate in its total movement. I’m really going to have to get a sample of the original Rive Gauche because the reviews here have made me curious about it—it sounds like a truer YSL fragrance than this version. This is an excellent casual feminine fragrance—it is replete with personality and pleasant accords, but it does seem to lack the YSL signature edginess.

I remember the beautiful original, as my mother wore it when I was a child. This is now a sad and pale comparison. I don't know what they were thinking of when they reformulated this, but in my opinion it has been massacred. I smell it and............nothing. No memories, only a distant faint imposter. Terrible.

Rive Gauche my signature scent for the longest time in my twenties and early thirties. Huge lift from those aldehydes! Loved the galbanum-moss-vetiver accord of brilliant green, and that floral heart. I was disappointed by the new versions released a couple of years ago, though the Intense is closer to the original - compared to the 70s version it's more synthetic, sharper, shallower. The new "regular" EDT is altogether too pale and wishy-washy to bear much resemblance to the original. If you have a chance at the original on ebay, take it!

This review refers to the original formula: Of all the dept store designer brands, I think YSL comes up with the most innovative scents and bottle designs. This was especially true when YSL himself was at the helm----think Y, Rive Gauche, Opium, Paris. Released in 1971, Rive Gauche is a marvel to behold. An absolute masterpiece of silvery coolness; it's a paradox of the strong mingled with the tender. However, I will tell you that after you spritz it on, don't even bother to smell it until an hour passes. It's even better after 2 hours pass; the metallic clink you smell immediately upon application is not indicative of the drydown. Not one bit. RG is what I call a glamour-hyde, like Arpege, Chant d'Aromes, Chanel No 5, or Worth's Dans la Nuit. If you like the elegance of the floral aldehydes, you may very well fall hard for Rive Gauche. This is one of the few scents I own that garners me compliments from strangers. Five stars. Addendum: don't hold me to this, but I'm almost positive that the original formula (you can still find it online) has YSL's name at the bottom of the bottle, whereas the newer formulation has his name in the middle.

When I tried this and smelled it for what I thought was the first time recently I was immediately reminded of my schooldays. I think most of my female teachers must have worn this in the late seventies and early eighties! My school reeked of it! Only the art department escapes the association as it was predictably a haven of incense sticks and patchouli oil. Rive Gauche can have no other connection for me so I will have to rate it neutral.

One of my all-time favorites, since I was 18 years old when I first discovered it in a St. Thomas duty-free. It's clean, crisp, and utterly addictive. I breathe more deeply when I have it on, just can't get enough of it. A little will do you, and will last all day. Actually, it will last on your winter coat until next spring, should you happen to forget dry-cleaning before storage. ;)

I have always loved this. I wish I could remember how I found it. I never knew it had rose in it. It seems like such a non-floral to me which is the main attraction. It is fresh without the ubiquitous freesia ala Calvin Klein. There is also a kind of quirky citrus tang. I am remembering the old version and have not tried it lately. I just hope it still works for me although I'm very afraid. Haunting!

I haven't tried the re-formulated version of this, but the original has great memories for me of the 70's student era! Loved it at the time and must get re-aquainted.Remember it as very distinctive and sexy floral aldehyde.

Rive Gauche is more chypre than anything else to me, though its' typically considered a floral aldehyde. It is not sweet, not especially smoky and not green either; all the flower (including magnolia, gardenia, geranium, rose, ylang and lily of the valley) and green notes smell a bit smoked, as if they've been dipped in incense. A powdery, sharp rope of iris and tonka, dusted up even further by aldehydes, run through all. It's got some character in common with Cabochard and Chanel 19, though I like Rive Gauche better. Still, it wasn't a major favorite of mine until I layered it over a Bourbon vanilla lotion one day - and then it truly came alive. The Bourbon vanilla is smoky, too, like the fragrance, but adds that jot of sweetness - not too much, just enough - that this scent seems to call out for. I have never worn it any way but then since then and highly recommend trying it this way. I am, by the way, referring to the "old" verison of Rive Gauche; I have not yet tried the reformulated one that's supposed to be a lighter take on this fragrance. The old heavy one's just fine by me!

Very powdery, antiquey rose. Similar to Chanel No. 5-her naughty little sister who, in an ttempt to be 'grown-up,' wears a little too much blusher and stays out all night. Not for me. However, fabulous packaging.