Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › ...and a side of Rive Gauche, por favor.
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

...and a side of Rive Gauche, por favor.

post #1 of 20
12/15/07 at 6:59pm
Thread Starter 
I'm not sure if I tapped into an off bottle, but I finally had the chance to wear Rive Gauche and I really don't see what all the fuss is about. It sorta smelled like air freshener, and sorta reminded me of the lettuce/tomato garnish that comes as a side to the enchilada combo at your favorite Mexican sit-down. Then it dried down to, well, nothing, really.

Was this just a bad bottle, or is that the desired effect? Any ideas?
Reply
Reply

Features on Basenotes

Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
post #2 of 20
12/15/07 at 7:07pm
Glad you brought this up Nicolas V, I am interested in the reponse to this question as well!

I have tried and tried to 'get' this fragrance - summer and, now, winter - and it still eludes me.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 20
12/15/07 at 8:07pm
I agree--still don't get it. I think it is a fairly good scent, but leaning towards average and certainly not as sexy, daring, or striking as people make it out to be.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 20
12/15/07 at 8:18pm
Rive Gauche... well, I have worn it for a while... usually in the evening. I think it's a bit different than the mainstream fragrances one will meet during an evening out - somewhat fresh, yet heady too...

I remember the first time I smelled it on someone else, (at a party) I felt it was unique compared to the mainstream scents. But yes, even then, I thought it smelled more like a "body spray" than a cologne. Yet, the more I smell it now, the more I like it... It gives me a good lift when I wear it - some how clean and deep.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 20
12/15/07 at 8:22pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Giraffe View Post

I agree--still don't get it. I think it is a fairly good scent, but leaning towards average and certainly not as sexy, daring, or striking as people make it out to be.

Hmm. Yeahh. That's too bad. Ok, my address is as follows...
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 20
12/15/07 at 8:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by The_Giraffe View Post

I agree--still don't get it. I think it is a fairly good scent, but leaning towards average and certainly not as sexy, daring, or striking as people make it out to be.

Yeah, I thought this one was supposed to hark back to the masculine fragrances of the 70's.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 20
12/15/07 at 9:20pm
So for all the doubters here, what other fragrance, similar in character to Rive Gauche, would you recommend? Just curious.

Personally I think Rive Gauche doesn't have an ingredient that really makes the scent stand out. It's light and soapy and not too much with a kick. It's very balanced, and therefore not bold or extrovert.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 20
12/15/07 at 9:31pm
the answer you seek grasshopper is here:

http://www.basenotes.net/ID26122758&page=reviews

all 78 reviews

60 thumbs up!

most of the time questions of this sort can be answered by reading the scents reviews unless that scent is particularly hard to find or priced in the silly range (Rich Hippie would qualify).

And note that many of the Basenoters who do write reviews are extremely knowledgable able to discern accords and notes that I'm only beginning to learn.

You'll recognize reviewers with similar tastes and start doing blind buys or sometimes a review will cause you or me to impulsively buy the scent.

I find an awful lot to like reading reviews. I wish I had more experience so that I could do the review area the honor it deserves.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 20
12/15/07 at 9:41pm
I've not smelled Rive Gauche, but I have smelled Rive Gauche Pour Homme Intense and have to say (no offense to other basenoters) that it was the most nauseating and sickening scents I've smelled in a long time. Ick. There are so many other great fragrances out there that you can try.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 20
12/16/07 at 3:01am
Rive Gauche is IMO just a sickening and awful scent, not daring at all or whatever. Don't believe the hype, trust your nose.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 20
12/16/07 at 5:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by transmaniacon View Post

Rive Gauche is IMO just a sickening and awful scent, not daring at all or whatever. Don't believe the hype, trust your nose.

could be a nice signature :--)
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 20
12/16/07 at 6:26am
Thread Starter 
My intentions in starting this thread were not to bash Rive Gauche, but to see if anyone else had a similar experience, if those notes are indeed a part of this fragrance, or if the bottle was simply off.

YSL is one of my all-time favorite houses and I have had nothing but good experiences and plenty of wonderful memories with many of its fragrances (Kouros, Live Jazz, Opium PH [EDT and EDP], M7, etc.). This is one of the reasons why I was so taken aback from my experience with RG. So, for those who do enjoy this one (and like Fredericktoo noted, there are many), your feedback would be greatly appreciated.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 20
12/16/07 at 7:29am
I don't know - your bottle may be off. That said, it's not as bold as the rest of YSL's fragrances but it's just as good as the rest from that house. I've received multiple compliments wearing it, and I've always enjoyed it with the exception of wearing it when it's too hot out or on a plane traveling. To my nose, it's very well constructive and yes, distinctive. Is it the second coming - no. Is it worth "some" hype - yes. I think part of the hype is simply that it's yet another solid fragrance from YSL - arguably the best designer house, and a house when almost never misses a beat on what they submit to market.
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 20
12/16/07 at 7:34am
YSL is a house that makes, for the most part, bold and interesting frags. Because of their individuality, they are not for everyone. Most of their frags are love/hate in personality, hence, it is no surprise to see why some find Rive Gauche not to their liking. Fortunately, I get Rive Gauche Pour Homme, and for that I am a happy camper.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 20
12/16/07 at 7:38am
The regular EDT is a good creation. I enjoy wearing it,a comfortable and easy to wear one,for me.

The aftershave lotion,100ml glass bottle,not easily found,in my experience,is something all together "better". It has a "daring" note,I prefer the aftershave to the EDT.
Reply
Reply
post #16 of 20
12/16/07 at 10:19am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Circa1905 View Post

Hmm. Yeahh. That's too bad. Ok, my address is as follows...

Yeah, I was thinking the same thing
Reply
Reply
post #17 of 20
12/16/07 at 11:11am
Well, this is a kind of the thread that gets same-kind of responses. If you open another thread names "Rive Gauche the best scent that I tried" you will get bunch of responses of that kind there.

Anyhow, I love it and did not have experience similar to yours, Nicolas V. For me it stands out, is very long lasting and pleasing scent.
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 20
12/16/07 at 11:28am
I found this scent as the begining of the falling of House YSL.
Reply
Reply
post #19 of 20
12/16/07 at 11:35am
Rive Gauche - Hmm, it is your body chemistry. It smells like an airwick air freshener on me, but on my brother, totally different (not bad).

Rive Gauche is one of many scents I steer clear of.
Reply
Reply
post #20 of 20
12/16/07 at 12:25pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicolas V View Post

It sorta smelled like air freshener, and sorta reminded me of the lettuce/tomato garnish that comes as a side to the enchilada combo at your favorite Mexican sit-down.

I too have smelled the lettuce/tomato garnish you reference, and it smells nothing like the opening accord of RG. Can't even fathom it.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: MFD Archive

Features on Basenotes

Greatest Hits: Annick Menardo
Basenotes Reader Awards 2013 - Finalists Announced.
Petals Falling From The Sky - A Report From The Cote d'Azur's Bataille De Fleurs
Basenotes › Basenotes Forums › Fragrance Discussion › Male Fragrance Discussion › MFD Archive › ...and a side of Rive Gauche, por favor.