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horozidiserj – :
This fragrance is amazing.It reminds me a lot of the classic rive gauche flanker by YSL back in the days.It has a clean soapy and masculine note.The lasting power is average with enough projection.I get 4 to 5 hours of wear before it becomes a skin scent.Comparing to the original version (tin bottle) it lacks of depth and dimention.I can’t undersand the reason most perfume makers keep reformulating again and again.If it aint broke don’t fix if.
Overal, i recomend this one if you can’t get your hands on the old version.At least it is 95% the same.
Artem29-96 – :
i’ve been wearing this for 2 days and i cannot stand it anymore. this gave me a slight headache and also it smells a bit stomach-turning . i decided to give this to my grandfather . but the quality is indisputable really .
you can just feel the quality without any doubt .
PAKILTCHYK – :
Stupid YSL raising the price to125$. Well guess what Phoenix artisan accoutrements “CAD aftershave” is literally EXACTLY the same and it’s 25$. I have rive gauche the original can version and PAA “CAD” seriously is exactly the same could be even better they are true artists. Even has aloe and glycerin and other stuff that’s good for your skin. I’ve tried 3 different clones of rive gauche and they were all horrible but this Phoenix artisan one completely 100% nailed it. I’m so happy about it because rive gauche is my absolute favorite fragrance
dqy873bedyWelty – :
Superbe babershop smell. One of my favorites.
dobri72 – :
Rencently bought a bottle from YSL counter in a department store, batch code indicates Feb 2016 production. Clear glass bottle. Not great performance from this one, getting poor longevity and projection. I have a sample of the vintage which lasts and projects well.
A great scent as others have said very clean masculine and versatile.
The votes above would indicate a long lasting frag, maybe the black la collection bottles were. The new clear la collection bottle seems to be weak, but some below have said the clear bottle performs well for them.
Seems to me to be a bit of a roulette with different batches on this one. Found the same sampling Platinum Egoiste another similarly versatile frag, some bottles it lasts and projects others low projection and gone in an hour or 2.
Dr_liwsi – :
@Wordley
The black labelled bottle of rive gauche pour homme is part of the “la collection “, the relaunch of four very important YSL classic fragrances. Your bottle is the relaunch of rive gauche pour homme but not part of the “lá collection”, although being the exact same scent, at least in theory. Hope this helps.
roamer69 – :
if you want to blind buy it: do you like Azzaro pour homme? well, this is the same,but with more class, perfection, fresh. F A N T A S T I C
_molot_ – :
Perhaps other reviewers could answer a question I have regarding this edition. The bottle in the picture above has a black label around the glass. I bought one from duty free, but without the black label. It’s definitely Rive Gauche Pour Homme, and the list of notes on the back is the same as the black-labelled bottle.
Now when I tried the black labelled bottle, the frangrance seemed stronger, with more lavender and powder and very long lasting. My purchase has these notes too, but far less strident and I can detect Star Anise, or something very similar, as it dries down. But there’s no mention of this in the notes list above. When I got back to the UK, I checked this out with a Rive Gauche sales assistant and she seemed to think that it’s just the testers that come with the black label. However, I’m not convinced by this explanation and, in any event, why would the fragrance in the tester have such a different character to the bottle I bought?
Any ideas?
subtedcousats – :
Clean love.
Got myself a 80ml after falling in love with a sample of this juice. Kind of pricy in relation to how little marketing it’s exposed to, but well worth it! €80-90 in a taxfree shop.
The magic is all in the dry down. Some 30 minutes after apply you will have: wonderfull soap, modern barbershop, creative hint of bitterness. It has a glorious forrest vibe to it and a great “fresh out of the shower” tone overall. To me, it’s super sensual to the point of even being erotic. The later is probably subjective, so don’t expect a panty dropper – maybe a boxer dropper tho! 😀
Great longevity for being in the fresh domain.
I see this as an all occasions, all seasons kind of frag – can’t imagine it being polarizing. Signature worthy stuff. Probably not great for people in their mid twenties and below though.
On the right side of my bottle, this is printed:
Accords
Lavande
Geranium
Patchouli
Vetiver
Bois De Gaiac
2003
Also, the body of my bottle is see through (it doesn’t have that black thing shown in the picture on here). Figured both of these facts would be of interest since it differs slightly from what is presented here on Fragrantica (notes/pictures).
Scent: 9.5/10
Projection: 8/10
Longevity: 9/10
Rating 9.5/10
Reviewed source: I own it. Batch code: 62P101R
t3ball – :
It was a surprise for my husband without testing it. I bought it because of the reviews here. He fell in love immediately. He was absolutely impressed by it. It is really an amazing fragrance. Very masculine and powerful. I haven´t tried the original version, but this is gorgeous. I have also Rive Gauche for women and I must say that there is obviously relationship between them. I can feel some similarity. But both really beautiful. This is the smell of a modern gentleman, I don´t think it is dated. I must agree that it´s a timeless classic.
darius985 – :
Put “Brut” back of your hand, smell it after 1 hour; equals YSL:Rive Gauche Pour Homme.
волдеморд – :
Imagine cut grass after a rain, that’s how this smells.
Fresh,green,earthy. I like it.
vla366Diobtetty – :
This will not get you complements.
For 30+ who want to smell clean and conservative. Very high quality and long lasting.
I put it because I love this barbershop scent and how it makes me feel.
If you are after a classical babrbershop/ fern fragrance, look no further. This is the highest quality you can get for the price at least in the designers category. Definitely a niche quality juice by YSL.
vdt640speagoessenda – :
I bought la collection version(clear bottle) because i have the vintage tin can but i want to keep it for very special occasions. if an old fan close his eyes and smell this version he will say for sure “this is rive gauche”. for me the reformulation is for the 90-95% identical to the vintage, slightly differences are in the opening, more green and less spicy in the new one. the major differences are in the performance. on my skin the vintage is not beastly but the performance is very good, in the reformulated version sillage and longevity are inferiors, not so much but enough to be detected. i love in a big way the original and im very satisfied of the la collection version, i still prefer the original because of the performance and a more rich scent but the new one has the same character and i truly recommend the purchase. grazie a tutti!
my vote: 8,5
in one word: barbershop
Викторыч – :
I smelled the “clear bottle version” of rive gauche”
To my nose is more drier/woodier ,and the shaving cream vibe is toned down..
Or is just my idea?
konstantin2781 – :
Amazing manly for mature men especially good for working or daily basis . The fragrance has barbershop smell clean well groomed kind of shaving foam smell really really good one guys .
This thing does smell quite a bit like barbershop or like really nice expensive shaving cream that pretty much it . İt is really nice shaving cream fragrance but it goes a little bit beyond that as well as a very masculine timeless clean fragrance that does it so well it has a very nice high quality ingredient does not smell synthetic whatsoever !!
Longevity is amazing after 12 hours you can get the smell and even though after having shower ı can get the smell.
You should buy it in my opinion if you like barbershop smell ,ım sure you will not regret it .
55509 – :
Tried this today, there are some similarities between this and the original, but differences also.
Dry down both of them are 90% similar but the opening of the original rive gauche is more richer, sweeter and i get the shaving foam vibe on the original more than the new collection, which i love. It’s because the star anise which is absent in the new formulation i think. If you find the metal can bottle of the original, don’t hesitate, just buy it! Longevity and sillage is awesome on the original. Reformulation has also good longevity but sillage ist eh not so good. And reformulation is more dry during all phases and i smell a bit pepper though it is not listed on reformulation.
Original: 9/10
Reform: 7/10
hitman42 – :
This is the most amazing and mature barbershop scent I have ever come across. Think of all that you love in a barber shop scent and make it better, more elegant… I love this stuff. Long lasting, fresh, clean…. I didn’t know what a fougere was until this fragrance, but I want to find more now that I know what one is!
andrei0306 – :
I was recently in London, staying at a hotel very near the houses of parliament in Westminster, and every morning I would walk across St. James Park in the crisp winter air and pass the hatted, frock-coated men going to their offices and chambers. They all smelled the same: a rich, cool, well-rounded cloud of anise-geranium barbershop-y goodness. It took some poking around these forums to figure out what fragrance-group I was smelling, but once I did I decided I needed to find myself a bottle of something similar. The London men smelled classic and refined, but also clean, timeless, and effortless. I found Rive Gauche recommended a lot, and bought this version blind. It’s not as round as how I remember those moving clouds in St. James Park (something tells me they weren’t wearing mainstream designer scents) but this is close enough for now, and it’s certainly delicious and long lasting. The one thing that bugs me is a slightly bitter, dry note that might be the Oakmoss, which I normally love. I’ll definitely be wearing this in the cooler months to find out how it holds up, but so far I’m pleased.
Brabus073 – :
clean. not just clean, impeccably clean.
rating: 9.5/10
aton – :
bottle full of spring
ZEKA85 – :
A perfect reformulation if you ask me. it smells identical to the old version. classic barbershop scent with excellent performance. the only set back for me is that this fragrance feels a little bit outdated and mature for my liking. But if you are in your 40s and up and looking for a classic barbershop scent look no further than this one. I ll stick with my platinum egoiste till then.
Inkc – :
Quite simply, one of the best fragrances on the market. A true masterpiece. Clean,fresh, comforting and comfortable. Beautiful sweetness with a twist. Freshness that lasts for hours and hours. Excellent longevity and sillage. I could wear this everyday for a year, and that’s saying a lot for me. Not only bottle worthy, but back-up bottle worthy for sure. Love at first sniff!
Disakamma – :
Amazing scent! Long lasting and so fresh.
People at the office told me that it smells fresh and sooo masculine!
My advice: 1 spray’s all you need — this is Beast mode! Lasts for hours (combined with scentless body lotion) and projects without being too loud. Your shirt will smell for days!
With Chanel’s Platinum Égoïste this is my go-to fragrance for the office (that is, until I get my hands on Tom Ford’s Grey Vetiver!)
agn7203 – :
Had to buy one bottle of this, since I ran out of my “vintage” can – which I got with only maybe 10ml left, from a friend who was not wearing it anymore.
First full wear: compared to the original, the opening is indeed less sharp, more green/herbal and less anised. The lavender on this version is also more round, you don’t get the quasi-harshness of the original, which is a little more barbershoper-y. If you know the first formulation, maybe you’ll tend to “search” for the more sharp opening, but the more round and, why not, less old-schoolish green accord on this formulation does not dissapoint.
Half an hour later, both versions are 90~95% identical, being the original more soapy and this, more herbal; I do get some oakmoss in the drydown, but there is less patchouli, making it less powdery.
Overall, this is one of the best reformulations I have smelt on a perfume; it seems that longevity and projection were not affected also. Still getting used to the opening, but i think I was biased with the original one… the fern fantasy accord on this is something very convincing but new to me, so think I need more time to get used to it.
9 out of 10, for now
serqei1407 – :
Never had the chance to try / test / own the original Rive Gauche so it’s pointless for me to try comparing RG with this edition.
My, this one smells amazing! In my opinion this is an amazing barbershop-like fragrance. This EDT smells masculine, fresh and ultra clean. I’d wear this one casually, for the office, when I go out or even for a date with my wife. Could be MY signature scent in the near future.
La Collection RG Pour Homme will complete my arsenal of barbershop fragrances (along with Platinum Égoïste, Dolce & Gabbana Pour Homme, Prada Amber Pour Homme and Azzaro Pour Homme).
Next purchase: M7 Oud Absolu!!
GreammaPrerne – :
I have used the Original Rive Gauche in the cylindrical metal bottle. I just loved the Star Ainse notes of the original. I like this but it is not as good as the original.
sergii32 – :
This is a fantastic fragrance and in my opinion the best of the YSL lineup. Longevity is incredible, lasting days not hours. Sillage is equally impressive at several feet of projection. An extremely masculine scent opening with anise and bergamot, then fern with hints of lavender, cloves and geranium leaves. The dry down brings a wonderfully balanced oakmoss, vetiver and light patchouli underpinned by gaiac wood and slightly animalic white musk. This is an exquisite scent that balances between clean and dirty. No one note is overpowering and the combination is simply fantastic. The woody-musk character is absolutely delicious. Well blended and sexy, at €60, this is a complete steal. It projects a very sophisticated masculinity without being grossly overbearing. A masterpiece for sure, and a modern classic fougere. Highly recommended.
This review is for the reformulation.
alxwrgzfzk – :
Thoughtful of the original. A bit dated for social use. Perfect for after shower. The quintessential barber shop fragrance. Happy days!
Antoni01989 – :
Missed out the important – does not disappoint ! Can strangely still pick out the oakmoss , but maybe a little weaker hence the strange first 29-30 min
setsss – :
So so agree with pontifex . Just finished my can of original & dared to buy the new reform. First 20 mins thought my skin might be reacting to give a spicy food skin odour ( Alain DELON samurai 47 comp) like skin the day after some serious spices. But dry down almost identical but less powdery . I am an oakmoss junkie & this does disappoint
alexloza – :
I am just loving this fragrance (been testing it 3 weeks running now)!! I’ve requested my wife to gift this for my birthday (in about 2 months). Here in London, UK it costs £62 for the 80ml bottle (La Collection). This fragrance reminds of my childhood. Its strong on Lavender and the definition of “powdery” but in a lovely masculine way. According to the tester bottle, the notes are Lavender, Geranium, Patchouli, Vetiver and Guaiac wood. I just CANNOT stop sniffing my wrists. A masterpiece of sorts. The link to my childhood is that it reminds me of Yardley’s Lavender talcum powder, but guys DO NOT let that put you off. I have not tried the original Rive Gauche (black and silver cylindrical tin) so cannot A/B which is better. Can’t wait to get this beauty.
Mayotarucrarp – :
Love it. Projection is HUGE and longevity is way over 10 hours. I wear 1 single spray to the chest under a shirt and a hoodie and people can smell it 2 feet away. It smells smooth, clean and masculine. Lavender is definitely in there, but it’s not sharp as when you put dried lavender flowers under your nose, in RG it’s almost creamy, really smooth. And then there is some woody stuff in the background and this gives it a bit of a kick, it makes it spicy. I have never smelled the original version so I can’t compare them. For me it’s easily 8/10, do yourself a favor and go check it out.
SagsFiegree – :
I’m having a YSL reformulation appreciation week and Rive Gauche is a fragrance which I’ve always had love for. It is quite simply one of the greatest aromatic/fougere fragrances ever created, and I don’t say that lightly. My only minor criticism of the original formula was the oakmoss coming on a little strong when first applied. However, there’s no such problem here with the modern version as you’d expect but this does make it somehow a paler brew, longevity is definitely effected. Other than that, this is every bit as good in terms of the soft lavender, powdery geranium and woods with a hint of star anise it’s pretty special stuff. Progressing well you get a few stages as it dries down revealing some hidden depth, problem is the few times I tried it I found the longevity okay but certainly and notably not as good as the original.
Still brilliant and well worth getting if you want to glimpse the spirit of the original.
I’m in the market for Rive Gauche (Intense/Extreme?) partly because I’ve never tried it and I think a spicier hit would be welcome.
okoronkwo – :
IMHO this is the best fougere ever created (or at least the best of those I´ve tested). For me it´s better than original RG (in a can) as it´s not so spicy and the fern is much more pronounced which makes it smooth and delicious (and more barbershop-ish and greener as marioslg3 wrote). Longevity is some 18-20 hours on my skin. My rating would be 8.75/10 for classic RG and 9.5/10 for this one
btw I don´t think this is a reformulation but rather a “limited edition” – as I can get both versions from time to time in online shops in my country, both for good price…so all that whining about how original was different/better is kind of a nonsense from my point of view:) (same with Eau Sauvage and Eau Sauvage Extreme which even are too different scents but people still tend to compare them because of the name)
ewstigney – :
If barbershop and shaving cream notes are your thing, then this is for you. Unfortunately it was not a good match for me. I’m just not getting any of the notes listed, although my nose may not be sophisticated enough to detect fern.
Касмея – :
Elegant and versatile woody lavender for men over 30. Wear it to go to the office, dates, you choose. Top quality, as you would expect from YSL.
vitechik – :
What an amazing jouice!!!!!! This house is connected with my younger age during the beginning of 90’s when I used to wear the absolute fragrance called jazz that hit the markets worldwide. About this one, it has the herritage and high quality of ingredients that this superb house has to offer. In the first 30 minutes of its life reminds me Narciso Rodriguez for him but more light and fresh underneath,more versatile and less “grey” and “melancholic” than NR. For sure a fragrance that separates a man from a boy but not old fashioned by telling that. Ages from 25-30+ will enjoy and appreciate it more. No doubt an exceptional well crafted scent with great versatility and excellent lasting and projection. It can easily be a signature scent. By they way older in production than Narciso Rodriguez for him so a big thumbs up from me!!
romaa23 – :
when you first smell it yes you feel like youre in barbershop.
but you also get the feeling that its the most elegant and expensive barbershop in the world.
good choice for daily use if you are over 25
Rus_Max_Al – :
Yep, so i notice they have made it slightly more modern and not so classic.. not a terrible reformulation but NO. The original is what Rive Gauche is really about, and same goes for M7, have tried them all and ended up with the originals.. if you’re lucky enough to hunt them down ..get them!!!!
semen1978 – :
I absolutely adore this, but unfortunately I can’t wear it till I’m like 40y old as it smells very very mature. Smells like a barbershop, very charming. It’s the only reason why I want to get older lol.
znajka – :
too much questions and compliments by woman!!!!!!!wow!
ded2010 – :
I dont see it as a toned down or chear or watered or lacking of longevity. It is very close to the original but greener. I like it as well as the original and beleive that people have problem with reformulations but unfo cant be avoided.
parsafet – :
More or less like the First Rive Gauche Pour Homme. More woody, less tendre, similar, but in a way different.. More expencive certainly.. Well, as to cut a long story short, itw worth buying it..
gooog – :
There used to be a store in the US called RUEHL. Its an upclass A&F. Same owner too. But clothes more sofisticated, adult, and more expansive. They closed in 2007. They had a signature perfume. For me, it reminds me a lot of this one. The stores smell like that too. For me, its a very masculine, woody and dry perfume. Reminds me of Azzaro ( the original for men) but more sofisticated. Some people say it reminds them a barber shop (?). Anyway, i love this.
My only concern is that this perfume might be better suited for an over 40’s guy. Im not sure. Anyway, I am 35 athletic, active and work in suit and tie, so it gives me a serious and trustfull air. LOL
Kilkan – :
You can buy the discontinued original for less than half the price, why on earth would you buy a watered down, poor version of the original. This is what happens when Revlon does fragrances for YSL.
Ivain – :
One could almost be forgiven for thinking that the whole point of these god-awful re-issue/reformulations was in order to get lovers of the originals to buy up all of the old (unsold) stock in as quick a time as possible, for the new offerings are equivalent to ‘diet’ versions of beloved ‘full-fat’ drinks!
shc899speagoessenda – :
This is not completely identical to the original but it is still very reminiscent of it. Less herbal and more floral. If you judge it for what it is without getting too hung up about comparing it to the original you would probably find it to be a decent scent.
AntonOVS – :
In that case if you saw something that were discontinued and suddenly appear again on the market, no matter what, don’t blind buy or you will regret entirely.
I found many cases like that and that is the issue
You can’t revive the dead
kor1801 – :
I don’t understand why brands so popular, and so many other brands with their signature fragrance and we used to remember in the 80’s and 90’s, when it’s re-created or remake again, the formula changed??? why is it so hard to make the old formulae? is it because the ingredients used then were different then? or because so many organic things nowdays??and they can’t get the beautiful alchemy anymore? or perhaps it changes master perfumer??
Well, in that case, we just lost that melody and becomes a loving memory
Oh dear…
VKORIPAEV – :
ALAS !!! ‘THE’ Rive Gauche Pour Homme that i knew and adored has been castrated. A crying shame !! I’m so bloody disappointed. The same applies to M7.
I seriously gotta get me self at least 2 full bottles of the original juice (its already getting scarce). I don’t want to say anything else.
Oh! Just one more thing – UP YOURS YSL La Collection !!
Dakota1812 – :
Smells like a woman fragrance. A lot of Geranium inside with Lavender.That’s it. I couldn’t smell anything else. I would go with M7 in this range.
monrealka – :
Judging by the reviews this is apparently a toned down reformulation. If that’s the case then I can only wonder at the power and intensity the old Rive Gauche Pour Homme must have had. I find this version powerful and masculine, very much a power perfume. Only for the confident.
Excellent sillage and tremendous longevity. Worth adding to your collection even if you don’t wear it often.
devlanka – :
i have test it side by side with the original,it is toned down,still the same smell like the old but more soft..
my advice..stock up the old legend..
dec 16 update..
it seems that the black coated bottles were more soft..
instead the new clear glass version is as strong even stronger than the
original in terms of longevity and sillage..i think its an excellent reformulation.
RoNI85 – :
I like to think they’ve recognized the potential in Rive Gauche to be a modern scent, and figured taking out the notes that held the old school face and gave it youth. But I wot know til I try it I guess
MrBlackdigger – :
@K1
Well, it seems we think the the same about YSL which is very sad 🙁
YSL used to be my favourite brand with bold, brave and uncompromising but still very popular fragrances.
But now… Elle, Parisienne, Belle d’Opium, L’homme x3, they make safe choices.
I still like the brand but ONLY for its old catalogue (Opium, Kouros, Jazz, Paris, M7, NU, Opium PH, Rive Gauche).
It’s the same with Rochas, but that house has a much worse destiny 🙁
koresh25 – :
Oh my precious! 🙁
I have to stock you up in your fine striped metal bottle!
Zampol939 – :
Rive Gauche Pour Homme without its saturine power. Toned down and mannered.
Rating: 6/10