Yves Saint Laurent – Rive Gauche pour Homme – Retro Avant-Garde Dream (Jacques Cavallier, 2003)

Scentrack

John Cameron – Half Forgotten Dream

I decided to open my Barbershop April with a personal favorite – YSL Rive Gauche pour Homme, in collaboration with Roots Hairdresser (please do check their FB page) and Ivana's lovely interior. We got some really nice photos there.

Photo by T.D.

Rive Gauche is a retro avant-garde barbershop heaven. It was launched in 2003, but to me it appears like it’s launched in 1953. The perfumer behind this beautiful fougere is Jacques Cavallier. Exceptional Master created an exceptional fragrance. Very old school and manly. A smell of reliable person. A smell of a moral vertical or a good father. Like some good old time residues in the air. I can imagine nice guy like Jimmy Stewart to wear Rive Gauche.

It opens with some beautiful classic shaving cream aromatic accord. Just a pinch of lime on star anise and exceptional Mediterranean rosemary – lavender bouquet. Very fresh and clean. Geranium gives that manly old school touch. To its drydown Rive Gauche becomes darker and woodier. The base is perfectly balanced between green vetiver, woody Guiac and earthy, but clean patchouli.

Rive Gauche is so classic, yet so modern. It’s absolutely timeless. Quintessentially masculine. Like it’s simply beautiful metallic cylinder bottle.

Source: Wikipedia

The fragrance one can recall some long gone family memories. Is there more to wish from a fragrance?

Longevity / Projection

Great (8 -10 hrs) / Excellent

Suggested wearing

Cool morning in spring or autumn, best in combination with white shirt

Nice job fragrance

Alternatives

New Rive Gauche from La Collection

Azzaro pour Homme – an 80s classic

Pros

Very clean and professional

Strong masculine character

Classic and timeless

Signature scent worth

Great performances

Cons

Too mature for younger crowd

Sadly discontinued

Rating

9 / 10