Our take
What does Rive Gauche smell like?
Rive Gauche was composed in 1969 at Roure by Jacques Polge and Michel Hy, then launched in 1971. It takes its name from the Saint Laurent Rive Gauche ready-to-wear boutique in Saint-Germain-des-Prés. Pierre Dinand designed the aluminium bottle with silver and cobalt blue stripes. Aldehydes set the tone from the start, metallic and soapy. Bergamot, green notes and a discreet peach come along. The heart is a bouquet with no single star. Rose and jasmine meet geranium and lily of the valley over iris and ylang-ylang. Geranium brings an almost minty coolness. The base is woody. Vetiver, sandalwood and moss dry everything out before tonka and musk warm it up. Luca Turin hailed it as the best floral aldehydic of all time. Daniela Andrier reformulated it at Givaudan in 2003. More modern than Chanel N°5, it suggests clean laundry and cold metal rather than powder.
When to wear it
Perfect at the office in spring and autumn, ideally with a white shirt. Two sprays are enough, and the trail stays crisp all day.
It belongs to the Floral, Powdery family. Rive Gauche is one of 35 creations by Yves Saint Laurent in our encyclopedia.
