Rive Gauche

Yves Saint Laurent launched Rive Gauche in 1971, named after his ready-to-wear line. Victoria Frolova of Bois de Jasmin attributes the formula to Jacques Polge and Michel Hy, and dates its creation to 1970.

The house describes it as inspired by the French avant-garde: it conveys the independent and unpredictable spirit of Rive Gauche ready-to-wear. Free, sexy and unpredictable, it expresses in the house’s view the eternal modernity of Yves Saint Laurent.

A reworked formula

In 2003, under the creative direction of Tom Ford, perfumer Daniela Andrier reformulated it, Victoria Frolova reports. The woods and vetiver of the base were kept; the floral heart changed and the effect of the aldehydes was toned down.

She sees it as a concession to modern taste, which cost the composition part of its sculptural character and the harmony of its accords. She also notes that the fragrance, withdrawn for a time from the American market, came back to it.