Yves Saint Laurent launched Rive Gauche in 1971; Jacques Polge and Michel Hy composed the formula. An aldehydic floral, it now opens, according to the house, on aldehydes, bergamot, ylang-ylang and freesia, before a heart of rose and jasmine and a base of vetiver, musk, oakmoss and myrrh. Its bottle was designed by Pierre Dinand.
The house describes a vibrant opening of bergamot, ylang-ylang and freesia, to which aldehydes add their sparkle. Rose and jasmine form an intense floral heart, with a fresh and modern character.
In the base, vetiver, musk, oakmoss and myrrh lift the fragrance and give it, the house says, its power of attraction. Another of its descriptions reduces the whole to rose, bergamot, oakmoss, vetiver and musk.
What the reviews say
Victoria Frolova likens the abstraction of Rive Gauche to aldehydic florals supported by woody notes, such as Lanvin’s Arpège and Madame Rochas. Geranium and rose absolute soften a metallic accord, and everything slowly fades into velvety oakmoss.
This metallic accord, which links it to Paco Rabanne’s Calandre, arises in her view from rose oxide and diphenyl oxide, with their harsh green smell. In the hands of Polge and Hy, it gives the fragrance a liquid silver effect.
What is left out
Older lists also cited honeysuckle, gardenia, magnolia, iris, sandalwood and tonka bean. The house’s current list retains none of them; Victoria Frolova, for her part, points out geranium.
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