Riviera Drive

I’ve heard the term “fizzy” on several occasions, typically when someone is trying to describe an effervescent summer scent. I never really understood that - nor had I ever encountered anything that triggered me to think “fizzy” Until now Finally, I can be in the fizzy club. Let me start by saying, although these are all familiar notes, I am stunned with this fragrance. To me, it’s happiness bottled. I love a citrus scent with backbone - and that’s exactly what this is. Although I’m not particularly fond of any single note in this composition, the end result is something that captivates me. The high energy - beautifully bright lemon, combined with a heady dose of rosemary and cedar make for such an enjoyable experience. It smells like something you’d want to drink (please, don’t drink this.) - because of how realistically it plays out on skin. The fizziness could come from the lemon - maybe the absinth - maybe it’s the combination. One this is for sure, it’s there. While I appreciate the market for unisex scents - hell, even genderless scents, I’m a bit of a traditionalist - and I personally feel that the rosemary and cedar take this well into masculine territory. I only say this as I don’t want to mislead someone with a review. With that said, i certainly hope people wear whatever they want! I think I’m in my 8th or 9th year of hardcore collecting - so I’ve been around the block a few times and unfortunately, rarely am I ready to kiss my sister over a new fragrance - but this one... well, let’s just say there’s a baby on the way. Last thing: this isn’t a “difficult” niche to enjoy. I think this would be great for a “first summer niche” purchase - and even great for someone who has smelled it all. Good is good.

A cross between a lemon gourmand and a walk through a pine forest scent. According to the notes listed, you’d think it was a cedar forest but I’m picking up pine. I think that’s a combination of absinthe, herbs and cedar that’s giving me that feeling. I’m in the middle of my second wearing and I really like this one. Surprisingly. I think this brand is one of the most pretentious with the signature gold flakes inside each bottle—what you’d expect Kylie Jenner and her influencer friends would wear. Or a throwback to the Dynasty television show characters and their lavish lifestyle. Anyway, back to the scent. Opening is wonderful but so is the dry down, when the foodie gourmand vibe dissipates and the musky forest takes over. Clearly this is a warm weather scent, but I can’t think of another forest scent that works in the summer. I get decent performance of a few noticeable hours—I’m not someone who thinks a perfume needs to last 8 hours in order to call it great. A “gold flakes” thumbs up.

An interesting profile of citrus and some slight warmth from the aromatics. It's curious: I've smelled other warm citrus scents that really don't work (looking at you, Citron Boboli), but it works here. I suspect some will say it smells like lemon Pledge or something, but it doesn't read as a "cleaner" to me (though I do like citrus scents, so your mileage may vary on that). Not sure I get "absinthe", but it's a fun note to imagine here. I don't get much patchouli either. I can definitely smell every other note, but they work in harmony to my nose. It's just slightly effervescent. As you would expect, the citrus is stronger in the beginning and fades over time, leaving a simpler, warm cedar behind. I have been consistently impressed with the fragrances from Atelier des Ors I have gotten my nose on, and this was no exception. Some may argue about longevity, but no one can deny that the house has some well-conceived and well-structured offerings. 8/10.

This is one of my favourite niche lemon scents. It opens with a very creamy overdose of lemon, accompanied by aromatics of rosemary and marjoram. An absinthe note is listed, however to me it comes across more like vodka - if you’ve tried absinthe you’ll know it’s very reminiscent of liquorice, which this is nothing like. In the dry down this boozy lemon cocktail is joined by cedar and musk to create a truly stunning scent. To me this perfume smells like a cross between Chanel Allure Homme Edition Blanche, and Kilian Vodka on the Rocks. It’s got that beautiful creamy lemon, but with a crisp boozy take coming from the absinthe. If you’re looking for a summer fragrance that smells like a lemon vodka cocktail then this is the one - the notes are more interesting than your average summer scent without being too daring. Unfortunately the performance is not great though, so I wouldn’t advise paying full retail for this.

Very refreshing, like a nice spiked lemonade on the beach. In my experience this works much better in the heat; at room temperature this is just "okay". When wearing Riviera Drive out, it flourishes and provides that refreshment similar to a lemonade on a hot summer day. It has strong projection as well, you will be able to pick it up easily when out in the water catching waves. My most expensive purchase to date, while I wouldn't say it's worth the price (IMO most niche summer fragrances aren't), but it gets the job done and the bottle is very nice to look at it. A nice summer staple for me. 7.5/10